District of Maryland
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Damian Covington, age 24, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to his guilty plea, on September 24, 2020 BPD officers observed a black vehicle bearing a Virginia license plate driving at a high rate of speed and committing several traffic violations, including changing lanes without a signal. Two BPD officers notified other officers of the traffic violations. Soon after, several BPD officers stopped the vehicle on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore, Maryland.
One of the BPD detectives informed the driver that he was being pulled over for an unsafe lane change and requested vehicle registration. Covington was seated in the passenger seat. As the driver reached for the registration, one of the BPD officers observed a clear tube containing suspected marijuana. The driver acknowledged the presence of marijuana in the tube and held it up for the officers to view. BPD officers then conducted a search of the vehicle.
During the search, a BPD detective discovered the driver’s 9mm firearm with 12 rounds of ammunition located in the locked glove compartment. Officers also recovered a semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, six bullets, and two rounds of ammunition in a backpack behind the Covington’s seat. The bag also contained Covington’s identification card, three debit cards, and suspected marijuana.
BPD read Miranda rights to Covington who then admitted that he possessed the firearm inside of the backpack.
Prior to possessing the firearm and ammunition on September 24, 2020, Covington had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and his civil rights had not been restored.
Covington and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Covington will be sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey McCulley and Zachary B. Stendig, who are prosecuting the case.
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Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine in Cecil County, MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Nakir Ali Kiett, age 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute approximately 211 grams of methamphetamine in Cecil County, Maryland.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and the members of Cecil County Drug Task Force, including Chief Carolyn Rogers of the Elkton Police Department, Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams, Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, and Cecil County State’s Attorney James Dellmyer.
According to his guilty plea, in the fall of 2019, Cecil County Drug Task Force officers received information that an individual known as “Omar” was selling methamphetamine in Cecil County, Maryland. “Omar” was later identified as Kiett.
In August 2019, a confidential informant introduced an undercover officer to Kiett. Between August 28 and September 30, 2019, the undercover officer then arranged and conducted five separate controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Kiett, totaling approximately 150 grams of methamphetamine.
As stated in the plea agreement, on October 9, 2019, investigators obtained a search warrant for Kiett’s vehicle. On October 10, 2019 investigators arranged for a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Kiett. When Kiett arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location, investigators detained him and searched Kiett and his vehicle pursuant to the search warrant. During the search of the vehicle, investigators recovered approximately 61 grams of methamphetamine located in a space behind the vehicle’s radio.
In total, investigators purchased or seized approximately 211 grams of methamphetamine from Kiett between August 2019 and October 2019. Kiett agrees and admits that he knowingly and intentionally possessed the above-referenced methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Kiett and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Kiett will be sentenced to six years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III has scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the Department of Homeland Security and the Cecil County Drug Task Force (CCDTF) comprised of the Elkton Police Department, the Cecil County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland State Police, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin who is prosecuting the case.
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Wholesale Supplier of Narcotics to East Baltimore Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Federal Prison and Co-Defendant Drug Distributor Pleads Guilty to His Role in the Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Derek Crosby, age 40, of Baltimore, yesterday to 102 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the Monument Street area of East Baltimore, and for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Last week, co-defendant Malik Williams, a/k/a “Freaky,” age 32, of Baltimore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and to knowingly and intentionally possessing with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentence and guilty plea were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“There is no question that the excessive amount of violence in Baltimore stems in part from the drug trade, and getting wholesale narcotics dealers like Derek Crosby off the streets is an important component of our efforts to address the murders and shootings that steal lives and undermine our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “This Monument Street case is the kind of impactful investigation that federal, state and local partners can build through collaboration and a dedicated commitment to improving our communities.”
According to Crosby and Williams’ guilty pleas, in July of 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Strike Force Group 1 began an investigation of the Monument Street corridor in East Baltimore, which is known to support a high volume of street-level drug distribution and acts of violence associated with the drug trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple street-level drug trafficking “shops,” with the two most prominent located in the 400 block of North Montford Avenue at Jefferson Street (“the Montford DTO”) and in the 2400 block of East Monument Street at Port Street (the “Out the Mud,” or “OTM DTO”).
As detailed in their plea agreements, investigators identified Crosby as a wholesale distributor of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl and as a source of supply of the street-level Montford DTO, among others. Williams was identified as a drug distributor for the OTM DTO who agreed with his co-conspirators to acquire and to assist in distributing controlled substances to other persons. Investigators intercepted calls between Crosby and his co-conspirators and between Williams and his co-conspirators, discussing the distribution of drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.
Specifically, Crosby admitted that he owned a stash house in the 1700 block of Dallas Street in Baltimore, which he and his co-conspirators used to meet with customers and conduct drug transactions. According to his plea agreement, on June 19, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Dallas Street residence owned by Crosby and recovered 677 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, which Crosby admits he possessed with the intent to distribute for sale, and approximately 2.4 grams of crack cocaine. On June 21, 2019, a search warrant was executed on Crosby’s vehicle and law enforcement recovered a stolen .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol from a hidden compartment in the center console area. Crosby knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as the result of a previous felony conviction. Further, Crosby admitted that he possessed the firearm in connection to his drug trafficking.
Throughout the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, it was reasonably foreseeable to Crosby, and within the scope of the conspiracy that he or other members of the conspiracy would distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and at least 400 grams of fentanyl, as well as quantities of crack cocaine and heroin, during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Williams admitted that on October 30, 2018, he directed an undercover detective to a co-conspirator to purchased what the undercover detective thought was heroin, but was instead ten gelatin capsules containing a mixture of tramadol and fentanyl. On February 21, 2019, Williams sold an undercover detective four green top vials of cocaine. On June 25, 2019, Williams was arrested in the 2400 block of Monument Street and when Williams was searched, investigators recovered 48 grey top vials containing cocaine and 16 gel caps containing fentanyl. Williams admitted that on each of these three occasions he possessed the fentanyl and the cocaine with the intent to distribute them for sale.
Throughout the course of Williams’ involvement in the conspiracy, it was reasonably foreseeable to Williams, and within the scope of the conspiracy that he or other members of the conspiracy would distribute between 500 grams and two kilograms of cocaine, as well as quantities of crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Of the 25 defendants indicted in this case, 24—including Crosby and Williams—have pleaded guilty or been found guilty at trial. The remaining defendants have trial dates in November 2021.
Williams and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Williams will be sentenced to five years in federal prison. Judge Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Williams on September 17, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting the case.
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Temple Hills Felon Who Discharged a Firearm During Robbery of a Pharmacy While Demanding Oxycodone and Money from the Register Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Tyrek Montez Arrington, age 24, of Temple Hills, Maryland, to 11 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on federal charges for robbing a pharmacy, for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Arrington was convicted of those crimes by a federal jury on April 7, 2021, after two hours of deliberation.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Malik Azziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to evidence presented at Arrington’s three-day trial, on October 15, 2019, Arrington entered a drug store in Clinton, Maryland wearing a surgical mask and black latex gloves. Armed with a handgun, Arrington walked to the pharmacy area and entered the pharmacist booth. Arrington pointed the gun at the pharmacist and demanded oxycodone from a safe. Arrington then demanded that the pharmacist open the cash register. Arrington fired one round into the ceiling then took the cash drawer from the register. Witnesses testified that Arrington attempted to flee with the cash drawer taken from the register. Two law enforcement officers encountered Arrington in the store as he was attempting to flee. One officer saw Arrington with the cash drawer in his hand and ordered Arrington to the ground. Arrington dropped the cash drawer and the handgun and tried to evade the first officer, but ran into the second officer and was arrested.
According to trial evidence, law enforcement collected a live round and a spent shell casing from behind the counter. They also recovered the handgun that Arrington dropped—a loaded .22-caliber handgun.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwight Draughon and William D. Moomau, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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California-Based Narcotics Trafficker Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Other Drugs to Maryland and Other East Coast CommunitiesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Ana Christina Avalos a/k/a “Christina Cazares-Quintero”, age 35, of Phelan, California, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to her plea agreement, between at least December 2018 and January 2020, Avalos conspired with others to distribute and posses with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana. Avalos and a co-conspirator resided in California and acted as international narcotic importers for a drug trafficking organization.
Along with a co-conspirator, Avalos supplied narcotics to fellow co-conspirators who then shipped narcotics from the west coast to the east coast of the United States. A New York based co-conspirator supplied co-conspirators in Maryland, Washington D.C., and the Northern Virginia areas. Avalos regularly traveled to the New York area to collect money from accomplices and other narcotic customers.
For example, on May 21, 2019, Avalos received $9,000 as partial payment for a drug transaction totaling in $22,500. In exchange, Avalos provided the associate with cocaine. Over the course of the next month, at Avalos’s instruction, a co-conspirator made payments to Avalos by depositing money orders into Avalos’s checking account.
Law enforcement also captured three phone calls between Avalos and co-conspirators in which they discuss the quality, logistics, and potential financial gain from trafficking-controlled substances. Additionally, there were a number of drug-laden packages shipped from the west coast to the east coast as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy. Law enforcement captured four parcels and discovered approximately 505 grams of cocaine, approximately 5.73 pounds of marijuana, approximately 9.2 grams of marijuana, and 28 pounds of marijuana inside the respective parcels.
As stated in the plea agreement, on January 8, 2020 law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at several locations important to the drug trafficking organization, including Avalos’s and a co-conspirator’s shared California residence, a Virginia residence, and another co-conspirator’s California residence. Officers recovered approximately 500 grams of marijuana, a .38 caliber revolver, and a semi-automatic handgun from Avalos’s residence. As a result of a search warrant conducted at a co-conspirator’s California residence and a co-conspirator’s Virginia residence, officers seized four cell phones, a drug ledger, drug packaging materials, two heat sealers, approximately 17 pounds of marijuana, one kilogram of cocaine, approximately 48 grams of heroin, and other drug packaging tools.
In total, officers recovered approximately 866 grams of fentanyl, approximately 1,505 grams of cocaine, and at least 36,897 grams of marijuana.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, the Maryland State Police, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin B. Pulice and Timothy F. Hagan who prosecuted the case.
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Former Security Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Scheme Using the Stolen Identity Information of Coworkers and Job Applicants from His CompanyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Ricardo Carter II, age 37, of Camp Springs, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a check kiting and credit scheme using the stolen identity information of coworkers and job applicants to open fraudulent bank and credit accounts, causing more than $119,000 in losses to victim financial institutions.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office.
According to his guilty plea agreement, from January 2015 to December 2017, Carter used stolen names, date of births, and social security numbers to open fraudulent bank accounts at financial institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. He then used the fraudulently opened accounts to execute fraud schemes.
Specifically, once Carter opened a bank account using a stolen identity, he deposited nonsufficient funds checks into the account, then withdrew the value of the check in cash before the check cleared or transferred the funds into another account, using the money for his personal benefit. When Carter used a stolen identity to open a credit account, he used the credit card associated with the account for personal expenditures, causing a loss to the bank and adversely affecting the victim’s credit score. Carter used the stolen identities to open a large number of bank accounts at multiple financial institutions, executing the scheme in multiple jurisdictions, and timing the withdrawal of cash from the deposited checks before those checks could clear.
Carter admitted that in order to execute the check kiting and credit scheme, he used his position as a Security Supervisor at Company A to open accounts using the stolen identities of individuals who worked for or applied to work for Company A. By using his access to the personal identification information of those victims, Carter abused his position of trust with Company A.
On September 23, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Maryland returned an indictment against Carter, charging him with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On July 2, 2020, Carter was released pending trial on conditions, including that he not violate any local, state, or federal laws. In October 2020, while on pre-trial release, Carter applied to rent an apartment in Largo, Maryland, which was not the residence approved by the U.S. Pre-Trial Services Office. In the application to the apartment management company (Victim 6), Carter falsely listed Company A as his employer and used the social security number of another individual, without that person’s knowledge or permission. Carter submitted a fraudulent letter and pay stubs to Victim 6, both purportedly from Company A, falsely verifying Carter’s employment at Company A, in order to obtain Victim 6’s approval of Carter’s rental application. After Carter did not pay his rent, on March 22, 2021, Victim 6 asked Company A to authenticate the letter. Company A confirmed that the document was fraudulent. In total, Carter failed to pay at least $11,854.30 in rent owed to Victim 6.
On April 5, 2021, after a U.S. Magistrate Judge found that Carter had violated his conditions of pre-trial release, Carter was directed to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service by 3:00 p.m. Carter failed to report as directed and an arrest warrant was issued. Carter was subsequently apprehended in Florida on April 22, 2021.
Carter admitted that he fraudulently opened more than 100 bank and credit accounts using more than 10 stolen identities, resulting in a loss to the financial institutions of at least $119,733.94
As part of his plea agreement, Carter will forfeit at least $119,733.94, which are assets derived from or obtained as a result of Carter’s illegal activities, and will pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which the parties stipulate is at least $131,588.24.
Carter faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte has scheduled sentencing for November 30, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the Secret Service for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.
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Man Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Sending Threatening Emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins at the National Institutes of HealthRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Thomas Patrick Connally, Jr., age 56, for the federal charges of threats against a federal official and interstate communication containing a threat to harm, specifically for sending emails threatening harm to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, the current Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The criminal complaint was filed on July 26, 2021, and unsealed today upon Connally’s arrest. Connally is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan.
The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge George Adams, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We will never tolerate violent threats against public officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lenzner. “Our public health officials deserve our thanks and appreciation for their tireless work, and we will not hesitate to bring charges against those individuals who seek to use fear to silence these public servants.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, from December 28, 2020 to July 21, 2021, Connally used an email account from a provider of secure, encrypted email services based in Switzerland, to send a series of emails to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the current Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”) and the Chief Medical Advisor to President of the United States, threatening to harm and/or kill him and members of his family. One of the emails threatened that Dr. Fauci and his family would be “dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.” On April 24, 2021 alone, seven threatening emails were sent from the encrypted account between 10:05 p.m. and 10:12 p.m.
