District of Maryland
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Timothy Lawrence Day, age 59, of Rockville, Maryland, to 135 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Judge Xinis ordered Day to pay a $20,000 fine and a $5,000 special assessment. Judge Xinis also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Day 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 John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Acting Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on May 2, 2017, Day purchased and downloaded a file from a specific website, knowing that the file contained visual depictions documenting the sexual abuse of minors, including prepubescent children. Specifically, the downloaded files depicted prepubescent minor girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adult men.
On November 7 and November 19, 2018, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Day’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices, including a desktop computer and two thumb drives that Day used to facilitate the receipt and possession of child pornography. A subsequent forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices revealed at least 55 images depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including sadistic conduct. Additional evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that Day paid for the file he downloaded in May with a credit card in his name, and received the password to unencrypt the purchased folder using his personal e-mail address. A search warrant executed on Day’s personal e-mail address revealed that on or about December 29, 2017, Day purchased another file that contained at least seven videos, plus at least 105 images depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In all, Day received and possessed more than 600 images of child pornography.
Day was previously convicted for possession of child pornography in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in 2002.
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, the Maryland State Police, and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice and Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Member of Old York Money Gang Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Charges Related to Drug Trafficking and Violence, Including the Killing of Three-Year-Old Mckenzie ElliottRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Terrell Plummer, a/k/a Rell, age 30, of Baltimore, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a federal racketeering conspiracy related to his membership in the violent Old York Money Gang (OYMG). The gang operated throughout the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore and sustained itself largely through the distribution and sale of controlled substances, including crack cocaine, as well as through murder and other violent crimes. On August 1, 2014, three-year-old McKenzie Elliott was shot to death as she stood on her front porch, when she was struck by an errant bullet during an OYMG dispute. Plummer fired the shot that killed McKenzie Elliott.
The sentence 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; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Terrell Plummer and his fellow gang members turned their Waverly neighborhood into a war zone, with innocent bystanders like little McKenzie Elliott caught in the crossfire. Now Plummer will spend 25 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. Put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.” U.S. Attorney Hur added, “I am grateful for the tireless efforts of the investigators and prosecutors to bring McKenzie Elliott’s killer to justice. While this sentence will not bring a beautiful little girl back to those who loved her, I hope her community will take some comfort from the fact that Terrell Plummer and his fellow gang members have been held accountable for their crimes.”
“Terrell Plummer will serve 25 years for the havoc he wrecked on the Waverly neighborhood, and for being responsible for taking the life of McKenzie Elliott,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada. “Too many innocent citizens in Baltimore live the terrible reality that they could be caught in the crossfire of a gang turf war. ATF is relentless in our commitment to identify, investigate, and incarcerate this city’s most vicious criminals so that neighborhoods can be free of violence and children can safely stand on the front porches of their homes. We can only hope that today’s sentence brings some closure and peace to the family and community who loved McKenzie so much.”
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from 2013 to April 2017, Plummer was a member of the OYMG, a violent drug trafficking organization operating in the Waverly neighborhood in the northern district of Baltimore. OYMG is involved in criminal activity including murder, robbery, extortion, burglary, and narcotics trafficking in and around Baltimore. OYMG is a neighborhood gang, limiting its membership to persons that originate from or live in the Waverly neighborhood, and generally excluding “outsiders.” The gang extensively and frequently endorsed and promoted its existence through social media accounts and rap music videos, whereby members would display their association and advertise membership and activities of the gang.
According to court documents, beginning in October 2016, the ATF and the Baltimore City Police Department conducted undercover purchases of crack cocaine and heroin from OYMG members, who generally sold controlled substances at or around drug shops controlled and managed by the OYMG—and in coordination with co-conspirators. According to their plea agreements and other court documents, Plummer and other OYMG members sold heroin, powder and crack cocaine, and marijuana in their territory in Waverly and elsewhere. OYMG members regularly carried firearms to defend the gang’s territory and violently expelled OYMG rivals or antagonists.
As detailed in his plea agreement and court documents, in the summer of 2014, Plummer and other OYMG members became embroiled in a dispute with men from another neighborhood. On July 30, 2014, these men entered OYMG territory to support a female friend engaged in a fight with the sister of an OYMG member. Plummer and other OYMG members assaulted the men, one of whom was stabbed during the fracas (Victim #1). Two days later, the men returned to the area, driven by a female in a white 1999 Mercedes SUV, to confront Plummer and OYMG members in retaliation for the assault on July 30. OYMG members noticed the vehicle from the earlier fight and alerted one another to the presence of the vehicle. As the vehicle circled the block for the third time, Plummer fired multiple shots at the SUV, striking one of the men (Victim #1) in the forehead. Some of the errant bullets fired by Plummer missed their intended target and struck two additional victims. Victim #5 was grazed in the chin and wrist. One of the bullets fired by Plummer struck three-year-old McKenzie Elliott in the head, resulting in her death.
All 11 defendants charged in this case were convicted and sentenced to between 40 months and life in federal prison. Plummer is the final defendant to be sentenced.
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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Hanlon and Michael A. Goldsticker, who prosecuted the case.
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Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and for Interstate Transportation of a Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Rondell Henry, age 28, of Germantown, Maryland, with federal charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”), and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. ISIS is designated by the Secretary of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (“FTO”) under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Henry has been detained since his arrest on April 3, 2019.
The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Acting Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Michael L. Brown of the City of Alexandria (Virginia) Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Law enforcement is working tirelessly to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks, whether they come from within or outside the United States. We will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to find and prosecute those who want to do this country harm. This indictment is the next step in holding Rondell Henry accountable for his actions.”
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers stated, “The defendant, allegedly inspired by ISIS and its violent ideology, stole a vehicle as part of his plan to kill and injure innocent pedestrians. The National Security Division, working with our partners, remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who would commit terrorist attacks on our soil.”
“All across the country, each and every day, the top priority of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) is to protect the American public by disrupting potential violent actors,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone. “Our Maryland JTTF, working in tandem with the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC), is dedicated to identifying and bringing to justice those individuals who provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, engage in violent extremism, and threaten our national security.”
According to the superseding indictment from March 26, 2019 through March 28, 2019, Henry knowingly attempted to provide material support and resources, including services and personnel—specifically, himself—to ISIS. Further, the indictment alleges that on March 27, 2019, Henry transported a stolen U-Haul van from Virginia to Maryland.
Previously filed court documents allege that Henry, who claimed to be inspired by ISIS, stole a U-Haul van in Alexandria, Virginia, then drove it to Maryland with the intention of using it as a weapon against pedestrians on sidewalks within the National Harbor complex along the Potomac River in Maryland. On March 27, 2019, the stolen U-Haul was located at the National Harbor in Maryland. Law enforcement reviewed video surveillance of the area that showed Henry parking and subsequently exiting the stolen U-Haul. Henry was arrested the following day by Prince George’s County Police officers.
If convicted, Henry faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and 10 years in prison for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
A superseding indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by superseding indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers commended the FBI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the City of Alexandria Police Department for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked his office’s national security prosecutors, who are handling the case.
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Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and for Interstate Transportation of a Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment charging Rondell Henry, 28, of Germantown, Maryland, with federal charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. ISIS is designated by the Secretary of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Henry has been detained since his arrest on April 3, 2019.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers stated, “The defendant, allegedly inspired by ISIS and its violent ideology, stole a vehicle as part of his plan to kill and injure innocent pedestrians. The National Security Division, working with our partners, remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who would commit terrorist attacks on our soil.”
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Law enforcement is working tirelessly to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks, whether they come from within or outside the United States. We will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to find and prosecute those who want to do this country harm. This indictment is the next step in holding Rondell Henry accountable for his actions.”
FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Boone stated, “All across the country, each and every day, the top priority of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) is to protect the American public by disrupting potential violent actors. Maryland JTTF, working in tandem with the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC), is dedicated to identifying and bringing to justice those individuals who provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, engage in violent extremism, and threaten our national security."
According to the superseding indictment from March 26, 2019 through March 28, 2019, Henry knowingly attempted to provide material support and resources, including services and personnel—specifically, himself—to ISIS. Further, the indictment alleges that on March 27, 2019, Henry transported a stolen U-Haul van from Virginia to Maryland.
Previously filed court documents allege that Henry, who claimed to be inspired by ISIS, stole a U-Haul van in Alexandria, Virginia, then drove it to Maryland with the intention of using it as a weapon against pedestrians on sidewalks within the National Harbor complex along the Potomac River in Maryland. On March 27, 2019, the stolen U-Haul was located at the National Harbor in Maryland. Law enforcement reviewed video surveillance of the area that showed Henry parking and subsequently exiting the stolen U-Haul. Henry was arrested the following day by Prince George’s County Police officers.
If convicted, Henry faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, and 10 years in prison for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
A superseding indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by superseding indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers and United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the City of Alexandria Police Department for their work in the investigation.
Maryland MS-13 Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for His Participation in a Violent Racketeering Conspiracy, Including a MurderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Daniel Flores-Ventura, a/k/a “Necio,” age 26, of Aspen Hill, Maryland, today to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in the racketeering enterprise known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including a murder.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Barry M. Barnard of Prince William County, Virginia Police; and Chief Edward Hargis of the Frederick Police Department.
“This sentence reaffirms the message that the violence perpetrated by MS-13 members and associates will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Our ongoing work with our law enforcement partners to bring MS-13 members to justice demonstrates our unflagging commitment to eliminate MS-13 and its campaign of wanton violence.”
“Gang members and their violent crimes have no room here in Maryland,” said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge John Eisert. “This significant sentencing pulls one more of these dangerous operatives off of the streets and weakens the larger illicit organization, one member at a time. I commend and thank the agents who routinely put themselves in harm’s way and continue our concerted efforts to dismantle these criminal organizations.”
According to the plea agreement, MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland and throughout the United States. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13 often work together cooperatively to engage in criminal activity and to assist one another in avoiding detection by law enforcement. MS-13 members and associates are required to commit acts of violence within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Flores-Ventura admitted that since at least 2015, he was a member and associate of the Uniones clique of MS-13 in Maryland, and conspired with other MS-13 members and associates, including Vilas Sail Argueta-Bermudez, Wilians Ernesto Lovos-Ayala, and Michael Campos-Lemus, who were also members of the MS-13 Uniones and Molinos cliques. Flores-Ventura admitted that beginning in 2015 he and his co-conspirators and others engaged in racketeering activities, including murder and other violent acts and drug distribution.
