Western District of Kentucky
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Hopkins County Man on Multiple Counts of Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned a five-count indictment today charging a Hopkins County man with producing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Steven Ray Buchanan, 45, of Madisonville, Kentucky, was charged with four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Owensboro. Buchanan faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 140 years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel King and A. Spencer McKiness.
This case 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.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Possession of Machine GunRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on December 21, 2022, charging a local man with illegally possessing a machine gun.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Cameron Jaimes, 19, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. Jaimes possessed or transferred a machine gun, that is a Glock Switch. A Glock Switch device allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. A Glock Switch is defined as a machine gun under federal law.
Jaimes made his initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Jaimes faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Owensboro Doctor Pays $931,500 to Resolve Allegations He Received Kickbacks from a Laboratory in Exchange for Ordering Genetic TestsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Kishor Vora, M.D., of Owensboro, KY, has entered into a settlement with the United States Department of Justice to resolve allegations that he referred patients for genetic testing in exchange for kickbacks, announced Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. Dr. Vora has paid $931,500 to resolve the allegations.
“Our office will continue to investigate and hold accountable medical professionals who undermine our healthcare system and programs by accepting illegal kickbacks,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “I commend HHS-OIG and AUSAs Malloy and Weyand for their outstanding work in this case.”
“Providers who aid in the submission of false claims to Medicare undermine the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that all health care providers who misuse their medical professional status for financial gain are held accountable.”
The United States’ complaint alleged that Dr. Vora executed an elaborate and extensive scheme to maximize profits at the expense of both patients and Medicare. In particular, the complaint alleged that, between May 2012 and March 2013, Dr. Vora violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by accepting illegal kickbacks from a laboratory, National Molecular Testing Corporation (NMTC), in exchange for sending Medicare-reimbursed orders for pharmacogenomics testing (tests that show how genes affect a person’s response to particular drugs). The complaint also alleged that Dr. Vora ordered and submitted medically unnecessary and unreasonable tests to NMTC in exchange for these illegal kickbacks.
The case is styled United States of America v. Kishor N. Vora et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-66-BJB (WDKY).
The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. C. Malloy and A. Matthew Weyand.
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U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky Collects over $13 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2022Read the Press Release
Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced today that the Western District of Kentucky collected $13,202,835.42 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2022. This total consists of $5,915,754.66 collected in criminal actions and $7,287,080.76 collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the District worked with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $413,509.07 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $38,306.27 was collected in criminal actions and $375,202.80 was collected in civil actions.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky prioritizes restitution recovery, and we pursue all available means for the collection of criminal restitution and civil penalties to provide justice to victims, including individuals, businesses, and other federal agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Notable criminal restitution recoveries within the Western District of Kentucky include $875,339.99 as part of a plea agreement in United States v. Nitesh Patel, Case No. 3:19-cr-58, and $394,927.72 from the voluntary liquidation of real property in United States v. Steve Turner, Case No. 4:19-cr-26. Noteworthy civil recoveries include $220,000 paid to victims sexually harassed by their landlord in United States v. Chester Whitescarver, Case No. 1:20-cv-00054, and an initial $1.3 million payment in an $8 million False Claims Act settlement in United States, ex rel. v. Agendia, Inc., Case No. 5:15-cv-50. The United States received another $6 million payment in Agendia at the beginning of the 2023 Fiscal Year.
Working with partner agencies and divisions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky also collected $5,966,650 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2022. This includes $2,256,665 forfeited to the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund, which will be used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
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Russell County Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Defrauding Non-Profit BusinessRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – On December 14, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Russell County man with two counts of wire fraud.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, Charles Davis, 56, of Russell Springs, Kentucky, while working as treasurer for the Russell County Arts Council (RCAC) in Jamestown, Kentucky, exceeded his authorized access by depositing RCAC funds into his personal bank account and using RCAC funds to make online payments to his personal credit cards. The total amount of loss is approximately $116,688.57. Davis is also charged with exceeding his authorized access relating to Artworks in Jamestown, Kentucky, by using PayPal Instant Transfer to transfer $224,142.79 out of the Artworks funds to his personal bank account.
Davis made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. If convicted, Davis faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency is investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell, Branch Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Office.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Illegal Possession of a Firearm
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment yesterday, charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, on January 12, 2022, Dajuan Simonton, 29, possessed a handgun after having previously been convicted of the following felony offenses: receiving stolen firearms, complicity to possession of a controlled substance in first degree, complicity to receiving stolen property, and tampering with physical evidence.
Simonton is currently in custody at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on unrelated charges. Once his state charges are resolved, he will make his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF and FBI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on November 16, 2022, charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, between June 13, 2020, and January 1, 2021, Ayub Hussein, 23, possessed a handgun after having previously been convicted in 2019 of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, a felony.
Hussein made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF and the Jeffersontown Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison in $30 Million Pyramid SchemeRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – Richard G. Maike was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for running a pyramid scheme in 2013 and 2014. Doyce G. Barnes was sentenced today to 4 years in prison for his role in the pyramid scheme. The defendants were convicted after a federal jury trial that started in Owensboro, Kentucky on July 12, 2022, and concluded with the jury’s verdict on September 7, 2022, after four hours of deliberation.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richard G. Maike, 55, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Doyce G. Barnes, 73, of Goldsboro, North Carolina sold positions in Infinity 2 Global, or I2G, purportedly a multi-level marketing company, which the United States proved at trial was operating as a pyramid scheme. Maike and Barnes were also convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in connection with the sale of $5,000 Emperor positions in the company as a form of passive income. Maike was also convicted of money laundering and tax evasion in connection with his use of approximately $3.2 million in I2G funds, some of which were wired to and from an Infinity 2 Global bank account in Hong Kong and used by Maike to purchase 1800 acres of ranch land in Kansas for his personal use. The evidence at trial showed that in approximately 15 months, I2G sold nearly 5,000 of the $5,000 Emperor positions generating, along with other lower-priced positions, over $30 million in revenue, much of which went out in the form of commissions to the promoters at the top of the pyramid structure. Commissions were generated based on recruitment of new members into the company. Over 90% of the people who bought a membership in I2G lost money.
In addition to the prison sentence, Maike was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Maike and Barnes were each also ordered to serve a 3 term of supervised release after being released from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Both Maike and Barnes will be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of their crime. A restitution hearing will be held on February 2, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. C.S.T. in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Owensboro, Kentucky. Victims wishing to submit a restitution claim who have not done so already should email the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected].
