Western District of Kentucky
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Paducah Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for CARES Act FraudRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Paducah man was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000 for fraud related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Jerry C. Templet, Jr. Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
According to court documents, between June 30, 2020, and July 3, 2020, Travon D. Jones, 27, of Paducah, Kentucky, stole $10,000 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The EIDL program is a CARES Act financial assistance program which provided loan assistance (including $10,000 advances) for small businesses and other eligible entities for loans up to $2 million. The EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the COVID-19 disaster not occurred. The EIDL application Jones submitted through the SBA online portal contained false statements and misrepresentations.
Jones was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Paducah Police Department and the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Louisville Man Indicted on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging James Hickman III with illegal 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 U.S. Marshal Gary B. Burman of the U.S. Marshal Service for the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
According to the indictment, James Hickman III, 29, of Louisville, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hickman was previously convicted in Jefferson County, Kentucky, with the felonies of facilitation of robbery in the first degree, assault under extreme emotional disturbance, and tampering with physical evidence.
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, Hickman faces up to 15 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 ATF, United States Marshals Service, and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter.
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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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Bomb HoaxRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a single-count indictment yesterday charging a local man with violating a federal law prohibiting false information and hoaxes.
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, on August 12, 2022, Jimmy Smith, Jr., 50, engaged in conduct with intent to convey false and misleading information under circumstances where such information may reasonably be believed and where such information indicates that an activity has taken, is taking, or will take place that would constitute a violation of federal law relating to a bomb.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum sentence of five 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 FBI and Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless is 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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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 September 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 ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, on September 6, 2022, Gregory Tolbert, 19, knowingly possessed a machine gun, a Glock switch bearing no serial number. Tolbert is currently in state custody at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and will be scheduled for his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty 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 Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case. SAUSA Lantz is an Assistant Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney sworn in as a SAUSA to prosecute firearms cases in federal court. She works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime. Funding for SAUSA Lantz’s position comes from a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, to the office of Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.
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, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Bowling Green Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 16 Years and 8 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced today to 16 years and 8 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and other drug trafficking related 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, Task Force 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, from October 1, 2019, to November 18, 2020, Dimitri Hill, 30, conspired to possess with intent to distribute over 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Hill was also charged with aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. These charges include aiding and abetting the possession of 107.98 grams of methamphetamine on March 10, 2020, 1,205.64 grams of methamphetamine on October 13, 2020, and 11.57 grams of methamphetamine on March 17, 2020. Hill, a convicted felon, also knowingly possessed a Ruger LC9S, nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, on August 19, 2019. Hill had previously been convicted of second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary on or about March 16, 2012, in Warren Circuit Court under case number 11-CR-00655-02.
Hill was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case resulted from the outstanding work and combined efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “The citizens of the Western District are fortunate to have the dedicated professionals of the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, Kentucky State Police, and ATF on duty every day, working tirelessly, to keep our communities safe from the scourge of illegal drug activity and the violent crime which accompanies it.”
“Too many families have endured pain and suffering resulting from the drug epidemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “Often, the drug problem we see in our region directly contributes to violence on our streets. As this case shows, ATF is committed to working with our partners to pursue armed drug dealers who use guns and violence to harm our communities. I commend the Warren County Drug Task Force, Kentucky State Police, ATF’s Bowling Green Field Office, and the prosecution team for their hard work in bringing this offender to justice.”
The ATF, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and the Kentucky State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted 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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Oak Grove Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment yesterday against Michael Crawford for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Chief Brian Laird of the Paducah Police Department, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Michael Crawford, 28, of Oak Grove, Kentucky, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The defendant will be scheduled to make his initial court appearance at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted at trial, he faces not less than 10 years, nor more than life, in federal 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.
The Paducah Police Department and the FBI Louisville Field Office’s Paducah Resident Agency are investigating the case.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus.
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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Louisville Man Federally Indicted on Fentanyl Distribution and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned a nine-count indictment on September 7, 2022, charging a local man with distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
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, Trey Joshua Shoats, 29, of Louisville, conspired to distribute and distributed fentanyl in the Western District of Kentucky from at least July 5, 2022, to August 30, 2022. Specifically, he distributed fentanyl on July 5, July 27, August 2, and August 30, 2022. On each occasion, he possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug transaction.
Shoats is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; four counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; and four counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a combined mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years and a maximum penalty of life 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.
The FBI is investigating the case. The Louisville Metro Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kentucky State Police assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Blaylock is 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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Federal Jury Finds Three Guilty in Pyramid SchemeRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A federal jury convicted an Owensboro man, a North Carolina man, and a Florida woman this week for conspiracies to commit mail fraud and securities fraud. The Owensboro man was also convicted of money laundering and attempted tax evasion for tax years 2013 and 2014.
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, Doyce G. Barnes, 73, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Faraday Hosseinipour, 54, of Jacksonville, Florida, were convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with the sale of 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, Barnes, and Hosseinipour 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.
The trial started in Owensboro, Kentucky on July 12, 2022, and concluded with the jury’s verdict on September 7, 2022, after four hours of deliberation. Maike was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Maike, Barnes, and Hosseinipour are scheduled for sentencing in Owensboro before a United States District Judge of the Western District of Kentucky on December 12, 2022. Maike faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. Barnes and Hosseiniour each face a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. The United States District Judge will determine the defendants sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
One co-defendant, Richard Anzalone, previously entered a plea of guilty to the conspiracy to commit securities fraud and testified at trial. He will be sentenced at a later date. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Madison Sewell and Marisa Ford prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Cristy Crocket.
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Louisville Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Senior VictimRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $285,336.93 for defrauding an elderly victim out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a bank fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Roy “Wayne” Jenkins, 66, converted at least $285,336.93 of the victim’s property to his personal use through fraudulent bank transactions between August 2013 and January 2018. Jenkins gained access to the elderly victim’s property and bank accounts under the pretense of helping her son, who held Power of Attorney, manage her financial affairs when she was no longer able to do so. The fraudulent transactions Jenkins engaged in during the scheme included making an unauthorized withdrawal of life insurance proceeds to which he was not entitled, forging checks to steal funds from the victim’s accounts and from a trust established for her benefit and making unauthorized online payments from the victim’s accounts to his personal credit card account.
"I commend the work of LMPD and the United States Secret Service during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” stated United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Fraudsters who concoct schemes to target the hard-earned savings of our seniors take note. Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners we will work tirelessly in pursuit of identifying, apprehending, and fully prosecuting you.”
The Louisville Metro Police Department and the United States Secret Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel prosecuted 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 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.
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Federal Jury Finds Serial Burglar Guilty of Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal jury convicted a Louisville man yesterday of possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2020, Nathaniel Durham, 31, was armed with a firearm as he approached a stolen vehicle. As Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers attempted to arrest the individuals in possession of the stolen vehicle, Durham fled and threw the firearm to the ground. After a short foot pursuit, Durham was apprehended. The jury found Durham guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Durham’s prior felony convictions included more than ten (10) burglaries in Jefferson County.
