District of Maryland
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Dark Web Child Pornography Facilitator Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Conspiracy to Advertise Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Eric Eoin Marques, age 33, of Dublin, Ireland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to advertise child pornography on the dark web. Marques, a dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland, was extradited by Irish authorities and arrived in the United States on March 23, 2019, to face federal criminal charges filed in Maryland on August 8, 2013.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
“Child pornography is created by documenting the sexual abuse of children,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This is an egregious case where one individual facilitated the abuse of more than a million new child victims and attempted to keep the abuse hidden on the dark web. We must do everything we can to bring individuals like Marques to justice in order to keep our children safe.”
“The defendant’s anonymous web service hosted dozens of insidious criminal communities dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and spread millions of images of that abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His guilty plea is proof of the Department’s fierce commitment to rooting out those who hide behind anonymous networks to commit serious child exploitation offenses.”
“Today’s guilty plea validates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to stop those who sexually exploit innocent children,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and its international law enforcement partners will remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for the world’s most vulnerable victims harmed at the ruthless hands of others.”
According his plea agreement, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, Marques conspired to advertise child pornography by operating a free, anonymous web hosting service (AHS) located on the “dark web”, an area of the Internet that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable. The investigation revealed that the AHS contained over 8.5 million images of child exploitation material and over 1.97 million of these images and/or videos involved victims that were not known by law enforcement. As of July 12, 2013, one child exploitation website hosted on the hosting service reported nearly 1.4 million files were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visited that hidden service.
During 2012 and 2013, FBI special agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website. As part of the investigation, those files were reviewed and nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various state of undress, or depict child erotica. A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Marques admits that this offense also involved the distribution of child pornography, which involved minors who were less than twelve years old, to include infants and toddlers, and sadistic or masochistic material or depictions of violence. Marques further admits that he willfully obstructed or impeded the administration of justice with respect to the investigation into this offense.
Marques and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Marques will be sentenced to between 15 and 21 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2020 at 2:30 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI’s Violent Crime Section, Child Exploitation Operational Unit and Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force with significant assistance from the Legal Attaché London Office, Irish law enforcement authorities, An Garda Síochána and EUROPOL. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence during the investigation.
Mr. Hur and Mr. Benczkowski thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Kristi N. O’Malley, and Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.
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Dark Web Child Pornography Facilitator Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Advertise Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A dual national citizen of the United States and Ireland pleaded guilty in federal court in Maryland to conspiracy to advertise child pornography.
Eric Eoin Marques, 33, of Dublin, Ireland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang to conspiracy to advertise child pornography. In his plea agreement, Marques admitted that between July 24, 2008, and July 29, 2013, he conspired to advertise child pornography by operating an anonymous web hosting service (AHS).
Marques was extradited to the United States by Irish authorities on March 23, 2019. He was indicted in a four-count indictment alleging that he conspired to, and did advertise and distribute child pornography, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, by operating the AHS. Sentencing is scheduled for May 11.
“The defendant’s anonymous web service hosted dozens of insidious criminal communities dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and spread millions of images of that abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His guilty plea is proof of the department’s fierce commitment to rooting out those who hide behind anonymous networks to commit serious child exploitation offenses.”
“Child pornography is created by documenting the sexual abuse of children,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland. “This is an egregious case where one individual facilitated the abuse of more than a million new child victims and attempted to keep the abuse hidden on the dark web. We must do everything we can to bring individuals like Marques to justice in order to keep our children safe.”
“Today’s guilty plea validates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to stop those who sexually exploit innocent children,” said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and its international law enforcement partners will remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for the world’s most vulnerable victims harmed at the ruthless hands of others.”
According to court documents, between July 24, 2008 and July 29, 2013, Marques operated a free anonymous hosting service located on the “dark web,” an area of the Internet that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable. The hosting service hosted websites that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse and bestiality. The investigation revealed that the hosting service contained over 8.5 million images of child exploitation material and over 1.97 million of these images and/or videos involved victims that were not known by law enforcement. As of July 12, 2013, one child exploitation website hosted on the hosting service reported nearly 1.4 million files were uploaded and accessible by individuals who visited that hidden service.
During 2012 and 2013, FBI special agents and employees using computers in Maryland downloaded more than one million files from that website. As part of the investigation, those files were reviewed and nearly all of the files depict children who are engaging in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, posed nude and/or in such a manner as to expose their genitals, in various state of undress, or depict child erotica. A substantial majority of the images downloaded by the FBI depict prepubescent minor children who are fully or partially nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who 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.
The FBI’s Violent Crime Section, Child Exploitation Operational Unit and the Violent Crimes Against Children International Task Force conducted the investigation with significant assistance from the Legal Attaché London Office, An Garda Síochána and EUROPOL. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in bringing Marques to the United States and procuring foreign evidence during the investigation.
CEOS Deputy Chief Keith A. Becker and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristi N. O’Malley and Thomas M. Sullivan of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Former Employee of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Facing Federal Indictment in MarylandRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted David Laufer, age 63, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formerly of Bethesda, Maryland, on five counts of the federal charge of making false statements. The indictment was returned on December 16, 2019, and was unsealed upon his arrest on January 28, 2020. Laufer had his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt and was released pending trial.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Craig, Jr. of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the indictment, until May 2019, Laufer worked as the Chief of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the largest joint military medical center in the United States. Walter Reed is located in Bethesda and provides medical services, including orthotic and prosthetic services to U.S. service members and their dependents, including wounded soldiers. Laufer’s job required him to complete annual Confidential Financial Disclosure forms which required him to report: all sources of outside income greater than $200; any business outside the U.S. Government in which Laufer or his spouse was an employee or consultant, whether or not compensated; any agreements or arrangements concerning past, current, and future employment; and travel-related reimbursement or other gifts totaling more than $350 from any one source during the reporting period.
The indictment alleges that Laufer failed to report financial benefits he received from Person B and Company B, located in Germantown, Maryland and owned, operated, and controlled by Person B. Company B provided prosthetics and orthotics materials to Walter Reed in return for payments from the government. According to the indictment, Person B regularly interacted with Laufer about Company B’s business with Walter Reed. Further, the indictment alleges that Laufer falsely told federal agents that he had never received money, gifts, or sporting event tickets from any vendor doing business before the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department when in fact Laufer had received financial benefits, including travel and sporting event tickets, from Person B and Company B.
In a related case that was recently unsealed, Timothy Hamilton, age 58, of Columbia, Maryland, and an employee in the Walter Reed Prosthetics and Orthotics Department from 1991 to 2017, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to acts affecting a financial interest. Hamilton admitted that beginning in 2009, he allowed Person A to use his Orthotist certification for Person A’s business, Company A. Hamilton was aware that Company A used his certification to obtain national accreditation and as part of its documentation for Medicare credentialing, which allowed Company A to bill insurers for medical treatment that required the involvement of a certified Orthotist, even though Hamilton was not providing those services in the vast majority of cases. Hamilton admitted that he received monthly financial payments from Company A from 2009 until October 2015, totaling more than $45,000. From 2011 to 2015, Company A used Hamilton’s credentials to submit more than 225 fraudulent insurance claims of more than $150,000.
Further, Hamilton admitted receiving more than $15,000 in gift cards, checks, and other benefits such as tickets and lodging, from Company B, which was run by Person B and which had business with Walter Reed’s Prosthetic and Orthotics Department. During the time that Hamilton was receiving payments from Company A and Company B, Hamilton ordered products on behalf of Walter Reed from both companies.
Hamilton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and a maximum of one year in prison for acts affecting a financial interest. Hamilton is awaiting sentencing.
If convicted, Laufer faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each of the five counts of making a false statement. 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DCIS and HHS OIG for their work in the investigation and thanked the FBI, the Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General, the Army CID Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Dana Brusca, who are prosecuting these cases.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Devron Lasha Young, Jr., age 22, of Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute approximately 75 grams of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl—enough to kill 37,500 people. Young was charged in federal court as part of a federal-state initiative announced in December 2018 to combat the fentanyl crisis in Maryland.
Under this new initiative, titled the “Synthetic Opioid Surge,” or “SOS” for short, every arrest involving distribution of fentanyl made by law enforcement in Baltimore is reviewed jointly by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case will be handled in the state or federal system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute more cases involving fentanyl as a result of this new program. The use of federal resources and statutes, which carry significant terms of imprisonment, is necessary to prosecute those individuals who pose the greatest threat to public safety in distributing lethal doses of fentanyl.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; 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.
“As a result of the combined efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, Devron Young now faces five years in federal prison, where there are no suspended sentences and no parole, ever. Drug dealers should be aware that in Baltimore City we are teaming up to arrest and prosecute those who peddle the deadly poison of fentanyl on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We must do everything we can to reduce overdose deaths from this drug and from all opioids.”
According to his guilty plea, on February 22, 2019, Young hailed an illegal taxi at the intersection of North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in northwest Baltimore, the location of an open-air drug market. Young offered the driver $10 to drive him a few blocks away, wait while he went into a building, and drive him back to the corner of North and Pennsylvania. Shortly after Young entered the vehicle, a Baltimore police officer stopped the car for a traffic violation. The officer asked the driver and Young where they were going. Young answered that the driver was a friend from school and that she was giving him a ride home. Neither statement was true.
When the officer asked the driver for her license and registration, she stated that they were in her wallet, which was located in a bag behind the driver’s seat. With the officer’s permission, she retrieved the bag. The officer saw that, aside from the driver’s wallet and some personal items, the bag contained only children’s diapers. The driver then returned the bag to the rear driver-side floor.
The driver produced a learner’s permit, but Young was unable to provide any form of identification. Young provided his personal information to the officer, who then advised Young and the driver that he was going to tow the vehicle because it was unregistered and uninsured. The officer returned to his vehicle to run law enforcement database inquiries on the driver and Young.
While the officer was in his patrol car, he observed Young reaching toward the rear passenger floor. The officer walked back to the vehicle and asked the driver to step out. He asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, and the driver told him there was not, then consented without hesitation to a search of the vehicle.
While the driver stayed outside the vehicle, the officer radioed for backup, and returned to the car to speak with Young. The officer asked Young if he had anything illegal on his person, which Young denied. Young then agreed to the officer’s request to perform a protective pat-down outside the vehicle. However, when the officer opened the door, Young tried to run away. Before Young could escape, the officer grabbed Young and placed Young under arrest.
Once Young was in custody, the officer searched the vehicle. He discovered that the bag had been moved to the middle of the vehicle’s back row. The officer seized the bag and noticed that, on top of the diapers, there was now a brown plastic bag that had not been there before. The brown plastic bag contained 30 separate packs holding a total of 752 capsules. The Baltimore Police Department’s Laboratory Section subsequently analyzed the capsules and determined that each contained both fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and her office for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who prosecuted the case.
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Rap Artist “Chad Focus” Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chad Arrington, a/k/a “Chad Focus,” age 32, of Randallstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to use a company credit card to make over $4.1 million in unauthorized purchases.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, Arrington was employed by Company 1 as a Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) Specialist from approximately 2011 to August 2018. As an SEO Specialist, Arrington was responsible for promoting and marketing Company 1’s products and services online. Company 1 assigned Arrington an American Express company credit card (the “credit card”) after Arrington signed an agreement in which he agreed to use the credit card only for business expenses related to Company 1.
Arrington admitted that from at least January 2015 through August 2018, Arrington and four co-conspirators used the credit card for fraudulent purchases, including to promote his hip-hop artist alter-ego, Chad Focus and Focus Music Entertainment and to make unauthorized purchases that benefitted them each personally. The co-conspirators were from Owings Mills, Maryland; York, Pennsylvania; Alexandria, Virginia; and Sarasota, Florida, respectively. According to the plea agreement, Arrington used the credit card to make over $1.5 million in unauthorized purchases from entities and accounts controlled by Co-Conspirator 2 and Co-Conspirator 3, and then Co-Conspirator 2 and Co-Conspirator 3, in turn, kicked back hundreds of thousands of dollars to Arrington by funneling cash payments to Arrington and to accounts controlled by Arrington.
For example, Arrington admitted that he used the credit card to purchase sound equipment, studio kits, instruments, and music technology, which he then used to create an artist alter-ego “Chad Focus,” and produce a number of hip-hop songs through the company he formed, Focus Music Entertainment LLC. Arrington then used the credit card to make additional unauthorized purchases: from online streaming platforms that offered services for artists to pay to have the platforms artificially increase Arrington’s song play counts on other music platforms; to purchase “likes,” “followers,” “tags,” and “views” across social media and viewing platforms; to purchase services from a company that promoted mixtape videos and singles, his image, and music; and to make unauthorized payments to multiple billboard companies to display images of Arrington and his website throughout the United States and to promote Chad Focus and Focus Music Entertainment LLC. From January 2015 through August 2018, Arrington charged the credit card over $300,000 for unauthorized international and national travel expenses, hotels, airfares, night life and other miscellaneous expenses for himself and for Co-Conspirators 1 and 2. In addition, Arrington made over $100,000 in unauthorized purchases of clothing and accessories, including hats that displayed his artist name “Focus,” and other apparel, which he provided to his associates free of charge. Arrington also admitted that he utilized the credit card to make more than $275,000 in purchases related to a bike-sharing business, including electric bikes, hover boards, and scooters. Arrington also admitted that he used the credit card for concert tickets, various unauthorized international and national travel expenses, including hotels, airfare, restaurant bills, luxury vehicle rentals, and nightlife expenses, and for travel expenses and airline tickets for the benefit of Co-Conspirators 1 and 2.
In order to conceal the scheme, Arrington asked Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 4 to use computer software to make false entries on the credit card billing statements in order to conceal the recipient of the payments from Arrington’s supervisor and Company 1. In addition, Arrington forged the signature of his supervisor on his credit card billing statements to make it appear as though he had received approval for certain purchases when, in fact, he had not. Arrington then sent those false payment authorizations to other employees who relied on the authorizations to ultimately pay off the outstanding balance of the credit card.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Arrington will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s losses, $4,142,435.31.
Arrington faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for May 14, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
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Member of Violent Baltimore “Trained to Go” Gang Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering and Drug ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, age 28, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to the federal charges of conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG), and to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Taylor, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019. The racketeering activities to which Taylor pleaded guilty are: narcotics distribution and robberies of other individuals, including rival drug dealers and gang members in TTG territory.
In a related case, on January 31, 2020, John Lewis Harrison, a/k/a Binky, age 29 and Taurus Tillman, age 30, a/k/a Tosh, both of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the federal charge of assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while they were detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
“Roger Taylor and his fellow gang members brought violence and misery to West Baltimore, in the form of murders, armed robberies, and drug dealing. After his capture as a fugitive from justice, Taylor will now likely spend over a decade in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Criminals who are terrorizing our neighborhoods should be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”
According to his plea agreement, Taylor was associated with a drug trafficking organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity. Taylor was self-identified member of a group, known as the “Young Go Getters” (YGG), which assisted members and associates of the criminal enterprise in their activities. As of 2014, the organization became known as “Trained To Go” or “TTG.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, Taylor, who referred to himself as YGG Milk, along with other members of YGG, provided support to TTG in the form of money, drugs, and other assistance. For example, on January 22, 2016, law enforcement learned that two members of TTG were looking for several individuals that had robbed a member of TTG of a small quantity of narcotics. The two members of TTG were spotted by law enforcement driving in the area of the 2500 block of West Lafayette Avenue in west Baltimore. In an effort to escape the police, the occupants of the car fled after crashing into a snow bank. Investigation revealed the car had been provided to them by Taylor.