One co-defendant, Faraday Hosseinipour, also convicted at trial, is scheduled for sentencing before a United States District Judge of the Western District of Kentucky in Owensboro, Kentucky on January 5, 2023. Another co-defendant, Richard Anzalone, previously entered a plea of guilty to the conspiracy to commit securities fraud and testified at trial. Anzalone’s charges were dismissed after he died in October of 2022. Two other co-defendants, Dennis Dvorin and Jason Syn, were severed for trial to be held at a later date. No trial date has been set for Dvorin and Syn.
The FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Madison Sewell and Marisa Ford are prosecuting the case with the assistance of paralegal Cristy Crocket. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sullivan is handling the asset forfeiture components of the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Bravo is handling the restitution components of the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man and Woman for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on December 6, 2022, charging a local man and woman with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distributing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, between August 31, 2022, and November 3, 2022, Malik Abdullah, 22, and Kayla Scott, 21, conspired together to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Louisville area. Abdullah is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and eight counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Scott is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and seven counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
Scott made her initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Abdullah was taken into state custody and will make his initial court appearance at later date. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF and Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Allen County Man for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – On December 14, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging an Allen County man with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Timothy E. Austin, 49, of Scottsville, Kentucky, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 15, 2022, in Allen County, Kentucky. Austin is also charged with possessing a Raven Arms, model MP25, .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol after having been convicted of a felony. His prior felony convictions include first-degree possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.
Austin is currently in state custody and will be scheduled for his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted, Austin faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA and the Allen County/Scottsville Crime Task Force are investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Marion County Man Indicted on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on November 16, 2022, charging Christopher Wiser with possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Wally Brady of the Lebanon Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Christopher Wiser, 31, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Wiser has three prior felony convictions in Marion Circuit Court for cocaine trafficking.
The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Wiser faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Lebanon Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Hart County Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Transmitting Threats in Interstate CommerceRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned an indictment on December 14, 2022, charging a Hart County man with transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The man was initially charged with this offence on November 22, 2022, by a federal criminal complaint.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to the complaint, Joshua O. Morrison, 30, of Horse Cave, Kentucky, transmitted a threat in interstate commerce. Specifically, the criminal complaint affidavit states that on November 20, 2022, at approximately 6:17 a.m., the Kentucky State Police (“KSP”) received a complaint regarding threats transmitted that morning via Facebook Messenger. The complainant did not know the sender, but stated she found the message disturbing and thought it should be reported. The Facebook message stated “Don’t go to church or school I’ma do a mass shooting. I’m coming to bowling green Kentucky to do a mass shooting also.”
KSP identified Morrison as the individual who sent the messages, and they went to his residence in Horse Cave, KY and located him. Morrison was advised of his Miranda rights and admitted to sending the messages, but repeatedly claimed he did not intend to carry out his threat. Morrison advised he knew what messages he sent, he verified the Facebook account that sent the messages was his own, and he admitted that he sent the messages.
On November 20, 2022, Morrison was arrested by KSP and on November 28, 2022, he was taken into federal custody. The defendant made his initial court appearance on November 28, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky. The defendant remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI Louisville Field Office’s Bowling Green Resident Agency and the Kentucky State Police are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Convicts Louisville Man of Conspiring to Distribute Heroin, Marijuana and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY –Last week a federal jury convicted a local man of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and marijuana and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The jury found him not guilty of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in murder and of conspiracy to obstruct justice-witness tampering.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rob Holman of the United States Secret Service, Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Charles O. Cater, 47, conspired with his co-defendants, Javier Rodriguez, and Dwayne Castle, to possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and less than fifty kilograms of marijuana. During a week and a half of trial, evidence of Cater’s involvement in the drug distribution conspiracy was proven through multiple intercepted cell phone calls and text messages; evidence collected from multiple search warrants and business records; video evidence; and the testimony of numerous witnesses. Cater also illegally possessed a Sig Sauer, Model P220, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol after having previously being convicted of a felony, including robbery in the first degree, complicity to kidnapping an adult, and complicity to unlawful imprisonment in the first degree.
On August 19, 2019, Castle pled guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and to using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in murder. On October 18, 2022, Rodriguez pled guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and to using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in murder.
Sentencing for Cater is scheduled for March 22, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Sentencing for Rodriguez is scheduled for March 15, 2023. Sentencing for Castle will be set by further order of the court. All defendants remain in custody pending sentencing. Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Shannon and Rob Bonar prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Men for Possession of Machine GunsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment this week, charging two local men with illegally possessing machine guns.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division, and Chief Barry Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, on May 27, 2022, Clayton Hodges, 22, and Timothy Martin, 22, each knowingly possessed a machine gun, a Glock switch bearing no serial number. Additionally, Hodges was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In 2019, Hodges was convicted of the following felonies: criminal attempt robbery in the first degree and wanton endangerment in the first degree.
A “Glock switch” device allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. Glock switches are defined as machine guns under federal law.
Hodges and Martin are currently in state custody, and they will be scheduled for their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once they are transferred to federal custody. If convicted, Martin faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and Hodges faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF and the St. Matthews Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Convicts Tennessee Man of First Degree Murder in Death of His U.S. Army Soldier Wife at Fort CampbellRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted a Clarksville, Tennessee man (formerly of Jacksonville, Florida) of first-degree murder, attempted murder, domestic violence resulting in death, violation of a protective order resulting in death, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronald Yeatts of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Mid Central Field Office, made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Victor E. Silvers, 33, drove from his Clarksville, Tennessee residence to the Fort Campbell, Kentucky military installation on October 14, 2018. Silvers then shot his estranged wife, Brittney Silvers, three times, killing her. Silvers also shot another man, James Keating. Five days before the murder, Brittney Silvers had been granted a Domestic Violence Order of Protection that prohibited Silvers from being within 300 feet of her or committing violent acts against her. Due to the Domestic Violence Order of Protection entered against him, Silvers was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Brittney Silvers was a U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky at the time of her murder.
Sentencing for Silvers is scheduled for February 22, 2023, before a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Silvers remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Army CID.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Hancock, Leigh Ann Dycus, and Raymond McGee prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Christy Crockett.
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Two Kentucky Real Estate Professionals Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging Farmland AuctionRead the Press Release
Two Kentucky real estate professionals pleaded guilty today for their roles in a conspiracy to rig bids at an estate auction for farmland and timber rights.