Durham was charged in an indictment that also charged Marquise Reyes, Jeremy Cosby, and Phillips Barnes with other offenses. Each of these defendants pled guilty prior to trial.
Marquise Reyes, 24, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 29, 2022, Reyes was sentenced by a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky to 43 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On August 25, 2022, Jeremy Cosby, 28, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2022.
On August 30, 2022, Phillip Barnes, 33, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2022.
Durham’s sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2022. Durham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Durham remains in federal custody.
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 LMPD Chief Erika Shields made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia P. Gomez and Mac Shannon are prosecuting the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.
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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Shelbyville Woman Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Shelbyville, Kentucky woman was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for embezzling funds from her employer and including false information on her tax returns.
According to court documents, Kimberly F. Jones, 53, was employed as an office manager at Guardian Retention Systems, LLC in Bullitt County, Kentucky. As office manager, she handled accounts payable and receivable, petty cash, payroll, and taxes. She also had electronic access to the bank accounts to pay bills. During her time as officer manger, Jones took several actions to embezzle from her employer. She used company credit cards in her name and the names of other employees to make unauthorized personal purchases. She directed unauthorized transfers from the company bank account and diverted customer revenue received by the company’s electronic payment account. Jones also set up a business called KAB Enterprises, LLC to issue false invoices to Guardian Retention Systems. Jones would use the company credit cards and bank account to pay the fraudulent invoices from KAB Enterprises, LLC.
Jones also failed to report her embezzled funds as income on her tax returns for tax years 2016 through 2018.
“Outstanding work by the FBI and IRS during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “Along with the FBI and IRS, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraudsters who abuse corporate positions of trust and pilfer company funds.”
“Jones betrayed the trust placed in her by her employer, and criminal conduct like this undermines the financial health of honest businesses and can threaten jobs held by honest employees,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “As a result, FBI Louisville, the IRS, and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue our work to hold corrupt insiders accountable for their crimes.”
A United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky sentenced Jones to 30 months imprisonment and ordered her to pay $260,034 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda E. Gregory prosecuted the case.
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Owensboro Man Arrested on Federal Charges for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – An Owensboro, Kentucky man was arrested today on a federal indictment charging him with two counts of distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Ricky Sutton, 28, distributed a mixture and substance containing fentanyl in Owensboro, KY on November 3, 2021, and January 4, 2022.
Sutton is charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl. If convicted, Sutton faces a maximum penalty 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. Sutton remains in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing to be held on September 2, 2022.
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 R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
The FBI, the ATF, the Owensboro-Daviess County Appalachia HIDTA Drug Task Force, and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, is 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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Two Bowling Green Residents Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Illegal Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on August 10, 2022, charging Jack Herrod and Maleana Wilson with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and charging Herrod with firearms offenses.
According to court documents, on February 6, 2022, in Warren County, KY, Herrod, 59, and Wilson, 60, both of Bowling Green, possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Herrod also possessed a Heritage Manufacturing Inc. .22 caliber revolver as a convicted felon and in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Herrod had previously been convicted of the felony offense of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in case number 3:01-CR-30071.
Herrod and Wilson are charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting each other in that crime. Herrod is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The defendants made their initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
If convicted, Herrod faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and Wilson faces a mandatory minimum 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.
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, Tommy Loving, Director of the Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force, and Chief Michael Delaney of the Bowling Green Police Department made the announcement.
The ATF, the Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force, and the Bowling Green Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office 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, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kentucky Woman Pleads Guilty to Spraying Pepper Spray at Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Kentucky woman pleaded guilty today to resisting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon and other crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Her actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Shelly Stallings, 43, of Morganfield, Kentucky, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to all counts in a superseding indictment charging her with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers using a dangerous weapon, interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, among other charges.
According to court documents, Stallings and three co-defendants sprayed a chemical irritant, pepper spray, at a line of police officers attempting to secure the area of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol Building. The co-defendants, including her husband Peter J. Schwartz, 49, have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Stallings was arrested on Feb. 16, 2022, in Owensboro, Kentucky. She pleaded guilty to a total of seven charges. The charges include five felonies: assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon; interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. She also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor offenses: disorderly conduct in the Capitol Grounds of Buildings and committing an act of physical violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings. She is to be sentenced on Jan. 13, 2023. She faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison on the charge of assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon and statutory maximums totaling 36 additional years for the other offenses, as well as potential financial penalties.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Louisville Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 19 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 860 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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Frame and Receiver Rule Goes into EffectRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “Frame or Receiver” Final Rule goes into effect. The new rule modernizes the definition of a firearm and makes clear that parts kits that are readily convertible to functional weapons, or functional “frames” or “receivers” of weapons, are subject to the same regulations as traditional firearms. This rule will help curb the proliferation of “ghost guns,” which are often assembled from kits, do not contain serial numbers, and are sold without background checks, making them difficult to trace and easy to acquire by criminals.
“Last year, the Justice Department committed to modernizing our regulations to address the proliferation of ‘ghost guns’ that law enforcement officers across the country have increasingly recovered from crime scenes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These guns have often been sold as build-your-own kits that contain all or almost all of the parts needed to quickly build an unmarked gun. And anyone could sell or buy these guns without a background check.
“That changes today. This rule will make it harder for criminals and other prohibited persons to obtain untraceable guns. It will help to ensure that law enforcement officers can retrieve the information they need to solve crimes. And it will help reduce the number of untraceable firearms flooding our communities. I am grateful to the professionals across the Department who worked tirelessly to get this important rule finalized and implemented, and who did so in a way that respects the rights of law-abiding Americans.
“The Justice Department will continue to do everything within its power to protect our communities from violent crime and put an end to the plague of gun violence.”
The rule, which was posted in the Federal Register in April, will address the proliferation of these un-serialized firearms in several ways. These include:
- To help keep guns from being sold to convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers, the rule makes clear that retailers must run background checks before selling kits that contain the parts necessary for someone to readily make a gun.
- To help law enforcement trace guns used in a crime, the rule modernizes the definition of frame or receiver, clarifying which part of a weapon must be marked with a serial number – including in easy-to-build firearm kits.
- To help reduce the number of unmarked and hard-to-trace “ghost guns,” the rule establishes requirements for federally licensed firearms dealers and gunsmiths to have a serial number added to 3D printed guns or other un-serialized firearms they take into inventory.
- To better support tracing efforts, the rule requires federal firearms licensees, including gun retailers, to retain records for the length of time they are licensed, thereby expanding records retention beyond the prior requirement of 20 years. Over the past decade, ATF has been unable to trace thousands of firearms – many reportedly used in homicides or other violent crimes – because the records had already been destroyed. These records will continue to belong to, and be maintained by, federal firearms licensees while they are in business.