As detailed in the affidavit, also on April 24, 2021, just 30 minutes before the seven emails were sent to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the NIH, received a total of four threatening emails from the same encrypted email address associated with Connally.
Investigation revealed that the encrypted email account was associated with Connally. Pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement obtained emails from a mail.com account which the affidavit alleges Connally used to communicate with the encrypted email address used to send the threatening emails.
According to the affidavit, Connally also used the mail.com account to communicate with another individual discussing Dr. Fauci and espousing views that Dr. Fauci was engaged in fraud regarding HIV and AIDS, which was also one of the topics of the first threatening email sent from the encrypted account to Dr. Fauci on December 28, 2020. Connally allegedly sent threatening emails to Dr. Fauci as recently as July 21, 2021.
If convicted, Connally faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for threats against a federal official; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for interstate communication containing a threat to harm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HHS OIG for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Jessica C. Collins, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Owner of Business Providing Physical Therapy Services Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Failure to Pay $1.69 Million in Federal Employment and Employer TaxesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Harshe Shende, age 57, of Hanover, Maryland, to 15 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for willful failure to pay over employment taxes. Chief Judge Bredar also found that Shende failed to pay to the IRS a total of $1,690,000 in federal employment and employer taxes and ordered Shende to pay restitution in that amount to the IRS. Chief Judge Bredar imposed the sentence late on July 23, 2021.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, Shende was the sole owner and resident agent of Progressive Rehab Services, LLC, which employed physical and occupational therapists who went to nursing homes to render services to patients. Shende was the sole signatory on two bank accounts he opened for the corporation at separate banks in 2008 and 2013, respectively. Shende accrued large liabilities for Progressive Rehab by filing forms with the IRS which showed the amount of income tax withholding he collected from Progressive Rehab’s employees and their Medicare and Social Security withholding (collectively employment taxes) but by failing to pay the employment taxes to IRS. Shende also failed to pay the employers’ portion of employment taxes to the IRS. The IRS pursued collection activities against Progressive Rehab.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on March 16, 2006, Shende and his then wife incorporated Progressive Health Group, Inc., (“Progressive Health”) in Maryland, with the stated purpose to provide rehab to nursing homes, hospitals, assistive living and home health. Shende was listed as Executive Director on two bank accounts he opened for the corporation at separate banks in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Shende listed the same address in Columbia, Maryland, for Progressive Health as he did for Progressive Rehab.
Shende admitted that he caused Progressive Rehab’s employees to perform the same work but billed for their work using the name Progressive Health and paid their salaries using Progressive Health’s bank account. Progressive Health withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ paychecks, including federal income taxes, Medicare and social security (“FICA”) taxes. As he did with Progressive Rehab, Shende filed forms with the IRS for Progressive Health showing the amount of employment taxes withheld. However, as he did with Progressive Rehab, Shende willfully chose not to pay the taxes withheld from Progressive Health’s employees’ wages to the IRS, nor did he pay the employer’s portion of the employment taxes.
As a result, Shende failed to pay to the IRS a total of $155,838.15 in employment taxes withheld in tax years 2014 and 2015 and failed to pay the IRS a total of $103,066.85, which was the employer’s share of employment taxes for tax years 2014 and 2015.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce K. McDonald, who prosecuted the case.
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Federal Jury in Maryland Convicts Washington, D.C. Man in Stolen Identity Tax Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Devell Lincoln, age 55, of Washington, D.C., of conspiring to commit theft of public money, theft of public money and aggravated identity theft. The jury returned its verdict late on July 23, 2021.
The conviction was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to court documents and the evidence introduced at trial, from 2011 to 2013, Devell Lincoln conspired with Stephanie Twyman and others to cash tax refund checks fraudulently obtained by filing false federal income tax returns in the names of other individuals with the IRS. In total, the conspirators cashed more than $500,000 in fraudulent refunds at a check-cashing business and Lincoln deposited more than $150,000 in fraudulent refunds using bank accounts under his control.
From 2011 to 2013, false federal income tax returns were filed with the IRS using the names and Social Security numbers of unwitting taxpayers and seeking fraudulent refunds. When the refunds were received, Lincoln and his co-conspirators cashed the checks at a check-cashing business. In addition, from 2010 to 2014, Lincoln deposited fraudulent refunds into bank accounts under his control. While two of these accounts were in Lincoln’s name, one bank account was held in the name of a third-party, who was deceased, and one was in the name of a company registered under the deceased person’s name, with the deceased person as the signatory.
Twyman, age 49, of Clinton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to theft of government money and aggravated identity theft on July 3, 2019, for her role in the refund scheme. She is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Lincoln is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a mandatory two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft; a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy; and a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for theft of public money. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica C. Collins and Trial Attorney Abigail Burger Chingos of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Serial Robber Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Shaykh Abdul-Majid, age 34, of Washington, D.C. to 13 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for committing a series of armed robberies and for brandishing a firearm in relation to a violent crime.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, from March 28, 2020 to July 5, 2020 Abdul-Majid committed at least four robberies in which he posed as a customer before pointing a semi-automatic handgun at a victim employee, demanding store proceeds, and obtaining funds.
Specifically, on July 5, 2020, Abdul-Majid posed as a customer at a Kettering, Maryland business and pointed a silver and black handgun at a victim employee while demanding store proceeds. The victim employee complied with the demands and gave Abdul-Majid $200 in store funds. Abdul-Majid then instructed the victim employee to move to the store’s back storage area. Fearing that he would be shot, the victim employee attempted to remove the handgun from Abdul-Majid’s possession. During the struggle for the handgun, two rounds of ammunition were discharged. Neither round struck the victim employee, but his hands and fingers were badly cut as he tried to prevent the handgun’s slide from racking as casings were ejected. After the struggle, Abdul-Majid fled on foot with the stolen funds. In each robbery, Abdul-Majid drove the same vehicle with identifying Washington, D.C. registration plates.
As stated in the plea agreement, on July 7, 2020, detectives located Abdul-Majid’s vehicle in Washington, D.C. while Abdul-Majid was inside the vehicle. Upon seeing law enforcement, Abdul-Majid fled from his vehicle on foot. While a K-9 search was being conducted, Abdul-Majid announced his presence to law enforcement as the K-9 was searching the area where he was hiding. Abdul-Majid was then taken into custody.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Abdul-Majid’s vehicle and recovered a black-colored ball cap with the word “SLANE” stitched above the bill as well as a red glove. Both items are consistent with the items worn by Abdul-Majid in two of the robberies. Officers also recovered a victim’s wallet, five cell phones, a silver and black handgun, and $43.00 in cash.
In total, the four victim businesses Abdul-Majid robbed experienced a loss of at least $8,550.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes who prosecuted the case.
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Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Rasheed Mickens, age 35, of Catonsville, Maryland to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
Mickens has prior criminal convictions that include a 2006 carjacking conviction and a 2011 conviction for possession with intent to distribute narcotics.
According to his plea agreement, while conducting undercover surveillance at a Baltimore motel on July 8, 2020, the Baltimore County Police Department Vice Narcotics Special Enforcement Team observed a suspicious interaction between two male suspects. One male suspect was the passenger in a sedan and the other male arrived driving a pickup truck.
After the interaction concluded, law enforcement followed the sedan on I-695 driven by a female with the male passenger. Officers observed the male passenger hand the female driver an item while she was driving. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and recovered a total of 48 capsules containing white powder from the male passenger and female driver. An additional bag containing 50 capsules were discovered within the vehicle. The male passenger informed law enforcement that they purchased a total of 100 capsules of fentanyl for $300. Two of the fentanyl capsules were consumed while driving. The male suspect also informed law enforcement that he purchased the drugs from a man named “Mike” at the Baltimore motel. Lab results confirmed that the powder contained in the remaining 98 capsules was fentanyl.
As stated in the plea agreement, detectives returned to the Baltimore motel to locate the suspect known as “Mike”. The male suspect law enforcement observed in the hand to hand transaction was seen exiting a motel room carrying a backpack and several bags to the pickup truck seen earlier that day. As detectives approached and identified themselves to the male suspect, the suspect fled on foot. He was later captured and identified as Mickens.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Mickens informed law enforcement that there were drugs in his truck. Law enforcement recovered 213 capsules of fentanyl, 96 grams of fentanyl, one pound of marijuana, 44 individual baggies of marijuana, 35 mannite bars, a bag labeled “10,000” capsules containing several unused capsules, a loaded 9mm pistol, and three flip phones from the pickup truck. Additional white powder capsules and other drug paraphernalia was recovered from Mickens’s backpack.
Mickens agrees that the controlled substances recovered included more than 40 grams of fentanyl and that the quantity of controlled substances was a sufficient quantity to indicate an intent to distribute. Mickens also agrees that the firearm located in the vehicle was possessed in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Oldham who prosecuted the case.
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Christopher Cline A/K/A Carisa Cline Facing Federal Indictment for Two Bank Robberies and One Attempted Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Christopher Michael Cline, a/k/a “Carisa Cline”, age 44, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, for the federal charges of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery. The indictment was returned on June 2, 2021 and unsealed today upon Cline’s initial appearance.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to the three-count indictment, Cline allegedly attempted to commit a bank robbery in Gaithersburg, Maryland on January 28, 2021.
The indictment further alleges Cline committed two bank robberies in Gaithersburg, Maryland on January 29, 2021 and February 8, 2021.
If convicted, Cline faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered that Cline be detained pending trial.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Devontay Douglas, age 23, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for his role in an armed carjacking.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to his guilty plea, on July 10, 2018, Douglas and a co-conspirator robbed a pizza delivery employee at a Baltimore, Maryland apartment complex. During the robbery, Douglas brandished a black semi-automatic handgun and struck the victim in the face and ribs several times. Douglas and his co-conspirator then took the victim’s keys, cell phone, and approximately $50 in cash.
Subsequently, Douglas and his co-conspirator stole the victim’s vehicle and attempted to flee area. The victim immediately notified nearby security guards that he had been robbed and identified the stolen vehicle. Security guards quickly approached the vehicle with weapons drawn and ordered Douglas to stop. Douglas stopped the vehicle and placed his hands in the air. Meanwhile, Douglas’s co-conspirator fled on foot and was not apprehended. The security guards detained Douglas until BPD officers arrived.
When the BPD officers arrived, the officers recovered a Glock, 9mm handgun, loaded with approximately 15 rounds, in the driver’s side front floorboard where Douglas had been sitting.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Three RobberiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Javaughn Berry, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery).
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department, Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and the Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad.
According to his guilty plea, from October 2019 to December 2019, Berry and a co-conspirator committed three robberies within Maryland.
On October 13, 2019, Berry and a co-conspirator robbed a Baltimore, Maryland pharmacy. After the robbery, Baltimore Police Department officers responded to the scene and spoke to a victim who reported that the two male suspects wore black masks, black gloves, glasses, and yellow reflective vests. Prior to the robbery, both men were picking up trash in the parking lot. When the pharmacy opened at 8:00 a.m., the suspects entered. One suspect pointed a black revolver at a victim employee and demanded access to the safe. The suspects took $1,630.00 in cash from the safe and tied the victim’s hands with zip ties. They took also took the victim’s keys and fled in the victim’s vehicle.
After this robbery, investigators with the FBI obtained cell phone tower records which revealed that Berry and his co-conspirator’s phones were used in close proximity to the victim pharmacy around the time of the robbery. After investigators recovered Berry’s phone, they executed a search warrant on the device and recovered photos of Berry holding large amounts of cash. The photos were taken on the morning of the robbery.
On November 17, 2019, Berry and his co-conspirator executed a robbery at a retail establishment in Millersville, Maryland. Victims reported to Anne Arundel County Police that two men entered the store as it was closing and demanded money. Both suspects wore masks and had black handguns. The suspects stole $3,200.00 in cash and zip-tied the employees. One of the suspects struck a victim on the head and pulled her to the ground. The victim sustained a cut to her right ear and was treated by medics on scene.
Cell-site information shows Berry and his co-conspirator’s phones in the area near the retailer about two minutes after the robbery. Like the pharmacy robbery, Berry and his co-conspirator fled the scene by stealing an employee’s vehicle. Subsequent to a search warrant on the co-conspirator phone, investigators recovered a picture of a vehicle similar to the employee’s stolen vehicle. Metadata revealed that the picture first appeared on the co-conspirator phone after the robbery.
On December 13, 2019, Berry and his co-conspirator executed the third robbery at a Parksville, Maryland chain restaurant. On the morning of December 13, 2019, Baltimore County Police Department (“BCPD”) detectives responded to the restaurant and found the shift manager and his co-worker inside. According to the victim employees, around 7:00 a.m., the shift manager and co-worker unlocked the front doors when two male suspects entered the store wearing dark, hooded sweatshirts and masks. Berry’s co-conspirator approached the shift manager, pulled out a revolver, and demanded that he open the safe. Berry’s co-conspirator stole $3,393.37 in cash, then put the shift manager’s wrists and ankles in zip ties. Berry approached the co-worker and put zip ties on his wrists and ankles. Both men subsequently stole the shift manger’s vehicle and fled the scene, leaving behind the stolen vehicle from the November retail robbery.
A search warrant executed on the Berry’s phone revealed that Berry’s phone was in the parking lot of the restaurant in the time frame of the robbery.
As stated in his plea agreement, on December 14, 2019, a BCPD officer found the vehicle stolen during the restaurant robbery parked a few blocks away from Berry’s residence. BCPD officers placed a GPS device on the vehicle to track its movements.