On August 10, 2015, Postal Inspectors interdicted four packages addressed to a fictitious addressee in Windsor Mill, Maryland. Because the address was also a false address, the packages could not be delivered. Taylor, in an effort to obtain the packages, contacted the post office and requested the packages be re-delivered to a different address in Windsor Mill. Additional investigation revealed that the four packages contained 9.9 kilograms of cocaine.
During the course of the conspiracy, the quantity of cocaine within the scope of Taylor’s agreement with his co-conspirators and reasonably foreseeable as to Taylor was equivalent to between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine.
Taylor and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Taylor will be sentenced to between 11 and 14 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2020.
The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana, and Tanner, age 23, and his brother, Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 27, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to life in prison on February 15 and April 26, 2019, respectively. Co-defendants Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, and Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 30, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to 25 years in prison on March 1 and May 21, 2019, respectively. Two other co-defendants, John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 28, and Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 25, both from Baltimore, were sentenced to life in prison and to 30 years in prison, respectively, on March 15, 2019. Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.
As detailed in the plea agreements of Harrison and Tillman, from September 17, 2018 through October 31, 2018, a criminal trial was held in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, in the matter of United States v. Barronette, et al. Harrison and Tillman were both defendants in the case and were detained before and during the trial. During the trial, members of the U.S. Marshals Service were responsible for transporting the defendants, including Harrison and Tillman, to and from the courtroom.
Harrison and Tillman admitted that on September 21, 2018, they assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.
Tillman was immediately sentenced to one year in federal prison, consecutive to the 25 years he is already serving for the racketeering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for Harrison on April 29, 2020.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments. FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore. The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.
This case was further assisted by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in these investigations. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Daniel C. Gardner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Christopher Hasson Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison on Federal Charges of Illegal Possession of Silencers, Possession of Firearms by an Addict to and Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Christopher Paul Hasson, age 50, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 160 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, on four federal charges, including unlawful possession of unregistered silencers, unlawful possession of firearm silencers unidentified by serial number, possession of firearms by an addict to and unlawful user of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance. Hasson has been detained since his arrest on February 15, 2019.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Art Walker of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
“Preserving our nation’s security against terrorist threats continues to be the Justice Department’s top priority. Lives were saved due to the skill and dedication of law enforcement in this case. Christopher Hasson intended to inflict violence on the basis of his racist and hateful beliefs. As long as violent extremists take steps to harm innocent people, we will continue to use all of the tools we have to prevent and deter them,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur.
“The FBI remains committed to combatting terrorism, both domestic and international, and we remain fully prepared to take those actions necessary to safeguard our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “We will use every tool given to us by the Department of Justice and Congress to disrupt Racially Motivated Violent Extremist activity. However, protection of our communities and our nation is a shared responsibility, and we must combat terrorism as a united force against all forms of violent hate.”
According to his plea agreement, Hasson was a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard. Prior to June 2016, Hasson owned a residence and lived in Currituck, North Carolina. In approximately June 2016, Hasson moved to a residence in Silver Spring, Maryland, and worked at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
As detailed in the government’s sentencing memo and presented to the Court during the sentencing hearing, Christopher Hasson self-identified as a “White Nationalist” for over 30 years and in writings advocated for “focused violence” in order to establish a white homeland. Review of Hasson’s e-mail accounts, saved documents, text messages, and Internet searches show that he was inspired by racist murderers, stockpiled assault weapons, studied violence, and intended to exact retribution on minorities and those he considered traitors.
Hasson admitted that from at least March 2016 through early February 2019, he used various e-mail accounts, including an overseas encrypted e-mail account, to order Tramadol, which is an opioid, from various illegal Internet-based distributors. Hasson usually paid for the Tramadol by wiring money to individuals in Mexico, at the direction of the Mexico-based distributor, who then had the Tramadol shipped to Hasson, typically in 100mg pills, at addresses Hasson provided, including his North Carolina and Maryland residences. Hasson admitted that he then concealed the Tramadol in other packaging at his residence and work and personally took the pills, usually daily, including while he was at work.
As detailed in his plea agreement, at the time of Hasson’s arrest on February 15, 2019, agents recovered 196 Tramadol pills from Hasson’s backpack. Search warrants executed the same day recovered 106 Tramadol pills from Hasson’s desk at Coast Guard Headquarters and 122 Tramadol pills from Hasson’s residence. From Hasson’s residence, law enforcement also recovered the following firearms: seven rifles; two shotguns; four pistols; two revolvers; an assembled firearm silencer; and a disassembled firearm silencer. In close proximity to the guns, agents found multiple magazines that could accept more than 15 rounds of ammunition, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Hasson ordered the components of the firearm silencers from a company in California and used a drill to complete and assemble one firearm silencer. Hasson knew the firearm silencers were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and that they did not have serial numbers, as required by law.
As detailed in court documents, to prepare himself to take action, in addition to the firearms and silencers referenced above, Hasson purchased holsters, knives, magazines, ammunition, handguards, camping supplies, Meals-Ready-to-Eat, steel body armor plates, plate carriers, tactical vests and pouches, firearm repair kits, and smoke grenades. Hasson also e-mailed to his Coast Guard computer the manifestos of mass murderer Anders Breivik and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, as well as the memoir of Eric Rudolph, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bomber, titled “Between the Lines of Drift: The Memoirs of a Militant.” Hasson referred to those documents in his own writings. Hasson registered for an online sniper and sharpshooter forum, studied sniper tactics, and purchased high-end scopes and a sniper rifle. Internet searches performed by Hasson show that he targeted potential victims, including media personalities and current and former elected officials.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked his office’s national security prosecutors, who handled the case.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Malik Moseley, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Moseley was charged as part of the federal-state initiative announced in December 2018 to combat the fentanyl crisis in Maryland.
Under this initiative, titled the “Synthetic Opioid Surge,” or “SOS” for short, every arrest involving distribution of fentanyl made by law enforcement in Baltimore is reviewed jointly by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether the case will be handled in the state or federal system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute more cases involving fentanyl as a result of this new program. The use of federal resources and statutes, which carry significant terms of imprisonment, is necessary to prosecute those individuals who pose the greatest threat to public safety in distributing lethal doses of fentanyl.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
“Law enforcement partners are working together to arrest and prosecute those who peddle deadly fentanyl on our streets and in our neighborhoods—especially those drug dealers who illegally possess guns,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution. We must do everything we can to reduce overdose deaths from fentanyl and from all opioids. I am grateful to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby for providing a cross-designated Assistant State’s Attorney to facilitate and coordinate the review of SOS cases.”
According to Moseley’s guilty plea, in September and October 2018, members of the Baltimore Police Department conducted two controlled purchases of drugs from Moseley at a residence in the 400 block of Freeman Street in South Baltimore. Law enforcement officers also conducted covert surveillance outside the residence and observed Moseley and another individual engage in suspected hand-to-hand drug transactions in front of the home.
Based on this information, BPD officers obtained a search warrant for the residence, which they executed on October 17, 2018. At the time, Moseley had an open arrest warrant from Anne Arundel County, Maryland. While approaching the residence, the officers observed Moseley standing outside, and they immediately apprehended and arrested him. In a search of Moseley’s person incident to his arrest, the officers recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, loaded with eight rounds of ammunition; a plastic bag containing nine suboxone strips, and $790 in cash. Moseley had a previous felony conviction and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
During the search of the residence, the officers recovered bags containing a total of approximately 47 grams of fentanyl; a bag containing approximately 5 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture; drug paraphernalia, including three digital scales with drug residue; razor blades with residue; a glass plate with residue; a pill press with residue; and various drug packaging material. In addition, law enforcement recovered a gun holster; two remote-control surveillance drones; a home surveillance system with two high-definition cameras; $101 in cash, and $30 in counterfeit currency.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina A. Hoffman, who prosecuted the case and thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Hann, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, for his assistance.
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Beltsville Man Convicted After Federal Jury Trial of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reckless Driving, and Related Charges in Connection with a Fatal Crash on the Baltimore-Washington ParkwayRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Christopher Andrew Smith, age 30, of Beltsville, Maryland, after a two-day trial of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, driving without a license, and failure to place a child in a safety seat, in connection with a fatal car crash on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on February 5, 2018, in which a three-year-old child was killed.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Chief Gregory T. Monahan of the U.S. Park Police.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 5, 2018, Christopher Smith drove a 2011 Nissan Altima on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Smith was accompanied by an adult male and that man’s three-year-old daughter. An eyewitness reported that Smith was driving at a high rate of speed when he attempted to pass the witness’s vehicle on the right shoulder, near the exit for Route 198. Smith lost control of the vehicle on the shoulder then swerved into the left lane of the Parkway before crashing into a tree in the wooded median. Smith and the male passenger were found partially ejected from the vehicle suffering from critical injuries. The two adults were evacuated to hospitals by helicopter for treatment. The three-year-old girl, who was not secured with a car seat or seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and was located in the woods a few feet away. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter; and a maximum of six months in federal prison each for reckless driving, driving without a license, and failure to place a child in a safety seat. 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. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has not set a date for Smith’s sentencing.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Park Police for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hollis Raphael Weisman and Dwight Draughon, who are prosecuting the case.
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Two Baltimore Men Convicted After Three-Week Federal Trial for Witness Retaliation and Tampering Resulting in the Murder of a Baltimore WomanRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal jury in Baltimore, today convicted Davon Carter, age 39, and Clifton Mosley, age 41, both of Baltimore, for two counts of conspiracy to murder a witness and one count each of witness retaliation murder and witness tampering murder, related to the murder of Latrina Ashburne, age 41, on May 27, 2016. Carter was also convicted of a federal narcotics conspiracy charge, two counts of using a cellular telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Mosley was also convicted of distribution of marijuana.
The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
“Justice was done today for the senseless murder of Latrina Ashburne. We do not tolerate witness tampering, intimidation, or retaliation—period,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “In a tragic turn of events, Carter and Mosley’s efforts to silence a witness resulted in the death of a woman who had absolutely nothing to do with the defendants. These two defendants now face mandatory life sentences in federal prison. Let this serve as a warning to anyone who might consider making the foolish choice to murder a witness.”
“These defendants targeted a person they thought was responsible for blowing the whistle,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “The victim was an innocent bystander who lost her life because the defendants chose to take violent steps to protect a criminal. The FBI seeks justice for all Americans and will not stand by while people like these defendants throw morality aside to prevent witnesses from communicating with law enforcement.”
According to the evidence presented at their three-week trial, Carter and Mosley conspired to kill a witness who had provided information to law enforcement about a good friend of Carter’s, Matthew Hightower. In June 2015, Hightower was charged federally in a health care fraud scheme. While on release in the health care fraud case, the federal grand jury began investigating crimes of violence for which Hightower was implicated, including the murder of David Wutoh. In July or August 2015, Hightower learned the identity of the health care fraud whistleblower (the witness) who also had incriminating information against him relating to the Wutoh murder. Contrary to his release conditions, he began communicating with witnesses who had been in the grand jury. All the while, Carter and Mosley remained in frequent and regular contact with Hightower.
On April 19, 2016, the grand jury returned a sealed superseding indictment against Hightower charging both Hightower and Harry Crawford and with extortion and using interstate facilities for extortion resulting in the death (murder) of David Wutoh. Ten days later, the government filed a motion requesting revocation of Hightower’s release conditions based on the new charges and his prohibited contact with grand jury witnesses. The motion was granted on May 4, 2016 and Hightower was detained. Hightower was ultimately convicted of extortion resulting in Wutoh’s murder by a federal jury on September 22, 2016, after a seven-day trial and was sentenced to 380 months in federal prison.
While Hightower was detained, Carter assumed responsibility for Hightower’s marijuana distribution business, and engaged in direct communications with the source of supply. Carter also collected money and ran other errands for Hightower.
The evidence showed that on May 27, 2016, Ms. Ashburne was murdered in the early morning as she got into her car outside the home she shared with her mother in the 2900 block of Rosalind Avenue in Baltimore’s Cylburn neighborhood. The police reported that an unknown male approached and shot Ms. Ashburne in the upper body as she tried to run. She was not robbed. At the time, the police also released a video they said showed the suspect running away from the scene.
The witness lived next door to Ms. Ashburne. The witness contacted law enforcement to report the murder and that she believed she was the intended target. The investigation showed that Mosley’s phone was in the area at the time of the murder and in contact with Carter’s phone. In addition, a vehicles owned by the mother of Carter’s girlfriend and by Hightower were captured on surveillance video driving slowly through the area as if the driver were looking for someone. The evidence at trial established that Carter and Mosley each drove one of the vehicles.
Carter and Mosley each face a mandatory sentence of life in prison for each of the two conspiracy counts and for the witness retaliation and witness tampering murder charges. Carter faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and for the narcotics conspiracy, and faces a maximum of eight years in prison for each of the two counts of using a cellular telephone to facilitate the commission of a felony. Mosley also faces a maximum of five years in prison for distribution of marijuana. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 11, 2020 at 10 a.m. for Mosley and at 11 a.m. for Carter.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Baltimore Police Department, and the ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Kimberly Oldham, who are prosecuting the case and also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Judson T. Mihok and Aaron Zelinsky, who prosecuted the Hightower case, for their assistance.
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Law Enforcement Officer Facing Federal Indictment for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Anthony Michael Mileo, age 54, of Huntingtown, Maryland, on the federal charge of transportation of child pornography. The indictment was returned on January 22, 2020, and was unsealed at his initial appearance yesterday. Mileo is an officer with the Maryland National Capital Park Police Department.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Andrew Rappaport.
According to the indictment, on May 28, 2019, Mileo transported child pornography by computer. Mileo previously faced related charges in Calvert County, but those charges were dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.
If convicted, Mileo faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for transportation 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. At his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge DiGirolamo ordered that Mileo be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
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.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore and the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their work in the investigation and thanked the Office of the State’s Attorney for Calvert County for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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Former Taneytown Police Chief Sentenced to Federal Prison for the Illegal Transfer and Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced William E. Tyler, age 56, of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the illegal transfer and possession of a machine gun. Tyler is the former Chief of Police in Taneytown, Maryland. Judge Hollander also ordered that Tyler must forfeit assets obtained as a result of, or used to facilitate the commission of his illegal activities, including the two .223-caliber machine guns that he illegally transferred and possessed.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
“Police officers, no matter their rank, are subject to the same laws as everyone else. No one is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “William Tyler lied to fellow officers in an attempt to cover up his crime. Now he will serve federal prison time—where there is no parole, ever.”