Beginning in June or July 2015, Flores-Ventura and his co-conspirators planned and conspired to murder Victim 1, whom them believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street Gang. On July 16, 2015, Flores-Ventura and his co-conspirators lured the victim from Maryland to Virginia on the pretext that the victim was going to participate in a “court,” that is, a disciplinary beating to be administered to another individual. Flores-Ventura drove the victim, along with other MS-13 members and associates from Silver Spring, Maryland to Woodbridge, Virginia, where they met Argueta-Bermudez, Lovos-Ayala, Campos-Lemus and other members and associates of MS-13 in a wooded area. Flores-Ventura struck the victim on the head. Thereafter, Argueta-Bermudez, Lovos-Ayala, Campos-Lemus, and other MS-13 members and associates struck and stabbed that victim multiple times with machetes and knives until the victim was dead. Flores-Ventura admitted that the victim was murdered to maintain or increase the status of MS-13 in the community and maintain or increase the status of the MS-13 members who participated in the murder.
Vilas Sail Argueta-Bermudez, a/k/a “Happy,” a/k/a “Little Happy,” a/k/a “Enchilada,” age 32, of Aspen Hill, Maryland; Wilians Ernesto Lovos-Ayala, a/k/a “Tigre,” age 26, of Woodbridge, Virginia; and Michael Campos-Lemus, a/k/a “Humilde,” age 25, of Aspen Hill, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur thanked HSI, the FBI, the Prince William Police Department, and the Frederick Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul B. Ebert for his office’s assistance. Mr. Hur also commended Assistant United States Attorneys Kenneth S. Clark, Catherine K. Dick, and Matthew DellaBetta, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Former Chief Financial Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy Related to $20 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Bradley Mascho, age 53, of Frederick, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit securities fraud and for making a false statement. Judge Xinis also ordered Mascho to pay restitution of $4,824,131.
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.
According to his plea agreement, beginning in at least 2009, Mascho worked with Dawn J. Bennett at Bennett Group Financial Services, LLC (“BGFS”), which Bennett used to provide investment advice and financial services to clients in Maryland and elsewhere. In 2013, Bennett formed DJB Holdings, d/b/a DJBennett.com, an Internet retail website for luxury sportswear. At times and at Bennett’s request, Mascho acted as the Chief Financial Officer of DJB Holdings.
According his plea agreement, between December 2014 and April 2017, Bennett and Mascho solicited individuals, including BGFS clients, to invest money in DJB Holdings, offering an annual interest rate of 15% via convertible or promissory notes. In order to entice individuals to invest, Bennett and Mascho made false and misleading statements, including: how investors’ funds were being used; the risks of investing in DJB Holdings; and concealing the true financial condition of DJB Holdings from investors. Bennett and Mascho convinced several investors to withdraw a significant portion of their retirement accounts to invest in, and loan money to, DJB Holdings.
Between December 2014 and July 2017, Bennett and Mascho solicited and received over $20 million from more than 40 different investors. The evidence showed that Bennett, and to a lesser extent Mascho, misappropriated investor funds, using them to pay their personal expenses and to repay previous investors with funds received from new investors. This is consistent with a Ponzi scheme--a fraudulent investment scheme in which the operator of the scheme solicits investors by promising high rates of return with little risk. The scheme operator then funds payments to the earlier investors through funds obtained through new investors. Typically, the operator of the scheme will use investment funds for purposes other than what was conveyed to the investors.
Further Mashco admitted that on June 19, 2017, he lied under oath in a deposition related to an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into Bennett and DJB Holdings’ unlawful issuance of convertible notes to investors. Mascho admitted that before the deposition, he spoke with Dawn Bennett extensively about his testimony and that his false statements to the SEC were all made under Bennett’s direction and at her insistence.
From 2014 through 2016, Mascho received compensation from BGFS and Bennett personally of approximately $209,000 to $219,000.
On July 31, 2019, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Dawn J. Bennett, age 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for 17 federal charges including conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements on a loan application. Judge Xinis ordered that Bennett must pay restitution of $14,504,290 and forfeiture of $14,306,842. After deliberating for fewer than five hours, a federal jury convicted Bennett of those charges on October 17, 2018.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work on this investigation and thanked the SEC. Mr. Hur praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice, Thomas P. Windom, and Gregory D. Bernstein, who prosecuted the case.
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Cherry Hill Hillside Gang Member Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy Charges, Including the Murder of an Innocent Bystander and Two Attempted MurdersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III today sentenced Keenan Lawson, a/k/a BlackFace, age 27, of Baltimore, to 23 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise related to his activities as a member of the violent Hillside gang that operated in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. Lawson admitted to participating in the murder of an innocent bystander, two attempted murders, and the distribution of narcotics.
The sentence 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; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
“Keenan Lawson and his fellow gang members brought terror and death to Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood with guns and drugs. Federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to working together to bring to justice those responsible for the most violence in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Lawson was personally responsible for two shootings and for the murder of an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire and now faces 23 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. I urge anyone who’s thinking of following these defendants’ example: Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to his plea agreement, Lawson was a member of the Hillside Enterprise, which he knew distributed powder and crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and marijuana, primarily in the Cherry Hill Shopping Center, in other locations throughout Cherry Hill, and in west and southwest Baltimore City. The members of the Hillside Enterprise used the proceeds of their narcotics sales to purchase firearms, to enrich themselves, and to further the activities of the organization, including narcotics trafficking. Hillside members used residences in and around Cherry Hill to cut and package drugs for distribution, primarily heroin, powder cocaine, and crack. These locations included a house at 453 Roundview Road and an apartment at 2300 Terra Firma Road in Cherry Hill. Only trusted members of the Hillside Enterprise were admitted to these locations while the drugs were being prepared for sale. In an effort to distinguish their narcotics, members used colored topped vials or colored the drugs with food coloring. Lawson admitted that he distributed drugs as a member of Hillside, and on behalf of the gang and is also captured on video in the stash houses on at least 17 occasions between November 2014 and September 2015, preparing controlled substances for distribution.
Members of the Hillside Enterprise routinely carried firearms and committed acts of violence in furtherance of the organization’s activities, including robberies, shootings, beatings, murders, and other violence in order to intimidate others who would interfere with their narcotics trafficking. Acts of violence were also committed to discipline members within the Hillside Enterprise for transgressions, real or perceived, against the conspiracy.
Hillside members and associates have been in a long-running dispute with persons not part of the gang, including Up Da Hill (“UDH”), the Lakebrook Circle Boys, and others. Members and associates of Hillside have routinely engaged in acts of violence, including murder, directed at members of these rival organizations, or persons who happen to be located on territory controlled by these rival organizations. The defendants all knew that these acts of violence, including the homicides, were committed by Hillside members and associates, including murders and shootings. For example, Keenan Lawson admitted that he participated in two shootings of individuals whom he and his fellow Hillside members believed to be rival gang members, as well as the murder of an innocent bystander who was shot in the cross fire.
Nineteen Hillside gang members have pleaded guilty to their participation in the racketeering conspiracy. Of those, 18 defendants, including Keenan Lawson, have been sentenced to between 10 and 30 years in federal prison.
According to the ATF, a reward of $10,000 is available for information leading to the arrest of the final defendant in this case, fugitive Deaven Raeshawn Cherry, a/k/a Gotti, age 32, of Baltimore, who is charged federally with drug and racketeering conspiracies, including murders. Cherry is actively being sought by ATF Baltimore Special Agents and the U.S. Marshals Service. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Law enforcement believes that Cherry is likely still in the counties near Baltimore City, if not within the city itself. Anyone with information should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS, [email protected], text “ATFBAL” to 63975, or contact ATF via the mobile reportit® app.
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 Baltimore Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Baltimore Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing a Minor to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Antonio Wright, age 42, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and for two counts of production of child pornography. Chief Judge Bredar also ordered that upon his release from prison, Wright will be required 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 Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
Wright admitted that he used an online social network to induce the victim, Jane Doe, to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and to produce images of that conduct. According to his plea agreement, Wright has known the victim since 2009, when Jane Doe was four years old, and lived with Jane Doe’s family intermittently until the Spring of 2017. According to evidence presented at today’s hearing, Wright began sexually abusing the victim when she was 11 years old.
Beginning in at least August 2017, Wright and the victim, who was living with a foster family in Baltimore, began communicating by text messages, audio messages, and images, using an online social network. The messages frequently included Wright’s declarations of love for Jane Doe and Wright also told Jane Doe that they should eventually get married. Jane Doe was approximately 13 years old at this time. Wright instructed the victim not to tell others that she has “an older man for a boyfriend,” and that he would get in trouble if anyone found out.
On January 4, 2018, Wright spent time with Jane Doe at his residence when Baltimore City schools were closed due to snow. That afternoon, Jane Doe’s foster mother noticed that Jane Doe did not come home when she expected her. When she was unable to locate Jane Doe, she found the tablet that Jane Doe was using to communicate with Wright and observed the sexually explicit chats and images. After Wright brought Jane Doe home that afternoon, her foster mother filed a report with the Maryland Department of Human Services, who referred the case to Child Protective Services for investigation. As part of the investigation, Jane Doe’s tablet and social media accounts were searched, and sexually explicit photos, texts, messages, and voice messages were located.
According to evidence presented at today’s hearing, Wright sexually abused the victim from the time she was 11 years old until January 4, 2018. Wright admitted to federal investigators that he had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the victim, that Wright had asked the victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself—which she did, and that Wright sent the victim sexually explicit images of himself. In addition, there was evidence presented that the victim disclosed to authorities that Wright sexually molested her at his house on January 4, 2018. Wright subsequently admitted to sexually abusing the victim on that day.
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 Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Matthew Maddox, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Prince George’s County Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Yul Hildon Reddock, age 40, of Cheverly Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The sentence 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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get illegal guns out of the hands of felons and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Yul Reddock used a gun, and now faces 15 years of federal time, 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 January 31, 2018, a Prince George’s County Police Corporal was in the area of Matthew Henson Avenue and Muncy Road in Landover, Maryland when he heard four or five gunshots nearby, then saw a blue four-door sedan being followed by a black pick-up truck. The sedan was being driven by Reddock. As Reddock sped by the Corporal’s unmarked vehicle, which was also a black pick-up truck, the Corporal was able to see that the rear window of the sedan had been shot out. The Corporal began to follow the sedan and shortly thereafter saw Reddock pointing a gun from the sedan in his direction and heard two additional shots.