The proliferation of privately made firearms (PMFs), also known as “ghost guns”, are a growing problem for law enforcement efforts to reduce violent crime. Recent federal prosecutions by the Chicago Firearms Trafficking Strike Force show the impact:
- An Orland Hills, Ill., man was charged with illegally selling 36 firearms, including “ghost guns” and machine guns, in the Chicago area. Many of the transactions occurred in a car wash in a Chicago suburb.
- Two Indianapolis men were charged with federal firearm violations for allegedly trafficking 10 guns, including four semiautomatic rifles and two “ghost guns,” from Indianapolis to Chicago.
- A Chicago resident was charged with trafficking more than a dozen guns, including a “ghost gun” and a machine gun, in Chicago.
- Five men were indicted for allegedly trafficking guns from St. Louis to Chicago.
As the final rule explains, from January 2016 to December 2021, ATF received approximately 45,240 reports of suspected PMFs recovered by law enforcement, including in 692 homicide or attempted homicide investigations.
In April 2021, the Attorney General announced that the ATF would be issuing a proposed rule within 30 days to address the proliferation of unmarked firearms increasingly being used in crimes. On May 7, 2021, the Department of Justice issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, and during the 90-day open comment period, the ATF received more than 290,000 comments, the highest number of comments submitted to a proposed rule in the Justice Department’s history.
The final rule, as submitted to the Federal Register, can be viewed here: https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/definition-frame-or-receiver.
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Five Florida Men Arrested on Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol BreachRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Five Florida men, all self-identified militia members, were arrested today
on charges stemming from their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their
actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain
and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Four of the defendants -- Benjamin Cole, 38, of Leesburg, John Edward Crowley, 50, ofWindermere, Brian Preller, 33, of Mount Dora, and Jonathan Rockholt, 38, of Palm Coast, Florida –
are charged with the felony offense of interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil
disorder. Along with a fifth defendant -- Tyler Bensch, 20, of Casselberry – they also are charged
with the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and
disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.Crowley, Rockholt, and Bensch were arrested in Florida and are making their initial court
appearances today in the Middle District of Florida. Cole, who was arrested in Louisville, is making
his initial court appearance in the Western District of Kentucky. Preller, who was arrested in
Rutledge, Vermont, is making his appearance in the District of Vermont.
According to court documents, the five men self-identified as members of the “B Squad,” a
subgroup of a militia-style, Florida based organization known as the “Guardians of Freedom,” which
adheres to the ideology of the “Three Percenters.” They traveled to Washington, D.C., with others in
the “B Squad” and stayed at a hotel on Jan. 5, 2021. On Jan. 6, the five defendants were among those
illegally gathered on the Capitol grounds. Cole wore a tactical vest. Preller wore a tactical vest with a
chemical irritant spray attached to the front, as well as large goggles and a green helmet with the
word “monster” on the back. He also carried a long black walking stick and wore a shirt that read
“waterboarding instructor.” Rockholt wore a tactical vest and carried what appeared to be a knife in
his front right pocket; he also wore a baseball helmet. Bensch wore a tactical vest, as well as a
military-style helmet with goggles and a black gas mask. He also carried a chemical irritant in front
of the vest.Cole, Crowley, Preller and Rockholt were in a group that engaged in a confrontation with law
enforcement officers in the tunnel area of the Capitol’s Lower West Terrace. Bensch remained just
outside. While inside the tunnel, Cole, Preller, Crowley and Rockholt confronted and assisted the
crowd in confronting the officers that were preventing the tunnel and Capitol from being breached.
They added their force, momentum, bodies, and efforts to the other rioters in a “heave-ho” effort that
put pressure on the police line. As a direct result of the actions of the rioters in the tunnel at that
time, the mob penetrated deeper, pushing the police line back.Once officers finally were able to repel Cole, Preller, Crowley, Rockholt, and others from the
tunnel, Rockholt picked up a clear riot shield with a Capitol Police seal before leaving the area.
Bensch, meanwhile, used one of his chemical irritants to spray the face of an individual who was an
unknown member of the crowd, even though that person posed no threat to him.This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and
the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable
assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Florida, the District
of Vermont, and the Western District of Kentucky.The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington, Jacksonville, Tampa, Boston, and
Albany Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the
Metropolitan Police Department.In the 19 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 860 individuals have been arrested in nearly
all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 260 individuals
charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.##
Department of Justice Announces the Opening of Nominations for the Sixth Annual Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the Department of Justice is now accepting nominations for the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. Through this award, the Department of Justice honors the incredible work our nation’s law enforcement does to keep our communities and our country safe.
“Every day, law enforcement officers across the country work to forge and maintain strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “The Department of Justice cannot fulfill its public safety mission without such critical efforts, and this award is just one way the Department says ‘thank you’ to our law enforcement partners.”
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, Tribal, and territorial police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers, deputies, and troopers will have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, or field operations. Within each category, an award will be given to law enforcement agencies serving small, medium, and large jurisdictions. Those agency sizes are defined as follows:
- Small: agencies serving populations of fewer than 50,000.
- Medium: agencies serving populations of 50,000 to 250,000.
- Large: agencies serving populations of more than 250,000.
By acknowledging and rewarding these efforts, the Department strives to promote and sustain its commitment to community policing and to advance proactive policing practices that are fair and effective. With the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, the Justice Department recognizes that the nation’s law enforcement agencies, officers, deputies, and troopers continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
The deadline for nominations is Sept. 23, 2022 at 8 p.m. (ET). More information and the application for nominees can be found at: www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Four Indictments for Firearms and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned four indictments last week separately charging firearms and drug offenses. According to the indictments:
Charles Lee Bailey, age 45, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon;
Elmer Gregorio Mendoza, age 60, of Guatemala, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute more than a half kilogram of methamphetamine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl;
Charles Bethel, age 44, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute more than a half kilogram of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and
Charles Jermaine Gore, age 38, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Bailey made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Mendoza made his initial court appearance on August 9, 2022. Bethel and Gore will be scheduled at a later date to make their initial court appearances.
If convicted, Bailey faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, Mendoza faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, Bethel faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison, and Gore faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 25 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.
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 J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Division, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and LMPD Chief Erika Shields made the announcement.
The ATF, DEA, FBI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the cases.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Alicia Gomez and Frank Dahl.
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, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Louisville Woman Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Mailing Threatening Communications to NeighborsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment last week charging a local woman with mailing communications containing threats to injure others in November and December of 2020.
According to court documents and statements made in court yesterday, Suzanne Craft, 54, sent multiple threating communications via the United States Postal Service to a family that lived in her neighborhood. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs.