According to his guilty plea, in 2017 Tyler transferred two machine guns owned by and registered to the Taneytown Police Department to himself and another officer, for their personal use. According to court documents, Tyler created documents titled a “Bill of Sale,” purporting to sell one of the machine guns to himself for $100, although records were never located to confirm any payment to the Taneytown Police Department. Tyler did not attempt to report the transfer of the machine guns to the ATF’s National Firearms Act (NFA) Division, which is responsible for maintaining registration and transfer information about all NFA weapons in accordance with federal law, as any such transfer is illegal.
On January 15, 2019, law enforcement executed search warrants at the residences of Tyler and the officer and recovered the machine guns. Tyler was interviewed by the FBI and ATF, and was warned that it is a crime to make a materially false statement or representation to federal agents. Despite the warning, Tyler lied when he told agents that he had never fired the .223-caliber machine gun recovered in his home and did not know it was automatic, when in fact he had fired the weapon, and as a trained law enforcement officer was well aware that the weapon was automatic.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Leo J. Wise, who prosecuted the case.\
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Federal Indictments Returned in Maryland and Delaware Charging Three Alleged Members of the Violent Extremist Group “the Base” with Federal Firearms and Alien-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Federal grand juries in Maryland and Delaware have returned indictments charging alleged members of the racially motivated violent extremist group “The Base” with firearms and alien-related charges. Both federal indictments charge Brian Mark Lemley, Jr., age 33, of Elkton, Maryland, and Newark, Delaware; and Canadian national Patrik Jordan Mathews, age 27, currently of Newark, Delaware, with firearms and alien-related charges. A third alleged member of “The Base,” William Garfield Bilbrough IV, age 19, of Denton, Maryland, is charged in the Maryland indictment with alien-related charges. The Delaware indictment also charges Lemley and Mathews with destroying their cellular telephones with intent to obstruct justice. The Maryland indictment was returned on January 27, 2020 and unsealed today. The Delaware grand jury returned its indictment today.
The indictments were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
The 12-count Maryland indictment charges Lemley and Bilbrough with: conspiring to transport an alien from August 30 through 31, 2019, and with transporting an alien on August 31, 2019; conspiring to transport and harbor an alien on November 2 and 3, 2019; and with transporting an alien and harboring an alien on November 3, 2019. Lemley is charged with transporting a machine gun in interstate commerce on January 2, 2020; and disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an illegal alien on January 5, 2020 and January 11, 2020. Lemley and Mathews are charged with being or aiding and abetting an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition on January 5, 2020 and January 11, 2020; and transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony on January 5, 2020 and on January 11, 2020.
The six-count Delaware indictment alleges that Lemley transported an illegal alien, specifically Patrik Jordan Mathews, on November 4, 2019; and that from November 4, 2019 through January 16, 2020, Lemley harbored Mathews, knowing he was an illegal alien. Further, Lemley and Mathews are charged with being or aiding and abetting an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition from November 28, 2019 through January 4, 2020, and again on January 16, 2020; illegal possession of a machinegun; illegal possession of an unregistered machinegun; and destroying their cellular telephones with the intent to obstruct justice, specifically an investigation conducted by the FBI.
The federal indictments also seek the forfeiture of any property traceable to the offenses charged, including all firearms and ammunition allegedly involved in the commission of the offense, and a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 allegedly used to facilitate the offense.
If convicted, Lemley and Bilbrough each face a maximum sentence of five years for transporting and harboring certain aliens, and 10 years for conspiracy to do so. Lemley also faces a maximum of five years in prison for transporting a machine gun in interstate commerce, and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an illegal alien. Lemley and Mathews each face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony offense; a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being or aiding and abetting an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition; a maximum of 10 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm; a maximum of 10 years in prison for illegal possession of an unregistered firearm; and a maximum of 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice. 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.
United States Attorneys Robert K. Hur and David C. Weiss commended the FBI Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and ATF for their work in the investigation, and thanked U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland State Police, and the Delaware State Police for their assistance. Mr. Hur and Mr. Weiss thanked their offices’ national security prosecutors, who are handling the case.
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Owings Mills Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Possessing A Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Timothy Herndon, age 29, of Owings Mills, Maryland, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2020 to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Timothy Herndon brought danger to our community through the deadly combination of guns and drugs. Now he likely eight years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to the plea agreement, on the morning of May 16, 2019, ATF Special Agents executed a search warrant at Herndon’s residence in Owings Mills. After being read his Miranda warnings, Herndon told agents that he had placed a firearm in a shoebox in the second-floor bedroom. Agents recovered that firearm, then searched the rest of the residence.
In the living room, agents recovered one clear bag containing multiple black plastic zip lock baggies of cocaine base (crack) and approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency. In the kitchen trashcan under the trash bag, they found additional small black zip lock baggies of cocaine base (crack), a black shopping bag containing razor blades, multiple clear plastic bags, and one round of 9-millimeter ammunition.
From underneath the dishwasher, agents recovered the following: three loaded firearms; two clear plastic sandwich bags containing cocaine; additional drug paraphernalia; and a paper bag containing a large amount of United States currency. Agents found a total of nearly $40,000 in cash inside of the residence.
Herndon and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Herndon will be sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Stendig and Lindsey McCulley, who are prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore Heroin and Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Maximo Gondres-Medrano, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years and one month (121 months) in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on the federal charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and heroin. Gondres-Medrano was convicted on October 9, 2019, after a three-day jury trial.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“State and federal law enforcement and prosecutors in Baltimore City are working together to arrest and prosecute those who peddle deadly fentanyl on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “I am grateful to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who shares my resolve and has cross-designated an Assistant State’s Attorney from her office, so that we are effectively using our resources to coordinate our efforts. We are committed to reducing overdose deaths from fentanyl and from all opioids.”
“The fentanyl this individual was dealing had potential to kill thousands of people. He chose to pursue profit over the lives and livelihoods of the people of Baltimore,” said John Eisert Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent in charge of the Baltimore field office. “HSI is committed to ending the opioid scourge through continued collaboration with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners.”
According to evidence presented at his three-day trial, on September 8, 2017, federal law enforcement prepared an operation to arrest and search Gondres-Medrano based on information that he would be transporting a large quantity of narcotics. The agents observed Gondres-Medrano leave his residence in the 800 block of Whitelock Avenue, in Northwest Baltimore, carrying a shoebox believed to contain narcotics, and then enter the passenger seat of a vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and law enforcement recovered the box, which contained a wrapped package of almost 793 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl—a quantity sufficient to kill hundreds of thousands of people. During the investigation, federal law enforcement learned that on August 24, 2017, Gondres-Medrano received a shipment of suspected narcotics in a commercial mail shipping envelope from Mexico. Gondres-Medrano used his phone to record a series of instructional videos of himself opening the envelope while he demonstrated how the narcotics were successfully concealed within the envelope so that it would not be detected. In the videos, Gondres-Medrano filmed himself opening the envelope, peeling back a black film that masked the drugs that came from Mexico, and showing the suspected heroin/fentanyl to viewers.
In a recorded interview with law enforcement after his arrest, Gondres-Medrano admitted that the August 24, 2017 shipping envelope contained heroin, and provided information about his drug trafficking activity. Gondres-Medrano admitted that he had multiple sources of supply of heroin and ordered kilogram-sized quantities from them. Gondres-Medrano testified at trial and denied that he carried the shoebox of narcotics to the car on September 8, 2017, and asserted that he never looked inside the nearly 793 gram package to see that it contained narcotics. However, on cross examination, he admitted that he had taken delivery of the narcotics, which he knew to contain heroin, from one of his sources of supply in order to deliver it to another individual.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, HSI, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Hann, an Assistant State’s Attorney from the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City who is cross-designated to handle fentanyl and other drug cases in federal court, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek E. Hines, who prosecuted the case.
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Owner of Frederick Payroll Processing Business Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Victims of More Than $1.6 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced David Richison, age 64, of Frederick, Maryland, to 48 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aiding in the filing of a false tax return. Richison, who owned and operated a payroll processing business, took funds from his clients’ tax escrow account and used them to pay his own personal expenses. Judge Russell also ordered restitution and forfeiture in the amount of the victims' full loss, which will be determined after a restitution hearing.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy M. Dunham of the Criminal Division of the FBI Washington Field Office.
"After years of deceiving his clients for his own personal benefit, Richison is now feeling the consequences of his despicable actions," said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson. "We will continue to work with the United States Attorney's Office to pursue justice of those who violate our tax laws, especially those who commit fraud at the expense of others."
According to his plea agreement, Richison owned and operated a Frederick-based payroll processing business, Period Financial, doing business as Period Payroll. Period Payroll provided payroll processing and payroll tax payment services to businesses in Maryland and Virginia, using special software specifically designed by Richison. In addition to printing paychecks for client employees, Period Payroll was responsible for calculating the employment taxes owed to federal and state taxing authorities by the client companies and those companies’ employees, as well as preparing and filing the client companies’ employment tax returns.
Period Payroll clients entrusted Richison with the authority to remove funds directly from their bank accounts to pay their federal and state taxes, as well as to pay fees to Period Payroll. Richison’s practice was to send the clients a copy of the tax return to be filed and an accounting of the funds to be removed from their accounts and subsequently paid over. Funds removed from client accounts were placed into an escrow account, which Richison used to make electronic payments to the IRS, generating a unique number for each wire sent on behalf of a client.
Richison admitted that from at least 2012 through 2014, the tax forms prepared and filed by Richison on behalf of Period Payroll clients properly reported the amount of taxes owed, but a corresponding amount of tax deposits was not made with the IRS. Richison began taking money from the client escrow fund to pay for his own personal and business-related expenses, such as legal fees, rather than paying those funds to the IRS, as he represented to his clients.
For example, in July 2012, Richison transferred $53,000 from the client escrow account to his personal attorney to pay legal fees. Over the course of 2013 and 2014, the frequency with which Richison failed to pay over client funds to the IRS increased. When clients received notices from the IRS that their employment taxes had not been paid, Richison provided false explanations for the missed payments and falsely promised to make the payments and cover the penalties and interest. To further conceal the scheme, Richison used one client’s escrowed funds to pay another client’s debt, penalties, and interest, without informing either client that he was doing so. In addition, Richison sent e-mails to clients falsely stating that he had made payments to the IRS on their behalf and provided as proof the wire numbers of transfers that he had made on behalf of other clients. Between approximately February 2013 and December 2014, Richison used approximately $598,365 of client escrow funds to make payments to the IRS to cover the penalties and interest his clients had accrued in order to conceal the fraud and continue to deceive his clients into thinking that Period Payroll was solvent.
By the end of 2014, there were insufficient funds in the client escrow account to cover the mounting debts and Richison closed Period Payroll. By that time, the difference between the amount taken from clients and reported to have been paid to the IRS per the tax returns filed on behalf of clients, and the actual payments made as required by those returns totaled at least $1,622,481.56.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Washington Field Office for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney, who prosecuted the case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors 35 Law Enforcement Officers for Their Work on Federal Violent Crime CasesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office today honored 35 police officers and federal agents for outstanding work in support of significant federal violent crime prosecutions. Recipients included police officers from Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, City of Hyattsville, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Prince William County, Virginia, and the University Park Police Department; and federal agents from ATF, DEA, FBI, and HSI.
“We are so grateful for the exceptional work done by law enforcement officers day in and day out, without fanfare or recognition,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Local, state, and federal law enforcement are working together to combat violent crime in Maryland. The hard work of these law enforcement officers led to dozens of convictions of dangerous criminals.”
The honorees participated in the investigation and prosecution of more than 10 violent crime cases involving more than 55 defendants. The defendants included armed robbers, gang members, and drug dealers. A majority of the defendants have previous felony convictions and many are career offenders and/or armed career criminals.
In addition to U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur, agency representatives who participated in today’s awards ceremony included: Acting ATF Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby; FBI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone; Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge John Eisert; Anne Arundel County Major Ross Passman; City of Hyattsville Police Chief Amal Awad; Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Ronald Smith; Prince William County Police Chief Barry Barnard; and University Park Police Chief Harry Baker.
United States Attorney Robert Hur commended all the honorees for their work on these violent crime investigations. Mr. Hur thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys who prosecuted the cases and nominated their agents and officers for these awards.
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Baltimore County Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Distribution Charges and to Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Deandre Laquan Jones, a/k/a “Cuz,” age 27, of Towson, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute drugs near a school, and to being a felon in possession of firearms.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Fentanyl and firearms are a deadly combination, and they are particularly unacceptable near our elementary schools. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of convicted felons and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Deandre Jones was a convicted felon who chose to sell drugs and possess guns. He now likely faces 12 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to his guilty plea, from December 2018 to February 2019, Jones distributed fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. On January 31 and again on February 11, 2019, Jones sold an undercover Baltimore County Police officer two “packs” of heroin—each containing 25 gel capsules—for $375.
On February 22, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment in Parkville, Maryland, which was rented by Tyrell Curry, Jones’ co-conspirator, and was within 1,000 feet of a Baltimore County elementary school. Jones used the apartment to distribute fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. From the apartment, law enforcement recovered two baggies containing a total of approximately 345 grams of fentanyl, cutting agents, digital scales, two kilogram presses, and bags of packaging materials. In addition, officers found documents and an identification card belonging to Jones, and two empty .40-caliber extended magazines, from which the BCPD Forensic Services Section recovered a latent print of Jones’ left thumb. In the living room, officers located a coffee table that had been custom-manufactured to contain a hidden compartment secured by a wireless lock. Investigators later learned that the table had been purchased by, and shipped to, Deandre Jones at the Parkville apartment. When the hidden compartment in the table was opened, law enforcement recovered plastic bags containing 16 grams of fentanyl, 175 grams of heroin, 185 grams of crack cocaine, and 173 grams of powder cocaine, as well as a .410-caliber handgun and 19 rounds of .410-caliber ammunition.
That same day, BCPD officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ residence and recovered three iPhones in the bedroom, and an AK-47 loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition in Jones’ nightstand. The firearm had been reported stolen in October 2018. In his office, officers found a money counter, $13,700 in cash, a one-kilogram block of fentanyl, a loaded 9mm pistol, which had been reported stolen in April 2017, a book bag that contained eight plastic bags containing a total of 1.9 kilograms of cocaine, and five additional bags containing 138 grams of heroin. A search of Jones’ vehicles recovered two additional loaded firearms and a fourth iPhone.
A subsequent forensic examination of Jones’ iPhones recovered message between Jones and Curry relating to drug trafficking, including discussions about the Parkville apartment, potential customers, sources of supply, possible police surveillance, and ammunition.
As part of his plea agreement, Jones has agreed to forfeit assets obtained as a result of, or used to facilitate Jones’ drug trafficking, including: $13,708 in cash; a 2013 Lexus GS 350; an AK-47 and 30 7.62x39mm cartridges; a double-action revolver and 19 .410-caliber cartridges; two 9mm pistols and 26 9mm cartridges; and a .40-caliber pistol and 13 .40-caliber cartridges.