Back-up marked police vehicles took over the pursuit. Reddock lost control of the sedan while attempting to exit onto Pennsylvania Avenue from southbound Interstate 495. Reddock was arrested and law enforcement recovered from his car a .22-caliber long rifle pistol loaded with eight .22-caliber cartridges; three fired cartridge casings; and one .22-caliber cartridge found on the floor of the vehicle. Reddock had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
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 Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy F. Hagan, Jr. and Rajeev R. Raghavan, who prosecuted the case.
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Owner of Three Construction Companies Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud a Customer of More Than $1.7 MillionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Ivan Victor Thrane, age 65, of Dickerson, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud a company of more than $1.7 million.
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, Thrane was the owner and president of three construction companies operating in Dickerson and Beltsville, Maryland (“the Thrane companies”). Thrane admitted that between August 2015 and January 2017, he conspired with the project manager at Victim Company 1, to defraud Victim Company 1 by submitting fraudulent payment requests for work purportedly performed by the Thrane companies. 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 Thrane was requesting payment.
Specifically, Thrane and his co-conspirator, among other things, caused the Thrane companies to submit payment requests to Victim Company 1. The co-conspirator 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 the co-conspirator, 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 his co-conspirator, typically by writing checks from his personal bank account or from the Thrane companies.
After Victim Company 1 discovered the overbilling by the Thrane companies in December 2016, Thrane and his co-conspirator attempted to conceal the scheme to defraud. For example, on December 28, 2016, Thrane and his co-conspirator sent each other e-mails, which they had previously discussed. Specifically, Thrane sent an e-mail to his co-conspirator and copying other employees from Victim Company 1, which 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.
Victim Company 1 eventually initiated civil litigation against Thrane and his co-conspirator. Thrane and the co-conspirator coordinated their defense and falsely claimed that an employee of Victim Company 1 authorized the overbilling in order to obtain funds to purchase Victim Company 1. In fact, that employee did not even start working at Victim Company 1 until after Thrane and his co-conspirator had begun their fraud scheme and that employee did not authorize Thrane or Thrane companies to submit inflated payment requests.
From approximately September 2015 to December 2016, Victim Company 1 paid the Thrane companies approximately $3,294,675.34 as a result of payment requests submitted as part of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud. Upon receipt of these payments from Victim Company 1, Thrane issued approximately 34 kickback payments, totaling approximately $1,740,330 in checks written to his co-conspirator. On January 3, 2017, after discovering the fraud scheme, Victim Company 1 reversed or voided payments totaling approximately $741,525 to the Thrane companies. Thrane admits that the actual and intended loss attributable to him as a result of the scheme is between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.
As part of his plea agreement, Thrane is required to forfeit and pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s losses still outstanding, which is at least $988,805.
Thrane faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2020.
In a separate indictment, Rakesh Kaushal, age 66, of Rockville, Maryland is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme. No trial date has been set and Kaushal remains 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 FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Collins and Gregory Bernstein, who are prosecuting the case.
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Baltimore Felon Pleads Guilty to Two Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – On August 20, 2019, Benjamin Fowlkes, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a convenience store and the armed robbery of a bank.
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 his plea agreement, on November 26, 2018, shortly before 11 p.m., Fowlkes robbed a convenience store located in the 2700 block of West Franklin Street in Baltimore, displaying what appeared to be a silver semiautomatic handgun, but was in fact an air gun. Fowlkes ordered the store employees to open the cash register and give him the cash, which they did. Fowlkes then fled.
The next day, Fowlkes robbed a bank located in the 3600 block of Boston Street in Baltimore. Shortly after the bank opened, Fowlkes entered the bank and asked to open an account. Fowlkes was directed to a customer service employee in another part of the bank. Fowlkes pulled a yellow folder from a white mesh laundry bag, asked for a pen, and then wrote a note demanding money, which he passed to the employee. The employee advised that there was no money in the customer service area. Fowlkes took the note back, stated that he had a gun, and drew what appeared to be a silver semiautomatic handgun—but that was in fact an air gun—from the white mesh laundry bag. Fowlkes told the employee, who was on crutches, to get up slowly. The victim employee complied and walked to the teller area of the bank, where two other employees were working, to get the money Fowlkes demanded. Fowlkes followed her there. While in the teller area, Fowlkes again displayed the silver air gun and demanded money, and also demanded one of the tellers’ car keys. One employee handed over the keys to his car—a Hyundai Sonata—and another employee handed Fowlkes the cash from the teller drawers, which Fowlkes placed in the white mesh laundry bag. Fowlkes then escaped in the stolen Hyundai Sonata.
Fowlkes was arrested on November 29, 2018, after a Baltimore Police Officer in the Southwestern District determined that the tags on a Hyundai Sonata driven by Fowlkes had been stolen. When Fowlkes was pulled over, he was wearing the same zip-up hoodie worn during the robberies, and he had $2,021 in cash on him, which was stolen from the bank. A subsequent search warrant executed at his residence resulted in law enforcement recovering the white mesh laundry bag, yellow folder, and demand note used at the bank robbery, mail addressed to the owner of the Hyundai Sonata, which Fowlkes had taken from the stolen car, and the silver air gun used in connection with both robberies.
As part of his plea agreement, Fowlkes will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $7,250.
Fowlkes and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Fowlkes will be sentenced to between 120 months and 235 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for November 1, 2019 at 3:00 p.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.
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. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.
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Owner of Frederick Payroll Processing Business Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud and Tax Charges Related to a Fraud Scheme with Losses of More Than $1.6 MillionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – David Richison, age 64, of Frederick, Maryland, who owned and operated a payroll processing business, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of wire fraud and aiding in the filing of a false tax return, in connection with a fraud scheme in which he took funds from his clients’ tax escrow account and used them to pay his own personal expenses.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
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.
As part of his plea agreement, Richison will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is agreed to be at least $1,609,561.59.
Richison faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and a maximum of three years in federal prison for aiding in the filing of a false tax return. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS Criminal Investigation for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney, who is prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Relating to the Armed Robbery of A Delivery ManRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Tataw Ayuk-Arrey Obenson, age 21, of Burtonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2019, to interference with interstate commerce by robbery; and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
The guilty plea 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.
According to his plea agreement, on April 22, 2018, Tataw Ayuk-Arrey Obenson committed the armed robbery of a delivery driver with co-conspirator Wakeene William Graham. That evening, while at a residence in Burtonsville, Graham used an application on his cellular phone to place an order for food to be delivered to another residence within walking distance.
Shortly before the food arrived, Obenson and Graham arrived at the residence where the food was to be delivered. Graham hid on the side of a row of townhouses, while Obenson waited at the front of the residence. The driver arrived at 9:45 p.m. and met Obenson in front of the home. Obenson accepted the food from the delivery driver while Graham approached his side and pointed a pistol at him. Obenson and Graham robbed the driver of his telephone and approximately $170, then ran away in different directions, discarding the victim’s telephone in woods nearby.
On May 22, 2018, Obenson was arrested and confessed to committing the armed robbery of the driver. Graham was arrested a few days later. Law enforcement searched Graham and recovered a loaded, semi-automatic pistol concealed in his groin area; a bag of ammunition from Graham's right rear pants pocket; and a cellular telephone. A search warrant was obtained for Graham's phone, which revealed a screen shot from the date of the robbery, featuring the application software and the phone number that was used to place the delivery order that led to the armed robbery, along with multiple photographs of Graham possessing the handgun.
Obenson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Obenson will be sentenced to seven years and a day in federal prison. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for November 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Graham previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 104 months in federal prison.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended ATF for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, Jr., who is prosecuting the case.
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Five Charged Federally for Dealing Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in Prince George’s and Charles CountiesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Five individuals have been charged by a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, in connection with an alleged drug distribution organization operating in Prince George’s and Charles Counties in Maryland, that sold heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. The criminal complaint was filed on August 14, 2019, and was unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants. The following defendants are charged in the complaint:
Anthony Kenneth Dotson, Jr., a/k/a Streetz, Ghost, and Rico, age 33, of Clinton, Maryland;
Marvin Windell Gray, a/k/a Marv, age 44, of Waldorf, Maryland;
James Anthony Harvey, Jr., a/k/a Fat Bread, and Patches, age 47, of King George, Virginia;
Marcellus Jerome Woodland, a/k/a Cellus, age 29, of Waldorf; and
Tiara Mackall, a/k/a Tee, age 26, of Waldorf.In addition to today’s arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants at eight locations believed to be used by the conspirators to prepare, store, and/or sell drugs and recovered six firearms, heroin, and fentanyl.
The criminal complaint 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; St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron; Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution. We’re also targeting drug dealers who use guns and increase the risk of gun violence in Maryland. Working together with our local, state, and federal partners, we are determined to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, law enforcement began investigating Dotson, who was allegedly supervising a drug distribution conspiracy operating primarily in Prince George’s and Charles Counties that sold heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. According to the affidavit, the drug trafficking organization utilizes multiple cell phones (or “burner phones”) to conduct its drug trafficking activities and employs runners who sell fentanyl and heroin on Dotson’s behalf. The indictment alleges that Gray is a lieutenant in the organization and that Harvey, Woodland, and Mackall are runners.
The affidavit details numerous alleged drug transactions between Dotson and his suppliers, runners, and customers, using coded language, including controlled purchases of drugs made at the direction of law enforcement. According to the affidavit, on January 7, 2018, a victim died after ingesting drugs allegedly supplied by Dotson. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Maryland determined that the victim died from fentanyl intoxication. Further, the affidavit includes conversations between Dotson and others discussing the possession and/or purchase of firearms and ammunition. Dotson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 40 years for the conspiracy and a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered that all the defendants, except for Mackall, be detained pending detention hearings scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2019. Mackall was ordered to be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.
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 DEA, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Bernstein and Erin Pulice, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Federal Indictment Charges Man for Making Threatening Calls Against a Maryland SynagogueRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today indicted Stephen Lyle Orback, age 64, on the federal charge of making threatening communications, specifically multiple telephone calls threatening a synagogue.