As investigators continued following the stolen vehicle on December 16, 2019, Berry abandoned the car and fled on foot. Investigators found Berry walking along Harford Road soon afterward. After waiving his Miranda rights, Berry claimed that he saw the stolen car earlier that morning and wanted to take it for a joy ride.
Berry agrees that he committed the December 13, 2019 robbery of the victim restaurant. Berry also agrees that he took money from the presence of the victims, against the victims’ wills, by using actual or threatened force, violence, or fear of injury. Finally, the Berry agrees that the money stolen from victim restaurant affected interstate commerce.
Berry and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Berry will be sentenced to between 8 to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon K. Moore and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Podlesni who are prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore Drug Trafficker Who Injured Hospital Patient During Flight from Police Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Terrel Tomlin, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on December 4, 2019, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers observed Tomlin driving his vehicle back and forth through three lanes of traffic without signaling as well as braking quickly and aggressively. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle on the road leading towards Sinai Hospital’s emergency room entrance.
As detailed in the plea agreement, before approaching the vehicle, officers observed Tomlin making furtive movements in the vehicle and lowering his head towards the right side of the car. During the traffic stop, a BPD officer asked Tomlin for his driver’s license and registration and noticed Tomlin’s hands shaking excessively and his eyes were opened extremely wide. Based on Tomlin’s furtive movements and excessive nervousness, a BPD officer asked him to step out of the vehicle.
Instead, Tomlin attempted to flee, crashing his vehicle into a stationery vehicle, in which Victim 1, who was recently discharged from the hospital after surgery, was the driver, and Victim 1’s child (Victim 2) was a passenger. After the crash, Tomlin got out of the car and fled on foot, carrying a blue duffel bag. Items were falling out of the bag as Tomlin fled. Before he was apprehended by a BPD officer, Tomlin threw the bag in the air, causing items to scatter.
BPD officers recovered drugs and drug paraphernalia along the route that Tomlin ran as he fled from them, including the area in which they apprehended him. Among the items recovered were a blender containing fentanyl and tramadol residue; packaging material, some of which contained cocaine residue; and a clear plastic bag containing approximately 38 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl. During a search of Tomlin’s vehicle, BPD officers recovered a container of Inositol, a cutting agent for heroin; a bottle of ammonia, typically used to clean heroin mixing equipment; and a measuring cup.
During the crash, the steering wheel struck Victim 1’s surgery wound, and Victim 2’s head hit a window of the vehicle. Both victims received treatment for, and subsequently recovered from, the injuries caused by Tomlin crashing into their vehicle.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI Baltimore and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Samika N. Boyd, who prosecuted the case.
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Ms-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Destroy and Conceal Murder Evidence and Conspiracy to Participate in a Racketeering EnterpriseRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Kevin Alexis Rodriguez-Flores, age 20, of Annandale, Virginia to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence related to the murder of a MS-13 gang member.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy; Chief Kevin Davis of the Fairfax County Police Department; and Sheriff David P. Decatur of the Stafford County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office.
MS-13 is a national and transnational gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Maryland, Virginia, and throughout the United States. Members of MS-13 are expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members are expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence to maintain membership and discipline within the gang. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. Another principal rule of MS-13 is that its members must never cooperate with law enforcement. Violation of this rule results in an order of death for the offender.
According to his plea agreement, from 2018 to April 2019 Rodriguez-Flores was a member of the Enfermos Criminales Salvatruchas MS-13 clique and associated with members of the Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatrucha clique (LGCS) of MS-13. During this time period, Rodriguez-Flores and other members of the LGCS clique discussed committing racketeering acts, including killing a member of the LGCS clique (Victim 1) as well as rival gang members.
Specifically, on March 8, 2019, Rodriguez-Flores and other LGCS clique members, met at the Hyattsville, Maryland residence of the LGCS clique leader to question Victim 1’s possible cooperation with law enforcement. During the interrogation of Victim 1, the clique leader and gang members threatened and assaulted Victim 1 as the gang suspected that Victim 1 was cooperating with law enforcement. Gang members, including the clique leader, used knives to repeatedly cut and stab Victim 1. After Victim 1 was taken into the basement of the residence, the clique leader ordered Victim 1 to be killed. Gang members, including Rodriguez-Flores, stabbed Victim 1 with knives until Victim 1 was dead. Victim 1 died as a result of Rodriguez-Flores and the other gang member’s actions. According to the autopsy report, Victim 1 sustained a total of 144 wounds: 68 stab wounds and 76 cutting wounds. The autopsy also reported that the victim’s left internal jugular vein was cut and left carotid artery, an artery within the throat cavity, was transected.
Following the murder of Victim 1, the clique leader ordered three MS-13 members to dispose of Victim 1’s body in Virginia. According to the plea agreement, gang members subsequently burned the body of Victim 1. Rodriguez-Flores and other members remained at the clique leader’s residence and attempted to destroy evidence of Victim 1’s murder. This included disposing of blood in the basement and removing blood stained carpet.
After the MS-13 members returned from disposing of Victim 1’s body, co-conspirators cleaned the car, particularly the trunk area, in an attempt to remove evidence of the murder of Victim 1. Rodriguez-Flores remained at the residence of the clique leader until the following day, March 9, 2019, when he and other MS-13 members traveled back to Virginia.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the FBI, HSI Baltimore, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department, and the Stafford County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Moomau and Erin B. Pulice, who prosecuted the case.
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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Tyler Curtis, age 24, of Hampstead, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the possession of more than 300 illegal images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone. Curtis was previously convicted of the promotion and distribution of child pornography in 2017 within the Circuit Court of Carroll County, Maryland and was subsequently required to register as a sex offender.
The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees; and Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins.
According to his guilty plea, from February 2019 to May 2020, Curtis downloaded images and videos of child pornography on a cloud-based file storage and hosting service. On March 5, 2020, the cloud-based service submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Specifically, the service reported that a user account had uploaded 22 files of suspected child pornography. Images included the sexual abuse of prepubescent children.
As stated in the plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Curtis’s residence on May 28, 2020. During an interview with law enforcement, Curtis falsely informed investigators that he had not viewed child pornography since his 2017 conviction for child pornography-related offenses. He also falsely stated that he did not have a cell phone in his possession. As a result of the search warrant, law enforcement seized a hidden cell phone that was hidden in the bottom of Curtis’s bedroom dresser.
A forensic review of Curtis’s hidden cell phone revealed artifacts associated with at least 13 different email addresses. Investigators also discovered 115 images and 137 videos of child pornography on Curtis’s cell phone. The sexually abusive material contained sado-masochistic content as well as images of prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adult men, including at least two videos that depicted the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. A forensic review of Curtis’s file storage and hosting service account revealed that Curtis uploaded 185 images and 10 videos of child pornography to the service.
Curtis and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Curtis will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for September 30, 2021 at 2 p.m.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, Maryland State Police, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Ms-13 Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to a Racketeering Conspiracy for Gang Activities Including Murders, Attempted Murders, and ExtortionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Jorge Guerra-Castillo, a/k/a “Pelon”, age 40, of Silver Spring, Maryland, an MS-13 leader, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activities, including two murders and two attempted murders.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to call the FBI’s nationwide tipline, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713). The FBI tipline allows individuals to provide information about MS-13’s criminal activities to a central location and the FBI will then disseminate the information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for investigation. Your identity will be protected.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Frederick Police Department Chief Dwight Sommers; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad.
“The reign of terror, acts of violence, and horrific murders that Guerra-Castillo and his fellow MS-13 members have committed will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and our partners are committed to breaking the strong hold of violent gangs like MS-13 with swift and stringent prosecution. We will utilize every legal resource to ensure that citizens can live peacefully and fearlessly within their own communities.”
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland.
At all times of this conspiracy, members of MS-13 were expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members were expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 had mottos consistent with its rules, beliefs, expectations and reputation including “mata, viola, controla,” which translates as, “kill, rape, control,” and “ver, oir y callar,” which means, “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.”
MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang, as well as against rival gang members. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increase the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang, and opens the door to a promotion to a leadership position. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, often referred to as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
According to his guilty plea, beginning some time before January 2015, Guerra-Castillo was a member of the Fulton Locos Salvatruchas (“FLS”) clique of MS-13 and agreed with other MS-13 members to conduct and participate in gang activities through a pattern of racketeering activity that included conspiracy to commit murder, extortion, and drug distribution.
Specifically, on April 7, 2015, MS-13 members murdered Victim 1, a suspected rival gang member, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing rank in MS-13. Gang leadership in Maryland sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to kill Victim 1. Guerra-Castillo also arranged for another gang member to participate in the murder of Victim 1. As part of the scheme to murder Victim 1, MS-13 members lured Victim 1 to a wooded area in Frederick, Maryland where members repeatedly struck Victim 1 with a machete and a knife until he was dead. The day after the murder, MS-13 members buried Victim 1 in a wooded area where Victim 1’s body was ultimately recovered.
Prior to May 10, 2015, at the direction of Guerra- Castillo, MS-13 gang members forced Victim 2 to make regular extortion payments to the gang. On May 10, 2015, Guerra-Castillo directed other MS-13 members and associates to kidnap and kill Victim 2, who had stopped making the extortion payments to the gang. Gang members held Victim 2 at gunpoint while Victim 2 was forced into a vehicle and taken to a wooded area. Once Victim 2 agreed to pay the gang, Guerra-Castillo and other leadership approved the release of Victim 2, despite their original order directing MS-13 members to murder Victim 2 for lack of payment.
As stated in his plea agreement, on August 2015, MS-13 members and associates, planned and conspired to murder Victim 3, whom they believed to be a rival gang member. After identifying Victim 3, gang members sought and received approval from Guerra-Castillo to commit the murder. Several days prior to August 28, 2015, MS-13 gang members surveilled Victim 3 and his girlfriend, Victim 4 to determine when Victim 3 would be home. On the morning of August 28, 2015, gang members went to the apartment and waited inside for Victim 3 and Victim 4 to return. When they arrived, three gang members attacked Victim 3 and Victim 4 with a machete and knives. Although both survived, the attack on Victim 3 left the victim with severe wounds to the face and both hands nearly severed. As a result of the attack, Victim 3 has lost all function of one hand and still has only limited use of the other.
Guerra-Castillo also admitted that he approved and assisted in the planning of the murder of a suspected associate of a rival gang, identified as Victim 18. On June 24, 2017, Guerra-Castillo’s girlfriend lured Victim 18 to a location so MS-13 members could kidnap and kill the victim. Once the victim was in the car, MS-13 members transported the victim to a secluded area in Crownsville, Maryland, where other MS-13 members had dug a grave and gathered weapons. When the victim arrived, MS-13 gang members attacked Victim 18 with a machete and knives, until the victim was dead. Victim 18’s body was then dismembered and buried in the grave. The murder of Victim 18 was intended to maintain and increase the status of MS-13 and allow members to maintain or increase their status within the gang.
Guerra-Castillo and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Guerra-Castillo will be sentenced to between 390 and 540 months in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI; HSI; the Frederick Police Department; the Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County Police Departments; and the Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys for their work in the investigation, and the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Catherine K. Dick, Zachary Stendig, and Anatoly Smolkin, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Seizes Two Domains Attempting to Mimic Walmart Website and Purporting to Sell Drug for the Experimental and Unapproved Treatment or Prevention of Covid-19Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has seized “http://pharmacywalmart.com” and “https://stromectol-ivermectin.com” which on June 16, 2021 resolved to “https://en.pharmacywalmart.com/buy-stromectol-usa.html.” The websites contained numerous uses of the legitimate Walmart trademarked logo and appears to attempt to mimic a legitimate Walmart website. The fraudulent websites allegedly offers for sale a number of drugs for the experimental and unapproved treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Instead, the domains were allegedly used to collect the personal information of individuals visiting the sites in order to use the information for nefarious purposes, including fraud, phishing attacks, and/or deployment of malware. Individuals visiting the sites will now see a message that the site has been seized by the federal government and be redirected to another site for additional information. These are the 12th and 13th COVID fraud related domain name seized by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI.
The seizure of the domains name was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations - Baltimore.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the seizure, the HSI Intellectual Property Rights Center (“IPRC”) and the HSI Cyber Crimes Center (“C3”) discovered an apparent fraudulent website, named “https://stromectol-ivermectin.com” which resolved to an internal webpage of “pharmacywalmart.com.” A domain analysis conducted by HSI indicated that pharmacywalmart.com was created on November 4, 2019, from a registrant located in Russia.
The HSI Cyber Operations Officer (COO) noted the phone number “+1-718-475-90-88” on the pharmacywalmart.com website. While the location for the area code for this number is New York City, the format provided does not match that of a typical United States based phone number. Pharmacywalmart.com purports to offer for sale a number of drugs, including Stromectol (Ivermectin), Aralen (Chloroquine) and Kaletra (Lopinavir and Ritonavir), for the experimental and unapproved treatment or prevention of COVID-19.
As detailed in the affidavit filed in support of the seizure, Stromectol is the brand name of Ivermectin which is a prescription medication used to treat certain parasitic infections; Aralen is a brand name for chloroquine, most commonly used for the treatment and prevention of malaria; and Kaletra is the brand name of a combination of Lopinavir and Ritonavir which are prescription medications that are approved to treat human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). None of those drugs are an approved preventative or treatment for COVID-19. On the page offering Kaletra for sale, the subject domain name contained the following: “In 2020, after laboratory researches, it was found out that Kaletra shows positive results in a blockage of a COVID-19 viral replication.” The affidavit alleges that this statement is not supported by trials or the FDA.