Craft is charged with five counts of interstate communication with threat to kidnap or injure in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 876(c). The defendant made her initial court appearance on August 19, 2022 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, and, after a hearing held yesterday, Craft was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, Craft faces a maximum penalty of 25 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Louisville Field Office, and U. S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl of the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division 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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Hopkinsville Man Federally Indicted for Illegally Possessing Handguns and DrugsRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on August 10, 2022, charging a Hopkinsville, KY, man with possessing handguns and drugs on two separate days.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2022, in Logan County, KY, Marquez Penman, 29, possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed, in connection with his drug trafficking, a Taurus, model G2C, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Additionally, on May 26, 2022, in Todd County, KY, Penman possessed with the intent to distribute marijuana and possessed, in connection with his drug trafficking, a Ruger, model SR-22, .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol.
Prior to these offenses Penman had been convicted of first-degree robbery in Christian Circuit Court in case number 13-CR-00349 and second-degree robbery in Christian Circuit Court in case number 11-CR-00423, making him a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Penman is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The defendant is scheduled for an arraignment on August 23, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 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.
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.
The ATF, the Kentucky State Police, and the Todd County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II 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, and 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 Three Men in Two Separate Louisville CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned two indictments yesterday, charging a local man with carjacking and a business robbery and two other local men with carjacking.
According to an indictment, on April 14, 2022, Corey Buford, 21, of Louisville, carjacked a vehicle from Kearney Motorsports in Louisville, Kentucky, while brandishing a firearm.
A separate indictment charges Shon Antonio Blythe Stuckey, 41, and Miguel D. Battle, 40, both of Louisville, with a January 21, 2022, carjacking in Louisville.
The charges were announced by Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr., and Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Erika Shields.
Buford was indicted on one count of carjacking, one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. If convicted of carjacking, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of interference with commerce by robbery, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison to run consecutive to all other penalties.
Stuckey and Battle were both indicted on one count of carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. If convicted of carjacking, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, unless they have three prior qualifying convictions, in which case they face a minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, they face a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison to run consecutive to all other penalties.
All three defendants are currently detained on state charges and will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once they are transferred to federal custody.
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 is investigating both cases. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the Buford case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the Stuckey and Battle 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 Metropolitan 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 Buford case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Blaylock is prosecuting the Stuckey and Battle case. SAUSA Lantz is an Assistant Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney sworn in as a SAUSA to prosecute firearms cases in federal court. She works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime. Funding for SAUSA Lantz’s position comes from a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, to the office of Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.
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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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, Kentucky – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a 22-count superseding indictment yesterday charging three local men and one local woman with engaging in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving multiple drugs and with other drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to court documents, Sansareya Reyes, 28, Ishia Reyes, 26, Dominique Pruitt, 24, and Romell Taylor, 24, all of Louisville, conspired to possess with the intent to distribute more than a half kilogram of methamphetamine as well as unspecified amounts of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl between May 11, 2022, and August 4, 2022.
Sansareya Reyes is also charged with distributing methamphetamine on ten occasions, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl on one occasion, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on one occasion.
Ishia Reyes is also charged with distributing methamphetamine on three occasions, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on one occasion, possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin on one occasion, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on one occasion, and possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Dominique Pruitt is also charged with distributing methamphetamine on three occasions, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl on one occasion, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on one occasion.
Romell Taylor is also charged with distributing methamphetamine on five occasions, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on one occasion, possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl on one occasion, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking on one occasion.
The defendants previously made their initial court appearances on August 4th and 5th, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Taylor is scheduled for arraignment on August 19, 2022. This case is scheduled for trial on October 13, 2022. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 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 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
The ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Alicia Gomez are prosecuting the case, in conjunction with trial attorneys Matthew Hoff and Lakeita Rox-Love from the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Calloway County Woman Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Illegal Transportation of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment yesterday charging a Calloway County woman with illegally transporting a firearm.
According to court documents, Denise Collins, 35, of Murray, Kentucky was indicted for illegally transporting into Kentucky, a firearm that was stolen outside of the state.
Collins is charged with illegal transportation or receipt in state of residency of a firearm purchased or acquired outside of state of residency. The defendant will be scheduled to make her initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty 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.
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.
The ATF, the McCracken County Sherriff’s Department, and the Paris Tennessee Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Porter 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, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Hopkinsville Man Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Buddy Chambless with drug trafficking and firearms offenses.
According to court records, Buddy Chambless, 38, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Chambless has a prior felony conviction for trafficking methamphetamine while armed. The indictment seeks forfeiture of over a dozen firearms that were seized during the course of the investigation.
Chambless will be scheduled to make an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Chambless faces up to 40 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
The ATF and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Aimee Clymer-Hancock and Assistant United States Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus are 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 and 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 Two Louisville Men and Two Elizabethtown Men in Separate Louisville CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned indictments on July 20, 2022, charging two Louisville men with carjackings and two Elizabethtown, Kentucky, men with carjacking and a business robbery.
According to court documents, on May 27, 2022, Mauricio Diaz, 19, and Fahad Alisawi, 18, both of Louisville, carjacked a vehicle in Louisville while brandishing a firearm; on May 28, 2022, they carjacked a vehicle in Louisville while brandishing a firearm; on May 30, 2022, Diaz attempted to carjack a vehicle in Louisville; on May 30, 2022, they carjacked a vehicle in Louisville while brandishing a firearm; and on June 2, 2022, they carjacked a vehicle in Louisville while brandishing a firearm.
A separate indictment charges Jalyn Redd, 23, and Dayveon Willock, 18, both of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, for carjacking and robbing a Domino’s delivery driver on December 22, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky.
The charges were announced by Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Erika Shields, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr.
Diaz and Alisawi are currently detained on state charges and will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once they are transferred to federal custody. Diaz and Alisawi were indicted on four counts of carjacking and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Diaz was also indicted on one count of attempted carjacking. If convicted of carjacking or attempted carjacking, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison per count. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, they face a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison, per count, to run consecutive to all other penalties.
Redd is currently detained 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. Willock’s arraignment and detention hearing will be held before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on August 5, 2022. Redd and Willock were both charged with one count of carjacking and one count of interference with commerce by robbery. If convicted of carjacking, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of interference with commerce by robbery, they face a maximum penalty 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 Louisville Metropolitan Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the cases. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Greater Hardin County Drug Task Force, and the Elizabethtown Police Department assisted in the investigations.
The charges resulted from 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 Metropolitan 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 Diaz and Alisawi case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Marie Blaylock is prosecuting the Redd and Willock case. SAUSA Lantz is an Assistant Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney sworn in as a SAUSA to prosecute firearms cases in federal court. She works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime. Funding for SAUSA Lantz’s position comes from a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, to the office of Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.
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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First Urology Commits to Changes and Pays to Resolve Justice Department Investigation into Allegations it Violated the ADA with a “Lifting Policy”Read the Press Release
Louisville, KY – First Urology, P.S.C., the largest provider of urologic care in the greater Louisville and Southern Indiana area, has agreed to pay $60,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide individuals with mobility disabilities equal access to its services and facilities.