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 indictment, between May 12 and May 13, 2019, Orback made multiple telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill many members of that Jewish congregation.
If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. No initial appearance has been scheduled. Orback is currently detained in Colorado on unrelated state charges.
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 its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
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Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Relating to a Scheme to Provide Fraudulent Maryland Driver’s Licenses to Applicants Who Paid a FeeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Warner Antonio Portillo, age 34, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to produce and transfer identification documents without lawful authority, specifically, Maryland driver’s licenses.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to his plea agreement, from at least July 2015 through March 2016, Portillo conspired with two employees of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA conspirators), who worked in the Largo, Maryland branch office, and others, to produce and transfer Maryland driver’s licenses without lawful authority. Specifically, Portillo and others met with prospective Maryland driver’s license applicants who were willing to pay money to obtain a driver’s license illegally, typically because the applicants were aliens without legal status in the United States or were otherwise unable to obtain a lawfully issued driver’s license. The applicants paid Portillo and his co-conspirators between $800 and $5,000 in cash for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license.
Portillo admitted that he gave the MVA conspirators the names, addresses, and other information that applicants wished to appear on their Maryland driver’s licenses. Portillo provided the applicants and the MVA conspirators with fraudulent documents necessary to obtain a Maryland driver’s license, including proof of payment of taxes, proof of Maryland residence, a valid license number from Motor Vehicle Departments in other states, and an identification document. Portillo and others assisted the applicants to travel to the Largo branch of the MVA, and directed the applicants to one of the MVA conspirators’ workstations, where applicants obtained Maryland driver’s licenses produced by the MVA conspirators without lawful authority.
Portillo paid the MVA conspirators bribes of between approximately $500 and $1,000 in cash for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license transferred to the applicants. The conspiracy resulted in the unlawful production and transfer of at least 276 Maryland driver’s licenses.
MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer stated, “Following the April 2016 investigation, MDOT MVA immediately cancelled all of the fraudulent licenses in question. The MVA also implemented system changes to prevent the unlawful production and transfer of licenses and retrained and reinforced these procedures among our staff.”
Portillo faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the conspiracy. As part of his plea agreement, Portillo will also be required to pay a money judgment of at least $276,000, which constitutes assets derived from or obtained by Portillo as a result of the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for December 19, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Investigation and Security Services for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.
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Lexington Park Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Drugs that Resulted in a Victim’s DeathRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Keino Ferrez Dorsey, a/k/a B, age 46, of Lexington Park, Maryland, to 186 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil, resulting in the death of a victim, and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, para-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, and cocaine. Dorsey had previously been convicted of a felony drug distribution offense.
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; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron; and Chief Barry M. Barnard of the Prince William County (Virginia) Police Department.
“The drugs distributed by Keino Dorsey were mixed with fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, unbeknownst to the victim, who died almost immediately after ingesting the drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Dorsey will now face more than 15 years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. 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.”
According to Dorsey’s plea agreement, Dorsey and Victim A had known each other for approximately three years, during which Dorsey sold heroin and other drugs to Victim A. On October 17, 2017, Dorsey and Victim A communicated via text message and phone calls. Victim A and others traveled to Dorsey’s apartment to purchase narcotics. At about 12:45 p.m. Victim A went inside the apartment building to conduct the narcotics transaction and the other individuals stayed inside the vehicle. Less than five minutes later, Victim A texted one of the individuals waiting in the vehicle: “Gimmi a min he wants me to try sumthin…” The individuals inside the vehicle attempted to contact Victim A, but left the area to return home after several unanswered calls and text messages.
Dorsey admitted that at 1:08 p.m. he contacted 911 using Victim A’s cellular telephone to report an emergency and then hung up. The 911 dispatcher called Victim A’s phone three times between 1:08 and 1:16 p.m., but no one answered. The 911 dispatcher also texted Victim A’s phone during that time, but with no response. At 2:22 p.m. Dorsey again contacted 911, this time informing the dispatcher that Victim A was unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel responded to Dorsey’s apartment and attempted lifesaving measures, but were not successful, and Victim A was pronounced dead.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland subsequently determined that the cause of Victim A's death was heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, cyclopropyl fentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl intoxication. Victim A died as a result of ingesting the narcotics Dorsey provided to Victim A.
From April through June 2018, law enforcement conducted eight controlled buys of narcotics from Dorsey, who traveled from Maryland to Virginia to conduct the transactions. At the direction of law enforcement, purchases totaling of 111 grams of heroin and 78 grams of a mixture of heroin and other drugs, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and/or cocaine were made from Dorsey.
On July 13, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Dorsey’s residence and recovered narcotics containing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine; 12 boxes/bottles of cutting agents for heroin; and drug paraphernalia. From Dorsey’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered a black vacuum sealed foil package containing heroin from inside a magnetic box in the rear floorboard.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA, HSI, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Prince William County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Sykes and Gregory Bernstein, who prosecuted the case.
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Former Foreign Service Officer Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Steven Hadley Hassan, age 52, of Frederick, Maryland, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually abusing minors to produce child pornography and transporting those images to the United States. Judge Grimm also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Hassan 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). Hassan has been detained since his arrest on June 8, 2018.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); U.S. Department of State Inspector General Steve A. Linick; and Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins.
“Steven Hassan preyed on vulnerable young girls, including foreign nationals, while representing the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This sentence demonstrates that we will find and bring to justice those who victimize children.”
“Steven Hadley Hassan exploited his position as a U.S. government official abroad to victimize children over the course of several years in a certain perversion of public trust,” said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge John Eisert. “Today’s sentencing ensures that Hassan will serve a just sentence and not again have access to additional victims.”
“I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the special agents who worked on this important case,” said Inspector General Steve Linick.
According to his guilty plea, from October 2010 and continuing until mid-2013, Hassan admitted that he sexually abused Jane Doe 1 in government housing in the Philippines and South Africa, where Hassan was stationed in connection with his work as a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department.
During the time Hassan was stationed in the Philippines he also sexually abused two prepubescent minor sisters who resided in Manila, Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3, and produced images of the abuse. Hassan met Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 in 2010, when the girls were seven and 11 years old, respectively, when he offered them food from a local restaurant near where they lived. Hassan then transported Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 in his vehicle to a local hotel and sexually abused them. Hassan had Jane Doe 3 take photos while Hassan sexually abused Jane Doe 2. Hassan also brought Jane Doe 3 and two other minor girls to a local Manila hotel on at least three occasions and sexually abused them. Hassan most recently sexually abused Jane Doe 2 in 2015 when he briefly visited the Philippines.
Sometime after November 2015, Hassan transported his camera and the Secure Digital (SD) memory card within it, which contained the photos documenting the sexual abuse of the minor girls, back to the United States. Hassan eventually deleted the images of the child pornography he produced from the SD card.
From October 2014 through March 2018, Hassan, under a number of different usernames, used an online file-sharing network to distribute child pornography, including images documenting the sexual abuse of prepubescent minors, as well as to engage in online chats. On January 22, 2018, an undercover investigator downloaded thousands of depictions of child pornography and child erotica from the “shared folder” of the file-sharing program that Hassan made available for download. Search warrants were subsequently obtained for Hassan’s residence in Frederick. Law enforcement seized a laptop computer, camera, and various digital media.
An HSI Computer Forensics Analyst forensically examined all of the digital evidence and discovered thousands of images of child pornography, including the images that depict Hassan, whose face is visible in some of the images, sexually abusing Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3. The Analyst also recovered online chats in which Hassan repeatedly discussed his abuse of Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, and others, and repeatedly sent the images he produced documenting the sexual abuse of Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 to other users of the file-sharing program. In other chats, Hassan provided tips to others about how to meet and abuse minors in the Philippines.
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 HSI-Philippines, the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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D.C. Felon Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison for Three Armed Robberies of BusinessesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Leroy Percell Burrell, age 32, of Washington, D.C., to 162 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for three armed robberies in which Burrell brandished a firearm. Judge Hazel also entered an order requiring Burrell to pay restitution of $2,680.
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
“We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to get guns out of the hands of criminals and off of our streets, in order to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods.” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “If you use a gun, you could face federal time, where there is no parole—ever. Please, put down the guns and save a life—maybe even your own.”
According to his guilty plea, between July 30 and November 3, 2017, Burrell committed three armed robberies of businesses, brandishing a firearm in each of the robberies. All of the robberies were captured on video surveillance. Specifically, on July 30, 2017, Burrell robbed Business 1 in Greenbelt, Maryland. Burrell entered through the front door of the store, locked the door behind him, and then confronted an employee behind the counter. The employee opened the cash register but did not remove any cash. Burrell forced the employee to the back of the store, displayed a handgun to the employee, and threatened to shoot if the employee did not give Burrell all the money. In the rear room, where there was no video, Burrell forced the employee to open and give him money from the safe. Returning to the main store, the employee emptied the cash register and gave the money to Burrell, who left through the rear door. Burrell stole a total of $700 from the store and $80 from the employee.
On August 10, 2017, Burrell and another man robbed Business 2 in Anne Arundel County. Burrell entered the business and immediately brandished a gun, pointing it at the head of an employee, who handed Burrell the cash from the register. Burrell then forcefully pushed the employee toward the back of the store, still at gunpoint. Burrell's accomplice followed him into the store, pulled down a ski mask, and locked the front door. The accomplice also headed to the back of the store, confronting a second employee who was in the office. Burrell and his accomplice then fled out the front door. The robbery took approximately one minute, and Burrell and his accomplice stole an undetermined amount of money.
On November 3, 2017, Burrell again robbed Business 1 in Greenbelt. At the time of the robbery, two employees were working. Video surveillance of the store captured Burrell locking the front door and removing a pistol from his pocket. Burrell pulled back the slide of the pistol, ejecting a single round of ammunition from the firearm, then brandished the pistol, waving it and pointing it at the employees. While one employee was held at gunpoint, the other emptied the cash register and handed cash to Burrell, who took the money and put it in his pocket. Burrell gave handcuffs that were wrapped in a bright blue hand washcloth to the employee he was holding at gunpoint. The employee took out the handcuffs, dropped the towel, and placed the handcuffs on himself. Burrell motioned the two employees to the back room of the store where Burrell ordered one of the employees to open the safe, threatening the victim’s life, but the employee did not know the combination to the safe. Burrell again left through the rear door of the store, stealing approximately $1,900. The towel and handcuffs were left at the scene and recovered as evidence.