According to a plea agreement filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Barry Dyer and Mackie Shelton pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to rig bids at a 2018 auction for hundreds of acres of farmland and a tract of timber rights. Dyer and Shelton demanded and accepted a $40,000 payoff from competing auction participants to stop bidding, artificially suppressing the sales price of the farmland.
“The farming industry is vital to the nation’s economy and relies on competitive pricing for the land where crops are grown. Today’s guilty pleas help ensure the integrity of farmland auctions,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “With support from our law enforcement partners, the Antitrust Division will continue to hold accountable anyone who conspires to line their own pockets at the expense of this competitive process.”
“American farmers are part of the backbone of our country’s economy, and they deserve to run their businesses in a fair market, untainted by corruption,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting the farming industry from bid rigging and other schemes that undermine the success of others and the spirit of competition.”
Dyer and Shelton were charged with a single-count violation of the Sherman Act. A criminal violation of the Sherman Act carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section, with the assistance of the FBI’s International Corruption Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
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Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Indicts New York Man for His Role in "Grandparent Scam" Targeting Senior VictimsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment in October charging a New York man with conspiracy to commit mail fraud for his role in a “grandparent scam” that impacted senior victims around the country, including a Meade County individual who lost tens of thousands of dollars to the scam. “Grandparent scams,” also known as “person-in-need scams,” involve perpetrators making false claims to victims that their loved one is in jeopardy and in need of money that the perpetrator will use to assist the loved one.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburg Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Juan Carlos Arcena Cabrera, 28, of Yonkers, New York, conspired with others to trick seniors into sending cash payments under the false pretense that a grandchild or loved one had been in a car accident or was facing legal trouble. Scam callers would reach out to victims repeatedly, claiming more money was needed to cover additional emergency expenses. As part of this conspiracy, Cabrera posed as the grandson of a Kentucky victim and attempted to pick up a parcel full of cash that the victim had shipped from Kentucky to a FedEx store in New York.
Cabrera was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Secret Service, and the New York Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the National Elder Justice Task Force and the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. The Department of Justice’s mission of its Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. In response to the growing need and targeting areas of greatest concern, the Department of Justice initially stood up 10 task forces made up of 11 federal districts to combat a variety of elder abuse, including elder financial exploitation. Kentucky’s federal districts make up two of the 11 districts under the Initiative. Kentucky’s task force is comprised of investigators, prosecutors, and others at the local, state, and federal level with a common objective of protecting seniors across Kentucky.
In October, the Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Leader of Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to 20 Plus Years in Federal Prison and Fined $100,000Read the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years and 10 months in prison and fined $100,000, for conspiring with multiple people to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, Tyrecus J. Crowe, 30, conspired and agreed with Andre Graham, Raymond Derouse, Brandon Cherry, Nathan Jackson, and others, to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Crowe was one of the leaders of this conspiracy and was responsible for ordering and arranging the transportation of approximately 34.32 kilograms of methamphetamine. Approximately 17 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized in Texas on July 2, 2020, and approximately 17 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized in Simpson County, KY, on August 30, 2020. Both of these methamphetamine shipments were headed to Bowling Green, KY.
Crowe also made a considerable amount of money from the conspiracy and purchased a trucking business, a tow truck business, and a home with a cash down payment of approximately $130,000. Crowe made numerous jail phone calls which were recorded. In one of these phone calls, Crowe admitted to making and spending over $1,000,000 in Las Vegas and that he never knew “cleaning money” would be so hard.
Crowe is the last defendant of the conspiracy to be sentenced. The other defendants in the case who were previously sentenced, received the following sentences:
Andre Graham – 12 years in prison;
George Sanchez – 17 years in prison;
Jeremy Quezada – 10 years in prison;
Raymond Derouse Jr. – 12 months and 1 day in prison;
Nathan Jackson – 7.25 years in prison;
Brandon Cherry – 8 years in prison; and
Michael Padilla – 7 years in prison.
“The investigation of this case and the sentences imposed on the defendants reflect the unwavering commitment of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to prevent illicit narcotics from entering our communities and harming our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “I am thankful for the outstanding work of the FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and the Kentucky State Police.”
“Drug trafficking is a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise that targets our friends, our neighbors and even our family members,” said Special Agent in Charge Cohen. “The sentences handed down to Crowe and his co-conspirators illustrate the danger these networks are to our community. FBI Louisville will continue to diligently work alongside our partners to investigate and dismantle these criminal organizations.”
“Complex investigations and prosecutions like this help make our community a safer place to live,” said Director Loving. “The Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task consists of state, local and federal partners working together as a team which is the key to successful investigations. Working with our local U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office brings these major drug traffickers to justice.”
The FBI Louisville Field Office’s Bowling Green Resident Agency, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and the Kentucky State Police DESI/West investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II and Corinne Keel prosecuted the case.
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Six Federally Indicted and Arrested for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on November 2, 2022, charging six local men and women with engaging in a long-term drug trafficking conspiracy. One man was also charged with a firearm offense.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Dion Brown, 29, Raheem Richardson, 30, Jamesha Hickman, 29, Demeeko Johnson, 28, Tyrece Clark, 29, and Hubert Brown, 51, all of Louisville, conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine between May 23, 2022, and November 1, 2022. Brown, Richardson, Johnson, and Hickman also distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on multiple occasions, and Richardson possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. On November 16, 2022, all six defendants were arrested.
The defendants made their initial court appearances on November 17, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case with assistance from the ATF and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Saint Louis Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a 14-year-old Owensboro GirlRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – Christopher Bertolett was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for violating federal child exploitation laws.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rob Holman of the United States Secret Service, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and Chief Arthur Ealum Jr. of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.
Bertolett, 54, previously pled guilty to online enticement of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, production of child pornography, and interstate travel to engage in illegal sexual activity.
In the change of plea hearing, Bertolett admitted that in January 2021, he met a 14-year-old girl through an online software application. The girl lived in Owensboro, Kentucky and Bertolett lived in Saint Louis, Missouri. The two communicated online from January 2021 until May 2021. Bertolett and the girl discussed a variety of topics while communicating online, including sexual activity. On or about February 4, 2021, Bertolett sent the 14-year-old girl pictures of his genitalia.
On or about May 9, 2021, Bertolett rented a car and drove from Saint Louis to Owensboro where he met the girl, drove her to an Owensboro motel, and sexually exploited her. Law enforcement officials arrested Bertolett on May 10, 2021.
In addition to the 30-year prison sentence, Bertolett was ordered to pay the victim $10,000.00 in restitution. He was also ordered to serve a life term of supervised release after his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jo E. Lawless and Raymond McGee prosecuted the case.
The United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Owensboro Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case 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.”