Jones and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Jones will be sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
Co-defendant Tyrell Daronte Curry, a/k/a “Mike,” age 28, of Baltimore previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Christopher J. Romano, who are prosecuting the case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Continues Fight Against Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has awarded $1,178,492.00 in grant funding to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), in partnership with the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF), Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP), and Maryland Departments of Human Services and Juvenile Services to support establishment of a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for child and youth victims of human trafficking.
The award will support creation of a statewide labor trafficking multidisciplinary team that will formalize and institutionalize the management of cases in a victim-centered manner, development of a unified statewide training strategy for professionals that includes victim-centered and trauma-informed best practices for handling human trafficking cases involving children and youth, and establishment of a survivor-informed, coordinated service response for children and youth.
“The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to dedicate significant resources to fighting human trafficking,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We urge the public to think of human trafficking victims and survivors during this month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Department of Justice is proud to support our partners and victims through financial grants and robust prosecutions that hold human traffickers accountable. We will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who commit human trafficking crimes, and to support the victims of these cruel and despicable crimes.”
In addition, in 2018, the Office of Justice Programs awarded $562,500 over a three-year period to the Prince George’s County Police Department and the University of Maryland Baltimore (on behalf of the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center) to support the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force. This grant funds three caseworkers to assist with 24/7 crisis response and comprehensive services; additional investigative resources within the Prince George’s County Police Department focused on human trafficking; one full-time additional forensic investigator within the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office dedicated to human trafficking; and one additional Assistant State’s Attorney within the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office dedicated to prosecuting human trafficking.
For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
Additional information about the USAO’s efforts to end human trafficking follows:
- Human Trafficking Coordinator and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
Since 2007, the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has designated an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) to serve as Human Trafficking Coordinator for the district. This AUSA is the point of contact for law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors for human trafficking cases, and serves as the chair of the MHTTF. In addition, the Office’s Law Enforcement Coordinator, who has been involved in MHTTF since its inception, serves as a point of contact for outreach, training, and enforcement efforts through the MHTTF.
Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Task Force serves to coordinate activities, develop policy, and implement strategic plans to combat human trafficking in Maryland. The MHTTF maintains five active sub-committees: Law Enforcement, Victim Services, Training, Public Outreach and Legislative.
Since its inception in 2007, the MHTTF has sought to raise public awareness and implement best practices in investigations, prosecutions, victim identification, and victim service response. Members have customized practices for the unique circumstances that Maryland faces both as an originating point and as a throughway for human trafficking. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and providers work together on the MHTTF to take a victim-centered approach: freeing the victim from oppression and rehabilitating the victim as a witness in order to bring traffickers to justice.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking and Law Enforcement Coordinators also regularly consult with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding their current activities in investigating human trafficking crimes. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in coordination with the MHTTF offers or arranges a wide variety of training to educate law enforcement and other human trafficking professionals.
- Local Partner Events to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking
Local partners also have events to increase awareness of and combat human trafficking. Several of their upcoming events follow:
- The Eastern Shore Human Trafficking Task Force (ESHTTF): The mission of the ESHTTF is to combat human trafficking by encouraging, supporting, and promoting awareness, prevention, and education throughout the Eastern Shore. The next public awareness event will take place at the Kent Island Library, 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, MD beginning at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, February 8, 2020 featuring state legislators, a service provider, and a victim/survivor. Links to the ESHTTF website and Facebook: www.ESHTTF.org; www.fb.com/ESHTTFMaryland.
- The Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team: The mission of the Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team is to provide a victim-centered, collaborative response to human trafficking in Frederick County to assist in the identification of victims, prosecution of cases, and the availability and use of comprehensive services for victims. Their website is at https://frederickcountymd.gov/7672/Human-Trafficking-Response-Team.
- The Anne Arundel County Commission for Women (human trafficking working group): The Anne Arundel County Commission for Women, through its combatting human trafficking working group, supports the eradication of human trafficking in Anne Arundel County through community awareness, education, advocacy, and efforts to support survivors. Their website is: https://www.aacounty.org/boards-and-commissions/commission-for-women/index.html
- Upcoming Events
- What about the Children? Community Human Trafficking Awareness Presentation: Tuesday, January 28th 2020, 7 – 8:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm); 8146 Quarterfield Road, Severn, MD 21144; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495135760637504/
- 7th Annual Dash 4 Dignity 5K Dash, 1K Freedom Walk, and Community Resource Fair; Saturday, April 25th 2020; 109 Burns Crossing Road, Severn, MD 21144; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/481052045877666/
- Upcoming Events
- The Montgomery County Commission for Women (Human Trafficking Prevention Committee): Here is the link to the human trafficking prevention committee information in Montgomery County: https://frederickcountymd.gov/7672/Human-Trafficking-Response-Team
- Prosecution of Human Trafficking Cases
Notable cases prosecuted in 2019 by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office include the following:
United States v. Ryan Russell Parks: On November 7, 2019, U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston sentenced Ryan Russell Parks, a/k/a Dinero, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, for sex trafficking of a minor and for using the Internet to promote a business enterprise involving prostitution. A federal jury convicted Parks late on July 18, 2019, after a four-day trial.
According to the evidence presented at his trial, Parks trafficked two vulnerable minor victims—a 16-year-old girl (Girl 1) and a 15-year-old girl (Girl 2)—for commercial sex. According to trial testimony, Parks met both girls online. During communications with Girl 1, Parks learned that she was hungry and had no real place to live, and he offered Girl 1 a place to stay. In his conversations with Girl 2, Parks learned that she had run away from her foster home. Parks sent a car to pick up Girl 1 and to bring her to a motel in Woodlawn, Maryland, and within a day, he caused advertisements offering Girl 1 for commercial sex acts, with photos and descriptions of Girl 1, to be posted on a website that marketed commercial sex workers. Parks stayed with Girl 1 at a motel in Baltimore, along with another woman he was advertising on the Internet for commercial sex. Parks would leave the room when men would come to the room to have sex with Girl 1, and he would return to the room shortly after the men left the room. One of Girl 1’s customers returned to the room the next day to rescue her, and took her to live in a different city with his sister.
On November 16, 2017, Parks paid a driver to pick up Girl 2 and bring her to his home. He talked to her about making money through prostitution, and he took her to the same motel in Baltimore where Parks had harbored Girl 1. Parks took photographs of Girl 2 and paid for an online advertisement offering Girl 2 for commercial sex. While law enforcement was investigating the trafficking of the two minor victims, they discovered evidence regarding the extent of Parks’ prostitution business. Evidence at trial proved that Parks advertised approximately 27 different women and girls for commercial sex. Parks also paid over $6,000 for hotel rooms in Baltimore County and Baltimore City during the course of his prostitution enterprise.
United States v. Sean Dean: On October 30, 2019, Sean Dean, age 26, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. Dean admitted that he conspired to traffic four minor girls to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit. Dean entered his guilty plea on October 29, 2019.
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.
On January 11, 2018, Dean and his co-conspirator transported all five victims to a 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 under age. Dean also directed the woman to delete their messages.
United States v. De’Angelo Johnson: On October 22, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging De’Angelo Johnson, a/k/a “Cowboy” or “D,” age 31, of Maryland, with sex trafficking and distribution of heroin and cocaine. According to the indictment, Johnson induced five Maryland victims, all over the age of 18, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit, by means of force, fraud, and coercion from August 2018 through May 21, 2019. The indictment also alleges that all of the sex trafficking victims suffered from serious substance abuse disorders, including addictions to heroin and crack cocaine, and that that Johnson sold the narcotics to the victims. The indictment further alleges that Johnson posted sex work advertisements of the victims and communicated with potential sex customers often pretending to be the victims. Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for each of five counts of sex trafficking and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances if convicted.
United States v. Lakeya N. Aldridge, Joshua Lankford and Kevonne L. Murphy: On August 1, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lakeya N. Aldridge, Joshua Lankford and Kevonne L. Murphy with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and kidnapping, for allegedly forcing a woman to engage in commercial sex acts for the financial benefit of the defendants.
According to the four-count indictment, from approximately October 1 to October 30, 2018, the defendants conspired to, and engaged in the business of recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, advertising, and maintaining the victim, K.A., an adult female, to engage in commercial sex acts for their financial benefit. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Aldridge, Lankford, and Murphy rented hotel rooms for the victim to engage in commercial sex acts, as well as transporting the victim to “out calls” to hotel rooms and other locations to engage in commercial sex acts, including transporting her across state lines. Aldridge allegedly provided narcotics, including heroin, to the victim to recruit, entice, and maintain the victim throughout the course of her engaging in commercial sex acts. On August 28, 2019, Murphy pled guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and sentencing currently set for February 28, 2020.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office deploys many resources in the fight against human trafficking, aimed at investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases; providing support and services for victims; engaging in outreach to law enforcement, prosecutors, non-governmental organizations, and other partners; and educating the community. We will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases to end this devastating crime.
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- Human Trafficking Coordinator and Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF)
Former Baltimore Delegate Pleads Guilty to Federal Honest Services Wire Fraud and Bribery Charges for Official Actions Taken on Legislation Related to Medical Marijuana, Opioid Therapy Clinics, and Liquor LicensesRead the Press Release
Baltimore Maryland – Former Maryland State Delegate Cheryl Diane Glenn, age 68, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal honest services wire fraud and bribery charges.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“As a public official, Cheryl Glenn’s duty was to place the interests of the public above her own. Instead, she accepted more than $33,000 in bribes in exchange for official actions,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We trust our elected officials to make decisions in the best interests of the public, not to use their positions of authority to line their own pockets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI will hold accountable those who betray the public trust for their own greed.”
“Elected officials owe the public their honest services,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “They should be making decisions and taking action based on what is in the best interest of their constituency, not their pocketbook. The FBI is dedicated to rooting out public corruption so that the citizens we serve can feel secure that their officials are serving them, not the highest bidder.”
According to her plea agreement, until her resignation on December 18, 2019, Glenn was a Maryland State Delegate representing District 45, which covered portions of Baltimore. During her tenure, Glenn served as the Chair of the Banking, Consumer Protection, and Commercial Law Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee; the Vice Chair of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee; and the Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation, among other roles.
As detailed in her plea agreement, from at least March 4, 2018 through February 11, 2019, Glenn defrauded the citizens of Maryland of the right to her honest services by soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for her official actions. Specifically, Glenn accepted $33,750 in bribes from an associate in exchange for voting in favor of a bill to increase the number of medical marijuana grower and processing licenses that were available to an out-of-state company; promising to lead the effort to change the law in order to provide a preference for Maryland residency to in-state medical marijuana license applicants; introducing legislation that decreased the number of years of experience required to be a medical director of an opioid maintenance therapy clinic; and introducing legislation that created a class B alcohol and liquor license in District 45.
Glenn admitted that after a meeting on March 5, 2018 with an associate and two businesspersons, she agreed to use her position as a state legislator to vote for a bill which could favor Company 1 in its pursuit of a medical marijuana license, in exchange for $3,000 in cash, which would be used to pay an outstanding tax bill on her residence. Glenn subsequently voted for the bill after its Third Reading on March 8, 2018, and again on April 7, 2018, after amendments from the Senate. The bill passed and on April 20, 2018, the associate provided Glenn with $3,000 in cash during a meeting at a restaurant in Baltimore County.
According to the plea agreement, on June 7, 2018, Glenn and her associate met with another businessperson at a restaurant in Baltimore to discuss medical marijuana licenses. During the conversation, Glenn told the businessperson that people had asked her how a medical marijuana company had been awarded a medical marijuana growing license without having any high-priced lobbyists. Glenn responded, “…they know God and Cheryl Glenn.” A few weeks later, Glenn followed up with the associate to see if the businessperson was “lookin’ for [Glenn] to help him or something?” The associate confirmed that the businessperson did want Glenn’s help and Glenn asked “…is he going to be makin’ a donation or something?” On August 10, 2018, the associate told Glenn that the businessperson had offered the associate $10,000 to get Maryland law changed so that local businesses would be given priority for medical marijuana licenses. The associate offered to split the $10,000 with Glenn, who agreed to introduce legislation to get the law changed in exchange for a payment of $5,000. In order to get the businessperson to make the $10,000 payment, Glenn subsequently sent the associate an e-mail pledging to take the lead in the effort to get the law changed so that Maryland residents received a preference for medical marijuana licenses. On August 23, 2018, the associate gave Glenn $5,000 in cash during a meeting at a Baltimore restaurant.
Further, Glenn admitted that on October 18, 2018, she pre-filed legislation to reduce the required experience for medical directors at opioid maintenance therapy clinics in order to receive another $5,000 payment from the businessperson. The payment was provided on October 22, 2018, and Glenn subsequently introduced the bill on January 9, 2019. Glenn also agreed to introduce legislation to obtain a liquor license for a restaurant that the businessperson wanted to open in Glenn’s district, in exchange for $20,000, with the initial payment of $5,000 to be made up front and the remaining $15,000 payment when the legislation was introduced. As stated in the plea agreement, Glenn received the $5,000 payment on December 10, 2018. On January 28, 2019, Glenn introduced the bill to obtain the liquor license and on February 11, 2019, received a bribe payment of $15,000.
Glenn took steps to conceal her illegal activities, including: agreeing not to deposit bribe payments in her bank account; agreeing to meet in person to discuss the details of bribes rather than discussing them over the phone; and creating a false loan note for the $15,000 bribe payment, falsely stating that the money was a gift and was in no way connected to her position as a State Delegate. On at least two occasions, Glenn texted an associate who was providing the bribe payments on behalf of the businesses and falsely advised the associate that the bribe payments were short a total of $750, which the associate subsequently provided to Glenn.
Glenn faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for honest services wire fraud and five years in federal prison for the bribery charge. 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. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Leo J. Wise, who are prosecuting the case.
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Gwynn Oak Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Stealing Firearms from a Halethorpe Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Byron Keith Goines, age 25, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, to 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the federal charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee’s inventory, in connection with the burglary of a Halethorpe, Maryland gun dealer on January 21, 2019.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on January 21, 2019, at 1:08 a.m., Baltimore County police officers were dispatched to a licensed gun dealer, located on Hollins Ferry Road in Halethorpe, in response to a break-in. When the officers arrived, they found a hole in the roof leading into the vault where the guns were stored. Surveillance footage indicated that the suspect, later identified as Byron Keith Goines, had used a saw to cut a hole in the roof before dropping into the vault. The suspect then filled a white trash bag with firearms. After several failed attempts to remove the trash bag of guns from the vault, the suspect exited through the roof carrying several guns on his person. When police arrived, a total of six guns had been removed from the vault, littered on the ground behind the store.
Immediately after the theft, responding officers saw Goines fleeing in the direction of and then hiding inside a nearby warehouse; Goines’ flight was also captured on surveillance video footage. K9 officers similarly traced a human smell from the direction of the firearms dealer to the warehouse. Officers eventually entered the warehouse and found Goines inside. The next day, warehouse employees found two soiled sweatshirts, a soiled pair of pants, and a crowbar in the area where Goines had been hiding.