On November 9, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Burrell’s residence in Washington, D.C. Officers encountered Burrell in the foyer of the apartment building and arrested him. Law enforcement officers recovered a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol from Burrell. From Burrell’s apartment law enforcement recovered a black jacket matching the jacket seen in the video of the August and November robberies; two blue washcloths matching the distinctive color and brand of the washcloth recovered from the scene at the November robbery; two pairs of handcuffs; a pair of distinctive red and black high-top shoes matching those seen on the video of the July and August robberies; a red jacket matching the one seen in video footage of the July robbery; and various ammunition rounds. Burrell had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
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 Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Metropolitan Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Baldwin, who prosecuted 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 Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Justin Hopkins, 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.
The sentence 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 Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Justin Hopkins illegally possessed a firearm, which he fired at the father of his girlfriend’s child—in front of the child—in order to settle a dispute” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Hopkins will now serve more than seven years in federal prison, where there is no parole—ever. We must change the culture of gun violence in Baltimore. Please, put down the gun. You may save a life, including your own.”
According to his guilty plea, on February 22, 2018, Hopkins and his girlfriend were awaiting the arrival of her son at their residence in the 1900 block of McCulloh Street in North Baltimore. Prior to the child arriving at the residence, Hopkins and the child’s father, D.J., who was bringing the child to the house, had engaged in verbal altercations that involved threats of physical harm.
Hopkins was waiting outside when D.J. arrived at the house with his girlfriend, K.C., and his child. The two men immediately confronted each other. D.J. challenged Hopkins to a fight, and after exchanging threats, Hopkins stated, “I got something for you,” and went into the house. Within 30 seconds, Hopkins leaned out of a top floor window, pointing a gun at D.J. and K.C. D.J. walked into the middle of the street, daring Hopkins to shoot him. Hopkins fired multiple rounds, missing D.J. D.J. and his girlfriend entered the car to flee and Hopkins shot again, shattering the sunroof of their vehicle. D.J. and K.C. called the police and multiple officers responded.
D.J. and K.C. flagged down an officer in the area and pointed to Hopkins from half-a-block away. The officer saw Hopkins running away with a silver backpack with spikes on it. Officers followed Hopkins through a park to the 500 block of Presstman Street, where Hopkins emerged from the park and was apprehended, but without the backpack. An officer returned to the park and recovered a silver backpack matching the description of the backpack carried by Hopkins. Inside the backpack, officers recovered a .22-caliber short barreled rifle and spent ammunition. The barrel and handle of the rifle had been sawed off, with a barrel length less than 16 inches. Hopkins was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as a result of a previous felony conviction. When Hopkins saw the officer emerging from the park with the backpack, he fled again, but was recaptured by officers a block away. After his arrest, Hopkins made a recorded jail call to his girlfriend and admitted shooting at the vehicle driven by D.J.
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 Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Goldsticker and David Metcalf, who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Career Offender Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Violent Carjacking in Which the Victim was StabbedRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Robert Crenshaw, age 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking.
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 Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Through coordinated efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, this violent carjacker has been put out of business,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Robert Crenshaw, who has three previous convictions, will now do 17 years of federal time, where there is no parole—ever.”
According to his guilty plea, on September 15, 2017, Crenshaw carjacked a victim at knifepoint in a parking lot in the 1000 block of East Lombard Street. When the victim resisted, Crenshaw stabbed the victim several times in the abdomen, causing serious, life-threatening bodily injury. Crenshaw then entered the victim’s vehicle, a 2017 Toyota RAV4, and drove away. The entire incident was captured by video surveillance camera.
Crenshaw was arrested on September 16, 2017, driving a 2008 Hyundai Tucson vehicle that he had carjacked on September 11th. Crenshaw waived his rights and confessed to the carjackings that he committed on September 11th and September 15th.
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. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.
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Gwynn Oak Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Firearms from a Halethorpe Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Byron Keith Goines, age 25, of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to 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 guilty 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 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 attempting to cut the surveillance camera’s wires bearing a tattoo on his wrist. 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.
Goines faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2019 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.
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 is prosecuting the case.
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Former Maryland Insurance Agent and Financial Planner Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Federal Prison for $2.8 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Jonathan Williams, age 48, of Boston, Massachusetts, a former Maryland insurance agent and financial planner with New York Life, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud clients of more than $2.8 million. Judge Chasanow also ordered Williams to forfeit and pay restitution of $2.8 million.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.
According to his plea agreement, from February 2006 through March 2015, Williams worked as a New York Life insurance agent and was licensed to sell insurance in Maryland, and registered with the Financial Industry and Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Williams was only authorized to sell New York Life related products and provide financial planning through a New York Life affiliate. New York Life did not sell certificates of deposit (CDs) nor was Williams authorized to sell CDs. New York Life authorized the use of “doing business as” entities (DBAs) for marketing purposes only and approved Williams’ use of Mid-Atlantic Financial and Williams Investment Group as DBAs. Williams was not permitted to have premiums made payable to him or his DBAs.
Williams admitted that from 2009 to 2015, Williams deceived New York Life and its customers, and fraudulently obtained more than $2.8 million. At Williams’ direction, customers paid money to entities with bank accounts that Williams controlled, including Advanced Retirement Solutions, Jonathan Williams Financial Planning, and Mid-Atlantic Financial. Williams used the victim funds to make cash withdrawals, to pay personal and business expenses, to pay employees, to take vacations, and other miscellaneous expenses.
For example, Williams misrepresented to one small business that he was creating a defined benefit plan for the company’s employees by purchasing life insurance, long-term policies, and other investments. In 2015, after more than five years, the business learned that Williams never created the defined benefit plan. In addition to the money that he took from the business, Williams caused New York Life and the small business to incur substantial costs to recreate the benefit plan and avoid arduous tax consequences stemming from Williams’ illegal conduct.
Further, Williams admitted that he provided a fake certificate of deposit account statements to another victim, but never invested the client’s money. That victim lost more than $350,000. A third victim, who had spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Navy, invested $100,000 with Williams, supposedly for Williams to establish investment accounts with Fidelity. Williams lied to the victim in e-mails, claiming that the victim’s money was invested with Fidelity. In fact, an account was never created for the victim at Fidelity and Williams used the victim’s money for his personal enrichment.
In March 2015, Williams provided phony bank records to New York Life after officials questioned Williams about his financial transactions with New York Life customers. Even after he lost his license to sell insurance in May 2015, Williams continued to mislead clients, telling one client in July 2016 that he was leaving New York Life to work for another company. New York Life subsequently terminated Williams’ employment and paid to settle with the victims of Williams’ fraud who suffered financial losses stemming from his illegal conduct.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Tamera L. Fine, who prosecuted the case.
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Baltimore Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute More Than Five Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Jovon Lee, age 41, of Baltimore, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. On May 8, 2019, a federal jury convicted Lee after a three-day trial.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore City Sheriff John W. Anderson.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 3, 2018, law enforcement recorded a telephone call between Lee and a DEA confidential source posing as a Mexican cartel drug trafficker. During the call, Lee used coded language to arrange to purchase heroin and cocaine from the confidential source, and agreed to have a face-to-face meeting with the confidential source in approximately eight days. On October 9, 2018, the source and Lee exchanged messages and agreed to meet on October 12, 2018, at a mall in McLean, Virginia.
On October 12, Lee and the source met at the agreed-upon location. Law enforcement investigators recorded the meeting. During the meeting, Lee requested as many kilograms of cocaine as he could get, but stated that he would need the cocaine on consignment because he was out of money. Lee and the source negotiated a price of $25,500 per kilogram of cocaine. After several other calls and messages, Lee agreed to purchase three kilograms of cocaine and to receive four more kilograms on consignment. Lee and the source agreed to meet on October 24, 2018.
On October 24, 2018, Lee and the source met at a hotel in Hanover, Maryland. Lee was carrying a white shopping bag containing cash, which he showed to the source in the hotel lobby, in expectation of receiving seven kilograms of cocaine. The source and Lee left the hotel and walked to an undercover vehicle. On the back seat of the vehicle was a brown designer backpack that contained six kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of sham cocaine. Lee inspected the cocaine in the backpack, placed the shopping bag of cash on the back seat of the vehicle, took the backpack, and walked away. Law enforcement officers then arrested Lee. The shopping bag was found to contain $75,000 in cash, not the $76,500 that had been negotiated.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA, the IRS-CI, Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation and recognized the Morgan County (West Virginia) Sheriff’s Office for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Warwick and Joan C. Mathias, who prosecuted the case.
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Final Defendant in Baltimore Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland –U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Davien Major Ewing, a/k/a Fat Boy, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. His three co-conspirators were previously sentenced to between 18 and 174 months in federal prison.
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; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.
“This case has taken four drug dealers off the streets of Baltimore, cut off a pipeline of heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs, and removed three guns from the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl and using a gun increases their odds of federal prosecution. Working together with our local, state, and federal partners, we are determined to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.”
According to his guilty plea, in June 2017, law enforcement began an investigation targeting Eric Brandon McKnight, a/k/a E, who was distributing large quantities of heroin and suppling heroin to multiple individuals in Baltimore. During the investigation, Ewing was identified as one of the individuals who assisted McKnight. Law enforcement overheard conversations between McKnight and Ewing discussing narcotics transactions, including the prices for street-level distribution of narcotics.
As detailed in court documents, search warrants were executed on February 26, 2018 at locations that were identified as stash locations for the conspiracy. Law enforcement recovered 704 grams of fentanyl, 48 grams of heroin, 24.95 grams of crack cocaine, more than 2.5 kilograms of marijuana, three firearms, drug packaging and processing materials, cutting agents, and cellular telephones.