Neither domain name is authorized by Walmart to use their intellectual property or offer their products for sale. By seizing the sites, the government has prevented third parties from acquiring the names and using it to commit additional crimes, as well as prevented third parties from continuing to access the sites in their present form.
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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI for its work in this investigation. Mr. Lenzner recognized the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Baltimore County Police Department for their assistance and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Sean R. Delaney, who are handling the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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Karon Foster Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Violent Racketeering Conspiracy That Killed Three Victims in Carjacking and Armed Robbery Spree in BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Karon Foster, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, a carjacking conspiracy, and aiding and abetting a carjacking resulting in death.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to his guilty plea, beginning in April 2019, Foster was part of an enterprise that engaged in a pattern of deadly racketeering activity, including a series of armed carjackings, armed robberies, attempted armed robberies, and the pawning of stolen goods. Specifically, between April 19, 2019 and August 8, 2019, Foster and his crew committed 13 specific violent crimes in Baltimore, including: eight armed carjackings (including the June 12, 2019 murder of Taven Lowther); and five armed robberies and attempted robberies, including two in which victims were murdered. Three victims were murdered by Foster’s crew during the time of the conspiracy, and a fourth victim was paralyzed as a result of an armed robbery.
“Over just four months in 2019, Karon Foster and his crew were responsible for a violent spree of 13 armed carjackings and robberies throughout Baltimore, including three that killed innocent victims and another that left a victim paralyzed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Foster and his co-conspirators used firearms and fear to steal cars, property and most tragically the lives of other human beings. This case reflects the collaboration and commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement to hold accountable violent offenders like Foster and his co-conspirators. Four months of violence will result in at least three decades in federal prison for Karon Foster; hopefully others like him will take notice and choose to put down the guns and take a different path.”
The plea agreement details a series of violent crimes committed by Foster and his co-conspirators, including one on June 12, 2019, when Victim 1 visited Taven Lowther’s Baltimore apartment. As Victim 1 conversed with Lowther, Foster and other members of the enterprise approached Lowther and Victim 1 in a stolen vehicle and parked directly across from them. Four men exited the vehicle, two of whom possessed firearms. Members of the enterprise approached Victim 1 and announced a robbery. Victim 1 fled the scene on foot while Lowther resisted the robbers’ commands. Lowther was shot several times and subsequently died from his injuries. Victim 1 later returned to the scene and discovered that Victim 1’s car and Lowther’s body were both gone, and only Lowther’s shoes remained at the scene. Foster aided and abetted the enterprise by driving the stolen vehicle to and from the scene of the attempted robbery and Lowther’s murder.
Members of the conspiracy not only promoted their activities on social media, but they also shared proceeds of their exploits. As part of the enterprise, Foster pawned items stolen from victims. Members also concealed enterprise activities by hiding, destroying, or disposing of evidence.
Foster and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Foster will be sentenced to between 30 years and 40 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has not scheduled the sentencing hearing at this time.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Brandon Moore who are prosecuting the case.
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Three Individuals Facing Federal Charges for Participating in a Healthcare Fraud Scheme to Sell Fraudulent Nursing DegreesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A criminal complaint has been filed charging Patrick Nwaokwu, age 50, of Laurel, Maryland; Musa Bangura, age 62, of Manassas, Virginia; and Johanah Napoleon, age 45, of Wellington, Florida with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit false statements relating to health care matters, and false statements to health care matters, in connection with a scheme to produce and sell fraudulent nursing transcripts and diplomas.
The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Elton Malone of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.
According to affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Nwaokwu, Bangura, and Napoleon conspired with others to commit health care fraud by producing and selling fraudulent nursing transcripts and diplomas, which were used to indicate that various individuals completed necessary courses and clinical hours to obtain medical licenses and practice in the health care field.
As detailed in the affidavit, Nwaokwu and Bangura owned and operated a nursing school located in Virginia (Nursing School 1). In 2013, the nursing school was forced to close due to violations of Virginia board regulations. The criminal complaint alleges that after that time, Nwaokwu and Bangura operated the former nursing school as an entity where individuals could purchase backdated, illegitimate registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) transcripts and certifications. Nwaokwu, and his associates also allegedly coached otherwise unqualified individuals to pass nursing board exams. A number of these unqualified individuals allegedly obtained employment at various healthcare providers in the District of Maryland. According to the criminal complaint, approximately 175 of Nwaokwu’s nursing graduates have applied to the Maryland Board of Nursing.
According to the criminal complaint, Nwaokwu conspired with individuals in Florida to sell illegitimate nursing degrees from a second nursing school (Nursing School 2) established by Napoleon in July 2016. In 2017, the Florida Board of Nursing forced the school to cease operations due to a low National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) passing rate. The affidavit alleges that the cost of illegitimate degrees from Nursing School 2 included preparation classes solely designed to pass the NCLEX and not to provide a formal education.
The criminal complaint also states that investigators obtained a list of Nursing School 2 graduates who applied to take the New York State Board Examination. Some individuals whose transcripts were backdated are included in this list as having passed the New York State Board Examination.
Court documents also detail two separate FBI undercover operations in which the FBI purchased fraudulent degrees. For example, in 2020, a confidential source allegedly obtained a fraudulent RN degree from Nwaokwu from Nursing School 2 and in March 2021, an FBI undercover agent purchased a diploma from Nursing School 2 for approximately $16,000. The diploma from Nursing School 2 appears to be signed by Napoleon with a graduation date of June 29, 2018. Nwaokwu, Bangura, Napoleon, and their coconspirators allegedly sold illegitimate transcripts and degrees for between $6,000 and $18,000.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the HHS-OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Catherine K. Dick, who are prosecuting the federal case.
If you have information to report regarding this case or any other case involving falsified medical degrees, please call the FBI hotline: (410) 277-6999.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Previous Drug Offender and Cocaine Supplier Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Troy Lee Neal, age 42, of Elkton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Neal has prior criminal convictions including a 2004 conviction for distributing controlled substances.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams.
According to his guilty plea, the Maryland State Police, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security identified Neal, Mark Williams, and another co-conspirator as suppliers of cocaine after an extended investigation dating back to 2019. The conspiracy members distributed crack cocaine to multiple customers in Elkton, Maryland.
During the investigation, the Cecil County Circuit Court issued an order to authorize the interception of wire and electronic communications of Neal and his co-conspirators. Intercepted text and telephone communications revealed Neal as a member of the drug distribution conspiracy.
Law enforcement also intercepted at least eight instances in which Neal, or his co-conspirators, conversed in coded conversations about drug activity. For example, on May 27, 2020, after a series of calls between a co-conspirator and a customer, police observed Neal and a co-conspirator visit a customer’s residence. Shortly after their arrival, two male customers entered the co-conspirator’s residence. After one of the two male customers left the residence, police conducted a traffic stop and seized 3.6 grams of crack cocaine.
As stated in his plea agreement, on June 13, 2020 law enforcement covertly observed Neal, Williams, and a co-conspirator depart from Neal’s residence and travel to the Bronx in New York, where investigators believe that Neal, Williams, and the co-conspirator obtained cocaine. The next day, on June 14, 2020, law enforcement observed the three men travel back to Neal’s residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Neal’s residence and recovered 497 grams of compressed suspected cocaine, several bags of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and several cell phones.
Police arrested Williams, Neal, and Johnson. Each were charged in Cecil County with various drug-related crimes.
Other circumstantial evidence corroborates Neal’s involvement in drug trafficking. Neal has been unemployed and reported no legitimate income since 2018. Additionally, two witnesses would advise that they regularly purchased crack cocaine from Neal from February 2020 to May 2020.
Two other defendants, Kevin Johnson, and Mark Williams were indicted with Neal in 2020. Mark Williams pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine on June 29, 2021. Johnson is pending trial on September 27, 2021. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Neal and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Neal will be sentenced to eight years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for October 26, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kim Y. Oldham, who are prosecuting the case.
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Centreville Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – William Tyler Beck, age 30, of Centreville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of a minor.
The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to his guilty plea, between 2014 and August 2018, Beck used internet-based communication services to coerce at least six minor females into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. As part of his scheme to exploit the minors, Beck created fictitious accounts and represented himself as a 16-year old minor.
Specifically, on March 5, 2017, Beck used a cell phone and video streaming application to communicate with Jane Doe, a 9-year-old victim. Beck instructed the victim to perform sexual acts on a live stream video and threatened to call the police if she did not cooperate with his demands. As a result of Beck’s threats, Jane Doe exposed her breast, genitalia, and performed other sexual acts on an open live stream video. The live stream video was viewed by over 100 users, some users immediately reported the conduct to law enforcement. After Jane Doe was banned from the live stream site, Beck instructed Jane Doe to change her username to “Lil Sexy Chica” to stream another video where she performed additional sexual acts. Beck also live streamed a video of himself masturbating during his communication with Jane Doe.
According to Beck’s plea agreement, from approximately 2014 to August 2017, Beck used two social media applications to communicate with minor females who identified themselves as ages 9 to 16 years of age. Beck communicated with more than 24 self-identifying minors during that time. All communications related to sex or requests for photos. During most of the conversations, Beck falsely posed as a 16-year-old or 13-year-old minor.
In at least three instances, Beck threatened to expose the victims by posting pictures, stating that he already posted pictures, or threatening to tell the victims’ parents that they were using the applications.
Beck admits that he caused or attempted to cause at least five minor females between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age to produce images, videos, or live stream videos of their exposed genitalia.
As stated in his plea agreement, investigators executed a search warrant at Beck’s Centerville residence on August 22, 2018. During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized two of Beck’s cell phones. As a result of a forensic analysis, investigators found the communication applications Beck used to communicate with female minors and well as hundreds of pornographic images. On August 22, 2018, Beck admitted to using applications to communicate with minors and admitted to having a sexual interest in children.
Beck faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison followed by up to lifetime of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has not scheduled the sentencing hearing at this time.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the Madisonville Police Department of Kentucky, and the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Baltimore County Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison Related to His Impersonation of a U.S. Secret Service Agent and the Commission of Credit Card Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Igor Cooper Rosensteel, age 30, of Middle River, Maryland to 50 months in federal prison for device fraud and aggravated identity theft, related to a scheme in which he held himself out as a federal law enforcement officer or federal employee in order to defraud a total of at least 15 victims.
Rosensteel previously admitted that he posed as a Secret Service Agent to gain the trust of his victims, then he exploited them, stealing bank checks and credit cards, among other things. The guilty plea was entered on September 1, 2020. Rosenteel also pled guilty to additional charges of identity theft that he committed while he was on pre-trial release status in June and July of 2020.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Lieutenant Colonel Kevin M. Anderson, Chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
According to his guilty plea, on August 3, 2018, Rosensteel was driving in Baltimore when he was pulled over by Maryland Transportation Authority Police for driving with a suspended license. When the patrol officer requested Rosensteel’s license and registration, Rosensteel instead pulled a law enforcement badge from his pocket, placed it on his lap and told the officer that he was a Secret Service Agent. The officer detected the odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle and believed that Rosensteel was attempting to use his law enforcement badge to get out of a traffic ticket. Rosensteel was transported to the police station and continued to maintain that he was a law enforcement officer. Local police contacted the U.S. Secret Service in Washington, D.C. Investigation revealed that Rosensteel had never worked as an officer or employee of the U.S. government. After real Secret Service agents traveled to the police station in Baltimore, Rosensteel finally admitted that he had lied about being an agent and that the badge was fake.
As detailed in his plea agreement, additional investigation revealed that from approximately January 2018 through February 2019, Rosensteel falsely held himself out to be a federal law enforcement officer and he used this law enforcement status to defraud at least eight victims. Specifically, Rosensteel used his law enforcement status to get everything from free parking and food in restaurants, to gaining the trust of women he met online. Using his phony law enforcement persona to create a sense of security and trust, Rosensteel then exploited his victims by cashing out bank loans in the victims’ names, saddling the victims with the resulting debt and fees. After being invited into victims’ homes, Rosensteel admitted that he surreptitiously searched their belongings, stealing keys, bank checks, and credit cards, then used those items to go on lavish spending sprees, with resulting losses of more than $20,000.
According to his second plea agreement, Rosensteel was placed on pretrial release on January 30, 2020, related to his pending federal charges. While on pretrial release status, Rosensteel employed his previous strategy of deceptive online relationships and began a romantic relationship with person A under the false name of “Cooper Kent.” In this relationship, Rosensteel falsely claimed he was an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency. After an argument with his third-party custodian on June 3, 2020, Rosensteel removed his ankle monitoring bracelet, and he absconded from Maryland.
On July 7, 2020, the United States Marshal’s Service apprehended Rosensteel in another state, and it was discovered that he possessed at least seven debit and credit cards in the names of at least six additional victims. Law enforcement also discovered that Rosensteel possessed the banking information of another victim, which had been handwritten in a note inside of his wallet.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Secret Service, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police for their work in the investigation, and recognized the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Lenzner also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Duey, who prosecuted the case.
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Woodsboro Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Jeffrey John White, age 53, of Woodsboro, Maryland, to 133 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. At the time of his federal offense, White was on supervised probation for a previous conviction for similar conduct in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Judge Gallagher ordered White to pay a $5,000 special assessment and $3,000 in restitution. Judge Gallagher also ordered that White must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III.
According to his guilty plea, White was previously convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County on September 25, 2014. The conviction arose from White’s possession of almost 10,000 files of child sex abuse material. For that conviction, White was sentenced to five years imprisonment, suspended, and five years of supervised release. On September 30, 2015, White was found to have violated his probation and was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 18 months suspended, followed by four years of supervised probation.