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Federal Jury Convicts Louisville Man of Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted a local man of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and one count of receiving a firearm while under felony indictment.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Antonio D. Williamson¸ 35, of Louisville, received a CZ-USA Scorpion Evo 3 9mm handgun in February 2020 from an individual. On May 22, 2021, Williamson was in possession of this handgun, and he was captured on surveillance video at a local restaurant drive-thru pointing it at another person while he was driving a stolen vehicle. In September 2021 law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williamson’s residence where they located and seized additional ammunition and firearms, including a Romarm/Cugir, 7.62 caliber rifle, an American Tactical M1911, .45 caliber pistol, and an Eagle Arms, 5.56 caliber rifle. Williamson had previously been convicted of two felony burglary charges in Jefferson Circuit Court in December 2008. He was also under indictment beginning in 2019 in Jefferson Circuit Court on multiple felony charges, including being a persistent felony offender. Williamson was released on bond for the 2019 indictment when he received the 9mm handgun in February 2020.
Sentencing for Williamson is scheduled for March 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., before a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Williamson remains in custody pending sentencing. Williamson faces a combined maximum sentence of thirty years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tieke prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Shalonte Branham.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Federal Jury Convicts Louisville Man of Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Heroin, Distributing Fentanyl, Firearms Offenses, and Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Yesterday, following a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted a local man, Terrell Trammell, age 28, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, distribution of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and assaulting, impeding, or interfering with a federal officer.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between July 2020, and November 5, 2020, Trammell conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and heroin in the Louisville area. On October 9, 2020, Trammell sold fentanyl to an undercover informant in southern Jefferson County. Trammell, who was a multi-time convicted felon, utilized juveniles to assist in possessing and distributing fentanyl and heroin, as well as in possessing and handling firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. On November 5, 2020, agents and detectives with the FBI, ATF, HSI, and LMPD attempted to execute a search warrant at an apartment in the Valley Station area of Louisville, which Trammell and other conspirators were using to store fentanyl, heroin, and firearms. Prior to execution of the warrant, Trammell and a 16-year-old crashed their vehicle into an FBI agent, injuring and pinning the agent between two vehicles. Agents ultimately seized an AR-style pistol, a Glock 9-millimeter pistol, and an extended magazine. The FBI laboratory found Trammell’s DNA on the AR-style pistol. From the apartment, agents seized approximately 41 grams of fentanyl and two firearms, one of which had been traded to Trammell in exchange for drugs.
Sentencing for Trammell is scheduled for February 17, 2023, before a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. He remains in federal custody pending sentencing. Trammell faces a minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the DEA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Erin McKenzie prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Three Men Federally Indicted for Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Maximiliano Gutierrez, Mario Guzman and Alfredo Lira with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Maximiliano Gutierrez, 49, of San Ygnacio, Texas, Mario Guzman, 48, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Alfredo Lira, 38, of Laredo, Texas were charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The defendants will be arraigned a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of not less than 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and the Jeffersontown Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Multiple Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment today charging a local man with multiple business robberies.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court records, Samuel Harding, 49, of Louisville, was charged with five counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and five counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendant is currently in custody on state charges and will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted of a business robbery, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a business robbery, he faces a minimum sentence of 7 years and maximum sentence of life in prison to run consecutively with all other sentences. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Louisville Metro Police Department and the Shively Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Logan County Felon Sentenced to 92 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Logan County man was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, on July 19, 2021, in Logan County, Kentucky, Albert Tyler, 61, possessed a Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, and a Hi-Point, model JHP-45, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, and ammunition. Tyler had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including felony convictions for third-degree burglary in Logan Circuit Court Case Number 17-CR-00089 and first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than four grams of cocaine), in Logan Circuit Court Case Numbers 14-CR-00070 and 14-CR-00069.
As a result of being a convicted felon Tyler was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Tyler was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
The ATF Bowling Green Field Office, with the assistance of the South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Three Arrested for Illegal Scheme to Export Controlled Data and Defraud the Department of DefenseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of three defendants and their initial appearances in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Kentucky. Phil Pascoe, 60, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, Monica Pascoe, 45, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; Scott Tubbs, 59, of Georgetown, Kentucky; and Quadrant Magnetics LLC were charged with wire fraud, violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and smuggling of goods for their roles in an illegal scheme to send export-controlled defense-related technical data to China and to unlawfully supply U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) with Chinese-origin rare earth magnets for aviation systems and military items.
The indictment alleges that between January 2012 and December 2018, the defendants conspired to send approximately 70 drawings containing export-controlled technical data to a company located in China without a license from the U.S. government, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The technical data drawings were the property of two U.S. companies and related to end-use items for aviation, submarine, radar, tank, mortars, missiles, infrared and thermal imaging targeting systems, and fire control systems for DOD.
The indictment further alleges that Quadrant Magnetics imported rare earth magnets that were smelted and magnetized by a company in China. Quadrant then sold these magnets to two U.S. companies which included them in components sold to DOD for use in the F-16, the F-18, and other defense assets in violation of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS). Under the DFARS specialty metal clause, rare earth magnets sold to DOD must be produced and magnetized in the United States or an approved country. China is not an approved country.
Arraignments will be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Phil Pascoe, Monica Pascoe and Scott Tubbs face statutory maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud; 20 years in prison for each count of exporting technical data without a license; and 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States. Monica Pascoe and her co-defendants face a penalty of up to five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI Counterintelligence Division and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, IRS - Criminal Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorneys David Recker and Liz Abraham with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Arrested for Illegal Scheme to Export Controlled Data and Defraud the Department of DefenseRead the Press Release
A federal indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of three defendants and their initial appearances in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Kentucky.
According to court documents, Phil Pascoe, 60, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; Monica Pascoe, 45, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana; Scott Tubbs, 59, of Georgetown, Kentucky; and Quadrant Magnetics LLC are charged with wire fraud, violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and smuggling of goods for their roles in an illegal scheme to send export-controlled defense-related technical data to China and to unlawfully supply U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) with Chinese-origin rare earth magnets for aviation systems and military items.
The indictment alleges that between January 2012 and December 2018, the defendants conspired to send approximately 70 drawings containing export-controlled technical data to a company located in China without a license from the U.S. government, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The technical data drawings were the property of two U.S. companies and related to end-use items for aviation, submarine, radar, tank, mortars, missiles, infrared and thermal imaging targeting systems, and fire control systems for DOD.