The allegations involved First Urology’s “Lifting Policy,” which provided it would not assist patients in transferring to examination tables or other diagnostic equipment. First Urology’s policy denied patients full and equal access to the services it provided because it required certain patients with mobility disabilities to bring their own equipment, friends, family, or attendants to help facilitate their transfer, in order to be treated. If the patient did not bring equipment, friends, family, or attendants to help transfer them, First Urology denied that patient treatment. These allegations were raised by three patients who also filed a lawsuit against First Urology, styled Fust et. al, v. First Urology, Case No. 3:20-CV-562 (W.D. Ky.).
“The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in everyday activities,” stated Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “Everyday activities include medical services, and no patient should be denied health care as a result of a mobility disability.”
Under the terms of the agreement, First Urology will ensure that accessible medical equipment and rooms are available to patients who need them. This may include use of an accessible exam table, Hoyer lift, gait belt, or transfer board, or rails and other stabilizing equipment. First Urology will also modify its policies and practices, train its staff on the ADA and the terms of the agreement, and will periodically submit reports about its compliance with the terms of the agreement. Of the $60,000 being paid by First Urology, $45,000 will be distributed to three patients who were denied treatment and $15,000 will be paid as a civil penalty to the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jessica R. C. Malloy, investigated the matter.
For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint.
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Federal Grand Jury Charges Louisville Man with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, KY returned an indictment today charging a local man with illegally possessing a machine gun and possessing a firearm after having been prohibited.
According to court documents, on or about June 16, 2022, William Thompson, 31, knowingly possessed a machine gun, a Glock Switch bearing no serial number, and a firearm after having previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Thompson is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Thompson is currently in state custody at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and will be scheduled for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky once he is transferred to federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum potential penalty 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.
U. S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow made the announcement.
The ATF and Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhood, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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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Former Kentucky Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Officer Indicted for Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging a Kentucky man with using his former position as a probation officer to engage in unwanted sexual contact with individuals under his supervision.
According to court documents, Ronald R. Tyler, 55, of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, has been charged with engaging in unwanted sexual contact with four individuals who were under his supervision and with making false statements during an interview with the Kentucky State Police for the purpose of obstructing an investigation into allegations he had sexually assaulted females under his supervision.
Tyler made an initial appearance on the indictment today. He is charged with four counts for allegedly violating the civil rights of probationers by subjecting them to unwanted sexual conduct, and one count for the allegedly false statement to investigators. One of the civil rights counts alleges that the offense involved aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, Tyler faces a maximum of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky; and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Division 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 of the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division 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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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Louisville Man for CARES Act FraudRead the Press Release
Louisville, Kentucky – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment yesterday charging a local man with thirteen counts of fraud related to various CARES Act financial assistance programs.
According to court documents, between August 5, 2020, and October 5, 2021, Blake Patterson, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky filed eleven fraudulent applications for various CARES Act financial assistance programs, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), resulting in the theft of $133,802 and attempted theft of an additional $608,704.50. Patterson organized the entities et Propellente, Darke Rose, and Link LLC after the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic. He then exaggerated the gross revenues, number of employees, and payroll of those entities in the fraudulent applications he filed. Patterson was granted one EIDL payment in the amount of $67,900 and one PPP loan in the amount of $65,902. Patterson further submitted a fraudulent application seeking forgiveness of the PPP loan, which was ultimately granted.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP loans were designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses who were in operation on February 15, 2020, to keep their workers on the payroll. PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the business on certain permissible expenses. Interest and principal on PPP loans could be entirely forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on the allowable expenses within a designated period of time and used a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
Patterson is charged with twelve counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and one count of bank fraud in violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 1344. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 270 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Kelly K. Moening, Special Agent in Charge, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Great Lakes Field Division, made the announcement.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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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Two Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Possessing with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment today charging Roberto Soto-Mora and Hector Manuel Soto-Alvarez, both of Texas, with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
According to the indictment, Soto-Mora, 65, and Soto-Alvarez, 25, are both charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
They were both previously charged by criminal complaint on July 11, 2022. The complaint alleged that both men traveled together from Texas to Louisville on July 10, 2022. The defendants consented to a search of their vehicle by law enforcement officers in Louisville on that day. In their vehicle officers found 30 kilograms of suspected cocaine and one kilogram of suspected fentanyl. Both men were federally arrested on July 10th.
Soto-Mora and Soto-Alvarez are both scheduled to appear on July 21, 2022, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky for their arraignments. If convicted, both face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life imprisonment. 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division, made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, and the Jeffersontown Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Shannon is 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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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment today charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, on July 10, 2022, Herbert Lee, 30, was in possession of a handgun on July 10, 2022. Lee has previously been convicted of the following felonies that prohibit him from possessing a firearm: receiving stolen property over $500 but less than $10,000 in 2013; receiving stolen property over $500 but less than $10,000 in 2014; and receiving stolen property over $500 but less than $10,000 in 2019.
Lee is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He remains in state custody and will be scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and ATF Louisville Division Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Louisville Metro Police Department are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Emily Lantz is prosecuting the case. SAUSA Lantz is an Assistant Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney sworn in as a SAUSA to prosecute firearms cases in federal court. She works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime. Funding for SAUSA Lantz’s position comes from a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, to the office of Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhood, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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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Federal Grand Jury Charges Three Men with Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury returned three indictments in May of this year separately charging three men with firearms offenses. According to the indictments:
Shaun Powers, 43, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, illegal possession of a machine gun, and possession of an unregistered firearm, that is, a weapon made from a shotgun having a barrel length of less than 18 inches;
Cleve R. Nedd, Jr., 30, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm; and
Anthony Jones, 22, of Indianapolis, Indiana, formerly of Christian County, Kentucky, was charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms, 5 counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, transferring a firearm to an out of state resident, and illegal possession of a machine gun.
Powers made his initial court appearance on June 28, 2022. Jones made his initial court appearance on June 30, 2022. Both Powers and Jones remain in federal custody pending trial. Nedd is currently scheduled to make his initial court appearance on July 28, 2022. If convicted at trial, the defendants each face up to 10 years in federal 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kentucky State Police, Hopkinsville Police Department, and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cases.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Seth Hancock and Leigh Ann Dycus.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime
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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Texas Man Sentenced to 4 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 4 ½ years in prison for aggravated identity theft, unlawful possession of identity documents, possession of counterfeit and unauthorized credit and debit card information, and possession of equipment to make fraudulent credit and debit cards. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Bronson Meador, 35, of Hurst, Texas, who lived for a brief time in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, engaged in a months-long scheme in 2021 to obtain and use counterfeit and unauthorized credit and debit cards and other personally identifying information and financial information of various real individuals for his own personal benefit. As part of his scheme, Meador would purchase and otherwise obtain counterfeit and unauthorized credit card, debit card, and other personally identifying information and financial information of various individuals, known and unknown to him, and then use that information to personally assume their identities and access the financial accounts of those individuals without their authorization. Meador would also use the information to manufacture unauthorized access devices, such as credit or debit cards, which he subsequently used or sold. When Meador was encountered and stopped by law enforcement in April 2021, while engaged in an act of aggravated identity theft, he was in possession of at least 16 identification documents, including driver’s licenses, social security cards and military identification documents, and at least 44 credit or debit card numbers, several of which he had recently used to make unauthorized purchases. In addition to the 4 ½-year prison sentence, Meador was also ordered to pay $66,592 in restitution.