From April 14, 2020 through July 2020, while on supervised probation for his previous child pornography conviction, White began to use a peer-to-peer file sharing network to access, distribute and possess child pornography. On three separate occasions in April 2020, investigators with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office were able to establish twenty direct connections with a device, later determined to be White’s laptop and SD card, to view and download known files of child pornography, including a one hour and thirty-nine second video depicting a prepubescent 12-year-old victim.
On July 6, 2020 law enforcement executed a search warrant at White’s Woodsboro residence and seized White’s laptop and SD card. White told law enforcement that it was his laptop, however he claimed he did not know how to access the encrypted laptop. White also claimed to have no knowledge of child pornography activity on the file sharing network. Additionally, a child-sized sex-doll with an anal and vaginal opening was located during the execution of the search warrant.
Federal agents were able to decrypt White’s laptop and forensically examine its hard drive, recovering 7,000 images and more than 240 videos of child pornography. Child pornography found on White’s laptop was similar to the images investigators initially downloaded from White’s IP address. In addition, thousands of child erotica files were also discovered on White’s laptop and SD card.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, Frederick State’s Attorney’s Office, the Frederick Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County Cyber Crimes Task Force for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Loveland, Jr. and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Drug Supplier for D.C. and Prince George’s County Drug Conspiracy—Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Thomas Parker III, a/k/a “June,” age 53, of Washington, D.C., to 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and powder and crack cocaine. Eight co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Malik Azziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.
According to Parker’s guilty plea, from September 2017 to July 2018, Parker and his co-conspirators distributed heroin, fentanyl, and powder and crack cocaine to drug users and distributors in the Maryland and D.C. area. Specifically, Parker supplied heroin and cocaine to co-defendants Arsenio Cleckley (a major narcotics trafficker in Maryland and Washington, D.C), and Diamante Hailey.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on March 9, 2018, Parker and Cleckley spoke over the phone and Parker told Cleckley that he was serving time in a halfway house, but that a co-conspirator could supply drugs to Cleckley until Parker was released. Shortly thereafter, the co-conspirator sold heroin to Cleckley. Cleckley later complained to Parker that the heroin he got from the co-conspirator was diluted too much. On March 12, 2018, Parker arranged to supply Cleckley with 28 grams of heroin and 31 grams of cocaine. The next day, Cleckley told Parker he wanted to purchase “28 plus 10,” which meant he wanted 28 grams of heroin for himself and 10 grams of heroin for one of his associates. During the conversation, Cleckley again complained about the quality of the heroin he had previously obtained from the co-conspirator. Later on March 13, 2018, Cleckley called Hailey and told him that Cleckley had obtained 10 grams of heroin on Hailey’s behalf from Parker.
Parker also admitted that on March 15, 2018, he distributed 28 grams of heroin to Cleckley in exchange for $1,800. Cleckley then contacted Hailey to let him know that Cleckley was going to direct heroin users to Hailey’s location so that the users could purchase heroin from Hailey. Later the same day, Cleckley told Hailey that Cleckley intended to purchase an additional 28 to 30 grams of heroin from Parker that Cleckley could split with Hailey.
Between March 20 and May 25, 2018, Parker and Cleckley continued to negotiate drug transactions, including a conversation where Cleckley asked Parker to lower the price he was charging for a gram of heroin, and conversations in which Parker advised Cleckley that Hailey and Cleckly owed him money. During one such call on May 25, 2018, Cleckley told Parker that he recently “fell in a hole” when one of Cleckley’s distributors, James Belt, was arrested in Accokeek, Maryland on May 18, 2018, with 32.5 grams of crack cocaine.
Co-defendants Arsenio Cleckley, a/k/a Bund, age 32 of Accokeek, Maryland; Diamante Lacelle Hailey, a/k/a Tay, age 27 of Clinton, Maryland; James Belt, a/k/a JB, age 32, of Lanham, Maryland; Alphonso Leroy Anthony Black, a/k/a Kobe, age 25 of Temple Hills, Maryland; Terri Bordeaux, a/k/a CeCe and Auntie, age 50, of Washington, D.C.; Christina Marshall, a/k/a Chrissy, age 32, of Accokeek; Devin Simmons, age 42, of Marbury, Maryland; and William Stewart, a/k/a Lil’ Will, age 24, also of Marbury, all previously pleaded guilty. Simmons, Belt, Hailey, Stewart, and Black were sentenced to between five years in federal prison and time served—approximately 22 months, each followed by three years of supervised release. The remaining defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in the next two months.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended HSI, the Prince George County Police Department, the DEA, and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Jennifer L. Wine, who are prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Joined by State and Local Agencies, to Host One-Stop Reentry Resource Fair at the War Memorial in Baltimore Tomorrow, July 15, 2021Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – TOMORROW, THURSDAY, JULY 15, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, along with the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, will sponsor a one-stop reentry resource fair that will be held FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. at the War Memorial, 101 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, MD. More than 50 organizations, including at least 20 employers, will be on-site offering assistance and resources to returning citizens and justice-involved persons, including in the areas of employment, job training, educational opportunities, health services, transitional housing, and legal assistance, among other areas of support and assistance. The Baltimore City Health Department will also be on hand offering free COVID-19 vaccinations.
The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This reentry resource and job fair is a component of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s violent crime reduction strategy. In addition to the office’s enforcement efforts to remove violent criminals with guns from our communities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has initiated a number of outreach, intervention and prevention efforts to support and invest in communities plagued by violence, such as this reentry resource fair and the I Care Baltimore campaign.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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East Baltimore Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization Member and Associate Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced George Drummond, age 51, of Baltimore, to four years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in the Monument Street area of East Baltimore, and for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On July 13, 2021, Judge Hollander sentenced co-defendant Ricardo Simon, age 41, also of Baltimore, to 42 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release for the conspiracy.
The sentences were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“The Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is a critical part of our strategy to make Baltimore safer by identifying and focusing on those groups responsible for the most violent crime in our city,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “The Monument Street area is one of the first areas the Strike Force has targeted and we anticipate that Strike Force cases will make these neighborhoods safer for the law-abiding citizens that live there.”
According to their guilty pleas, in July of 2018, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Strike Force Group 1 began an investigation of the Monument Street corridor in East Baltimore, which is known to support a high volume of street-level drug distribution and acts of violence associated with the drug trafficking. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple street-level drug trafficking “shops,” with the two most prominent located in the 400 block of North Montford Avenue at Jefferson Street (“the Montford DTO”) and in the 2400 block of East Monument Street at Port Street (the “Out the Mud,” or “OTM DTO”).
As detailed in their plea agreements, investigators identified Tony Solomon as a source of supply in the conspiracy and Drummond as Solomon’s associate. Simon was identified as a drug distributor for the OTM DTO. Drummond was responsible for packaging controlled dangerous substances as well as maintaining a stash location of controlled dangerous substances for members of the conspiracy, to include cocaine.
Specifically, Drummond admitted that he maintained a stash house at his residence in the 3200 block of Brighton Street in Baltimore, which he and his co-conspirators used for storing, cutting, and packaging drugs, as well as to meet with customers and conduct drug transactions. According to his plea agreement, on behalf of Solomon, Drummond delivered cocaine every two weeks from July 2018 to January 2019, to a co-conspirator to “cook” the powder cocaine into crack cocaine. On January 23, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Drummond’s residence and recovered: a firearm; 147 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin; one large and one small kilo press containing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl; cutting agents and bags of gelatin capsules. Throughout the course of his involvement, it was reasonably foreseeable to Drummond, and within the scope of the conspiracy that he or other members of the conspiracy would distribute at least 3.5 kilograms but less than 5 kilograms of cocaine, as well as quantities of fentanyl and heroin, during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy.
According to Simon’s plea agreement, Simon engaged in multiple phone calls and other electronic communications with other members of the conspiracy during which they discussed the distribution of controlled substances, to including cocaine. Throughout the course of his involvement, it was reasonably foreseeable to Simon, and within the scope of the conspiracy that he or other members of the conspiracy would distribute at least 200 grams of cocaine, during the course of and in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Of the 25 defendants indicted in this case, 22—including Simon and Drummond—have pleaded guilty or been found guilty at trial. On March 4, 2021, Judge Hollander sentenced Tony Solomon, age 55, of Baltimore, to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The remaining defendants have trial dates in November 2021.
This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting the case.
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Suitland Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Sean Levan Henson, age 28, of Suitland, Maryland pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of a minor.
The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Russell E. Hamill III of the Laurel Police Department; and Chief Eric L. Reiley of the Woodstock Virginia Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, in February 2019, Henson used various social media platforms to communicate with a 14-year old female victim residing in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Henson sent numerous sexual messages to the underaged victim using the screenname “stayreel2you”. For example, on February 15, 2019 Henson sent a message stating “I’m gonna take my time and appreciate you and make love to that body.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, on February 22, 2019, Henson traveled to Shenandoah County, Virginia where he picked up the victim for the purpose of transporting her to Maryland and engaging in sexual activity. On February 23, 2019, Henson engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim in Laurel, Maryland. Henson subsequently paid for a ride-sharing service to transport the female victim back to Shenandoah County, Virginia. The victim’s parents reported the victim as a missing person and gave a statement to law enforcement implicating Henson in her disappearance.
On March 6, 2019, law enforcement communicated with Henson by telephone. At that time Henson admitted he was aware the victim was 14 years-old and that he had been communicating with the victim for two months with the intention of a romantic relationship. Henson also informed law enforcement he picked up the victim at a Virginia gas station before he proceeded to Maryland where he engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim in Maryland.
Henson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Henson will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for October 19, 2021 at 2 p.m.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the Laurel Police Department, and the Woodstock Virginia Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Statement of Acting U.S. Attorney on the Shooting of Two Baltimore Police Officers Assigned to the U.S. Marshal Service Warrant Apprehension Task ForceRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Statement from Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner:
“On behalf of the United States Attorney's Office, I would like to recognize the bravery and selfless commitment to public service of the Baltimore police officers assigned to the U.S. Marshal Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force who were shot and injured today in the line of duty. Today is a painful reminder of the dangers that law enforcement face every day in performing their duties to keep our communities safe. As reflected in their actions today, these two officers and their colleagues are dedicated to making communities in Baltimore safer, and they deserve our gratitude and appreciation.”
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Victor Davis, age 41, of Baltimore, Maryland, to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and posses with the intent to distribute crack cocaine base. As part of his plea agreement, Davis admitted that during his participation in the conspiracy the members of the drug conspiracy distributed between 28 grams and 112 grams of crack cocaine.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from December 2019 through September 29, 2020, Davis conspired with at least two others to distribute crack cocaine in the area of the 2600 block of Greenmount Avenue and the 400 block of East Lorraine Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, where Davis’s drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated a “drug shop.” Members of the DTO, including Davis, conducted multiple hand-to-hand sales of drugs to confidential informants.
Davis admitted that he sold crack cocaine to confidential informants on four different occasions. For example, on January 30, 2020, Davis sold two clear bags of crack cocaine to a confidential informant in exchange for $300. In February 2020, a witness observed Davis in a home in the 400 block of East Lorraine Avenue preparing crack cocaine for street-level distribution and discussed future purchases of narcotics. The witness also saw several guns in the home. Davis admitted that the firearms were used to protect the DTO business and, therefore, were possessed in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Davis sold a confidential informant two bags of crack cocaine base $600 on February 26, 2020 and again March 4, 2020. On March 18, 2020, the confidential informant purchased four bags of crack cocaine from Davis for $650 and discussed a potential firearm transaction. Davis told the confidential informant that he possessed a “joint,” which is a slang term for a firearm.
Davis admitted that it is reasonably foreseeable to him that the members of the drug conspiracy distributed between 28 grams and 112 grams of crack cocaine.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF and the Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey McCulley and Zachary B. Stendig, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay DeFrancesco who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Waldorf Air Force Lieutenant Facing Federal Charges for Using a Hidden Camera to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Jason Daniel Ort, age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, with possession and production of child pornography. The criminal complaint was filed on June 16, 2021 and unsealed on July 7, 2021 after Ort’s arrest and initial appearance in U.S District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Ort is detained pending trial.
The criminal complaint was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Brigadier General Terry Bullard, Commander Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
According to the criminal complaint, Ort was arrested in Syracuse, New York on October 2, 2020 for unlawful surveillance after an adult complainant informed law enforcement that they noticed a small camera placed in their bedroom on October 1, 2020. Upon further inspection, the complainant located an SD card which the complainant removed from the camera and reviewed. The complainant advised law enforcement that there was video content on the SD card allegedly depicting a minor female victim between the ages of five and eight-years-old using the restroom and showing Ort entering the bathroom and adjusting the camera.
As detailed in the criminal complaint affidavit, on October 6, 2020 an Onondaga County Court Judge issued a warrant to search Ort’s personal laptop and SD card. Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office detectives allegedly observed a video on the SD card that depicted a minor female victim between the ages of eight and ten years of age undressing and showering. Additionally, a forensic review of Ort’s laptop allegedly revealed hundreds of images of minor females in various sexual poses, child sexual abuse material, and several videos of child pornography depicting prepubescent children. A review of Ort’s SD card allegedly contained six videos of child pornography, including a ten-minute video that depicted two minor victims bathing in the shower with the assistance of an adult female.
On November 16, 2020, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and OSI executed a search warrant at Ort’s Waldorf, Maryland residence. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement allegedly recovered multiple devices including two external hard drives and a laptop. A federal search warrant was subsequently executed on Ort’s seized devices. The affidavit alleges that law enforcement recovered several videos of minor victims recorded on a hidden bathroom camera as well as a compilation video comprised of adult females using the restroom. A review of the second external hard drive allegedly revealed key word searches of the terms related to child pornography. Lastly, investigators allegedly discovered a web history event for a website titled “Citizen’s Guide to U.S. Federal Law on Child Pornography”.