Eric McKnight, age 35, of Baltimore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 174 months in federal prison. Co-defendants Jamal Dunn, a/k/a Greenie, age 32, and Michael Lambirth, a/k/a Big Mike, age 29, both of Baltimore, each pleaded guilty to the heroin distribution conspiracy and Dunn also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Dunn was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and Lambirth was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the DEA, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samika N. Boyd and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Three Maryland Defendants Indicted on Federal Sex Trafficking and Kidnapping ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging the following individuals 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. Charged in the indictment are:
Lakeya N. Aldridge, a/k/a Keys and Keya, age 39, of Federalsburg, Maryland;
Joshua I. Lankford, a/k/a 20-20, 20, Light Bright, and Yellow, age 30, of Manchester,
Maryland; and
Kevonne L. Murphy, a/k/a Humble and Shackles, age 27, of Federalsburg.The indictment was returned on August 1, 2019. All three defendants have had an initial appearance. Lankford and Aldridge have detention hearings scheduled for August 5 and August 6, 2019, respectively, each at 2:30 p.m. Murphy consented to be detained pending trial.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge John Eisert of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief Michael McDermott of the Federalsburg Police Department; Colonel Nathaniel McQueen, Jr. of the Delaware State Police; and Attorney General Kathy Jennings of the Delaware Department of Justice.
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.
The indictment further alleges that Aldridge, Lankford, and Murphy caused the victim to communicate with and solicit potential sex customers via the Internet, including social media, on their cellular phones. On October 29, 2018, after the victim performed commercial sex acts in Maryland at the direction of the defendants, Aldridge, Lankford, and Murphy used force, threats of force, and physically assaulted the victim in order to transport her, against her will, from Federalsburg, Maryland, to a motel in Laurel, Delaware, to continue the sex trafficking conspiracy.
Each of the defendants faces a maximum of life in prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; and a maximum of life in prison for kidnapping conspiracy and for kidnapping.
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 investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state, and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Federalsburg Police Department, the Delaware State Police, and the Delaware Department of Justice for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Matthew DellaBetta, who are prosecuting the case.
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Methamphetamine Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Distributing Drugs and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Josue Balbino Ruiz-Reyes, age 25, of Adelphi, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamines and to using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense.
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 Acting Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from about 2016 through November 21, 2018, Ruiz-Reyes conspired with others, including Individual 1, to distribute methamphetamine. During that time, Ruiz-Reyes distributed crystal methamphetamine to individuals in and around Maryland in exchange for cash, services, or items of value, such as hotel stays. In October or November 2018, Ruiz-Reyes paid Individual 1 approximately $500 in cash for a future delivery of methamphetamine. Despite repeated requests from Ruiz-Reyes, Individual 1 failed to deliver the methamphetamine or repay the money.
As detailed in his plea agreement, late on November 15 or early November 16, 2018, Ruiz-Reyes drove a silver-colored vehicle to a house on Twig Road in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he knew Individual 1 often stayed with Individual 2. Ruiz-Reyes repeatedly fired a 9mm semi-automatic pistol at the Twig Road House in retaliation for Individual 1’s failure to pay the drug debt, and to induce Individuals 1 and 2 to repay the drug debt. In the evening of November 16, 2018, Ruiz-Reyes returned to the house in his silver vehicle and again discharged his weapon at the house over the drug debt owed to him by Individual 1. Ruiz-Reyes also sent threatening messages over social media to Individual 2 regarding the drug debt.
On November 21, 2018, Ruiz-Reyes was arrested in Hanover, Maryland, as he returned to his car in the parking lot of a casino/hotel. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered: the 9mm semi-automatic pistol used in the shooting, as well as spent shell casings from the exterior windshield and floorboard of the car; 20 small bags of crystal methamphetamine, weighing a total of 19.02 grams; a digital scale; empty clear plastic bags; two glass pipes; a knife; and a ski mask.
Ruiz-Reyes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison for the drug conspiracy; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years, consecutive to any other sentence, and up to life in prison for discharging a weapon in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2019 at 10:00 a.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.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine K. Dick and Leah B. Grossi, who are prosecuting the case.
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Two Maryland Men Facing Federal Indictment for Their Roles in a Scheme that Allegedly Stole Government Benefits, Including More Than $8 Million in Federal Emergency AssistanceRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging John Irogho, age 38, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and charging Irogho and Odinaka Ekeocha, age 33, of Laurel, Maryland, for conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. The indictment was returned on July 31, 2019, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Mark I. Tasky of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Matthew S. Miller of the U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office; and J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
“While many come forward in the wake of disasters to help selflessly, some use disasters to enrich themselves through theft and fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will pursue criminals who steal funds intended to help actual disaster victims.”
“This indictment should serve as notice that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to investigating illicit manipulations of IRS online systems, and bringing those involved to face justice,” said J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Michael McGill, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division said, “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts to bring these individuals to justice. We will continue to protect the integrity of the Social Security system, and pursue those who violate the public trust by committing fraud against Social Security and those who depend on it across the country.”
During the time period covered by this indictment, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was responsible for providing emergency benefits and compensation for damage to victims who were affected by declared national emergency disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires. Among other benefits, an individual in an area affected by a national disaster was immediately eligible for “Critical Needs Assistance” (CNA) to purchase life-saving or life sustaining materials. The assistance was paid to the victim in a manner of his/her choosing, including being deposited onto pre-paid debit cards.
According to the two-count indictment, from 2016 through 2018 Irogho and several co-conspirators purchased hundreds of Green Dot debit cards, which co-conspirators then registered with Green Dot using the stolen personal information of identity theft victims from around the country. In 2017, amidst Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the California wildfires, co-conspirators allegedly applied online with FEMA for CNA using the stolen personal information of additional victims of identity theft. According to the indictment, FEMA paid at least $8 million in amounts of $500 per claim to the Green Dot debit cards purchased by Irogho and his co-conspirators.
In addition to filing false disaster-assistance claims with FEMA, the indictment alleges that co-conspirators also filed false claims online for Social Security benefits, for IRS tax refunds, and for Department of Labor unemployment and disability benefits using the stolen identities of multiple additional individuals, including name, address, Social Security Number (“SSN”), and other personal identifiers.
The indictment alleges that FEMA, and the other federal agencies to whom fraudulent applications for benefits were submitted, deposited the falsely claimed benefits directly onto the Green Dot debit cards. Funds were deposited onto the Green Dot debit cards in the names of multiple stolen identities, and in stolen identities that were different from the identities that had been used to register the cards. After the funds were placed onto the Green Dot debit cards, certain co-conspirators then informed other conspirators, including Irogho, that funds were available on the cards, and provided information to facilitate “cashing out” the funds from the cards. The indictment also alleges that Irogho enlisted Ekeocha and other conspirators to cash out stolen funds from the Green Dot and other pre-paid debit cards, which Irogho, Ekeocha, and other co-conspirators did in exchange for a commission. Irogho, Ekeocha, and their co-conspirators cashed out the cards soon after funds were added by depositing the money into bank accounts, and/or through ATM withdrawals or purchases of money orders.
According to the indictment, Irogho and other co-conspirators took steps to conceal their identities and the conspiracy and scheme to defraud, by enlisting other individuals (including Ekeocha) to make the purchases and withdrawals, utilizing multiple store and bank locations and methods of withdrawal, using multiple bank accounts (including in the names of corporate entities), converting funds into cash rather than placing them into bank accounts, and making money orders payable to other individuals and/or corporate entities which they or their co-conspirators controlled.
The conspirators allegedly used an encrypted messaging application, e-mail and other means to communicate, and used the stolen federal funds to pay rental and housing expenses, to purchase used vehicles, and for other purposes.
If convicted, Irogho faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Irogho and Ekeocha each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. At their detention hearings today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas M. DiGirolamo ordered that Irogho be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, August 5, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Judge DiGirolamo ordered that Ekeocha 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.
In a related case, Tare Stanley Okirika, age 30, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy on July 19, 2019, admitting that as part of the conspiracy to fraudulently obtain government benefits, he worked with other co-conspirators to cash out Green Dot and other prepaid debit cards. Okirika admitted that he used the stolen federal funds from the scheme to pay his rent and for other purposes. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for Okirika on October 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to [email protected]. Learn more about the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at http://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DHS OIG, the SSA OIG, the USSS, and TIGTA for their work in this investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth G. Wright, and Kelly O. Hayes, who are prosecuting these cases.
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Physician Pleads Guilty to Passport FraudRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland –Michael Nana Baako, age 50, a native of Ghana residing in Fulton, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge of passport fraud. Baako was a physician who practiced in hospitals in Maryland and maintained his own clinic, Biazo Healthcare.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Washington Field Office.
According to the plea agreement, since at least 2001, Baako and R.A.A. have lived together in Howard County, Maryland and are the parents of two minor children. Baako and R.A.A. married in Ghana in 1995. Months later, Baako entered the United States legally after obtaining a visitor’s visa. In 1996, Baako applied for certification of his Ghanian medical education in the United States. In 1998, Baako married a U.S. citizen in Virginia, who filed a petition for Baako to become a naturalized United States citizen three weeks later. The petition was denied in 2000 after immigration officials concluded that Baako’s marriage was a “sham” marriage entered into for the sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. In 2001, Baako was licensed to practice in Maryland as a physician.
On November 29, 2005, Baako registered to vote in Maryland, swearing that he was a United States citizen, and subsequently voted in 10 federal elections between November 7, 2006 and November 6, 2018.
On December 15, 2006, Baako obtained a new Ghanaian passport in Accra, Ghana, as a Ghanaian national. On April 17, 2007, and September 16, 2009, respectively, Baako and R.A.A. submitted passport applications on behalf of their minor children, in which Baako falsely claimed that he was a citizen of the United States, born in Hillsborough, North Carolina. On April 22, 2008, Baako submitted an application for a United States passport for himself in which he falsely claimed that he was born in North Carolina, as were both of his parents. As part of his passport application, Baako provided an affidavit purporting to be from a family friend, falsely stating that this person was one of the first people to see Baako after his birth and was present at a subsequent naming and baptism ceremony for Baako at a Hillsborough, North Carolina church. Baako was issued a U.S. passport on April 29, 2008, which he used for international travel on several occasions. That passport included the false information that Baako was a citizen of the United States born in North Carolina. On July 31, 2012, Baako and R.A.A. submitted a passport renewal application on behalf of their first child, in which Baako falsely stated that he was a citizen of the United States. On February 20, 2018, Baako filed a passport renewal application for his own passport, again falsely stating that he was a U.S. citizen born in North Carolina. Baako was interviewed by Department of State officials on April 22, 2010, and on June 12, 2018. In both interviews Baako falsely stated that he was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
On May 8, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Baako’s home and located his Ghanaian passport and plans for the three-bedroom home Baako purchased in Accra, Ghana in August 2012. Investigators also obtained a number of documents related to Baako’s ongoing efforts to fraudulently obtain documentation establishing that he was a U.S. citizen born in North Carolina, including: a false affidavit purporting to be sworn by the Defendant’s mother—claiming that he was born in North Carolina; a page from family Bible falsely stating it had been presented to the Defendant at his birth in North Carolina; a falsified baptism certificate purporting to be from a North Carolina church—certifying that the defendant was born in North Carolina; and several draft petitions to the Circuit Court for Howard County seeking to fraudulently establish the fact of his birth in North Carolina.