Although Goines had successfully disabled one of the firearms dealer’s rear cameras, the neighboring business’s cameras and the cameras inside the vault were still operable. The footage shows that the shoes worn by the suspect were distinctive high-top Air Jordans. Those sneakers match the sneakers worn by Goines when he was caught several hours later. Surveillance video footage captured an individual bearing a tattoo on his wrist attempting to cut the surveillance camera’s wires. That tattoo also matched a tattoo on Goines’ wrist. Officers also recovered trash bags that matched those used by Goines in the robbery in the back of the vehicle used to transport Goines to the police station, as well as in the U-Haul that he used that was parked near the firearms dealer.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Goldsticker, who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Irvin Hudson, age 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm. The sentence was imposed on January 17, 2020.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of convicted felons and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Irvin Hudson was a convicted felon who chose to possess a stolen firearm and was arrested after running from a vehicle that had been carjacked. This combination of facts often proves deadly on our streets. Hudson now faces 10 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to his guilty plea, on the afternoon of November 30, 2018, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to an armed carjacking of a white Honda Accord. According to the victims of the carjacking, a man approached the driver, who was standing outside the vehicle at a gas station, and pointed a black handgun at him. The carjacker then told the female in the passenger seat to exit the vehicle, took the driver’s keys, and fled in the vehicle.
That evening, BPD received GPS information about the location of the carjacked vehicle. Once officers located the vehicle, it sped away. Officers in the BPD helicopter, known as “Foxtrot,” tracked and relayed the vehicle’s location to officers on the ground. The vehicle stopped, and the driver and a front passenger exited the vehicle and fled in different directions.
Officers in Foxtrot tracked the fleeing passenger, later identified as Hudson, relaying his location to ground officers. The officers in Foxtrot saw Hudson attempt to hide under a truck in an alley and saw him throw a firearm. Officers immediately went to the location and recovered the firearm—a semi-automatic pistol with a 9 mm cartridge in the chamber. The firearm’s magazine was missing, but was subsequently located next to the passenger side door of the vehicle where Hudson had exited the vehicle. The magazine was loaded with four 9mm cartridges. Hudson admitted that he knew that the firearm was stolen.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the FBI, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Goldsticker and Matthew DellaBetta, who prosecuted the case.
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Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with Two ChildrenRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Justin Paul Keener, age 31, of Patuxent River, Maryland, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, on each of two counts of abusive sexual contact with a child, to be served concurrently. Judge Hazel also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Keener 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 sexual abuse of a child devastates the victim and their family,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Justin Keener will now have 25 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever—to think about the suffering he has inflicted on these innocent children. This office will continue to prioritize child exploitation cases in order to protect our children from predators like Keener.”
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Salazar of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Washington Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his guilty plea, in November 2017, while residing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Keener sexually abused a victim who was under the age of 12. In and before November 2017, Keener sexually abused another victim, also under the age of 12, on multiple occasions.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the NCIS and the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Christopher Crawford, age 40, of Waldorf, Maryland to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for production of child pornography. The sentence was imposed on January 15, 2020. Judge Grimm also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Crawford 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 United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on January 5, 2018, Crawford agreed to a search of his cellular phone as part of an investigation by the Prince George’s County Police Department, revealing videos and images of two minor female victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and documenting Crawford’s sexual abuse of the victims.
On February 15, 2018, search warrants were executed on Crawford’s residence and a vehicle. Law enforcement recovered electronic media and devices that contained files depicting the victims engaged in sex acts or simulated sex acts with Crawford, and other sexually explicit images.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Jessica C. Collins, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Three Alleged Members of the Violent Extremist Group “the Base” Facing Federal Firearms and Alien-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging three alleged members of the racially motivated violent extremist group “The Base” with firearms and alien-related charges. The complaint charges Brian Mark Lemley, Jr., age 33, of Elkton, Maryland, and Newark, Delaware, and William Garfield Bilbrough IV, age 19, of Denton, Maryland, with transporting and harboring aliens and conspiring to do so. Lemley is also charged with transporting a machine gun and disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an alien unlawfully present in the United States. Further, the complaint charges Lemley and Canadian national Patrik Jordan Mathews, age 27, currently of Newark, Delaware, with transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony. The complaint also charges Mathews with being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The complaint was filed January 14, 2020, and was unsealed today upon their arrests by the FBI.
The defendants are expected to have initial appearances beginning at 2:45 p.m. today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, 6400 Cherrywood Lane, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day.
The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; United States Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
According to the criminal complaint, within The Base’s encrypted chat rooms, members have discussed, among other things, recruitment, creating a white ethno-state, committing acts of violence against minority communities (including African-Americans and Jewish-Americans), the organization’s military-style training camps, and ways to make improvised explosive devices. Lemley previously served as a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army, and as of August 2019, Mathews, a Canadian citizen in the United States illegally, was a combat engineer in the Canadian Army Reserve.
The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint alleges that on August 19, 2019, Mathews unlawfully crossed from Canada into the United States near the Manitoba/Minnesota border. On August 30, 2019, Lemley and Bilbrough allegedly drove from Maryland to Michigan in order to pick up Mathews, and all three men returned to Maryland on August 31, 2019.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, on November 3, 2019, the three men drove from Virginia to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where Bilbrough resided. Lemley and Mathews then continued to the area of Elkton, Maryland, where Lemley obtained a motel room for Mathews. The following day, Lemley drove Mathews to Delaware, where Lemley rented an apartment in which the two have resided since that time.
According to the affidavit, during December 2019, Lemley and Mathews used an upper receiver ordered by Lemley, as well as other firearms parts, to make a functioning assault rifle. Also in December, Lemley, Mathews, and Bilbrough allegedly attempted to manufacture a controlled substance, DMT, at Lemley and Mathews’s apartment. Furthermore, Lemley, Mathews, and Bilbrough discussed The Base’s activities and spoke about other members of the organization. Mathews also allegedly showed the assault rifle to Bilbrough, who examined the assault rifle and returned it to Mathews.
In January 2020, according to the affidavit, that Lemley and Mathews purchased approximately 1,650 rounds of 5.56mm and 6.5mm ammunition; traveled from Delaware to a gun range in Maryland, where they shot the assault rifle; and retrieved plate carriers (to support body armor) and at least some of the purchased ammunition from Lemley’s prior residence in Maryland.
If convicted, Lemley and Bilbrough each face a maximum sentence of five years for transporting and harboring certain aliens, and 10 years for conspiracy to do so. Lemley also faces a maximum of five years in prison for transporting a machine gun in interstate commerce, and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for disposing of a firearm and ammunition to an illegal alien. Lemley and Mathews each face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for transporting a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony offense. Finally, Mathews faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 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.
United States Attorneys Robert K. Hur and David C. Weiss commended the FBI Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and ATF for their work in the investigation, and thanked U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland State Police, and the Delaware State Police for their assistance. Mr. Hur and Mr. Weiss thanked their offices’ national security prosecutors, who are handling the case.
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Superseding Indictment Charges Man for Making Threats Against a Maryland SynagogueRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Stephen Orback, 65, for threatening on multiple occasions to attack a Baltimore-area synagogue. Count One charges Orback with intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs through the threatened use of force, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 247. Count Two charges Orback with making threatening interstate communications, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875.
According to the superseding indictment, between May 12 and July 21, 2019, Orback made numerous telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill members of the synagogue’s congregation with firearms, by using explosives, and by burning the synagogue down. The superseding indictment replaces a previous indictment, handed down by the grand jury on Aug. 15, 2019, which charged the defendant only with the interstate-threats count.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham of the District of Maryland and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Zachary Dembo.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s work to combat and prevent hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: a one-stop portal with links to Department of Justice hate crimes resources for law enforcement, media, researchers, victims, advocacy groups, and other organizations and individuals.
Prolific Wholesale Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison After His Trial Conviction on Federal Charges for a Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy and Related Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Paul Alexander, a/k/a David Paul Hayes and Shorty, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, to 35 year in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on five federal charges including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substances—specifically fentanyl, possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Judge Bennett also ordered that Alexander forfeit more than $4 million in cash seized during the investigation, three luxury vehicles, seven Rolex watches, two Cartier bracelets with diamonds, a diamond tennis bracelet, and two designer bags. The jury returned its verdict in the evening on Monday, October 1, 2019.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; 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.
“More people die of opioid overdoses than murder in Maryland, while drug dealers spend their profits on luxury cars and jewelry,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Fentanyl dealers, like Paul Alexander, sell death and despair, and dealing in fentanyl and using a gun increases their odds of federal prosecution. As a result of his conviction, Paul Alexander will now spend 35 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. He will also forfeit to the government all of the proceeds from his drug business, including the cash, cars, jewelry, and other items he bought with drug money.”
According to the evidence presented at his five-day trial, from April 2018 through January 2019, Paul Alexander distributed large amounts of fentanyl in and around the Baltimore area. An 11-month investigation by DEA into Alexander’s drug trafficking activities resulted in the seizure of more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl—enough fentanyl to kill 5 million people—and over $4 million in cash from Alexander’s car and apartments on January 2, 2019.
The evidence showed that Alexander distributed fentanyl on several occasions to a Baltimore County drug trafficker in 2018. In addition, he was observed conducting narcotics-related transactions with another drug dealer, and surveillance video at his apartment complex revealed that Alexander used several vehicles to store and deliver drugs. The evidence proved that Alexander utilized vehicles and residences in the names of relatives and associates in furtherance of his drug trafficking operation.
Witnesses testified that the DEA and Anne Arundel County police executed search warrants on January 2, 2019, at two apartments associated with Alexander. Law enforcement testified that they recovered a loaded pistol with an extended magazine that contained 24 rounds of ammunition, multiple bags filled with over $4 million in cash, jewelry, and narcotics distribution paraphernalia.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner, who tried the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, who handled pre-trial litigation.
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Pasadena Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Cyberstalking and Causing Intentional Damage to a Protected ComputerRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Ahmad Kazzelbach, age 26, of Pasadena, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of cyberstalking and intentional damage to a protected computer.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.
According to Kazzelbach’s plea agreement, beginning in June 2015, Kazzelbach and the victim both worked at Company A, an insurance broker located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and in December 2015 began a romantic relationship, moving into a shared apartment. In late May 2016, the victim ended her relationship with Kazzelbach. Although Kazzelbach moved out of their shared apartment, he subsequently began a year-long scheme to harass the victim by compromising her personal online accounts, forging policy cancellation letters on behalf of her clients, and filing false reports with law enforcement that ultimately resulted in the victim being wrongfully arrested and incarcerated on multiple occasions.
Specifically, on July 25, 2016, Kazzelbach created an e-mail account that mimicked the victim’s real e-mail address and within 10 minutes, changed the name on the victim’s Apple account to the fake e-mail address he had created. Two days later, Kazzelbach initiated a password reset, locking the victim out of the account which controlled certain settings on her iPhone, as well as access to the photos, music, and videos associated with her account. Kazzelbach also accessed the victim’s Instagram account and changed a portion of her user name to “whore,” and accessed the victim’s online student loan account and changed the account e-mail address to the fake address he had created.
Kazzelbach also admitted that in late August 2016, he used a fax machine at Company A to send two letters purporting to cancel supplemental health insurance policies belonging to two of the victim’s clients, whose information Kazzelbach had accessed through his position at Company A. On August 28, 2016, Kazzelbach accessed the victim’s own online health insurance account, to which she had previously given Kazzelbach limited access for initiation purposes, and made unauthorized changes to the victim’s race, pregnancy status, and income. The change in income resulted in the victim being disqualified from the plan in which she had enrolled, potentially modifying or impairing her medical care.
On September 1 and October 1, 2016, Kazzelbach attempted to access the victim’s bank account and tax-filing account, respectively, using a proxy server, which can be used to hide an electronic device’s true location or identity. However, investigators were able to identify the true Internet Protocol (IP) address from which the attempts were made and determine that the account was subscribed to by Kazzelbach’s father at a residence where Kazzelbach was then residing.
On September 30, 2016, Kazzelbach sent a text message to the victim in which he disguised his real identity by using a “spoofing” program, which used computer software to make it appear as though the message originated from a Florida-based cell phone number that did not belong to Kazzelbach. In the message, Kazzelbach wrote, “Prepare yourself for what’s coming…the last 3 months were just the beginning. I have bigger plans for you…I love how easily manipulated you can be.”
As detailed in his plea agreement, Kazzelbach filed a petition for a protective order against the victim on December 10, 2016, in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County, falsely alleging that the victim had physically abused him and made violent threats in text messages and on social media. A temporary protective order was granted on December 13 and a hearing on a final protective order was scheduled for December 29, 2016. Between December 13 and December 29, Kazzelbach contacted Anne Arundel County on four occasions to falsely report that the victim was continuing to harass and threaten him in violation of the temporary protective order. Based on Kazzelbach’s sworn statement, and text messages and phone calls on Kazzelbach’s phone that he had spoofed to make it appear that the victim had contacted him, when in fact, she had not, the court issued four arrest warrants for the victim. On December 29, 2016, the final protective order against the victim was granted, effective for a period of one year. Then, between December 29, 2016 and June 2017, Kazzelbach made 14 additional false reports to law enforcement, causing 7 more criminal actions to be filed against the victim in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, and resulting in her false imprisonment for four nights.
In March 2017, the Anne Arundel County prosecutor handling Kazzelbach’s case asked for Kazzelbach’s consent to download the contents of his iPhone, but Kazzelbach refused. The prosecutor told Kazzelbach that if he did not permit a full search of his phone, the Anne Arundel charges against the victim would be dismissed. In response, Kazzelbach began making false reports to Baltimore County instead. In May 2017, the Anne Arundel charges against the victim were dismissed. Baltimore County Police officers subsequently began their own investigation and determined that no attempted or completed text messages were sent from any of the victim’s accounts on the dates and times alleged by Kazzelbach.
Kazzelbach faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for cyberstalking and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for intentional damage to a protected computer. 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. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Baltimore Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the case.
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Getaway Driver Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Two 2019 Bank Robberies in BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Richard Adams age 59, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence, in connection with armed bank robberies committed in Baltimore on January 23 and February 1, 2019.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Adams’ guilty plea, he served as the getaway driver in connection with two armed bank robberies committed by his two co-defendants. On January 23, 2019, Adams drove his co-defendants to a bank in the 3600 block of Boston Street in Baltimore, in a car he had rented two weeks earlier. Adams’ co-defendants were each armed and wore masks and gloves when they entered the bank. The robbers told everyone to put their hands up and one of the robbers approached the victim teller, pointed his firearm at her, and demanded $100 dollar bills and “loose bills” from the bottom drawer of the till. Meanwhile, the other robber held the customers and other bank employees at gunpoint in the lobby area of the bank. The victim teller handed over the cash and the robbers ran away. As they ran through a parking lot adjacent to the bank, they accidentally dropped more than $5,000 in cash. They then got into the gray car driven by Adams, who had been waiting for them, and Adams drove them away from the area.