If convicted, Ort faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years for production of child pornography as well as a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Collins who is prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Office Administrator Facing Federal Charges for Defrauding Her Employer of More Than $700,000, for Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security Disability Payments, and for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Linda Pylant, age 57, of Grasonville, Maryland, for the federal charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, social security fraud, and tax evasion. The indictment was returned on May 19, 2021 and unsealed today upon Pylant’s arrest and initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG), Philadelphia Field Division and Acting Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to the eight-count indictment, from 2012 to July 2020, Pylant worked as an office administrator at a trade association, where she was responsible for bookkeeping, making check deposits, and other accounting duties, among other things. The indictment alleges that from 2017 until 2020, Pylant obtained money intended for her employer, which she diverted for her own financial benefit.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that in October 2017, Pylant opened a bank account purportedly for her employer, without the employer’s knowledge or consent. Pylant allegedly caused over $700,000 worth of checks intended for her employer to be deposited into the fraudulently opened account. The indictment alleges that Pylant was the sole signatory on the bank account and hid its existence from her employer by causing bank statements to be mailed to Pylant’s home address. According to the indictment, Pylant used more than $75,000 of the diverted funds at a local bingo hall, spent over $100,000 for retail shopping, dining, and grocery expenditures, and withdrew more than $200,000 in cash.
The indictment further alleges that in August 2015, Pylant applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) falsely stating that she was disabled and unable to work, even though she continued to work and earn income from her employment as administrator at the trade association. As detailed in the indictment, after the Social Security Administration approved her SSDI application, Pylant continued to work for her employer and since 2018 received and spent more than $125,000 in SSDI benefit payments to which she was not entitled.
According to the indictment, from November 2014 until July 2020, Pylant evaded reporting her taxable income by causing her employer to pay her through a non-existent entity, LPSR Inc. The indictment alleges that Pylant did not register LPSR with the State of Maryland nor the Internal Revenue Service, and caused her employer to fail to issue a 1099 IRS reporting form for LPSR. As detailed in the indictment, Pylant allegedly caused her employer to pay LPSR more than $100,000, which was not reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Pylant also allegedly made false statements to the SSA concerning her income and employment, including that her employment with the trade association had ended in May 2014. The indictment alleges that in February 2016, Pylant filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy, which failed to list her taxable income from her employer. On March 14, 2016, Pylant allegedly made false statements in connection with her bankruptcy petition, claiming that she was disabled, had zero earned income, was not required to file any tax returns, and that her employment status had not changed since February 2016.
If convicted, Pylant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of wire fraud; a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for aggravated identity theft; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for social security fraud and for tax evasion. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the SSA OIG, and the IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davio, who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Carroll County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Shon Brian Beck, age 56, of Eldersburg, Maryland, yesterday to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for the production and receipt of child pornography.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to his guilty plea, in September 2001, Beck and his family traveled to Bethany Beach, Delaware, where they shared a condominium with two other families, including the victim’s family. Jane Doe, the victim, was six years old at the time. Beck admitted that he sneaked into the victim’s room and used a digital camera to produce eleven sexually explicit images of the victim.
As detailed in the plea agreement, in 2018, another victim reported that Beck had sexually abused her. The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Beck’s residence on March 22, 2019. Law enforcement seized Beck’s computer equipment and digital cameras. Beck’s digital devices were forensically examined. Investigators found the eleven sexually explicit images of Jane Doe, as well as more than 450 images and videos documenting the sexual abuse of minor victims, including prepubescent minors, many of which Beck had downloaded from the Internet.
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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation and thanked the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Baltimore Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Four Minor VictimsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Court Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Sean Dean, age 29, of Baltimore, Maryland to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. Judge Hazel also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Dean must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Russell E. Hamill III of the City of Laurel Police Department.
According to Dean’s plea agreement, from December 2017 until January 2018, Dean recruited, harbored, transported, and/or maintained five females, including four minors ranging from 15 to 17 years old, to engage in commercial sex acts. Dean utilized social media and cellular telephones to recruit, monitor, direct, and communicate with the four girls and the woman.
In furtherance of the sex trafficking enterprise, Dean and/or a co-conspirator rented hotel rooms in Timonium and Laurel, Maryland to be used by the victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Dean and his co-conspirator transported the victims to the various hotels where they would stay for multiple days. While in the hotel rooms, at Dean’s direction, the victims used a website to advertise themselves for commercial sex acts. The advertisements contained pictures of the victims in provocative poses and provided contact information for clients to use to secure a “date” with the victims. The victims were required to share a portion of the proceeds from any commercial sex acts with Dean and his co-conspirator.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Dean and his co-conspirator transported three of the minor girls and the woman to a hotel in Timonium. The victims were at the hotel for approximately one week and met with multiple customers per day to engage in commercial sex acts. The victims shared a portion of the proceeds earned from their commercial sex acts with Dean and the co-conspirator. Dean also rented rooms at a hotel in Laurel, where the victims engaged in commercial sex acts with multiple clients. Dean also recruited the fourth minor girl to come to the hotel to engage in sex acts.
On January 11, 2018, Dean and his co-conspirator transported all five victims to another hotel in Laurel, where Dean had rented rooms for the victims to use for commercial sex acts. In response to a complaint, law enforcement responded to two different rooms rented by Dean. Law enforcement located three minor girls and the woman in the two rooms. The fourth minor girl had already left the hotel. Dean and the co-conspirator fled to avoid detection by law enforcement. After leaving the area, Dean exchanged messages with the woman indicating that he had left to avoid law enforcement because he knew one of the victims was underage. Dean also directed the woman to delete their messages.
This case was investigated by law enforcement agencies that are members of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the HSI and the Laurel Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Elizabeth Wright, who prosecuted the case.
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St. Jude Medical Agrees to Pay $27 Million for Allegedly Selling Defective Heart DevicesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – St. Jude Medical, Inc. (St. Jude) has agreed to pay $27 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that, between November 2014 and October 2016, it knowingly sold defective heart devices to health care facilities that, in turn, implanted the devices into patients insured by federal healthcare programs. St. Jude was acquired by Abbott Laboratories in January 2017.
The settlement agreement was announced today by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG); Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Norbert E. Vint, Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General, OPM OIG.
“Medical device manufacturers have an obligation to be truthful with the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. government will not pay for devices that are unsafe and risk injury or death,” said Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “The government contends that St. Jude knowingly caused the submission of false claims and failed to inform the FDA with critical information about prior injuries and a death which, had the FDA been made aware, would have led to a recall. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting Medicare and other federal health care programs from fraud, and in doing so strengthen patient safety,” said Lenzner.
“To ensure the health and safety of patients, manufacturers of implantable cardiac devices must be transparent when communicating with the government about safety issues and incidents,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those companies whose conduct violates the law and puts patients’ health at risk.”
The government alleges that St. Jude failed to disclose serious adverse health events in connection with the premature depletion of the battery in certain models of its Fortify, Fortify Assura, Quadra, and Unify devices, which are implantable defibrillators used in patients at risk of cardiac arrest due to an irregular heartbeat. The devices are surgically implanted into patients’ chests, and when the devices detect an irregular heartbeat, they send an electrical pulse to the heart to “shock” it back to its normal rhythm. The government alleged that, by 2013, St. Jude knew that lithium clusters formed on the batteries of the devices, causing some of the batteries to short and, in turn, suffer a premature power drain.
The government alleges that, in late 2014, St. Jude submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve a change to prevent lithium clusters from draining the battery, and told the FDA, “no serious injury, permanent harm or deaths have been reported associated with this” issue. However, according to the government’s allegations, St. Jude was aware at that time of two reported serious injuries and one death associated with premature battery depletion (PBD) induced by lithium clusters.
St. Jude continued to distribute devices that had been manufactured without the new design. In August 2016, St. Jude contacted the FDA and informed it that the number of PBD events had increased to 729, including two deaths and 29 events associated with loss of pacing. On October 10, 2016, St. Jude issued a medical advisory regarding the PBD caused by lithium cluster shorts, which FDA classified as a Class I recall. A Class I recall is where there is a reasonable probability that “violative” products “will cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.” After the recall, St. Jude no longer sold the older devices, but thousands of them had been implanted into patients between November 20, 2014 and October 10, 2016.
“Ensuring patient safety is our number one priority,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable medical companies who put profits over people and ensure the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“The FDA regulates medical devices to assure that patient health is protected. Reporting information untruthfully to the agency about the safety of medical devices jeopardizes patients’ health and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who place the public health at risk.”
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and its law enforcement partners will aggressively investigate corruption that puts the health of our military members and their families at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher W. Dillard, DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “We hope this settlement sends a clear warning to medical corporations that choose profit over patient care.”
“The OPM OIG prioritizes the health and safety of patients above all else,” said Norbert E. Vint, Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General, OPM OIG. “We are grateful for today’s settlement and applaud the hard work of our Department of Justice and law enforcement partners.”
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and obtain a portion of the government's recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed in the District of Maryland and is captioned United States ex rel. Burke v. St. Jude Medical, Inc., No. 16-cv-3611 (D. Md.).
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HHS Office of Inspector General, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, DCIS, and OPM OIG for their work in the investigation. The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Corcoran and Jane Andersen and Trial Attorney Jonathan Gold of the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its programs and priorities, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md.
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Essex Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy and Distribution of Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Quon’te Moore, age 22, of Essex, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and distribution of cocaine base.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from December 2019 to September 2020, Moore conspired with others to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and to possess with the intent to distribute those drugs in the area of 2600 block of Greenmount Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland. Specifically, Moore’s drug trafficking organization operated a “drug shop” in the area of 2600 Greenmount Avenue and 400 East Lorraine Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.
Members of the organization, including Moore, sold cocaine base to two ATF confidential informants on several occasions between December 2019 and September 2020.
In one instance, an ATF confidential informant purchased two clear vials containing cocaine base from Moore. The informant provided the substance to ATF agents for testing at the Baltimore Drug Analysis Unit, which confirmed the presence of cocaine base.
Moore agrees that is was reasonably foreseeable to him that members of the conspiracy would distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He also agrees that a firearm was possessed as part of and in furtherance of the conspiracy.
Moore and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Moore will be sentenced to 42 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake will schedule the sentencing hearing at a later date.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Stendig, Lindsey McCulley, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Lindsay DeFrancesco, who are prosecuting the case.
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Mississippi Teen Pleads Guilty to ArsonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Cornelius Hendrix, age 19, of Starkville, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to arson within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office; and Fire Chief Trisha L. Wolford of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.
According to his guilty plea, on August 21, 2020 Hendrix poured lighter fluid in areas of his father’s and stepmother’s Fort Meade military home, including outside his parents’ bedroom door, and the front door welcome mat. The presence of an ignitable liquid was also detected at the top of the stairs near his father’s and stepmother’s bedroom.
Hendrix then ignited a fire within the home before jumping off the rear porch and injuring his leg.
As stated in his plea agreement, the fire was extinguished with minimal property damage and no physical injuries. However, Hendrix’s father and stepmother’s lives were placed in jeopardy as a result of Hendrix’s conduct.
After being medically evaluated and cleared, Hendrix was taken to Fort Meade Military Police Department for an interview. Hendrix knowingly and voluntarily acknowledged spreading the lighter fluid and lighting the fire.
Hendrix faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for arson. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake will schedule a sentencing hearing at a later date.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the ATF, FBI, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, the Howard County State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Fort Meade Fire Department and the Fort Meade Military Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok who is prosecuting the case.
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Six Alleged Ms-13 Members Facing Federal Indictment for Extortion of Maryland BusinessesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Six federal criminal complaints charging six defendants with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by violence or threats of violence including extortion were unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Maryland on Wednesday. The affidavit in support of the criminal complaints was partially unsealed. The defendants are:
Brayan Alexander Torres a/k/a “Spooky”;
Hernan Edgardo Yanes Rivera a/k/a “Shrek”, a/k/a “Recio”, a/k/a “Garra”;
Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Cipitio”, a/k/a “Chuchin”, a/k/a “Angel”, a/k/a “Terrible”;
Brian Samir Zelaya Meja a/k/a “Flaco”, a/k/a “Chispa”, a/k/a “Directo”;
Miguel Angel Ramires, a/k/a “Majin Buu”, a/k/a “El Gordo”;
Jorge Isaac Argueta Chica a/k/a “Timido”, a/k/a “Enamo”.
Torres, Rivas Rodriguez, Ramires, and Argueta Chica were arrested in Prince George’s County, Maryland on Tuesday. Zelaya Mejia was arrested in Houston, Texas on Tuesday. Yanes Rivera is already in federal custody after arrest on a pending Indictment charging him and others with Racketeering Conspiracy in Case No. PX-21-00047.
As alleged by the criminal complaint affidavit, Torres, Yanes Rivera, Rivas Rodriguez, Zelaya Mejia, Ramires, Argueta Chica and other co-conspirators are members of the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha (“WLS”), a clique of MS-13. Members of the same clique, including Yanes Rivera and unnamed co-conspirators, were also the subject of the Indictment charging Conspiracy to Participate in a Racketeering Enterprises filed in March of this year.
The criminal complaints were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Clark E. Settles of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Field Office Director Francisco Madrigal of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement=s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Sheriff Melvin C. High of the Prince George’s County Sheriff Department.
MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants from El Salvador and other central American countries. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County, Maryland.
As stated in the affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, members of MS-13 are expected to protect the name, reputation, and status of the gang from rival gang members and other persons. To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members are expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who showed disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13 also frequently forces individuals to make extortion payments (that MS-13 refers to as “rent”) in order to operate unlicensed businesses in MS-13 gang-controlled territory. Extortion funds may then be used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and providing support for MS-13 gang members, some of whom are imprisoned in the United States, both inside and outside of Maryland, and in El Salvador.