“I appreciate the combined effort of the United States Secret Service, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Louisville Airport Police during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “The fallout for victims of identity theft is burdensome, costly, and often long lasting. I commend our law enforcement partners for their quick response in this case and their ongoing work to make the Western District safer for all citizens.”
“This case should serve as a strong deterrent for criminals considering taking part in identity theft and related fraud schemes,” said Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Louisville Field Office. “The Secret Service along with our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and arrest criminals who attempt to defraud and victimize our citizens.”
The United States Secret Service, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Louisville Airport Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Zimdahl prosecuted the case.
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Louisville Pediatrician Federally Indicted in Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY– A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a one count indictment on June 15, 2022, charging a Louisville physician with her role in a murder-for-hire scheme to kill her former husband.
According to court documents, Dr. Stephanie M. Russell, 51, used facilities in interstate commerce, specifically telephones, to call and text a person Russell believed she was paying to kill her former husband. In fact, the person Russell was plotting with is employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was working in an undercover capacity while communicating with Russell.
Russell is charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. The defendant was detained pending trial following a hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Kentucky, and at her arraignment on the single count indictment on June 16, 2022, she entered a plea of not guilty. The case is scheduled for a jury trial before a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky on August 22, 2022. If convicted, Russell faces a maximum penalty of 10 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Ford is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Former LMPD Officers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights; One Also Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two former Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) officers charged with conspiring to violate the civil rights of Louisville pedestrians through the arbitrary use of force pled guilty in federal court today. One of them also pled guilty to engaging in a cyberstalking conspiracy to hack computer applications for compromising photographs of female victims and then using those photographs to extort additional compromising photographs from the victims.
Bryan Andrew Wilson, 36, and Curt Flynn, 40, both pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to violate civil rights in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 241.
According to court documents, from 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. As part of the conspiracy, Wilson, Flynn, and others, while on duty, dressed in clothing identifying them as LMPD officers, and driving unmarked LMPD vehicles, assaulted and attempted to assault civilian John Does and Jane Does by throwing large beverages, including the container and/or its contents, at the civilians. Wilson and Flynn would obtain the beverages, bring them into their cars, and then, after identifying a target, Wilson, Flynn, or another driver of the unmarked LMPD vehicle, would slow down and drive closer to the sidewalk or the edge of the street where the civilian was located. At various points Wilson or Flynn would announce on the police radio words to the effect of, “someone was thirsty” or “thirsty fam,” and then Wilson or Flynn would throw the beverage, including the container and/or its contents, at the targeted civilian, and the driver of the unmarked LMPD vehicle would then accelerate the car and flee the scene.
On many occasions, the civilian was hit with the beverage, and on at least one occasion, a civilian was knocked down to the ground from the impact of being hit with the beverage and container. Wilson and Flynn would record or instruct others to record their actions on video using their cell phones, sometimes from inside the car from which the beverage was thrown, and sometimes from an LMPD car following closely behind the car from which the beverage was thrown. Wilson subsequently displayed these videos to other members of the LMPD Ninth Mobile Unit.
Wilson also pled guilty today in a separate case to one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 2261A(2)(B). According to court documents in Wilson’s second case, between September and October 2020, Wilson conspired with others to use an electronic communication service with the intent to harass and intimidate another person, and to engage in conduct that caused substantial emotional distress to another person. As part of the conspiracy, Wilson identified computer applications belonging to women and hacked those computer applications and stole compromising photographs, videos, and other information. Wilson then contacted the women via text messages and threatened to publish the stolen compromising photographs and videos unless those women provided additional compromising material to him. Throughout the course of the cyberstalking conspiracy, Wilson had at least six female victims from whom he stole compromising photographs, videos and other information and attempted to extort additional material on threat of publication.
Wilson and Flynn are both scheduled to be sentenced on September 30, 2022. Wilson faces a combined maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on both cases. Flynn faces a maximum penalty of 10 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.
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Weiser and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the cases.
Paducah Doctor Admits to Violating the False Claims Act and Being Liable for Millions for His Role in a Telehealth Scheme by Ordering Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Genetic TestsRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – Patrick C. Finney, M.D., located in Paducah, has agreed to pay $561,800 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of false or fraudulent claims to Medicare, knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used, false records and statements to obtain payment from Medicare, and conspiring to defraud Medicare by causing the submission and payment of false or fraudulent claims.
“I commend HHS-OIG and AUSAs Malloy and Weyand for their outstanding work in this case,” said Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to aggressively pursue medical providers engaged in illegal kickback schemes as such fraudulent conduct puts vulnerable patients at risk of harm and drains the taxpayer funded Medicare program of money intended for legitimate claims.”
“This provider leveraged his professional status to pursue illegitimate personal profit, undermining both patient trust and the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold accountable any perpetrator of health care fraud.”
The government’s complaint alleged that, between November 16, 2017, through August 28, 2020, Dr. Finney knowingly caused to be submitted, and conspired to submit and cause the submission of, more than three million dollars in false claims to Medicare. He did so by:
(a) entering into financial arrangements with Barton Associates, a locum tenens physician staffing firm, to provide telehealth services for clients of Barton Associates, related to the referral of Medicare patients for the furnishing of DME and genetic testing items and services and ordering or arranging for the ordering of DME and genetic testing items and services;
(b) receiving illegal remuneration from Barton Associates and its telehealth clients in exchange for referring Medicare patients and ordering or arranging for the ordering of DME and genetic testing items and services, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b; and
(c) causing to be billed to Medicare false claims for DME and genetic testing, because the claims were tainted by kickbacks and were not medically necessary, as he did not engage in the treatment of the Medicare beneficiaries, had no physician-patient relationship with the beneficiaries, often did not speak with the beneficiaries, and knew his prescribed goods and services were not medically necessary.
Through the Stipulation and Order signed by the parties and to be entered by the Court, Dr. Finney has admitted that he violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733, by knowingly causing the submission of false or fraudulent claims to Medicare. He also admitted to knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used, false records and statements to obtain payment from Medicare, and conspiring to defraud Medicare by causing the submission and payment of false or fraudulent claims. Finally, he admitted that these actions caused damages for which he is liable to the United States in the amount of $11,025,088 under the False Claims Act (which allows for damages in the amount of three times the government’s loss, plus penalties). The terms of the Stipulation and Order allows Dr. Finney to fulfill his obligation to pay the Consent Judgment by paying $561,800.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. C. Malloy and A. Matthew Weyand investigated the matter.