On February 1, 2019, Adams drove his co-defendants to a bank located in the 2900 block of O’Donnell Street in Baltimore, in a 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo that was registered to Adams. Adams’ co-defendants entered the bank armed with the same firearms they had used in the previous robbery and again wore masks and gloves to conceal their identities. The robbers pointed their firearms at the tellers and demanded money. After the tellers handed over cash from the till, the robbers demanded more cash. The tellers provided the robbers with cash from the bank’s vault and included a GPS tracker, which was activated. The robbers fled the bank and got into Adams’ car and Adams drove them away from the bank.
Baltimore Police Department (BPD) units responding to the robbery were provided with the GPS tracking information and located the vehicle with Adams and his co-defendants inside. All three were arrested. At the time of their arrests, one of the robbers had the gun used in the robbery on his person. A subsequent search of the vehicle recovered the second firearm and a blue backpack containing the cash stolen during the robbery and the GPS tracking device. Later that day, a search was executed at Adams’ residence which recovered clothing and a leather duffel bag used during the first robbery.
Adams faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison for aiding and abetting armed bank robbery, and faces a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum of life in federal prison for aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. 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. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for April 27, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
Adams’ co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial on June 1, 2020. All three defendants remain detained.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Daniel A. Loveland, Jr., who are prosecuting the case.
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Federal Superseding Indictment Charges Man for Making Threats Against a Maryland SynagogueRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Stephen Lyle Orback, age 65, on the federal charges of intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs through the threatened use of force, and making threatening communications, specifically multiple telephone calls threatening a synagogue.
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the indictment, between May 12 and July 21, 2019, Orback made multiple telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill many members of synagogue’s congregation with firearms, by using explosives, and by burning the synagogue down. The superseding indictment replaces a previous indictment, handed down by the grand jury on Aug. 15, 2019, which charged the defendant only with the interstate-threats count.
If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs through the threatened us of force; and a maximum of five years in prison for making threatening communications. 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. Orback remains detained on unrelated state charges in Colorado.
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. .
United States Attorney Hur and Assistant Attorney General Dreiband commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur and Mr. Dreiband thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Zachary Dembo, who are prosecuting the case.
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Acusación formal sustitutiva acusa a un hombre de amenazar a una sinagoga en MarylandRead the Press Release
Un gran Jurado federal emitió una acusación formal sustitutiva que acusa a Stephen Orback, de 65 años, de amenazar, en múltiples ocasiones, con atacar una sinagoga cerca de Baltimore. El primero cargo le acusa a Orback de intentar intencionalmente a impedir en el disfrute del libre ejercicio del culto amenazando con el uso de fuerza, en contra de la Sección 247 del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU. El segundo cargo le acusa a Orback de hacer amenazas a través de comunicaciones interestatales, en contra de la Sección 875 del Título 18 del Código de los EE. UU.
Según la acusación formal sustitutiva, entre el 12 de mayo y el 21 de julio del 2019, Orback realizó diversas llamadas telefónicas a un empleado de una sinagoga en Owings Mills, Maryland, y amenazó que mataría a miembros de la congregación con armas de fuego y explosivos y que quemaría la sinagoga. La acusación formal sustitutiva reemplaza una acusación formal previa que fue emitida por el gran jurado el 15 de agosto del 2019, la cual únicamente había acusado al acusado del cargo de amenazas interestatales.
Una acusación formal es una acusación de conducta delictiva y no se considera como prueba de culpabilidad. Al acusado se le considera inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad. De ser condenado, Orback se enfrenta a una pena máxima de 20 años de cárcel, tres años de libertad supervisada y una sanción de hasta $250.000.
El caso está siendo investigado por la Oficina Local del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés) en Baltimore y enjuiciado por el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar para el Distrito de Maryland, P. Michael Cunningham, y el Abogado de Litigios para la División de Derechos Civiles, Zachary Dembo.
Para más información sobre el trabajo del Departamento de Justicia para combatir y prevenir los delitos de odio, vaya a www.justice.gov/hatecrimes: es un portal único con enlaces a recursos del Departamento de Justicia relacionados con delitos de odio para la policía, los medios de comunicación, investigadores, víctimas, grupos de apoyo, y otras organizaciones y personas.
Eastern Shore Career Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Distribution and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Yesterday, Takii Nikeya Smith, age 44, of Cambridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the federal charges of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and the members of the Dorchester and Wicomico County Narcotics Task Forces, including: Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr.; Chief Mark Lewis of the Cambridge Police Department; Chief Bruce Jones of the Hurlock Police Department; Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis; Chief Barbara Duncan of the Salisbury Police Department; Chief Brian Swafford of Fruitland Police Department; Dorchester County State’s Attorney William Jones; and Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes.
According to Smith’s guilty plea, in early 2018, an investigation was conducted into the distribution of large quantities of cocaine on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, involving hundreds of hours of physical and electronic surveillance, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics.
Information gathered through surveillance and the execution of search warrants—one of which turned up more than a kilogram of cocaine packaged for distribution—suggested that Smith was a large-scale cocaine supplier in the area. After several weeks of surveillance, Smith was stopped by the Maryland State Police and members of the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force as he returned to Maryland from Delaware. Smith fled the traffic stop after being advised that a police K-9 would be conducting an open-air scan of his vehicle, which led to a vehicle pursuit. Smith was ultimately apprehended when his vehicle got stuck in mud while driving over farm land. Later, after receiving citizen complaints about packages found along roadways traversed during the pursuit, law enforcement recovered two kilogram packages of cocaine. According to the guilty plea, Smith admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had discarded them during his flight from law enforcement.
Search warrants were subsequently executed at one of Smith’s properties in Mardela Springs, Maryland and at a trailer that Smith had stored at an auto body shop. Law enforcement recovered more than 600 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, cutting agents, and other drug distribution paraphernalia, as well as several rounds of .40-caliber ammunition from in and near the house. From the trailer, law enforcement recovered three firearms—a 9mm pistol, a .40-caliber pistol, and an AR-15 rifle—as well as $347,000 in cash in a vacuum-sealed bag. Smith knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as the result of a previous felony conviction.
Smith and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Smith will be sentenced to 13 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2020.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI, and participating agencies in the Dorchester and Wicomico County Narcotics Task Forces, who are both part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Initiative, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali and Christopher J. Romano who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Baltimore Police Detective Facing Federal Indictment for Conspiring to Deprive Civil Rights, Falsifying Records in a Federal Investigation, and Making False Statements Before a Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Robert Hankard, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, on federal charges related to allegations that he provided a BB gun that he knew would be planted on a suspect, that he falsified an application for a search warrant and an arrest report in a second incident where drugs were planted on a suspect, and that he falsely testified to a federal grand jury in a federal investigation. The indictment was returned on January 14, 2020, and was unsealed at his initial appearance today.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the five-count indictment, Hankard has been a member of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) since 2007 and was promoted to detective on March 20, 2014. In 2014 and 2015, Hankard served on a Special Enforcement Section (SES) unit assigned to the BPD’s Western District. On the evening of March 26, 2014, Hankard, who was not on duty that day, received a call from his partner, who advised him that Sergeant W.J. had been “hemmed up” in something and asked Hankard if he had any “toys” or “replicas.” Hankard understood that his partner was asking for a BB gun or air soft gun so that it could be planted on a suspect. Hankard advised that he did have a BB gun. Hankard’s partner came to Hankard’s house and Hankard provided him with the BB gun, which was subsequently planted at the scene of the arrest of D.S., whom Sergeant W.J. had run over after chasing D.S. No guns or drugs were recovered from D.S. at the time of his arrest, but drugs were recovered from D.S. at the hospital, where he had been taken in the custody of the Baltimore Police officers. D.S. was charged with possession, use, and discharge of a gas or pellet gun, for the BB gun that was planted at the scene of D.S.’s arrest, and a number of drug offenses. D.S. was detained on those charges until at least April 2, 2014, and the charges were dismissed on January 16, 2015.
As detailed in the indictment, on September 24, 2015, Hankard arrested D.B., a target in a drug investigation, as he sat in his pick-up truck in a motel parking lot. The indictment alleges that after removing D.B. from the vehicle, Hankard and his partner searched the vehicle, but no drugs were found. Other officers on the scene allegedly went into the room where D.B. had been staying and found a woman, B.J., a large quantity of heroin that had not yet been packaged for distribution, and a small quantity of cocaine that had already been packaged for distribution. The officers had not obtained a search warrant before entering the room. After learning that no drugs had been found in the truck, the indictment alleges that another officer, with Hankard’s permission, planted some of the cocaine found in the motel room in D.B.’s truck, in order to justify the arrest of D.B. and B.J. and the entry into the motel room.
According to the indictment, Hankard subsequently wrote a search warrant for the motel room, which contained several false statements, including that his partner had “observed in plain view, a clear tied bag, that contained small zip lock bags (with red dice logo) of suspected cocaine (after opening the clear bag, it revealed 10 ziplock bags total)” in D.B.’s truck; that D.B. was seen throwing the package of suspected cocaine to the floor of the vehicle; that after making sure the motel room card key worked, detectives had secured the room pending a search warrant; and that Hankard “believes there is addition suspected controlled dangerous substances (CDS)” in the motel room.
The indictment alleges that after the search warrant was obtained and executed at the motel room, Hankard prepared a false incident report, which was approved by his partner as the “officer-in-charge” at the time of the arrests, even though the SES unit’s Sergeant was on the scene at the time.
Further, the indictment alleges that on February 13, 2019, Hankard falsely testified before a federal grand jury by stating that he had not provided the BB gun to his partner on March 26, 2014.
If convicted, Hankard faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to deprive civil rights; a maximum of 20 year in federal prison for each of two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation; and a maximum of five years in federal prison for false declarations before a grand jury. 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 Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson ordered that Hankard be released pending trial under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting the case.
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Rockville Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Scheme to Defraud His Employer of More Than $1.7 MillionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Rakesh Kaushal, age 66, of Rockville, Maryland, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud his employer of more than $1.7 million. Judge Grimm also ordered Kaushal to pay restitution with the exact amount to be determined at a later hearing.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, between August 2015 and approximately January 2017, Kaushal was employed by a company headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland (Victim Company 1), which provided construction and design services, primarily to federal government agencies. Ivan Victor Thrane was the owner and president of three construction companies operating in Dickerson and Beltsville, Maryland (“the Thrane companies”). Kaushal recommended the Thrane companies to be subcontractors on Victim Company 1 projects for which Kaushal was the Project Manager or Project Executive.
Kaushal admitted that between August 2015 and January 2017, he conspired with Thrane to defraud Victim Company 1 by submitting fraudulent payment requests for work purportedly performed by the Thrane companies, which Kaushal reviewed and approved. In fact, the Thrane companies had not performed all of the work indicated on the payment requests and, in some cases, had not performed any work on projects for which payment was requested.
Specifically, Kaushal and Thrane, among other things, caused the Thrane companies to submit payment requests to Victim Company 1. Kaushal prepared the payment requests, which he e-mailed to Thrane. Thrane, or another individual at Thrane’s request, signed the payment requests on behalf of the Thrane companies. Thrane then e-mailed the signed payment requests to Kaushal, who, as Victim Company 1’s project manager and project executive, approved the payment requests, causing Victim Company 1 to pay the Thrane companies. Once payment was received from Victim Company 1, Thrane funneled a portion of those payments to Kaushal, typically by writing checks from his personal bank account or from the Thrane companies, which Kaushal then deposited into his personal bank account.
After Victim Company 1 discovered the overbilling in December 2016, Kaushal and Thrane attempted to conceal the scheme to defraud. For example, on December 28, 2016, Kaushal, using his work e-mail address, sent an e-mail to Thrane that read in part, “Good Morning Mr. Thrane: I have been informed by our accounting department that mistakenly we have overpaid your company for the MPO Skywalk Project. Can you please verify with your accounting and respond by COB today.” Other employees from Victim Company 1 were copied on this e-mail. In fact, Kaushal and Thrane had communicated prior to this e-mail regarding the discovery of overpayments by Victim Company 1. Kaushal and Thrane also agreed on a response, which Thrane then e-mailed to Kaushal, copying other employees from Victim Company 1. Thrane’s response read in part, “…please allow me to review our records with my accountant. My accountant is off this week. . . . Please rest assured that if there have been any overpayment to us by [Victim Company 1], we will return the overpayment immediately.” In fact, the Thrane companies did not have an accountant.
Shortly after the fraud was discovered by Victim Company 1, between January 17 and January 23, 2017, Kaushal wired a total of $650,000, including proceeds of the fraud, from one of his personal bank accounts to an account in India, with Kaushal listed as the beneficiary.
Victim Company 1 eventually initiated civil litigation against Kaushal and Thrane, and obtained a default judgment against Kaushal of $1,740,330. Kaushal then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. During a meeting of creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding, Kaushal testified that he had used some of the proceeds of the fraud to purchase a condominium in India for a family member and that he had lost more than $100,000 gambling at various casinos. Kaushal was unable to account for more than $1 million of the kickback payments he received from Thrane. On May 15, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court entered a default judgment against Kaushal, denying him a discharge.
From approximately September 2015 to December 2016, Victim Company 1 paid the Thrane companies approximately $3,294,675.34 as a result of the scheme to defraud. Upon receipt of these payments from Victim Company 1, Thrane issued 34 kickback payments, totaling approximately $1,740,330 in checks written to Kaushal. On January 3, 2017, after discovering the fraud scheme, Victim Company 1 reversed or voided payments totaling approximately $741,525 to the Thrane companies. Kaushal then provided Thrane with three checks, all dated January 4, 2017, from Kaushal and made payable to one of the Thrane companies, totaling $370,700.06. Kaushal admits that the loss attributable to him as a result of the scheme is between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.
Ivan Victor Thrane, age 65, of Dickerson, Maryland, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme on August 22, 2019. Judge Grimm has not yet set a date for sentencing.
Kaushal remains detained.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Collins and Gregory Bernstein, who prosecuted the case.
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Former Police Officer Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of an Unregistered Fully Automatic FirearmRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker, sitting by designation in Baltimore, sentenced James Piccirilli, age 38, of Towson, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of an unregistered fully automatic firearm. The sentence was imposed on January 13, 2020.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
“This is not a case of someone using firearms to hunt, or to keep his family safe,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This is a firearms expert who purposely manufactured highly dangerous, highly regulated firearms, and knowing the harm they could cause, attempted to illegally sell them. This conduct poses a significant risk to public safety and we take seriously any effort to violate laws regulating fully automatic weapons, which can wound and kill at an alarmingly high rate.”
The National Firearms Act regulates certain firearms, known as “NFA firearms,” such as short-barreled rifles; fully automatic firearms; firearms that can be readily made fully automatic; and parts that can make a firearm fully automatic. Individuals may not possess an NFA firearm that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), nor can a person sell or transfer an NFA firearm without the prior approval of the ATF.