Torres, Yanes Rivera and other WLS members threatened and collected rents from brothels and beer sellers. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement observed and recorded members of the clique collecting extortion payments.
If convicted, each conspirator faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for their participation in the conspiracy. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. At yesterday’s initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered that Ramires and Argueta Chica be detained pending trial. Torres and Rivas Rodriguez each have been ordered detained pending detention hearings scheduled for July 2, 2021.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Prince George’s County Police Department; the Prince George’s County Sheriff Department; and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Thomas P. Windom, who are prosecuting the case.
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Romanian National Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty for His Role in A Conspiracy to Steal Checks Intended for Religious InstitutionsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Daniel Velcu, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal bank and wire fraud conspiracy, in which the conspirators received approximately $1,244,056.77 in stolen checks intended for religious institutions.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.
According to his guilty plea, from June 2018 to October 2020, Velcu conspired with five other foreign nationals and others to steal checks, including donations, directed to religious institutions through the U.S. mail. Velcu and his co-conspirators conducted the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes of religious institutions’ and removing the mail from the institution’s mailboxes.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Velcu fraudulently opened bank accounts at more than four victim financial institutions under false identities. Co-conspirators opened bank accounts in coordination with a conspiracy member employed at one of the victim financial institutions, who assisted in the fraudulent account openings under false identities.
Velcu often fraudulently negotiated stolen checks at victim financial institutions through automated teller machine (ATM) transactions and deposited stolen proceeds into both fraudulently opened bank accounts and into bank accounts held in his name or a family member’s identity. Velcu subsequently withdrew money from the fraudulently opened bank accounts through ATMs and spent fraudulent funds associated with the fraudulently opened bank accounts.
On October 9, 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search and seizure warrant at Velcu’s residence. Authorities seized documents pertaining to at least one fraudulent bank account as well as fraudulent French identity documents containing photographs of Velcu with a fictitious name. In order to open fraudulent bank accounts, Velcu but using several fictitious names and identifying documentation.
During the course of the conspiracy, Velcu personally negotiated at least approximately 70 stolen checks totaling in at least approximately $40,357.50 from various religious institutions in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Georgia, and Maryland. Velcu withdrew at least $4,740 from the accounts that received checks. The accounts Velcu personally deposited checks into received at least $48,987.44 from approximately 101 stolen checks.
Eight additional accounts in the name of Velcu or a family member received at least approximately $82,872.65 from approximately 145 stolen checks, and at least that amount was withdrawn.
Co-defendant Marian Unguru, age 36, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty to the same charge on April 23, 2021. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2021, at 10 a.m.
Co-defendant Nicolae Gindac pleaded guilty to the same charge on June 29, 2021. His sentencing is scheduled for August 31, 2021, at 2 p.m.
As part of his plea agreement, Velcu has agreed to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $1,244,056.77.
Velcu faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
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Felon Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Possession of A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Claude Avery Rucker, age 31, of Capitol Heights, Maryland to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on December 11, 2019, Prince George’s County Police Department officers received a call reporting a parked vehicle in Capitol Heights, Maryland. As officers arrived on the scene, officers observed a silver vehicle parked with it’s low beams on. There were no other vehicles with lights on at the scene.
As officers approached Rucker, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, one officer smelled the odor of marijuana emitting from Rucker. When asked if he lived in the area, Rucker informed police that his uncle lived at one of the near-by residences. When law enforcement asked Rucker to provide identification, Rucker was unable to do so. Officers then asked Rucker to step out of the vehicle, at which time Rucker asked to call his uncle.
As Rucker exited the vehicle, Rucker shoved one law enforcement officer and attempted to flee on foot. Officers struggled with Rucker near the trunk of the vehicle as Rucker repeatedly reached for his waistband area and refused to comply with officers’ commands to place his hands behind his back.
As officers placed Rucker into handcuffs, a Glock Model 19 9mm handgun loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition fell from Rucker’s waistband. Law enforcement performed a search incident to the arrest that recovered approximately 15.4 grams of marijuana from Rucker’s right jacket pocket.
Prior to December 11, 2019, Rucker had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term exceeding one year and his civil rights had not been restored.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF and Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight J. Draughon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig G. Fansler, who prosecuted the case.
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Essex Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Joel William Hammond, age 35, of Essex, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 28 grams of cocaine base.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; Sheriff Jeff Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department and the Harford County States Attorney’s Office.
According to his guilty plea, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force undertook an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) distributing powder and crack cocaine in Harford County, Maryland. On February 4, 2020, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force received authorization from a Circuit Court County Judge to intercept wire and electronic communication of drug trafficking organization members.
Over the course of the investigation, detectives intercepted numerous drug-related communications over social media and phone calls. The intercepted communications identified Hammond as a drug supply source.
On March 7, 2020, task force detectives followed one of the DTO members to Hammond’s Essex, Maryland residence. Upon arrival, detectives observed members of the DTO make contact with Hammond. Following the meeting with Hammond, DTO members returned to Harford County. Detectives then observed one of the members of the DTO meet with several known drug users, following the meeting with Hammond. Detectives believe this to be consistent with this individual obtaining two to three ounces of crack cocaine from Hammond, the source of supply for the DTO.
Hammond met with members and customers of the DTO on at least 10 occasions between March and April 2020. Specifically, on March 31 detectives intercepted a series of communications indicating that a member of the DTO planned to meet Hammond to obtain crack cocaine. Investigators learned that Hammond sold approximately one ounce of crack cocaine to the individual during the meeting.
On April 21, 2020, investigators intercepted a communication that indicated that Hammond and a DTO member were to meet later that day. Detectives observed Hammond and the DTO member make contact at Hammond’s residence. Soon after, the DTO member proceeded to drive back to Harford County. As the DTO member returned to Harford County, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team and Harford Narcotics Task Force searched the member’s vehicle during a traffic stop pursuant to a search warrant.
As a result of the search, law enforcement discovered two plastic bags of a white substance as well as $660 in U.S. currency. One of the bags contained a white rock like substance that was similar to powder cocaine that had been directly cut off a kilogram of pressed cocaine. In total, the substance was 16 grams in weight. The second bag was an off-white rock like substance that law enforcement determined to be crack cocaine. The total weight of the bag was 41 grams. Both substances tested positive for the presence of cocaine. The combined weight of the two bags was 57.9 grams.
On April 22, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hammond’s residence and seized a small quantity of crack cocaine.
Hammond agrees it is reasonably foreseeable that the conspiracy involved at least 112 grams but less than 196 grams of crack cocaine.
Hammond and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Hammond will be sentenced to six years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA, the Harford County States Attorney’s office, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano who is prosecuting the case.
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Previous Drug Offender and Cocaine Supplier Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Mark Williams, a/k/a Swanny, age 52, of Elkton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Williams has prior criminal convictions including a 2001 drug felony offense for the distribution of cocaine. Two other defendants, Kevin Johnson and Troy Neal, were indicted with Williams in 2020 and are pending trial September 27, 2021. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police; and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams.
According to his guilty plea, the Maryland State Police, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security identified Williams and two co-conspirators as suppliers of cocaine after an extended investigation dating back to 2019. The conspiracy members distributed crack cocaine to multiple customers in Elkton, Maryland.
During the investigation, the Cecil County Circuit Court issued an order to authorize the interception of wire and electronic communications of Williams and his co-conspirators. Intercepted text and telephone communications revealed Williams as a member of the drug distribution conspiracy.
Law enforcement intercepted at least eight instances in which Williams, or his co-conspirators, conversed in coded conversations about drug activity. For example, on May 27, 2020, after a series of calls between a co-conspirator and a customer, police observed Williams and a co-conspirator visit a customer’s residence. Shortly after their arrival, two male customers entered the co-conspirator’s residence. After one of the two male customers left the residence, police conducted a traffic stop and seized 3.6 grams of crack cocaine.
As stated in his plea agreement, after a series of coded calls among Williams and two co-conspirators law enforcement covertly surveilled the three men depart Neal’s residence and travel to the Bronx in New York, a known source area for cocaine. The next day, on June 14, 2020, law enforcement observed the three men travel back to a Maryland residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a co-conspirator’s residence and recovered 497 grams of compressed suspected cocaine, several bags of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and several cell phones.
Police arrested Williams, Neal and Johnson. Each were charged in Cecil County with various drug-related crimes.
Other evidence corroborates Williams’s involvement in drug trafficking including a lack of legitimate employment to support his life expenses. According to the IRS, Williams had reportable wages of approximately $6,000 in 2019 and less than $5,000 in 2020. Additionally, two witnesses would advise that they regularly purchased crack cocaine from Williams and a co-conspirator from February 2020 to May 2020.
Williams and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Williams will be sentenced to seven years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for October 5, 2021 at 11 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kim Y. Oldham, who are prosecuting the case.
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Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to over Nine Years in Federal Prison for Baltimore County Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell,III sentenced Tony Lee Bauer age 39, of Baltimore, Maryland to 110 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III also sentenced co-defendant Rondell Ronald Hackett, age 43, of Middle River, Maryland to 138 months in federal prison for the same charge.
The sentences were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to Bauer and Hackett’s plea agreements, in December 2017 HSI and the Baltimore County Police Department were investigating a drug trafficking organization in Baltimore County, Maryland. Bauer was identified as a member of the organization, along with Rondell Ronald Hackett, Aaron Kenith Waller, Gary Gaines-Hidalgo, Adrian Gilberto Herrera-Diaz, and Carlos Alejandro Castro-Castro.
In December 2017, Gaines arranged to purchase kilograms of cocaine for $26,500/kilogram from a confidential source (CS), who was working with law enforcement. Thereafter, Gaines arranged to resell the cocaine to Herrera for $28,000/kilogram. Gaines and Castro arranged to have 10 kilograms of cocaine delivered to them in Baltimore.
As detailed in their plea, on January 26, 2018, Gaines and Castro entered the United States from Mexico, then traveled to Baltimore. Gaines and Castro agreed to sell three kilograms of cocaine to Herrera, Bauer, and Waller, with additional sales of kilograms of cocaine to follow the initial purchase. Gaines agreed to meet the CS in the parking lot of a Baltimore hotel, and told Herrera, Bauer, and Waller to also meet him there.
Three cars arrived at the agreed-upon location, one driven by the CS. Hackett drove one vehicle with Herrera in the front passenger seat and Gaines in the driver’s side rear passenger seat. Waller drove the third vehicle, with Bauer in the front seat and Castro in the rear passenger seat. Bauer, Herrera, and Gaines exited their vehicles and met with the CS. The CS then opened the trunk of his car, which contained two kilogram-shaped packages, one of powder cocaine and one kilogram of “sham,” or fake narcotics. Gaines placed his hand in the bag containing the packages and members of HSI and the MSP Tactical Team approached. Hackett and Waller attempted to drive away, but were stopped. In Hackett’s car, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol was recovered from the center console and a loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered from the rear passenger-side floor of the vehicle. On the rear seat was a vinyl bank bag containing bank-banded cash and a white bag containing cash. A search of Bauer also recovered banded-up amounts of cash. Bauer and Hackett knowingly possessed the .45 caliber firearm to advance the objectives of the conspiracy. In all, law enforcement recovered $129,583 in cash from the defendants, their vehicles, and their residence.
Gary Gaines-Hidalgo, age 28, and Carlos A. Castro-Castro, age 36, both of Baja California, Mexico, pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison.
Aaron Kenith Waller, age 52, of Crofton, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.
Adrian Herrera-Diaz, age 29, of Baltimore County, Maryland is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III on July 20, 2021 at 10 a.m.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the HSI, Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland State Police Department, and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano who prosecuted the case.
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Romanian National Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Conspiracy to Steal over 2,000 Checks Intended for Religious InstitutionsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Nicolae Gindac, age 52, of Dania Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. The plea comes in relation to a conspiracy to steal and deposit checks intended for religious institutions.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Shimon R. Richmond of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.
According to his plea agreement, from at least June 2018 to January 2021, Gindac conspired with six co-conspirators and others to steal and negotiate checks from the U.S. mail intended for religious institutions. Gindac’s co-conspirators executed the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes and directly removing the mail from the religious institutions’ mailboxes.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Gindac and other co-conspirators opened fraudulent bank accounts at several victim financial institutions under false identities and negotiated stolen checks by way of ATMs. Gindac deposited stolen checks into fraudulent bank accounts held in the names of his family members, including a minor family member who had not yet attained 18 years of age, and others. Gindac and his co-conspirators subsequently withdrew the stolen funds and spent them using debit cards associated with fraudulently opened bank accounts and other bank accounts.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Gindac deposited or was present for the depositing of at least $64,811.03 into 13 fraudulent accounts. The accounts that Gindac deposited into received at least approximately $139,057.58 from 143 stolen checks.
On February 6, 2021, law enforcement arrested Gindac and recovered approximately $7,930.38 in U.S. currency as well as a yellow-gold and diamond-encrusted Rolex gentleman’s watch. Over the course of the conspiracy, Gindac used stolen proceeds to purchase a BMW 745i Sport sedan.
In total, the conspiracy received at least approximately $1,065,282.53 from 2,477 stolen checks.
Co-defendant Daniel Velcu, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, is scheduled for a guilty plea on July 2, 2021 at 9 a.m.
Gindac faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
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Former FEMA Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining the Proceeds of Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program LoanRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Tyrese Carter, age 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain the proceeds of a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program Economic Injury Disaster Loan from a victim business owner.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.