The indictment further alleges that Quadrant Magnetics imported rare earth magnets that were smelted and magnetized by a company in China. Quadrant then sold these magnets to two U.S. companies which included them in components sold to DOD for use in the F-16, the F-18, and other defense assets in violation of the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS). Under the DFARS specialty metal clause, rare earth magnets sold to DOD must be produced and magnetized in the United States or an approved country. China is not an approved country.
Arraignments will be scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Phil Pascoe, Monica Pascoe and Scott Tubbs face statutory maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud; 20 years in prison for each count of exporting technical data without a license; and 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States. Monica Pascoe and her co-defendants face a penalty of up to five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI Counterintelligence Division and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations' Louisville, San Diego, and San Francisco Field Offices, the IRS - Criminal Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorneys David Recker and Liz Abraham with the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Indiana School Teacher Charged with Traveling to Kentucky to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a MinorRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned a three-count indictment today charging an Evansville, Indiana high school teacher with traveling across state lines to Owensboro, Kentucky, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a person he believed to be a fifteen-year-old child, attempted enticement of a minor, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Louisville Field Office, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement.
The charges were the result of a joint federal, state, and local operation called Operation Angel, aimed at making federal arrests of sexual predators who prey upon children in the Owensboro area. The operation, which was led by the United States Secret Service, included the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Kentucky State Police, and the Owensboro Police Department.
According to court documents, Cody McCormick, 27, of Evansville, Indiana, was charged with one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor, and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. McCormick faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for the enticement charge. McCormick also faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the charge of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the obscenity charge. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence imposed upon McCormick after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Owensboro.
The United States Secret Service, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Kentucky State Police, and the Owensboro Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness is prosecuting the case.
This case 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.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Cincinnati Man Sentenced to 7 Years and 2 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting and Brandishing a Firearm at Federal Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – John F. Johnson, also known as Grand Master Jay, was sentenced to 7 years and 2 months in prison for assaulting and brandishing a firearm at federal task force officers.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
After a week-long trial in May of this year, a federal jury sitting in Louisville, Kentucky, convicted Johnson, 59, of Cincinnati, OH, of two counts of assaulting a federal task force officer and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Johnson, on the evening of September 4, 2020, forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federally deputized task force officer who was performing official duties, when Johnson aimed a rifle at him. Johnson brandished an AR-15 platform rifle and tactical flashlight at two federally deputized Task Force Officers. Both are detectives with the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Johnson was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Joe Ansari prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.
The FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case.
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Bowling Green Federal Grand Jury Returns Three Indictments Charging Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned three indictments today separately charging three men with drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. made the announcement.
According to court records:
Forrest Holmes, age 60, of Henderson County, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Holmes had previously been convicted in the Henderson Circuit Court of several felonies, including first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), manufacturing methamphetamine, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and tampering with physical evidence. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Rickey Sutton, age 28, of Daviess County, Kentucky, was charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of distribution of fentanyl, and once count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sutton had previously been convicted in the Daviess Circuit Court for the felonies of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property (firearm), and tampering with physical evidence. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Alan C. Rogers, age 55, of Livingston County, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms, and possession of a firearm with an altered/obliterated serial number. Rogers had previously been convicted in the Livingston Circuit Court of the felony of complicity to first-degree possession of a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Daviess County/Owensboro HIDTA Drug Task Force, the FBI, the ATF, and the Kentucky State Police are investigating the cases.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jo Lawless and Mark J. Yurchisin II.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Finds Louisville Men Guilty of Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Heroin, Distributing Fentanyl, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Yesterday, a federal jury convicted two local men of a drug trafficking conspiracy involving heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and several federal firearms crimes.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between December 7, 2017, and July 15, 2020, Frank Trammell, Jr., age 30, and Khalid Ashanti Raheem, II, age 25, conspired to distribute fentanyl and heroin in the Louisville area. Additionally, on ten occasions, Trammell, often assisted by Raheem or others, sold fentanyl to undercover informants at various locations in eastern and southern Jefferson County as well as in the downtown area. These fentanyl sales took place in parking lots of restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores, and always involved two vehicles parking window to window while fentanyl and cash were tossed from vehicle to vehicle.
Pursuant to court authorized wiretaps, over 3,000 drug related phone calls and text messages were intercepted in a thirty-day period. During these intercepted calls, dozens of drug transactions on a nearly daily basis were arranged. Drug addicted customers, when unable to come up with cash, would sometimes trade packages of socks and underwear, firearms, or assorted prescription medications in exchange for what they believed to be heroin. However, DEA laboratory testing established that Trammell was almost always selling fentanyl to those seeking heroin. During one intercepted call, a drug user called Trammell and said that she believed he had sold her fentanyl and that he should warn his other customers to “be careful.”
Evidence presented at trial also included the results of several search warrants of premises and vehicles simultaneously executed on July 15, 2020. From locations related to Trammell and Raheem, law enforcement seized over 240 grams of fentanyl, $284,000 in cash, assorted ammunition, and eleven firearms, including at least one assault rifle and one stolen handgun.
The jury also convicted Trammell of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Raheem was also convicted of one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for February 28, 2023, before a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Trammell faces a minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Raheem faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of forty years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Trammell remains in federal custody, and Raheem was taken into custody following the verdict.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the ATF, and the Louisville Metro Police Department, with assistance from the DEA, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, the Jeffersontown Police Department, the Shepherdsville Police Department, the Kentucky State Police, and the Indiana State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank E. Dahl, III prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for CarjackingRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment today charging a local man with carjacking and a business robbery.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court records, Robert Dumonte, 31, of Louisville, was charged with one count of carjacking, one count of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The defendant is currently in custody on state charges and will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted of carjacking, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. If convicted of interference with commerce by robbery, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, he faces a minimum sentence of 7 years and maximum sentence of life in prison to run consecutive to all other sentences. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI and Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
The charges were the result of an ongoing joint federal and local law enforcement initiative targeting carjackings which includes the United States Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Machine GunRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A convicted felon pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing a handgun and a “Glock switch” device which allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. Glock switches are defined as machine guns under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Jeremiah Neal, 30, of Louisville, illegally possessed a handgun equipped with a Glock switch on April 14, 2022. Neal was also a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Neal pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and to illegal possession of a machine gun. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2023, and he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the ATF with the assistance of the Kentucky Department of Probation and Parole.
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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U.S. Attorney Appoints Election Officer for the Western District of KentuckyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Raymond D. McGee will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA McGee has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Kentucky, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Bennett said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, 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 interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act 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 inability to read or write in English).
The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to that right can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO McGee will be on duty in the Western District while the polls are open.