Baako has been ordered detained in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on May 8, 2019. U.S. District Judge Debroah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for September 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the State Department’s DSS for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Daniel A. Loveland, who are prosecuting the case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney Announces Recent Results of Federal Efforts to Reduce Violent Crime in BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur, along with federal, state, and local partners, announced that as a result of strategies applied to focus on the most violent neighborhoods and target those responsible for that violence, 90 defendants have been charged with federal crimes in investigations brought down in the last month, in separate drug conspiracies operating in the Northwest, Western, Eastern, and Southwestern Districts of Baltimore. During those investigations, law enforcement has seized more than 51 guns, as well as kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, and nearly $1 million in cash. The agencies involved in these investigations included the ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.
As of July 31, we have indicted 215 defendants in 2019 in Baltimore under Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), our violent-crime reduction strategy. All of those defendants are members of violent drug trafficking organizations that have been operating in those Baltimore neighborhoods hardest hit by gun violence. By comparison, in 2018, we indicted a total of 246 Baltimore PSN defendants. At the current pace, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland anticipates charging 50% more violent crime defendants under our strategy this year than in 2018.
“Reducing violent crime in Baltimore is job one. It’s what we in law enforcement think about morning, noon, and night,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will continue to do everything we can to prosecute the violent criminals who wreak havoc in and terrorize Baltimore’s neighborhoods.”
RECENT PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS
Monument Street Drug Trafficking Organization (“DTO”) - In this case, 25 defendants were arrested and charged in a 30-count superseding indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury on June 26, 2019, and unsealed on July 19, 2019. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to distribute narcotics in and around the 400 block of North Montford Avenue and Jefferson Street, and around the 2400 block of East Monument Street at Port Street. Beginning in July 2018, members of the conspiracy allegedly distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine to individual drug users, and in bulk quantities to other drug traffickers, who redistributed the drugs in and around Baltimore. Ten of the conspirators also face firearms charges—including eight defendants charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. During the investigation, law enforcement seized nine firearms, more than 14 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin, and 479 grams of fentanyl—enough to kill over 200,000 people. In addition, law enforcement seized more than $472,000 in cash and jewelry and vehicles worth more than $466,000. (Adams Superseding Indictment)
Frederick and Collins – The superseding indictment returned on July 10, 2019, charges six defendants for a drug distribution conspiracy allegedly operating since January 2019 in the area of Frederick and Collins Streets in West Baltimore. In addition to the drug conspiracy, Jebriel Ali, a/k/a Bril, is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized five firearms, including a Glock pistol that was modified to fire as a fully-automatic gun. Ali is also charged with the possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. If convicted, defendant Ali faces a minimum of 10 years imprisonment and up to life in prison. His co-defendants face maximum prison terms of 20 to 40 years. (Ali Superseding Indictment)
Normandy, Franklin, and Loudon (NFL) – This investigation resulted in two indictments charging a total of 38 defendants for allegedly participating in two drug trafficking organizations to distribute heroin, fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine to drug users and redistributors in and around the Edmondson Village neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore. According to the superseding indictments, members of the drug trafficking organizations used residences in and around Baltimore to process, cut, package, and prepare the drugs for distribution. The defendants allegedly changed cell phones frequently to prevent the interception of their communications by law enforcement, and possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities. Specifically, the Butler DTO distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The Butler DTO allegedly cut the heroin and crack cocaine that they sold with other substances, including fentanyl, and at least five overdose deaths are attributed to the distribution of drugs by members of the conspiracy, including the father of one of the conspirators. As detailed in the superseding indictment, members and associates of the Adam Martin and Calvin Claxton DTO allegedly used violence to retaliate against those seeking to rob or cheat the DTO. That superseding indictment details several of these acts of violence, including a shooting murder on May 5, 2018, a gunfight on October 16, 2018 in which an unarmed bystander was struck in the crossfire, and the planned robbery of an unlicensed taxi driver. During the course of the investigation law enforcement seized at least 17 firearms, ammunition, drugs, and more than $270,000 in drug proceeds. (Bailey and Antoine Superseding Indictments)
Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard – Twenty-one Baltimore men were indicted on federal charges for allegedly operating a drug distribution operation in Northwest Baltimore, distributing heroin, crack and powder cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana in the area of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. The superseding indictment alleges that several of the defendants illegally possessed firearms in relation to drug trafficking. Law enforcement seized 20 guns, more than $200,000 in cash, and more than a kilogram of fentanyl and 50 grams of crack cocaine from these defendants during the investigation. Although not alleged in the indictment, the affidavit filed in support of the search warrants alleges that the defendants are part of an organization called LNG. According to the affidavit, LNG is comprised of two allied groups who work together: the Yellow Bus Gang (“YBG”) Crips and the Black Guerilla Family (“BGF”). The affidavit alleges that LNG members participate in violent acts, including a gunfight on January 19, 2019, that occurred at approximately 11 a.m. (Anderson Superseding Indictment)
OTHER FEDERAL INITIATIVES
Federal law enforcement is using all of the resources we have available to assist our state and local partners in the fight against violent crime.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). As of July 31, 2019, we have brought federal charges against 215 defendants in Baltimore City as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”). In July alone, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged 31 defendants in Baltimore PSN cases. PSN focuses on gun, drugs, violence, and gang-related crimes. 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.
Reactive Gun Cases (“Exile”) In July alone, 10 defendants who are previously convicted felons were charged federally with illegal possession of a firearm as part of the Exile program. Maryland EXILE is part of PSN, specifically targeting gun crime by combining local, state, and federal law enforcement efforts; community action and revitalization; and public awareness.
The National Public Safety Partnership (“PSP”) program with the Baltimore Police Department. This Justice Department program is a three-year engagement that seeks to leverage department assets in support of a local jurisdiction’s commitment to drive down violent crime. On June 3, 2019, Attorney General William Barr announced the selection of the Baltimore Police Department as one of ten FY 2019 PSP sites where the Justice Department will work collaboratively to provide training and technical assistance in areas such as crime analytics, emerging technology, and community engagement.
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.
FBI Baltimore’s Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force. The Safe Streets Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments, 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 program uses 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.
The Baltimore Response Model. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has implemented the Baltimore Response Model (“BRM”) which focuses on training first-responder law enforcement to gather and share essential information that can be used as a starting point for a deeper investigation when they respond to an overdose, whether it be fatal or non-fatal. The BRM encourages local agencies to reach out to DEA with the information they receive at an overdose site and DEA will assist in exploiting investigative databases as well as accessing the broadest de-confliction networks which could lead to teaming up with other local jurisdictions. Additionally, the information received from the overdose sites can lead to whom provided the deadly narcotic to the person who overdosed, which may lead to a violent Drug Trafficking Organization.
HSI Baltimore has specifically targeted the influx of opioids through two specially developed initiatives that bring together multiple law enforcement agencies in specialized and dedicated partnership. HSI agents alongside task force officers Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments collaborate through both the Illicit Online Marketplace Initiative and the Baltimore Seaport Initiative to quell the influx of opioids and other dangerous narcotics and illegal substances. The Illicit Online Marketplace Initiative focuses on contraband being smuggled into Maryland through darkweb and other illicit Internet transactions. The Baltimore Seaport Initiative focuses on all contraband being smuggled in to the area via Baltimore Washington International Airport and the Port of Baltimore.
We are also working closely with the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City to coordinate our prosecution efforts on violent crime and drugs. At the end of last year we announced the Synthetic Opioid Surge (“SOS”), a new initiative to target fentanyl dealers. Under this new initiative, 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 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. To date we have indicted 13 defendants federally, including a new defendant charged just this week, and two defendants who are charged in larger drug conspiracy cases.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
In addition to enforcement actions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes the need for services to help deter individuals from committing crimes. We hold “call-ins” for individuals returning from prison who have been identified by Parole and Probation as someone likely to re-offend. At the call-in, those individuals are advised of the consequences of federal prosecution, should they commit another crime. In addition, service providers are there to assist individuals to find housing, job training, obtain identification cards and assist with other needs. In partnership with local community stakeholders we host community resource fairs, like the one held today at Union Baptist Church. In addition, we sponsor re-entry fairs for returning citizens, produce public service announcements to discourage individuals from using a gun, and put up billboards to increase community awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse and the difference between federal and state prison sentences.
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Owner of High-End Wine Storage Facility Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling from His CustomersRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced William Lamont Holder, age 54, of Hanover, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing between $550,000 and $1.5 million worth of wine from his clients, primarily private collectors and commercial establishments. Judge Blake also ordered that Holder pay restitution of $1.5 million.
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 Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare.
According to his plea agreement, William Lamont Holder was the sole owner and operator of Safe Harbour Wine Storage, LLC (“Safe Harbour”). Through Safe Harbour, Holder stored and transported upscale wines for private collectors and commercial establishments. In return for a monthly fee, Holder would arrange for the transportation of a customer’s wine to Safe Harbour’s storage facility in Glen Burnie, Maryland, where it would be inventoried and stored. Holder did not possess a license to sell wine in the State of Maryland.
From January 2013 through December 2017, Holder developed a scheme to obtain payments and wine from the customers of Safe Harbour for his own personal financial gain. Unbeknownst to his customers, he offered their wine for sale to wine retailers and brokers around the country, including in Napa, California, all the while continuing to collect the customers’ monthly storage fees and accept additional wine for storage.