According to his guilty plea, on October 5, 2018, Piccirilli took an MKE 5.56mm caliber firearm, which had been altered to convert it into a fully automatic short-barreled rifle, bringing the firearm under the regulation of the NFA, to the home of another individual, who was a licensed gun dealer in Maryland. As detailed in court documents, Piccirilli, formerly a police officer in Brunswick, Maryland, legally owned non-NFA firearms and had the skill and expertise to convert non-NFA firearms into NFA firearms. Piccirilli admitted that the firearm belonged to him, but it was not registered to him.
As detailed in his plea agreement, in November 2018, unbeknownst to Piccirilli, ATF seized the firearm. In December 2018, Piccirilli attempted to sell the firearm to an ATF undercover agent without ATF’s prior approval. According to information presented to the Court, Piccirilli tried to launder the unregistered firearm by attempting to get the gun dealer to register the illegal firearm and/or sell it, so that the sale of the gun would appear to be legal. This set up the sale with the ATF undercover agent. As documented through text messages and recorded telephone calls, Piccirilli used evasive language with the ATF undercover agent and tried to conceal the nature of the transaction. On December 14, 2018, as Piccirilli left his house to complete the transaction, he was apprehended by ATF agents. Investigators executed search warrants on his house and two vehicles, seizing 10 unregistered fully automatic firearms, one unregistered short-barreled rifle, and seven unregistered silencers.
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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Brandon Moore, who prosecuted the case.
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California Fraudster Sentenced in Maryland to Four Years in Federal Prison for A Credit Card Fraud Scheme with Losses of More Than $1.365 MillionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Osakwe Ismael Osagbue, age 32, of Los Angeles, California, to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme to obtain and use fraudulent credit cards, resulting in a loss of at least $1,365,746.24. Judge Xinis also entered an order requiring Osagbue to forfeit and to pay restitution of $1,365,746.24. The sentence was imposed on January 13, 2020.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service- Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miller of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office.
According to Osagbue’s plea agreement, from December 2016 through December 2018, Osagbue obtained bank-issued credit cards in the names of other individuals and businesses, without their knowledge or consent, which he had mailed to addresses in Maryland and elsewhere. Osagbue admitted that he then used those credit cards to conduct unauthorized transactions through Square tokens. A Square token was a physical magnetic strip or chip reader that a merchant could attach to a mobile device and use as a point of sale (POS) terminal to conduct payment card transactions.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Osagbue made it appear that these transactions were being conducted by legitimate merchants, such as plastic surgery centers, when in fact they were being conducted by Osagbue for his own benefit. To conceal the scheme, Osagbue altered the global position system (“GPS”) location information for transactions conducted through the Square tokens to match the general location of the merchant that appeared to be conducting the transaction. The proceeds of these transactions were deposited into bank accounts, which Osagbue opened in the names of other individuals and companies. Osagbue subsequently withdrew the funds, often using automated teller machines (ATMs). Bank surveillance images show Osagbue using ATMs located in California, Georgia, and Maryland to withdraw funds.
Osagbue admitted that the loss attributable to the scheme to defraud and reasonably foreseeable as to him was at least $1,365,746.24, and that the scheme involved more than 10 victims.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica C. Collins and Gregory Bernstein, who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Man Convicted After Five-Day Trial on Federal Charges Related to the Attempted Armed Robbery of a Food Service Company Where an Employee Was ShotRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Alex Smith, a/k/a Skeet, age 34, of Halethorpe, Maryland, on federal charges of conspiracy to commit a commercial robbery, attempted robbery, and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, related to the attempted armed robbery of a food service business in Baltimore on December 5, 2018, during which an employee of the business was shot. The jury returned its verdict late on Friday, January 10, 2020. Co-defendant Cornell Slater, a/k/a Chopper, age 34, of Odenton, Maryland, pleaded guilty on the eve of trial to the federal charges of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; committing a commercial robbery, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The conviction and guilty plea were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.
According to Slater’s guilty plea and the evidence presented at Smith’s five-day trial, on December 5, 2018, Smith and Slater committed an attempted armed robbery of a food service business, which was Slater’s former employer. At approximately 3:22 a.m., Slater picked Smith up at his residence and the two traveled to the business. At 4:30 a.m., four employees arrived for the morning shift to open the store. Surveillance cameras show Smith and Slater waking across a parking lot in the direction of the employee entrance. As employees entered the store, Smith and Slater trailed them through the open door, posing as employees.
As detailed in the plea agreement and described during trial testimony, upon entering the building Slater confronted two victims outside of the manager’s office, pulling out a gun and shooting one of the victims in the face. Slater then forced the other employee toward the direction of the cash room, where the safe was stored. In the meantime, Smith entered the employee breakroom and confronted two other victims, brandishing a firearm while he ordered the victims to hand over their cell phones and get on the floor. Once Slater and the victim reached the cash room, the victim quickly entered the room and shut the door behind him, knowing that the door would lock automatically.
Knowing that they had been locked out of the cash room, Smith and Slater fled to Slater’s vehicle and drove off.
Further, Slater admitted that on November 14, 2018, he fired two shots at a woman, striking her in the side. The woman’s temporary license plate had been stolen from her vehicle on October 26, 2018. While driving in her neighborhood in the 2500 block of Springhill Avenue in Baltimore on November 14, 2018, the victim saw her stolen license plate on Slater’s car and pulled beside the vehicle to see who had stolen the plate. Slater confronted the victim for following him and shot her. The victim was able to describe Slater and his girlfriend, who had also been in the car at the time of the shooting.
Both of the shootings were forensically linked by the shell casings recovered at each shooting scene. Using information gleaned from both investigations, law enforcement officers were able to locate Slater and subsequently arrest him on December 18, 2018, outside of his residence in Odenton, MD. At the time of his arrest, Slater’s vehicle was displaying another temporary license plate that he been stolen approximately two weeks earlier. During a search of Slater’s residence, law enforcement recovered the 9mm pistol used in the two shootings from under Slater’s bed, as well as 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Slater had a previous felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Smith faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for a commercial robbery; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. 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. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has not yet scheduled a sentencing date for Smith.
Slater and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Slater will be sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Judge Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Slater on April 8, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF the Baltimore Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Goldsticker and James G. Warwick, who are prosecuting the case.
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Prince George’s County Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Jerome Francis Canty, age 23, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and to violating his supervised release from a January 31, 2018 federal conviction for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on June 5, 2019, in response to a citizen complaint, Prince George’s County Police officers responded to an apartment in Temple Hills, Maryland, where they saw Canty and another man on the couch in the living room. Officers also saw a black handgun in plain view on the couch next to Canty’s left leg. The gun was a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The officers detained Canty and the other man. The officers also saw a second firearm—a 9x19 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol—protruding from Canty’s right pants pocket. Both guns were loaded. At the time of the incident, a minor was asleep on the couch near the loaded firearms and three other children, all under the age of 10, were also in the apartment with the men.
The officers removed the two men from the apartment. As they walked toward the police cruiser, Canty told the officers that the “guns were his.” Canty also provided consent for law enforcement to search his vehicle and provided the keys to the officers. During the search, law enforcement recovered a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, loose ammunition, two additional magazines, including a 30-round magazine, located next to the loaded pistol, and $8,010 in cash found in a trash bag. Both of the .40-caliber pistols had previously been reported as stolen.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Canty knew that as a result of his previous conviction he was prohibited from possessing the three firearms and 99 rounds of ammunition.
Canty and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Canty will be sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The parties also agree that the advisory guidelines range for the violation of supervised release is between eight and 14 months, but there is no agreement as to whether that sentence shall be ordered to be served concurrently or consecutively. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2020 at 10:00 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.
This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Sykes, who is prosecuting the case.
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Bowie Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for False Use of a PassportRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Arinze Michael Ozor, age 36, of Bowie, Maryland, a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria, pleaded guilty on January 3, 2020, to federal charges of forgery or false use of a passport, in connection with his use of false passports to open “drop accounts” for a money laundering conspiracy.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
According to his plea agreement, Ozor, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, used at least two fraudulent passports as part of a money laundering conspiracy to open eight “drop accounts” to receive the proceeds from fraud schemes, including business e-mail compromise schemes and romance fraud schemes. The funds deposited to the accounts were largely disseminated to other entities as part of the conspiracy by Ozor and others.
Specifically, Ozor admitted that he used a Ghanaian passport in the name of Kelvin Green to open accounts at five banks between December 2017 and January 2018. Although the passport contained purported identifiers for Green, it contained Ozor’s photograph. When one of the banks froze the account due to suspicion of fraudulent activity, Ozor met with a banker to discuss regaining access to the account and presented the same Ghanaian passport in support of his request.
Ozor further admitted that from March 23, 2018 through May 1, 2018, he used a purported Beninese passport in the name of Jacob Hessou to open accounts at three additional banks. As with the Ghanaian passport, the Beninese passport contained purported identifiers for Hessou, but contained Ozor’s photograph.
The investigation found that Ozor does not have a validly issued passport from Ghana or Benin. In addition, the Kelvin Green Ghanaian passport number and the Jacob Hessou Beninese passport number were actually issued to other individuals by the respective governments and not to Green or Hessou.
More than $976,000 was involved in the money laundering conspiracy from the eight accounts opened by Ozor using the fraudulent passports.
Ozor faces a maximum sentence of 10 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. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the DSS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore County Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Kevin Daniel Mongold, Jr., age 22, of Halethorpe, Maryland, to 23 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography. Chief Judge Bredar also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Mongold 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 United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on October 18, 2018, Dropbox made a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user, later identified as Mongold, uploaded numerous images of an unknown prepubescent child who was being sexually exploited in the photos. Investigators worked to identify and locate the unknown child. After finding the child, law enforcement executed a search at Mongold’s residence and seized his iPhone and laptop computer. A forensic analysis of Mongold’s electronic devices revealed that Mongold had repeatedly sexually abused the five-year-old child for nearly a year, between September 2017 and September 2018, in order to produce visual depictions documenting the abuse.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Duey, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Former Prince George’s County Delegate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced former Maryland State Delegate Tawanna P. Gaines, age 67, of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, to six months in federal prison, followed by two months of home detention with electronic monitoring, as part of three years of supervised release, on a federal wire fraud charge. Gaines converted more than $22,000 in campaign funds to her personal use. Judge Chuang also ordered Gaines to pay restitution and to forfeit $22,565.03, which is the loss resulting from her fraud.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“Tawanna Gaines betrayed the public trust by using her position in the Maryland House of Delegates to enrich herself, at the expense of her constituents,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Our elected officials are entrusted to make decisions in the best interests of the people they represent. We will pursue and prosecute those who break that trust and bring them to justice.”
“Public corruption at any level undermines the community’s faith in their elected officials thus enabling long-term damage to government institutions,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “The FBI works diligently to detect fraud and corruption and hold those who violate the public’s trust accountable. Anyone who believes they have information about public corruption is asked to contact the FBI at 410-265-8080 or tips.fbi.gov.”
According to her plea agreement, Gaines was a Maryland State Delegate from December 2001 through October 17, 2019, representing District 22, which covered portions of Prince George’s County. Over her years in the House of Delegates, Gaines held many committee assignments, including vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee and Assistant Majority Leader. The “Friends of Tawanna P. Gaines” (FTPG) candidate committee was the name of the finance entity for the Gaines campaign for Maryland State Delegate from June 2002 to the present. FTPG was a regulated state election campaign committee with a designated bank account. Separately, Gaines held exclusive control over a PayPal account used to accept electronic donations to FTPG which was not disclosed in State campaign finance filings.
Gaines admitted that from at least January 2015 through April 2018, she defrauded the campaign and its contributors of more than $22,000. Specifically, Gaines solicited campaign contributions, falsely representing to contributors that the funds would be used to facilitate her reelection and maintain her leadership positions within the Maryland General Assembly. Gaines accepted donations from campaign contributors into the FTPG PayPal account, then without authorization and in violation of Maryland campaign finance laws, utilized campaign funds from the FTPG account for her personal use. Gaines admitted that she received campaign contributions and converted them to her own use without causing the contributions to be identified on reports made to the Maryland State Board of Elections.
As detailed in her plea agreement, Gaines used the campaign funds from the FTPG PayPal account to pay for personal expenses, such as fast food, hair styling, dental work, a cover for the pool at her personal residence, an Amazon Fire TV stick, Amazon Prime membership, and payments to Amazon.com. In addition, during the course of the scheme Gaines withdrew a total of approximately $1,952.75 in cash from ATM machines and electronically transferred at least $2,061.55 from the FTPG PayPal account directly to her personal checking account. The total loss as a result of Gaines’ fraud was at least $22,565.03. As part of her plea agreement, Gaines is required to forfeit and pay restitution in that amount.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Windom, who prosecuted the case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $77 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in FY 2019Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur announced that financial collections in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 in the District of Maryland reached $77,313,382.58. The U.S. Department of Justice keeps statistics on a fiscal year basis, closing the books each September 30.
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partner agencies, funds recovered far exceed the cost of operating the office,” said Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will continue to hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit from illegal activities.”
According to statistics from the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland in FY 2019 collected $10,072,186.17 in criminal debts owed to the U.S. government and to federal crime victims, including restitution, criminal fines, and felony assessments.
The statistics show that the $67,241,196.41 collected in civil actions in Maryland include affirmative civil enforcement cases—in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected penalties imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws—and debts collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These cases include the successful resolution of investigations or qui tam actions against Med Star Health, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, ACell, Inc., Anne Arundel Medical Center, Skyline Urology, P.A., Hyperheal Hyperbarics, Inc., Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc., and two Medicare data-mining investigations against Dr. Wagdi Attia and Cardiac Associates, P.C.
Additionally, the District of Maryland worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $6,992,231 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $10,473.20 was collected in criminal actions and $6,981,757.80 was collected in civil actions, including cases resolved under the False Claims Act on behalf of victim agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Education.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid directly to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal healthcare laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $6,142,695 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2019. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
For more information, the Department’s Annual Statistical Reports on prior fiscal years can be found on the Internet at: https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/annual-statistical-reports.
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Former Baltimore Delegate Facing Federal Honest Services Wire Fraud and Bribery Charges for Official Actions Allegedly Taken on Legislation Related to Medical Marijuana, Opioid Therapy Clinics, and Liquor LicensesRead the Press Release
Baltimore Maryland – A federal criminal information was unsealed today charging former Maryland State Delegate Cheryl Diane Glenn, age 68, of Baltimore, Maryland, with federal honest services wire fraud and bribery charges. The information was filed on July 23, 2019, and unsealed today. Glenn’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for January 22, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“We expect our elected officials to put the interests of the public above their own. We do not expect them to sell their office to the highest bidder,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold accountable those who betray the public trust for their own greed.”
According to the criminal information, until her resignation on December 18, 2019, Glenn was a Maryland State Delegate representing District 45, which covered portions of Baltimore. During her tenure, Glenn served as the Chair of the Banking, Consumer Protection, and Commercial Law Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee; the Vice Chair of the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee; and the Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation, among other roles.