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. Any tips or other information regarding election fraud or abuses can be submitted through the FBI’s national tip line at 800-CALL-FBI or via www.tips.fbi.gov. Additionally, the FBI Louisville Field Office can be reached at 502-263-6000.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
United States Attorney Bennett said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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Graves County Man Charged with Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY –A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a Graves County, KY man with federal firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court records, Christian Carrico, 27, of Mayfield, KY was charged with two counts of illegal transfer and possession of a machinegun and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
The defendant made an initial court appearance on Friday, October 21, 2022 before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Carrico faces up to 30 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Seth Hancock, Branch Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Office, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Announces New Procedures for Reporting Environmental ViolationsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, announced today that his office, to advance environmental justice, has implemented a new procedure for members of the public to report environmental violations. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
U.S. Attorney Bennett has implemented this public reporting procedure as part of the Department of Justice’s Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy. This Strategy seeks to provide “timely and effective remedies for systemic environmental violations and contaminations and for injury to natural resources in underserved communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened, including low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal and Indigenous communities.”
“Our plentiful natural resources are part of what makes the Commonwealth such a special place to live and work,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “We are committed to protecting these natural resources and the health and safety of all citizens in this district—including those who have historically been ignored or marginalized—from pollution and contamination.”
Members of the public who have concerns about environmental violations in the Western District of Kentucky can now report them to the U.S. Attorney’s office by email at [email protected]. The Office’s public reporting procedures are in addition to other methods of reporting environmental concerns to the federal government, such as the online portal maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations. Additional information about the district’s efforts to advance environmental justice may be found on the district’s website at https://justice.gov/usao-wdky/programs/envjustice.
In furtherance of the Department of Justice’s Comprehensive Strategy, U.S. Attorney Bennett has appointed Assistant United States Attorney A. Matthew Weyand as Environmental Justice Coordinator for the Western District.
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Louisville Federal Grand Jury Returns Three Indictments Charging Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned three indictments this week separately charging three local men with fentanyl trafficking and firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburg Division, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Chief Erika Shields of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictments and court records:
Eddie Leo-David Price, age 39, was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years and maximum sentence of life in prison.
Keivon M. Albritton, age 25, was charged with four counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 5 years and maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Leangelo D. Sullivan, age 43, was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 5 years and maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
According to criminal complaints, both Albritton and Sullivan distributed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. The tablets being sold by both men were round, blue pills imprinted with an M and a 30. These pills are counterfeit in that they are being sold illicitly as oxycodone when in fact they contain fentanyl which is increasingly linked to overdoses among users.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The DEA, the USPIS, the ATF, the Kentucky State Police, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Jeffersontown Police Department, and the Shively Police Department are investigating the cases.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Ford and Frank Dahl.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett joins the United States Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, and communities across the United States in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Domestic violence is more prevalent than many realize. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence in the United States every year. If each adult experienced only one incident of violence, an adult in the United States would suffer violence every three seconds. Because domestic violence is a pattern, many experience repeated acts of abuse annually. That means an incident of abuse happens far more frequently than every three seconds.
We can do better. We must do better. The women and men of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky are committed to holding people accountable for acts of domestic violence by enforcing federal laws designed to address the issue. “We will use all the tools at our disposal—and leverage our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors—to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice,” noted United States Attorney Bennett.
Today is #PurpleThursday, a national day of action. Please join us in our commitment to end domestic violence.
If you need help, contact the National Hotline (@ndvhofficial) at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or the Strong Hearts Hotline (@strongheartsdv) at 1-844-762-8483. #DVAM2022
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Doctor Pays $720,000 and Agrees to 15 Year Exclusion from Federal Health Care Programs for Violating the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Mangesh Kanvinde, M.D., of Batavia, Ohio, has paid $720,000 and agreed to be excluded from Federal Health Care Programs for fifteen years for his role in a scheme to order unnecessary durable medical equipment and genetic tests. The DME he ordered included commonly used braces for knees, ankles, shoulders, and the back and neck. The genetic tests he ordered included testing for the inherited genetic variants that are associated with a high to moderate increased risk of cancer. As part of the civil settlement with the United States, Dr. Kanvinde also agreed to make additional payments contingent upon his income over the next five years.
The United States alleged that, between December 5, 2016, through June 20, 2019, Dr. Kanvinde violated the False Claims Act by knowingly conspiring to submit and causing the submission of false claims to Medicare. The United States alleged that Dr. Kanvinde had improper financial arrangements with temporary physician staffing agencies and telehealth companies to furnish DME and genetic testing items and services and that he received illegal kickbacks in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary DME and genetic tests and services. The United States further alleged that Dr. Kanvinde had no physician-patient relationship with the Medicare beneficiaries, often did not speak with the beneficiaries, and knew his prescribed goods and services were not medically necessary.
“We will continue to vigorously pursue medical providers who violate federal law by engaging in illicit schemes which include the filing of false claims seeking Medicare reimbursement,” said Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “I commend the HHS-OIG and AUSAs Malloy and Weyand for their outstanding effort in this matter.”
“Physicians who use their position of trust in schemes to submit false claims to Medicare for their own financial gain undermine the integrity of taxpayer-funded federal health care programs and the public’s trust in the health care profession,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that bad actors are held accountable for their actions.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. C. Malloy and A. Matthew Weyand handled the matter.
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Two Former LMPD Officers Sentenced Today for Conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights and One Also Sentenced for Cyberstalking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of Louisville pedestrians through the arbitrary use of force were sentenced today. One of them was also sentenced for engaging in a cyberstalking conspiracy to hack computer applications for compromising photographs and videos of female victims and then using those photographs to extort additional compromising material from the victims.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
Bryan Andrew Wilson, 36, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his roles in the civil rights and cyberstalking conspiracies. He was also sentenced to 3 years of supervision after his release from prison and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. Wilson was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later. Curt Flynn, 41, was sentenced to 3 months in prison for his role in the civil rights conspiracy. He was also sentenced to 3 years of supervision after his release from prison and was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearing today, from at least August 2018 through September 2019, and while working as detectives with the LMPD Ninth Mobile Division, Wilson and Flynn engaged in a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of numerous civilians in Louisville through oppression and intimidation. Wilson, Flynn, and others, while working in the LMPD Ninth Mobile Division, conspired together to assault and attempt to assault civilians by engaging in a conspiracy to throw drinks, including the containers, at unwitting civilians throughout the area in which the Ninth Mobile Division operated. While on duty, dressed in clothing identifying them as LMPD officers, and driving unmarked LMPD vehicles, Wilson, Flynn, and others, would obtain large beverages and drive through the geographic area of the Ninth Mobile Division identifying civilian targets on the sidewalk or near the street. At various points, after identifying a target, Wilson or Flynn would announce on the police radio words to the effect of, “someone was thirsty” or “thirsty fam.” Wilson, Flynn, or another driver of the unmarked vehicle would slow down, drive closer to the curb, and Wilson or Flynn would throw the beverage, including the container and/or its contents, at the civilian target. The driver of the unmarked LMPD vehicle would then accelerate the car and flee the scene.