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Four Men Convicted of Federal Financial Crimes Involving Money Laundering, Structuring, Wire Fraud, and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Louisville, Kentucky – On May 24, 2022, a former Louisville, Kentucky resident was convicted and sentenced for conspiring to commit money laundering by assisting in the unlawful purchase of automobiles with criminal proceeds. On May 26, 2022, a Prospect, Kentucky resident was convicted and sentenced for a financial crime involving the use of a nominee to purchase automobiles in order to conceal the source of the funds used. These convictions follow financial crime convictions of two additional men, one earlier this year, and the other last year.
“I commend the IRS, ATF, and LMPD for their investigative work in these cases,” said United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “As the convictions demonstrate, this office and our law enforcement partners, will leave no stone unturned when it comes to conducting investigations involving financial crimes.”
“When criminals go to great lengths to conceal the source of their proceeds, IRS CI will follow the money to unveil the true source of the funds,” said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Office to bring those committing financial crimes to justice.”
According to court documents, between 2016 and 2017, Stephen Mudd, Jr., 40, formerly of Louisville, while working as a car salesman, helped falsify employment and bank account information in order to facilitate the purchase of automobiles with criminal proceeds—with either the proceeds providing a cash down payment, or the means of monthly payments on an automobile loan from a financial institution. Mudd knew that lenders would not extend financing without proof of a legitimate source of income. Additionally, Mudd had reason to know that the transactions involved proceeds of criminal activity. By assisting others in spending criminal proceeds, Mudd helped conceal the criminal source of the money and avoided reporting requirements that would otherwise apply to large cash transactions. On May 24, 2022, a United States District Judge sentenced Mudd to three years of probation and imposed a $4,000 fine. Mudd was also ordered to forfeit $6,188.
In addition, on May 26, 2022, Dominic Harrison, 38, of Prospect, Kentucky, was convicted and sentenced by a United States District Judge to three months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release with a condition that he serve months of home detention. Harrison previously pled guilty to violating Title 31, United States Code, Section 5324, which governs required reporting of large cash transactions. Harrison used third parties to conduct cash transactions related to the purchase of an automobile in order to evade the reporting requirements concerning the cash. Harrison was also ordered to forfeit $25,000 cash.
Previously, two other men were also convicted for financial crimes. Verrel Brice, 39, of Louisville, Kentucky, was convicted on August 23, 2021, for structuring cash transactions in violation of Title 31, United States Code, 5324. Brice received 30 months of probation and a $1,000 felony fine. Brice was also ordered to forfeit $2650 cash. O’Farrell Washington, 38, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced on February 2, 2022, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Washington was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $3,000.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin McKenzie and Amy Sullivan prosecuted the cases.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 Jury Convicts Louisville Attorney of Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal jury convicted Keith Hunter today for engaging in tax evasion following a five-day trial held in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Keith Hunter, 65, an attorney from Louisville, Kentucky, 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.
The jury found Hunter guilty of evasion of payment of tax in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7201. Hunter faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Hunter will be scheduled to appear before a federal district court judge who will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson, of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda E. Gregory and Joel King are prosecuting the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Two Men for Conspiracy to Steal Mail and Possession of a Postal KeyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment today charging two local men with conspiring to steal mail from authorized depositories of the United States Postal Service and unlawfully possessing a postal key that opened official mail receptacles.
According to the indictment, on June 8, 2022, Angel Martin, 23, and Brandon King, 20, engaged in a conspiracy to steal mail from United States Postal Service’s collection boxes on Hunsinger Lane and Billtown Road in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of this conspiracy, Martin and King unlawfully possessed an “arrow key,” which is a special key used to open official mail collection boxes.
Martin and King are both charged with conspiring to steal from an authorized depository for mail matter, post office, letter box, and mail receptacle, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and unlawful possession of a key suited to locks on authorized receptacles for the deposit and delivery of mail matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704. If convicted, each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Both defendants will be scheduled to make their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Jeffersontown Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel King is 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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Federal Indictment Returned in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah, Kentucky returned an indictment this week charging Caryon Johnson, of Paducah, and Treon McElrath, of Clinton, Kentucky and Union City, Tennessee with engaging in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Johnson, 43, was arrested by state and local law enforcement in Paducah on May 5, 2022, after a search warrant uncovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine and 100 grams of cocaine, along with counterfeit oxycodone pills believed to contain fentanyl. Additionally, law enforcement seized $8,532 in U.S. currency.
Also, according to court documents, McElrath, 43, was arrested by state and local law enforcement in Fulton, Kentucky on May 5, 2022. McElrath was operating a 2017 Maserati LVT and was found to be in possession of approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine. Later that same day, state and local law enforcement in Union City, Obion County, Tennessee discovered, during a search of McElrath’s residence, approximately 7 pounds of suspected cocaine, one-half pound of suspected methamphetamine, and approximately $24,000 in U.S. currency.
Johnson and McElrath are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. They will be scheduled to appear for their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, both face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life imprisonment. 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division, made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, the Hickman County Sheriff’s Office, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the Fulton Police Department, and the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force in Tennessee are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock is 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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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Illinois Man for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah returned an indictment on June 7, 2022, charging an Illinois man with bank robbery and interstate transportation of stolen property.
According to court documents, Reginald R. Thomas, 66, of Metropolis, IL, was charged with robbing FNB Bank in Lone Oak, KY on May 10, 2022. Thomas was apprehended in southern Illinois. He was also charged with interstate transportation of stolen property after transporting more than $5,000 in stolen cash from the bank into Illinois.
The defendant will be scheduled to make his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Thomas 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.
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, and the Metropolis Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee is 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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Former Louisville Kentucky Department of Corrections Officer Charged with Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darrell Taylor, 32, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, for using unlawful force against a pretrial detainee while Taylor was an officer at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, 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.
Today’s indictment charges Taylor with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. The indictment alleges that Taylor used unreasonable force when he assaulted pretrial detainee B.R., resulting in bodily injury to B.R., including a broken jaw.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory, and Special Litigation Counsel Sam Trepel and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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Cincinnati Man Convicted of Assaulting and Brandishing Firearm at Federal Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – After a week-long trial, a federal jury sitting in Louisville, Kentucky, convicted John F. Johnson, also known as Grand Master Jay, on both counts of an indictment that charged him with 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, John F. Johnson, 59, 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 Metropolitan Police Department.
Based on the two counts of conviction, Johnson faces a penalty of not less than 7 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. Sentencing is scheduled on August 22, 2022, at 11:00am.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Joe Ansari prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Adela Alic.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case.
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Justice Department Launches Civil Rights Investigation into Kentucky’s Mental Health Service SystemRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that it has opened an investigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into whether the Commonwealth of Kentucky subjects adults with serious mental illness living in the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro area to unnecessary institutionalization, and serious risk of institutionalization, in psychiatric hospitals. The investigation will examine whether Kentucky unnecessarily segregates people with serious mental illness in psychiatric hospitals and places them at risk of law enforcement encounters by failing to provide integrated community-based mental health services needed to avoid these results.