According to his guilty plea, Carter was employed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as an Emergency Management Specialist since at least 2018. On April 9, 2020, Carter was detailed to work in a Small Business Administration (SBA) virtual call center, as part of FEMA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter was assigned to assist potential disaster loan applicants by answering questions about the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
As detailed in the plea agreement, Victim A runs a small organic skin care and event center business based in Colorado. In order to maintain her business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Victim A applied for both a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an EIDL. On April 4, 2020, Victim A submitted an online EIDL application and requested an advance of $9,000. On April 13, 2020, concerned that the first application did not go through successfully Victim A submitted a second EIDL application. Unbeknownst to Victim A, the second EIDL application was rejected as a duplicate application.
Meanwhile, at the request of Victim A, another bank submitted a PPP application on Victim A’s behalf, which was subsequently approved. On April 30, 2020, Victim A received the proceeds of the PPP loan into her bank account. The next day, Victim A received the proceeds from her original EIDL application into her bank account.
Victim A was confused as to whether the funds from SBA deposited into her bank account was from the PPP or EIDL programs and was concerned that she may have mistakenly been granted two EIDL advances as a result of filing two online EIDL applications. Victim A called the SBA’s helpline on May 4, 2020, to report what she believed may have been an excess payment. Victim A spoke to Carter, telling him that she may have been overpaid by the SBA and requested information on the procedure for returning the excess funds. Carter stated he was not sure how Victim A could return the funds but told her a supervisor would call Victim A with further instructions. Approximately thirty minutes thereafter, Carter telephoned Victim A from a blocked telephone number and falsely identified himself as SBA supervisor Michael Valdes. In fact, there is no one working at SBA by that name. Carter, posing as Valdes, told Victim A that he would send her an email providing directions for returning the funds. That next day, Carter sent an email to Victim A from an email account he had created in the name of [email protected]. The email contained logos appearing to be those of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the SBA. The email directed Victim A to send $8,738.00 to a PayPal account in the name of “SBA Financial” within one week. Based on the email, on May 5, 2020, Victim A directed her assistant to send $8,738 to the SBA Financial PayPal account as directed in the email. Carter created the SBA Financial PayPal account on May 4, 2020 and closed it on May 20, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, after Victim A sent the payment, she suspected the transaction may have been a fraud and contacted PayPal and her bank. Victim A’s bank reimbursed Victim A. The bank was never reimbursed, sustaining a loss of $8,738. On May 8, 2020, Victim A reported the suspected fraud to the SBA.
Carter admitted that on May 19, 2020, he attempted to transfer the funds from the SBA Financial PayPay account to a bank account he opened, but the transfer was initially held up by the bank. As Victim A was working with her bank to cancel the transaction, Carter again contacted Victim A, posing as Michael Valdes, and asked Victim A to provide an update on the PayPal transfer. In addition, Carter called Victim A posing as another fictitious SBA employee, Nathaniel Williams, in an effort to find out who Victim A had spoken to, purportedly so that Williams could “close her account.” Carter then emailed Victim A from a purported SBA email address Carter created in the name of Nathaniel Williams.
On October 19, 2020, Carter’s bank returned the funds to PayPal, which deposited the funds into a second PayPal account belonging to Carter, since the SBA Financial PayPal account had been closed. Carter then transferred to the funds to another bank account he controlled. The next day, Carter withdrew $6,600 in cash at the bank counter, and another $1,000 from an ATM.
A review of Carter’s phone records reveal that Carter called or attempted to call Victim A’s telephone number six times in May 2020, blocking his caller identification information in each instance.
“Those employed in the federal government make a commitment to serve their country,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Taking advantage of a national emergency in this manner is not only criminal but it is also shameful and unpatriotic. Tyrese cater will now face the legal and financial consequences for exploiting a pandemic that has seriously impacted our nation”.
“This investigation and resulting guilty plea demonstrate our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to detect, and hold accountable, corrupt Federal employees,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “There is no place in the Federal service for those who take advantage of the citizens they are sworn to protect.”
As part of his plea agreement, Carter will be required to forfeit and pay $8,738 in restitution.
Carter faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for October 8, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI, the SBA OIG and the DHS OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, who are prosecuting the case.
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Former Member of Baltimore’s Safe Streets Program Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –Ronald Alexander, age 50 of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and powder and crack cocaine. While he was participating in the narcotics conspiracy, Alexander was employed by “Safe Streets,” an organization whose purpose is to reduce violence and crime in Baltimore through intervention. While he was engaged in the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets to evade law enforcement in Baltimore, including on one occasion to avoid arrest when police seized from him a large quantity of fentanyl.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Alexander’s plea agreement, law enforcement obtained judicial authorization to intercept communications to and from cellular telephones used by Alexander from May through July 23, 2020. Alexander’s conversations revealed that he operated a “drug shop” in the vicinity of Spaulding Avenue and Palmer Avenue in Northwest Baltimore. Alexander and co-defendant Thomas Corey Crosby corresponded every week or two concerning the sale of narcotics, including heroin and fentanyl. After these conversations, which were often very brief, the pair would meet. Most meetings took place at a gas station located at the intersection of Druid Park Avenue and Liberty Heights in Baltimore, where Crosby supplied drugs to Alexander. Investigators conducted surveillance of many of these meetings and obtained surveillance video from the gas station.
“Ronald Alexander was an armed drug dealer who sold fentanyl and other dangerous drugs here in Baltimore,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner. “Moreover, he shamefully used his employment with Safe Streets to evade law enforcement and avoid arrest when caught with fentanyl. Community outreach programs play an important role in deterring youth from a life of crime. Alexander had the opportunity to uplift his community but instead chose to pollute it with deadly narcotics that he sold to benefit only himself.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 5, 2020, a Baltimore Police officer conducted a traffic stop of Alexander after Alexander rolled through a stop sign. During the encounter, Alexander used his affiliation with Safe Streets and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office to try to deter further police investigation. Alexander called an associate afterwards, and said, “Yeah. Police hopped on me. Told me to get off the phone. You know they scared, you know they scared of the Mayor Office, I said man I work for Safe Streets from the Mayor Office. I was just coming from one of my participant house, in need with this, it was in need of food due to the pandemic. He say oh, ok ok.”
On August 9, 2020, Alexander received a call from Crosby arranging to meet at the gas station. At the gas station, Crosby was seen entering Alexander’s vehicle and the two had a brief conversation. Crosby then placed an item in the center console area of Alexander’s vehicle and then got out of the car. Alexander pulled away from the gas station and investigators performed a traffic stop and searched Alexander’s vehicle, recovering what was later determined to be 100 grams of fentanyl from a bag found in the center console. Alexander again informed law enforcement that he worked for Safe Streets and provided law enforcement with a letter from the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office. When asked about the bag in the center console, Alexander stated that he had taken the drugs from a member of the community as part of his work with the Safe Streets program in an attempt to prevent crime. According to court documents, law enforcement seized the drugs, but permitted Alexander to leave without being arrested. After the traffic stop, Alexander called Crosby and they met again at the same gas station. After the meeting, Crosby disposed of his cell phone, which investigators had obtained authorization to intercept and track.
On August 14, 2020, search warrants were executed at locations related to the investigation, including Alexander’s residence in the 1200 block of North Augusta Avenue and a second residence where Alexander sometimes stayed in the unit block of North Culver Street, both in Baltimore. Alexander was located at his residence. There, law enforcement seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and six cartridges of ammunition, a digital scale and drug packaging material, suspected cutting agents, and Safe Streets apparel. At the residence on North Culver Street, investigators located 80 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, more than 100 grams of powdered caffeine, and a digital scale.
Alexander was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition as the result of a 2001 conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin. Alexander was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in that case and was released from the Bureau of Prisons in approximately May 2018.
Thomas Corey Crosby, age 51, of Woodlawn, Maryland, previously pleaded and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Judge Russell also ordered Crosby to forfeit $134,499 in cash, seized during a search of his residence on August 14, 2020.
Alexander and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Alexander will be sentenced to between 11 and 13 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for September 17, 2021 at 11 a.m.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the DEA and BPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta and Daniel A. Loveland, Jr., who are prosecuting the case.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Ghost Guns and Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Anthony Pelt, age 53, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
According to his plea agreement between March 2018 and July 2019, Pelt and a co-conspirator obtained the names, addresses, and bank information of over ten victim retailers to manufacture fraudulent checks in the names of the victim retailers.
As part of the scheme to defraud, Pelt and a co-conspirator returned merchandise for cash after purchasing items with bogus drivers’ licenses and fraudulently manufactured checks.
Over the course of the conspiracy, Pelt and his co-conspirator made over 75 transactions and caused a loss of over $224,000 in losses to victim retailers. Pelt obtained at least $154,000 as part of the conspiracy.
As stated in the plea agreement, on February 22, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Pelt’s residence and a storage unit controlled by Pelt in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Officers recovered Pelt’s cell phone, a machine used to create fraudulent checks, several receipts, stock checks, as well as a large cache of items purchased from victim retailers. Law enforcement seized over 67 items from Pelt’s Oxon Hill, Maryland storage facility including 18 cases of vinyl flooring, 39 white arabesque polished marble floor and wall tiles, eight cases of carpet tile, various home improvement items, and checks used at victim retail stores.
Law enforcement also seized two ghost guns from Pelt’s possession (firearms lacking a known manufacturer and serial number), an AR-style .223 caliber rifle and a 9mm handgun. Additionally, officers found Pelt in possession of one 8-round 9mm magazine, one 30-round 5.56X45 magazine, approximately 117 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and approximately 241 rounds of 5.56X45 ammunition. Prior to February 22, 2019, Pelt was previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and his civil rights had not been restored.
Officers also matched several of Pelt’s clothing items to the clothing seen in surveillance footage during the fraudulent transactions.
A subsequent forensic review of Pelt’s cell phone revealed evidence of check fraud including photographs of checks, account numbers, and routing numbers that were used to make transactions at victim retail stores.
As part of his plea agreement, Pelt will be required to pay $224,000 in restitution.
Pelt faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a maximum of 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for September 20, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the HSI and the Maryland State Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dwight Draughon and Erin B. Pulice who are prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Possession with Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland- U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Delonte Wheeler, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland to seven years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his plea agreement, on April 30, 2019, law enforcement observed Wheeler and an associate working together to distribute narcotics through several hand-to-hand transactions on the block of 1600 Moreland Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.
As officers approached Wheeler and his associate, Wheeler entered a vehicle and drove away from the area. Wheeler fled to a neighboring residential area where he attempted to discard two bags in a resident’s trashcan and his car keys at another resident’s garage. Soon after, Wheeler was detained by law enforcement.
A Baltimore Police Department officer retrieved the two bags Wheeler attempted to conceal. The BPD officer recovered a 9mm pistol loaded with 12 cartridges as well as 82 plastic bags of marijuana from the first bag. The second bag Wheeler attempted to conceal contained 23 plastic containers of marijuana. In sum, officers recovered approximately 459 grams of marijuana.
As stated in his plea agreement, Wheeler admitted that he possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute and possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner praised the ATF and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey McCulley who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Career Offender Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Bernard Carolina, age 41, of Baltimore, to 12 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Blake also ordered that Carolina forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement during the investigation, specifically, a .22 long rifle caliber revolver and six rounds of .22 caliber long rifle cartridges, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a matching magazine and 34 9mm rounds of ammunition.
The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to Carolina’s plea agreement and other court documents, on July 17, 2019, Baltimore Police Department units set up an operation in the 400 block of Robert Street to surveil and interrupt a high-volume drug shop. Before 7:30 a.m., a large group of people began to form a line. Jimmy Harper, carrying a black bag, exited from the rear of a basement apartment of a residence in the 1900 block of Eutaw Place. Harper gave several clear plastic bags that he took from the black bag to a man that officers believed was selling those drugs to customers nearby. Upon seeing the officers, Harper fled, but was located and arrested. Officers recovered approximately 124 gelcaps of a mixture containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl and a fully loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol from Harper. From a vacant home along the path of Harper’s flight, which law enforcement believed served as a stash house, detectives also recovered a black plastic bag containing approximately twenty clear plastic bags, each with 25 gelcaps containing white powder (a “pack”), as well as another black plastic bag with approximately six packs.
As detailed in the plea agreement, the next day, BPD detectives saw Carolina, who they believed ran the drug shop, exiting from the same rear basement apartment and carrying a black bag. Officers attempted to arrest Carolina on outstanding warrants, but Carolina fled and threw the black bag into an adjacent backyard. BPD officers arrested Carolina and recovered the bag, which contained 20 packs and matched the bag detectives recovered from the vacant house the day before. Officers learned that an unknown individual informed the line of suspected drug buyers that someone had been arrested and that they would not be “up,” which referred to the fact that the shop would not have any drugs to sell.
The detectives executed a search warrant at the basement apartment and recovered drug packaging materials, a digital scale with a white, powdery residue, as well as a blue and black canvas bag that contained four black bags tied shut. Each of the black bags contained 20 packs and matched the bags thrown by Carolina and recovered from Harper’s flight path. Two loaded firearms were also recovered from the canvas bag, a .22 long rifle caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number, loaded with six rounds of .22 caliber long rifle cartridges; and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a matching magazine loaded with 34 rounds of 9mm ammunition. In addition, law enforcement found a plastic bag with six gelcaps with white powder.
The BPD Drug Analysis Unit tested the substances within the total of approximately 2506 gelcaps recovered by law enforcement and determined that they contained both fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. Carolina admitted that he intended to distribute those drugs.
Jimmy Harper, age 46, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Blake sentenced Harper to 78 months in federal prison and ordered that he forfeit the firearm and ammunition seized by law enforcement upon Harper’s arrest.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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.
Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Lenzner thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie D. Podlesni and Jeffrey M. Hann, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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