On many occasions, civilians were hit with beverages thrown by Wilson or Flynn. On at least one occasion, a civilian, John Doe, was knocked to the ground from the impact of being hit with the beverage and its container. At times, Wilson and Flynn recorded and instructed others to record their actions using their cell phones. Wilson and Flynn subsequently displayed these recordings to other members of the Ninth Mobile Division, both by displaying them to other LMPD officers in person and by sending them to others via text message.
Wilson was also sentenced today in a separate case for his criminal conduct in engaging in a conspiracy to commit cyberstalking. According to court documents in Wilson’s second case, between September and October 2020, Wilson conspired with others to use an electronic communication service to stalk and extort young women online. As part of the conspiracy, Wilson, in some instances using his access to law enforcement databases to facilitate the crime, identified computer applications belonging to women, hacked those computer applications, and stole compromising photographs, videos, and other information belonging to the women. Wilson then contacted the women via text messages, threatened to publish the stolen compromising photographs and videos to their family, friends, and co-workers unless they provided him with additional compromising material, and, in some instances, did publish the compromising material. Wilson also posted his victims’ compromising photographs and videos anonymously online and bragged about his exploitation of the victims. Throughout the course of the cyberstalking conspiracy, evidence revealed that Wilson and his co-conspirators hacked over two-dozen victim accounts and that Wilson directly contacted eight of those victims.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Weiser and Stephanie Zimdahl prosecuted the cases.
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Caldwell County Kentucky Man Federally Charged with Multiple Counts of Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today charging a Caldwell County Kentucky man with sexually exploiting two children and with distributing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
According to the indictment, William Guill, 47, of Princeton, Kentucky, was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography, and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Bowling Green. If convicted, Guill faces a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 270 years in prison. Once released from prison, he faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life of supervised release. Guill will be required to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Spencer McKiness.
This case 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.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Celebrates 40th AnniversaryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) was created by Presidential Order four decades ago. On Oct. 14, 1982, in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice building, President Ronald Reagan announced a new coordinated federal government effort bringing together prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to attack the command and control elements of the drug trafficking organizations responsible for moving massive quantities of illicit narcotics into the country.
The White House directed that the OCDETF’s top priority would be to disrupt the sales and distribution networks of the traffickers. Some of the department’s most notable successes against drug cartels have resulted from OCDETF coordinated investigations and prosecutions. OCDETF was instrumental in taking down the powerful Colombian cartels of the 1980s; the notorious and violent Mexican cartels such as the Tijuana, Juarez and Gulf Cartels in the 1990s; and the methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and opioid threats from all over the world in the last two decades.
As criminal networks have grown more sophisticated in the last 40 years — branching out to more varied types of criminal activity — OCDETF has responded by expanding its mission beyond drug trafficking organizations and money laundering networks to all forms of transnational organized crime. OCDETF is fully engaged in all manner of investigations into criminal networks involved in human smuggling, sophisticated financial fraud, cyber-enabled crime, illicit finance, arms trafficking, government benefits theft, business e-mail compromise and U.S. sanctions evasion. OCDETF is uniquely and ideally structured to support the fight against transnational organized crime through operational integration, collaboration and law enforcement information sharing.
“Since its founding, OCDETF has been a synchronizer and our role is to incentivize prosecutors to lead smart, creative law enforcement agents in investigations focused on priority targets of organized criminal groups and the illicit financial networks that support them,” said OCDETF Director Adam W. Cohen. “Today, OCDETF provides a forward leaning structure for our partners to work together and leverage each other’s strengths, capabilities and legal authorities resulting in continued positive impacts to the nation.”
OCDETF’s successes over the last 40 years have been made possible by strong collaboration and coordination with its member agencies. OCDETF is partnered with the 93 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the department’s Criminal Division and 11 federal law enforcement agencies from the Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service), Homeland Security (Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Secret Service), Treasury (Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation), Postal (U.S. Postal Inspection Service), Labor (Office of the Inspector General), and State (Bureau of Diplomatic Security).
OCDETF’s governance, bringing leadership to the multi-agency transnational organized crime mission and focus on joint priority targets has generated genuine measurable accomplishments — over 34,000 multi-agency cases against priority targets, over 124,000 indictments of almost 360,000 defendants, and incredibly, over 15,690 of those resulted in impactful disruption, or even dismantlement of criminal organizations.
“As OCDETF begins our 41st year, we will continue to provide a coordination platform for comprehensive investigations and prosecutions of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations, the successful result of which is to make our nation safer,” said OCDETF Director Cohen.
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Louisville Attorney Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville attorney was sentenced today to 27 months in prison and was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Keith Hunter, 65, of Louisville, evaded the payment of federal income taxes, penalties, and interest due and owing by him to the United States for the calendar years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2011, totaling $1,124,620, by concealing assets in various ways. Among the methods Hunter used to conceal his assets from the United States Internal Revenue Service were storing personal income in a client escrow account, storing personal income in a nominee bank account, purchasing a home through a nominee as an alleged charitable donation, and by recycling cashier’s checks, which is the practice of engaging in a cycle of purchasing a cashier’s check, using a small portion of the check, and then purchasing another cashier’s check of lesser value. The evidence presented at trial showed that Hunter also intentionally provided false and misleading information regarding his assets and income to Internal Revenue Service civil collections personnel.
Hunter was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment, with a condition that he pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service during his term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Internal Revenue Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda E. Gregory and Joel King prosecuted the case with assistance of paralegal Carissa Moss.
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Man Indicted on Federal Illegal Fishing ChargeRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Charles Hopkins with conspiracy to sell shovelnose sturgeon and their roe that were taken in violation of Kentucky law.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Assistant Director Edward Grace of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Charles Hopkins, 51, of Smithland, Kentucky was charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. The indictment alleges that in spring 2016, 2017, and 2018, Charles Hopkins, working with others, transported and sold shovelnose sturgeon and their roe in interstate commerce, knowing that the fish were taken in violation of and in an unlawful manner under the laws and regulations of Kentucky.