The criminal information alleges that from at least March 4, 2018 through February 11, 2019, Glenn defrauded the citizens of Maryland of the right to her honest services by soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for her official actions. Specifically, the information alleges that Glenn accepted $33,750 in bribes from an associate in exchange for voting in favor of a bill to increase the number of medical marijuana grower and processing licenses that were available to an out-of-state company; promising to lead the effort to change the law in order to provide a preference for Maryland residency to in-state medical marijuana license applicants; introducing legislation that decreased the number of years of experience required to be a medical director of an opioid maintenance therapy clinic; and introducing legislation that created a class B alcohol and liquor license in District 45.
As detailed in the criminal information, after a meeting on March 5, 2018 with an associate and two businesspersons, Glenn agreed to use her position as a state legislator to vote for a bill which could favor Company 1 in its pursuit of a medical marijuana license, in exchange for $3,000 in cash, which would be used to pay an outstanding tax bill on her residence. Glenn subsequently voted for the bill after its Third Reading on March 8, 2018, and on April 7, 2018, after amendments from the Senate. The bill passed and on April 20, 2018, the associate provided Glenn with $3,000 in cash during a meeting at a restaurant in Baltimore County.
According to the information, on June 7, 2018, Glenn and her associate met with another businessperson at a restaurant in Baltimore to discuss medical marijuana licenses. During the conversation, Glenn allegedly told the businessperson that people had asked her how a medical marijuana company had been awarded a medical marijuana growing license without having any high-priced lobbyists. Glenn allegedly responded, “…they know God and Cheryl Glenn.” A few weeks later, Glenn followed up with the associate to see if the businessperson was “lookin’ for [Glenn] to help him or something?” The associate confirmed that the businessperson did want Glenn’s help and Glenn allegedly asked “…is he going to be makin’ a donation or something?” On August 10, 2018, the associate told Glenn that the businessperson had offered the associate $10,000 to get Maryland law changed so that local businesses would be given priority for medical marijuana licenses. The associate offered to split the $10,000 with Glenn, who agreed to introduce legislation to get the law changed in exchange for a payment of $5,000. The information alleges that in order to get the businessperson to make the $10,000 payment, Glenn subsequently sent the associate an e-mail pledging to take the lead in the effort to get the law changed so that Maryland residents received a preference for medical marijuana licenses. On August 23, 2018, the associate allegedly gave Glenn $5,000 in cash during a meeting at a Baltimore restaurant.
The information further alleges that on October 18, 2018, Glenn pre-filed legislation to reduce the required experience for medical directors at opioid maintenance therapy clinics in order to receive another $5,000 payment from the businessperson. The payment was provided on October 22, 2018, and Glenn subsequently introduced the bill on January 9, 2019. Further, Glenn allegedly agreed to introduce legislation to obtain a liquor license for a restaurant that the businessperson wanted to open in Glenn’s district, in exchange for $20,000, with the initial payment of $5,000 to be made up front and the remaining $15,000 payment when the legislation was introduced. According to the information, Glenn received the $5,000 payment on December 10, 2018. On January 28, 2019, Glenn introduced the bill to obtain the liquor license and on February 11, 2019, allegedly received a bribe payment of $15,000.
Glenn allegedly took steps to conceal her illegal activities, including: agreeing not to deposit bribe payments in her bank account; agreeing to meet in person to discuss the details of bribes rather than discussing them over the phone; and creating a false loan note for the $15,000 bribe payment, falsely stating that the money was a gift and was in no way connected to her position as a State Delegate. Further, the information alleges that on at least two occasions, Glenn texted an associate who was providing the bribe payments on behalf of the businesses and falsely advised the associate that the bribe payments were short a total of $750, which the associate subsequently provided to Glenn.
If convicted, Glenn faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for honest services wire fraud and five years in federal prison for the bribery charge. 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 information is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal information is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Leo J. Wise, who are prosecuting the case.
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Father and Sister of Inmate Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charge Related to Maryland Correctional Institution JessupRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – On December 19, 2019, Ashley Alston, age 28, of Baltimore pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge and on December 20, 2019, her father Aldon Alston, age 55 also of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the same charge, for participating in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup (MCIJ), including narcotics, unauthorized flash drives, tobacco, and cell phones. Ashley is the sister and Aldon is the father of MCIJ inmate Corey Alston, a/k/a “C,” age 29, who pleaded guilty on September 18, 2019, to the same charge.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert L. Green, of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
According to court documents, MCIJ was a medium-security prison in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, that housed approximately 1,100 male inmates, with 262 custody staff or correctional officers (COs) and 52 non-custody staff, including case management, medical, and administrative staff.
According to their plea agreements, Corey Alston recruited Ashley and Aldon Alston to obtain and package contraband, meet with correctional officers and employees to provide contraband and bribe payments, and manage the proceeds of illegal contraband sales for Corey Alston. At Corey Alston’s direction, Ashley and Aldon met with co-conspirator facilitators, including Tyirisha Johnson, to receive contraband as well as bribe payments, which they provided to Correctional Officer Janel Griffin and other corrupt prison employees to smuggle into the facility in exchange for bribes. Recorded jail calls between Corey Alston, his sister and his father confirm that beginning in April and July 2017, respectively and continuing until August 14, 2017, Ashley and Aldon Alston met with Johnson or another facilitator, as well as with corrupt prison employees, to obtain contraband and proceeds of the sales and to provide bribe payments. The contraband included Suboxone, Percocet, Ecstasy, K2, and tobacco, which they obtained and delivered to be smuggled into MCIJ.
Inmate Corey Alston admitted that he was a leader in the racketeering conspiracy.
Ashley and Aldon Alston each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Aldon Alston on March 24, 2020, and for Ashley Alston on March 26, 2020, both at 4:00 p.m. Tyirisha Johnson, age 23, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy on July 23, 2019. No sentencing date has been set for Johnson or Corey Alston.
This case arose from the efforts of the Maryland Prison Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and comprised of local, state, and federal stakeholders that meet regularly to share information and generate recommendations to reform prison procedures and attack the gang problem that has plagued Maryland in recent years. The work of the Task Force previously resulted in the federal convictions of more than 80 defendants, including 16 correctional officers, at the Eastern Correctional Institution, and 40 defendants, including 24 correctional officers, at the Baltimore City Detention Center.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the MCIJ investigation and have been full partners in this investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Perry and Sean R. Delaney, who are prosecuting this case.
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Beltsville Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Patrick Teon Robinson, age 27, of Beltsville, Maryland, to 11 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The sentence was imposed on December 20, 2019.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jesse R. Fong of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Peter Newsham of the Metropolitan Police Department.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of drug dealers and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Patrick Robinson possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number, so that it could not be traced. Now, he faces 11 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to Robinson’s plea agreement, from in or about February 2017 through in or about February 2018, Robinson conspired with Francis Conteh, a/k/a “Luck,” a/k/a “Lucky” and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
During the course of this conspiracy, co-defendant Conteh distributed cocaine to Robinson for resale to customers in Washington, D.C. and Maryland. The quantity of cocaine was equivalent to at least 50 grams but less than 100 grams.
On February 15, 2018, Robinson parked at the Silver Spring residence of an associate of Conteh and after approximately five minutes exited the residence carrying an olive green tote bag that appeared to be weighed down by its contents. Upon departing the residence, Robinson ran multiple stop signs and committed several speeding offenses. A Montgomery County police officer attempted to pull Robinson over, however Robinson fled to a nearby apartment complex. Robinson then exited his vehicle and retrieved the tote bag. While being pursed, Robinson dropped the tote bag, which was recovered by law enforcement and Robinson was subsequently arrested.
According to Robinson’s plea agreement, a black and silver 9mm rifle was recovered from the tote. The butt stock of the firearm was sawed off, and the serial number was obliterated.
Francis Conteh, age 37, of Washington, D.C. previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine and was sentenced by Judge Xinis to 45 months in federal prison. To date, this DEA-led investigation has resulted in 10 convictions for narcotics trafficking and/or illegal possession of firearms.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Virginia Contractor Charged Federally in Maryland for Selling Chinese-Made Body Armor and Related Goods to Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed in Maryland charging Arthur Morgan, age 67, of Lorton, Virginia, on a federal wire fraud charge, in connection with federal contracts to provide helmets, body armor, and other goods to military and other federal entities. The criminal complaint was filed on December 16, 2019 and was unsealed at his initial appearance following his arrest on December 17, 2019.
At a detention hearing yesterday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gina L. Simms ordered that Morgan be released to a third-party custodian on home confinement, with a special condition that he pay a $75,000 bond. He will be detained until a hearing at 3:30 p.m. today to confirm that Morgan has met his conditions of release.
The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric D. Radwick of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; Special Agent in Charge John A. Salazar, Naval Criminal Investigative Service; and Special Agent in Charge Marc A. Meyer of the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Morgan is the Chief Executive Officer of Surveillance Equipment Group Inc. (SEG) and its relevant division, SEG Armor. The GSA enters into government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide supplies and services that are available for use by federal agencies worldwide. All GSA contracts are subject to the Trade Agreements Act, which requires that all products listed on GSA contracts must be manufactured or “substantially transformed,” in a “designated country.” China is not a designated country under the TAA. Any contractor wishing to supply products from China or other non-designated countries must specifically identify all foreign products and state their country of origin. Failure to do so disqualifies the contractor from eligibility for the contract, and a contractor who falsely certifies cannot seek payment from the United States.
The criminal complaint alleges that Morgan falsely certified that the ballistic vests, helmets, riot gear, and other items he offered for sale were from designated countries, specifically, Hong Kong and the United States. The affidavit alleges that Morgan knew that the items were manufactured and purchased from China. From September 2015 to July 2019, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of State were two of at least five federal agencies that placed a total of nine orders with SEG for ballistic vests, helmets, or riot gear, valued at approximately $639,921.11.
For example, the U.S. Navy placed an order with SEG for helmets, and Morgan had a series of e-mail communications with a Navy contract specialist in Indian Head, Maryland, concerning SEG’s inability to meet the agreed-upon delivery schedule. The affidavit alleges that in his e-mails, Morgan falsely advised the contract specialist that SEG had a factory in southern Virginia, that the helmets for the order “were in production” there, and that the delays were due to a backorder of materials needed for the helmets. In addition, on the same date that Morgan received a partial payment from the Navy in the amount of $127,069.60, Morgan made a payment to a Chinese company that manufactures the exact same helmet as SEG delivered to the Navy, in the amount of $67,915.
If convicted, Morgan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the GSA OIG, the State Department OIG, the ATF, and the NCIS for their work in the investigation, and recognized the Army Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service for their assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Returns and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Maria Espinal, age 53, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns and aggravated identity theft.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Maria Espinal owned and operated a tax return preparation business located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. From 2011 through 2017, Maria Espinal prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Comptroller of Maryland that claimed tax refunds to which the clients were not entitled. To generate a fraudulent refund, Espinal altered legitimate Forms W-2 in the names of third parties and replaced the third party’s name with her client’s name. As a result, her client claimed the third-party’s withholdings as his or her own, which generated fraudulent tax refunds.
In addition, Espinal displayed a sign on her office wall that read in Spanish “If you have lost your [identification] number or passport we have these people” and which listed the identifying information for several individuals. Espinal used the personal identifying information for one of those individuals to obtain a fraudulent refund on behalf of another client. Espinal also filed a tax return using another individual’s personal identifying information to generate a fraudulent refund that Espinal deposited into her own personal bank account.
Espinal faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of a false tax return. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang set sentencing for April 2, 2020, at 9:30 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hur and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman thanked IRS - Criminal Investigation and the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland for their work in the investigation, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Erin Pulice and Trial Attorney Carl Brooker of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Returns and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
A Maryland tax return preparer pleaded guilty yesterday to aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns and aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Maria Espinal owned and operated a tax return preparation business located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. From 2011 through 2017, Maria Espinal prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her clients with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Comptroller of Maryland that claimed tax refunds to which the clients were not entitled. To generate a fraudulent refund, Espinal altered legitimate Forms W-2 in the names of third parties and replaced the third party’s name with her client’s name. As a result, her client claimed the third-party’s withholdings as his or her own, which generated fraudulent tax refunds.
In addition, Espinal displayed a sign on her office wall that read in Spanish “If you have lost your [identification] number or passport we have these people” and which listed the identifying information for several individuals. Espinal used the personal identifying information for one of those individuals to obtain a fraudulent refund on behalf of another client. Espinal also filed a tax return using another individual’s personal identifying information to generate a fraudulent refund that Espinal deposited into her own personal bank account.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang set sentencing for April 2, 2020. Espinal faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of a false tax return. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Hur thanked Special Agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation and Enforcement Agents of the Comptroller of Maryland who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Carl Brooker of the Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorney Erin Pulice of the District or Maryland, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the Division’s website.
D.C. Man Indicted on Federal Kidnapping Charge in MarylandRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted Kyrie Rashaud Thompson, age 25, of Washington, D.C., on a federal kidnapping charge. The indictment was filed on December 18, 2019.
The federal charge was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Chief Gregory T. Monahan of the U.S. Park Police.
According to the one-count indictment and other court documents, on September 22, 2019, Thompson kidnapped an individual, forcing the victim to drive from the District of Columbia to Maryland. Court documents allege that Thompson threatened and assaulted the victim.
If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Thompson has an initial appearance scheduled in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, on December 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Thompson is currently detained.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Park Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Grossi and Hollis R. Weisman, who are prosecuting the case.
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Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Federal Mail Fraud and Conspiracy Charges for Trafficking in Counterfeit GoodsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –Xiaoying Xu, age 34, a Chinese citizen residing in Covina, California, pleaded guilty today to on a federal conspiracy and mail fraud charges related to her trafficking in counterfeit goods.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Baltimore Field Office.
“Xu sold counterfeit products, representing them to unsuspecting customers as legitimate merchandise bearing the registered trademarks of legitimate companies.” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “The sale of counterfeit goods not only defrauds consumers and legitimate companies, but results in American jobs lost, American business profits stolen, and American consumers tricked into receiving substandard products.”
According to her plea agreement, from about August 2016 until approximately April 2019, Xu conspired with others to defraud e-commerce customers by importing and selling counterfeit consumer goods, specifically Pandora jewelry and Ray-Ban sunglasses. Xu used her residence and offices in El Monte and Alhambra, California, as destination points for shipments of counterfeit goods shipped from Hong Kong and China. Xu repackaged the counterfeit goods, then mailed them to unsuspecting customers throughout the United States who believed they had purchased authentic goods.
Xu and other members of the conspiracy obtained funds from the victims of the counterfeit scheme through fraudulently acquired customer accounts opened in the names of other people at a global online payment company. The online payment company sent the victims’ money to Xu by electronic transfer to bank accounts or by check, which Xu cashed at ATMs or deposited into bank accounts opened by co-conspirators.
Xu admits that as a result of her fraudulent conduct, as well as her knowledge of the fraudulent conduct of her co-conspirators, members of the conspiracy sold $2,322,845 worth of counterfeit Pandora and Ray-Ban-branded products to unsuspecting customers, causing a loss to the customers of at least that amount.
Xu faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and a maximum of 20 years in prison for mail fraud. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2020.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in Maryland and in Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Martin J. Clarke, who are prosecuting the case.
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