“When people do not receive the community-based mental health services they need, they often get caught in a cycle of psychiatric hospital stays,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This investigation also seeks to ensure that people with serious mental illness are not unnecessarily brought into contact with law enforcement. The Civil Rights Division is committed to enforcing the ADA so that people with disabilities are able to receive the services they need and qualify for, and that their civil rights are protected.”
“A state must make reasonable accommodations and provide appropriate community-based services to people with disabilities,” said United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Michael A. Bennett. “Our office will vigorously enforce the ADA. Our fellow citizens with mental health disabilities deserve nothing less.”
This investigation is separate from the Justice Department’s ongoing pattern or practice investigation into the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (Louisville Metro) and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). That investigation is examining several issues, including Louisville Metro and LMPD’s systems for responding to people experiencing behavioral health crises. The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C., and the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, in Louisville, are jointly conducting both investigations.
Prior to the announcement, the department informed the offices of Kentucky’s Governor and Attorney General of the investigation’s initiation.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via email at [email protected] or through the Civil Rights Division’s Civil Rights Portal, available at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s ADA enforcement is available on its website at https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/.
Bowling Green Man Sentenced to 11 years in Federal Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine for DistributionRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced yesterday, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, to 11 years in prison for possessing, with the intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on December 8, 2020, Robert Thomason, 41, possessed, with the intent to distribute, 54.13 grams of methamphetamine. Thomason also possessed a handgun after having been previously convicted of the felony offenses of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and bail jumping.
“Outstanding work by ATF, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and KSP,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky. “Drug distribution and the illegal possession of firearms remain top law enforcement priorities in the Western District as we continue the fight against violent crime.”
“Illegal drug trafficking is a threat to our community, frequently bringing with it the criminal use of firearms, violence, overdoses, and other criminal activity,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division. “ATF’s Louisville Division will continue to work with our partners, like the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force and Kentucky State Police, to target armed drug dealers and remove them from our communities. This investigation is an example of our commitment to protecting the public and making Kentucky safer.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II prosecuted the case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force, and the Kentucky State Police investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Louisville Doctor Charged with Murder-For-HireRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued yesterday charging a Louisville medical doctor with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of Murder-for-Hire.
According to court records, on May 15, 2022, Stephanie Russell, 52, contacted someone she believed she was hiring to murder her ex-husband. The individual she contacted to murder her ex-husband was an FBI Undercover Employee (UCE). Russell ultimately agreed to pay $7,000 to the UCE in exchange for murdering her ex-husband. On May 18, 2022, Russell placed $3,500 outside of her medical office in a drop box as half of the payment. She agreed to pay the other half once the murder took place. The FBI arrested Russell on May 19, 2022.
Russell made her initial appearance before a U.S Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 11:45 a.m. Russell is scheduled for preliminary and detention hearings in the U.S. Gene Snyder Courthouse on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
If convicted at trial, she faces a maximum term of up to 10 years in federal 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Marisa Ford.
A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a United States Magistrate Judge. The charge set forth in a complaint is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Lyon County Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography and Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Lyon County Kentucky man was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for possession of child pornography and being a felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, law enforcement officials opened an investigation into Kenneth Swartz, 64, after receiving a complaint alleging that Swartz, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, attempted to photograph a minor while shopping at a local store on May 28, 2020. The Eddyville Police Department confirmed the events after reviewing store security footage and, on May 29, 2020, a search warrant was executed on Swartz’s residence where a Savage Arms, Stevens model 94 shotgun and several cell phones were recovered. On June 24, 2020, law enforcement became aware that Swartz possessed an additional cell phone which he kept hidden under a sink at the residence. A second search warrant was executed, and the cell phone was recovered. Forensic analysis of the cell phones revealed that they contained over 200 images of child pornography.
“The sentence imposed in this case – ten years in prison followed by a lifetime of federal supervision – is the direct result of outstanding work and partnership between our local and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “I commend the Eddyville Police Department, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Paducah Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations for keeping our communities safe.”
The Eddyville Police Department, with the assistance of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, the Paducah Police Department, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee prosecuted 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.”
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Dayton Jones Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – Dayton Jones, 27, was sentenced this week to 96 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for production of child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victim and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from custody.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2014, a group of high school and college students got together at a friend’s apartment. The students, almost all of whom were under the age of 21, consumed significant amounts of alcohol. A fifteen-year-old boy (John Doe), passed out from alcohol intoxication. When John Doe passed out, several other males took turns sexually assaulting him with a sex toy. Jones made an audio and video recording of the assault which he then distributed to others via the social media application “Snapchat.”
“I commend the Louisville FBI, the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, and the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted this case for their outstanding effort,” said Michael A. Bennett, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “We will continue to prioritize the prosecution of child sexual exploitation and abuse in order to make our communities throughout the 53 counties of the Western District safer for all citizens.”
“This case highlights how those that choose to exploit our most vulnerable will be found and held accountable to the fullest degree under the rule of law. Removing child predators from our streets will remain one of the highest priorities for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI's Louisville Field Office. “If you are engaging in these heinous acts, know that the possibility of decades in federal prison with no parole is in your future.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Jo E. Lawless and Seth Hancock prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Louisville Field Office and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated 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.”
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Madisonville Man Faces Federal Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a Madisonville, KY man with distributing methamphetamine and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court records, Travarius Baxter, 34, distributed methamphetamine on February 17, 2022, and possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it on March 9, 2022.
On May 16, 2022, the defendant was arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted at trial, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years, and up to life, in federal 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.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Madisonville-Hopkins County VICE/Narcotics Unit are investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus.
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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Greene County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for CARES Act FraudRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Greene County Kentucky woman was sentenced yesterday to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for submitting nine fraudulent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act applications.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and July 2020, Mandy Ellen Bauer, 41, of Greensburg, Kentucky filed nine fraudulent applications for various CARES Act financial assistance programs, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and advance payment of tax credits, resulting in an attempted theft of over $230,000. In those false applications Bauer exaggerated the gross revenues, number of employees, and payroll of her company, Family Personal Sales. All of Bauer’s fraudulent applications were rejected and she did not receive any funds.
PPP loans were designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. Under this program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) would forgive all or part of loans if all employees were kept on the payroll for eight weeks and borrowers submitted documentation confirming that the loan proceeds were used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
EIDLs provided loan assistance (including $10,000 advances) for small businesses and other eligible entities for loans up to $2 million. The EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
“I commend the investigative work of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration,” said Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “Together with our federal law enforcement partners we will continue to identify, apprehend, and prosecute fraudsters involved in plots to steal federal relief funds.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to defraud programs afforded to the American people under the CARES Act,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). “We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice in this effort.”
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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