The defendant will make an initial court appearance on a later date before a U. S. Magistrate Judge of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Hopkins faces up to 5 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Madison Sewell.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Louisville, Kentucky Police Officer Pleads Guilty for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Katie R. Crews, 29, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating an individual’s rights by using excessive force while acting as a police officer.
During the plea hearing, Crews admitted that on or about June 1, 2020, while acting as a police officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department, she shot an individual with a pepperball, while the individual was standing on private property and not posing a threat to the defendant or others. Crews pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count for using unreasonable force. Crews’s guilty plea carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, and a maximum fine of $100,000. As part of the plea agreement, Crews is no longer an officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department and has forfeited her Kentucky law enforcement certification.
“Police officers who abuse their authority and act outside the bounds of the law will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute any officer who violates the public trust by using excessive force without cause.”
“I appreciate the outstanding investigatory work conducted by the FBI’s Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to work diligently with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure the citizens of the Western District are protected from the use of excessive force without cause by officials sworn to protect them.”
“Police officers take an oath to protect and serve our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen for the FBI Louisville Field Office. “This case serves as an example that the FBI is committed to identifying and investigating those law enforcement officers who choose to abandon their oath and violate the public’s civil rights.”
With her guilty plea and pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant will also forfeit her right to seek future employment in law enforcement. A sentencing date has been set for January 30, 2023.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.
The FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit jointly investigated the case through the Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Civil Rights Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Henderson Man for Fentanyl Overdose DeathsRead the Press Release
Henderson, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned a two-count indictment charging a local man with distribution of fentanyl causing two separate deaths in the Henderson area.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Henderson Police Chief Sean L. McKinney, and Henderson County Sheriff David Crafton made the announcement.
According to court documents, between December 27, 2021, and January 31, 2022, Elijah Lovell, 19, of Henderson, distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of another person, “J.H.” Additionally, on May 5, 2022, Lovell distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of “C.G.”
If convicted, Lovell faces a minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Henderson Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Bowling Green Federal Grand Jury Returns Five Indictments for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned five indictments today separately charging individuals with drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to the indictments:
Ahmed Al-Dulaimi, 23, of Bowling Green, is charged with being a felon in possession of three firearms. His prior felony convictions include theft by unlawful taking ($500 or more), fraudulent use of a credit card ($500 or more but less than $10,000), retaliation against a participant in the legal process, theft by unlawful taking (firearm), and receiving stolen property (firearm). If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison;
Michael S. Johnson, 45, of Adolphus, KY, is charged with possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison;
James Duke, 43, of Campbellsville, KY, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. His prior felony convictions include third-degree burglary, knowingly and fraudulently using an ID card/electronic code for benefits, and manufacturing methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison;
David Bridgewater, 39, of Campbellsville, KY, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. His prior felony convictions include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison; and
Bladimir Gomez-Aguilar, 38, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawful re-entry into the United States and possessing a firearm by a person unlawfully in the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The ATF Bowling Green Field Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, the Bowling Green Police Department, the Campbellsville Police Department, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the Allen County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cases.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II and Madison Sewell of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Jury Finds Tennessee Man Guilty of Robbing Five Louisville Area BanksRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal jury convicted a Tennessee man on Friday, October 7, 2022, of robbing five Louisville area banks.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Chief Erika Shields made the announcement.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on April 2, 2021, Salvador Jones, 36, of Tennessee, entered the Fifth Third Bank located at 401 South 4th Street in Louisville, Kentucky, and presented a demand note and robbed the bank. Additionally, beginning on April 8, 2021, and continuing until May 5, 2021, Jones entered four Louisville-area U.S. Banks and a U.S. Bank in New Albany, Indiana, and robbed each bank by presenting a demand note. Evidence presented at trial detailed how the Robbery Unit with LMPD coordinated with area law enforcement to determine Jones’ getaway vehicle, which eventually led to his apprehension in Nashville, Tennessee.
At the time of his arrest, Jones provided a statement admitting to some of the robberies. However, during the trial, Jones testified and attempted to deflect blame for the robberies on his now deceased stepson. After three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all five charged counts of bank robbery in the Western District of Kentucky.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. before a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Jones faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones remains in federal custody.
The LMPD investigated the case and was assisted by the Shively Police Department, the New Albany Police Department, and the Nashville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.
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Former Louisville, Kentucky, Corrections Officer Convicted of Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Louisville, Kentucky, found Darrell Taylor, 32, a former officer with the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC), guilty of having used unlawful force against a pretrial detainee.
Evidence presented at trial included a video showing the defendant’s assault of the detainee. On the video, the defendant can be seen grabbing the detainee and throwing him to the ground, and then punching the detainee repeatedly in the face and head until he appears to lose consciousness. The officer then lifts the detainee’s limp body and slams him face-first into the ground. At trial, the director of LMDC testified that the force depicted on the video was inconsistent with training provided to every LMDC officer.
The detainee, identified in charging documents only as B.R., did not testify. However, evidence at trial revealed that he suffered serious injury, including a broken and displaced jaw.
“Every person in our nation’s jails and prisons has the right to be free from excessive force by corrections officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“ With its verdict, the jury makes clear that corrections officers will be held accountable for beating and abusing the people in their custody.”
“I commend the FBI for its investigation of this matter and the prosecutors for their outstanding presentation of the case at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute the unlawful use of force by those charged with providing a safe environment for offenders in their custody.”
“Taylor violated the trust placed in him as a Corrections Officer when he violently attacked B.H. Criminal behavior such as this must be punished,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen for the FBI Louisville Field Office. “It is a fundamental part of the FBI's mission to protect the civil rights of all people, including those who are incarcerated, and we will continue to work with our partners to seek justice.”
The defendant will be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2023. The charge on which he was convicted carries a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
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Winchester Kentucky Man Charged with Assaulting Two Transportation Security Officers at AirportRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Kelvin R. Portwood with forcibly assaulting two Transportation Security Agency (TSA) Officers at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Kelvin R. Portwood, 55, of Winchester, Kentucky, was charged with interference with security screening personnel and two counts of forcibly assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers of the United States government. Portwood was charged by criminal complaint and was arrested on September 30, 2022.
The defendant appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Kentucky for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint on October 2, 2022. If convicted, Portwood faces up to 26 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, the TSA, the U.S. Air Marshal Service, and the Louisville Airport Police, with the assistance of the Clark County Kentucky Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Sterling Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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