Holder represented to potential third-party buyers that he was the lawful owner of the wine that he was offering to sell. By e-mail and facsimile, he sent them lists of bottles of wine stored in his warehouse with detailed descriptions of the winery, vintage, and asking price. After the buyers selected the bottles they wanted to purchase, Holder boxed and shipped the wine, and sent his bank account information. After inspecting the shipment of wine, the buyers would either wire the money directly into Holder’s bank account or send a check. Holder kept the proceeds from the sales and spent it on personal expenses.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in this investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin Clarke, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Former Financial Advisor Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Her Conviction on 17 Federal Charges Related to $20 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Dawn J. Bennett, age 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for 17 federal charges including conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements on a loan application. Judge Xinis ordered that Bennett must pay restitution of $14,504,290 and forfeiture of $14,306,842. After deliberating for fewer than five hours, a federal jury convicted Bennett of those charges on October 17, 2018.
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.
“Dawn Bennett knowingly defrauded retirees of their life’s savings – most of which she used for her own personal benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “She’s been held accountable for her lies and theft and will now spend years in federal prison.”
According to the information presented at her nine-day trial, Bennett is the owner and operator of DJB Holdings, LLC, d/b/a DJBennett.com, an Internet retail website for luxury sportswear.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between December 2014 and April 2017, Bennett solicited individuals to invest money in her Internet clothing business, offering an annual interest rate of 15% via convertible or promissory notes. In order to entice individuals to invest, Bennett made false and misleading statements, including: the risks of investing in DJB Holdings; how investors’ funds would be used; and that the loans were liquid and guaranteed by DJB Holdings’ inventory and assets, and by Bennett herself. Witnesses testified that Bennett concealed the true financial condition of her companies from investors. Bennett convinced several investors to withdraw a significant portion of their retirement accounts to invest in, and loan money to, her companies. The evidence showed that Bennett misappropriated investor funds, using them to fund a lavish lifestyle, pay her personal legal expenses, and repay previous investors with funds she received from new investors. This is consistent with a Ponzi scheme--a fraudulent investment scheme where the operator of the scheme solicits investors by promising high rates of return with little risk. The scheme operator then funds payments to the earlier investors through funds obtained through new investors. Typically, the operator of the scheme will use investment funds for purposes other than what was conveyed to the investors.
According to testimony at trial, over the course of the scheme, Bennett obtained more than $20 million from 46 investors, many of them retirees who knew of Bennett from a radio show she hosted. Some of those funds were used to pay earlier investors and the rest was used for her personal benefit, including: a luxury suite at a football stadium; to pay a website operator to arrange for priests in India to perform religious ceremonies to ward off federal investigators; to purchase astrological gems; and for cosmetic medical procedures.
Evidence at trial showed that in May 2015, DJB Holdings, LLC also obtained a $750,000 line of credit, with Bennett as guarantor. According to witness testimony, in support of this line of credit, Bennett made false statements to the bank, including that she had a brokerage account with a net portfolio value of over $4 million. In reality, Bennett’s net portfolio value for that same account was only $35. The loan proceeds were to be used solely for business operations, but Bennett used the funds to pay off investors and to pay her personal expenses. In February 2016, the lender declared the loan in default. Bennett told the lender that she was unaware of the default because she had been in China for the preceding eight months. According to trial evidence, there was not any international travel for Bennett during the time in which she claimed to be in China, and her personal American Express card showed numerous transactions during that time in the Chevy Chase, Maryland and Washington, D.C. area.
On August 25, 2017, the SEC filed a related action against Dawn J. Bennett and DJB Holdings, LLC d/b/a/ DJBennett and DJBennett.com alleging violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Bennett’s co-defendant, Bradley Mascho, age 52, of Frederick, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and to making a false statement. Mascho faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Mascho is required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s losses, which is at least $5,720,457, minus amounts repaid with money not derived from his criminal conduct, but in no event less than $3,650,238. Mascho is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work on this investigation and thanked the SEC. Mr. Hur praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin B. Pulice, Thomas P. Windom, and Gregory D. Bernstein, who prosecuted the case.
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Princess Anne Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Brandishing a Firearm During and in Furtherance of the Armed Robbery of an Armored Vehicle in Salisbury, MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Ryan Shevin Smith, age 39, of Princess Anne, Maryland, to 141 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit the robbery of an armored vehicle in Salisbury, Maryland on January 22, 2018, for participating in the robbery and for brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Smith pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit the robbery and to participating in the robbery, and a federal jury convicted him of brandishing the firearm.
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 Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan.
According to the evidence presented at his two-day trial and court documents, at approximately 7:15 a.m. on January 22, 2018, Smith and his co-defendants, Michael Watts and Orneth South, approached the driver of the armored vehicle as he was removing cash cassettes from an ATM machine at a credit union on Mt. Hermon Road in Salisbury, Maryland. Co-defendant Michael Watts placed a .40-caliber handgun to the driver’s head and disarmed him of his service weapon. Watts testified that he got the .40-caliber handgun from Smith, which was named “Big Nasty,” and that Smith took the gun back after the robbery. Watts then grabbed the driver by the hair and order him to open the door of the armored vehicle. After the driver opened the door, Smith and South removed several bags of money from the vehicle, as well as ATM cassettes filled with cash. Watts then forced the driver into the vehicle, where he used zip ties to secure the driver’s hands. The robbers then fled with the money, stealing a total of $1,324,288. The robbers went to Smith’s residence in nearby Princess Anne and divided the stolen money. South and Watts then left and headed south, toward North Carolina.
On April 20, 2018, Orneth South, age 49, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested on a warrant issued as a result of the robbery, and pleaded guilty to his role in the armored car robbery in Maryland, as well as a robbery in North Carolina. On January 31, 2019, co-defendant Michael Watts, a/k/a “Turtle,” age 42, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to his role in the robbery. Watts was arrested on May 18, 2018, in Queens, New York, and at the time of his arrest, was wearing approximately $70,000 in jewelry, including a custom turtle pendant, which was purchased with the proceeds of the armored vehicle robbery. Watts also admitted using his portion of the stolen money to purchase a Mercedes S430 automobile, clothes, two tombstones, and to pay off bills and rent.
Judge Bennett ordered all three defendants to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s loss, $1,324,288.
Judge Bennett previously sentenced Watts to nine years in federal prison, and sentenced South to 20 years in federal prison.
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 Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case.
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Anne Arundel County Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography and for Illegal Possession of Firearms by a Previously Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced John Patrick Dillon, age 62, formerly of Harwood, Maryland, to 18 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for transportation and possession of child pornography, as well as for illegal possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. Judge Chasanow ordered that Dillon must pay restitution of $1,000 to one of the child victims. Upon his release from prison, Dillon 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). Dillon has been detained since his arrest on May 21, 2018.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.
According to the agreed-upon statement of facts, in 1998, Dillon was convicted in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County for sexual abuse of a minor and was sentenced to serve seven years in prison. Dillon has been a registered sex offender since his release from state prison.
Beginning in 2015, Dillon began searching the Internet for child pornography and created a number of videos of the searches he ran and the child pornography he found and viewed. He saved the material to DVDs. Dillon also uploaded images of child pornography to search for other images of child pornography online, which led to a cybertip being sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC then sent the cybertip to the Maryland State Police.
As a result of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Dillon’s residence on April 26, 2018. Law enforcement seized digital storage media, a desktop computer, and cellular phone. In addition, law enforcement located and seized a .303-caliber rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, a pistol, and 63 rounds of ammunition. By virtue of his previous conviction, Dillon was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
A subsequent forensic examination of the electronic items seized led to the discovery of more than 1,700 images and 320 videos of child pornography, including images documenting the sexual abuse of prepubescent minors, and sadistic, masochistic, and other depictions of violence.
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, the Maryland State Police, and the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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Illegal Alien Facing Federal Indictment for Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on July 25 2019, charging Feliciano de Jesus Diaz-Martinez, a/k/a Alex, age 41, of Owings Mills, Maryland, for sex trafficking of a child, enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and distribution of a controlled substance. Diaz-Martinez is in custody and is scheduled to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on July 29, 2019.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
According to the seven-count indictment, beginning no later than 2016 and continuing through May 22, 2019, Diaz-Martinez, a Guatemalan national in the United States illegally, caused more than 25 individuals, including minors, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit by means of force, fraud, and coercion. Diaz-Martinez knew that Victim 1 was 16 years old when he first caused her to engage in commercial sex acts. Victim 1 continued to work for Diaz-Martinez until she was approximately 18 years old. The indictment alleges that nearly all of the victims that Diaz-Martinez caused to engage in commercial sex acts suffered from serious substance abuse disorders, including addictions to heroin, crack cocaine, and Xanax. Diaz-Martinez allegedly took half or all of the money earned by the victims working for him, and sold some of the victims narcotics, often at prices significantly higher than he paid to purchase the drugs.
As alleged in the indictment, Diaz-Martinez maintained a network of friends and associates who paid to engage in commercial sex acts with the victims Diaz-Martinez advertised and made available to them. Diaz-Martinez sent his customers pictures of the victims available for commercial sex and set the prices that customers would pay to engage in sex acts with the victims he controlled. Diaz-Martinez allegedly transported, or caused to be transported, victims to his customers’ homes, or to hotel rooms he rented, to engage in commercial sex acts and/or invited customers to engage in commercial sex acts with victims in his apartment and in a storage unit that he rented.
Diaz-Martinez allegedly maintained several different accounts, using alias names, on a social media platform which he used to recruit and communicate with the victims in order to entice them to work for him and engage in commercial sex acts, including many users he had never met. According to the indictment, Diaz-Martinez sometimes offered the users he communicated with heroin and crack cocaine, referred to as “boy” and “girl,” in exchange for engaging in commercial sex with his customers. Diaz-Martinez also directed the victims working for him to recruit their friends, many of whom were also addicted to narcotics, to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit.
According to the indictment, Diaz-Martinez frequently demanded that the victims engage in sex acts with him, free of charge, and retaliated against victims if he was not personally satisfied with the sexual encounter. The indictment further alleges that Diaz-Martinez retaliated against the victims who violated his rules, failed to earn sufficient money from commercial sex, or otherwise displeased him in a number of ways, including abandoning them at customers’ homes and on roadsides without their belongings or transportation, and withholding drugs from the victims whom he knew to be addicted.
Diaz-Martinez faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and for enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution; a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison for each of four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for distribution of controlled substances.
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 investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.
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Three Men Plead Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Dealing Drugs—Including Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine—In Cecil County, MarylandRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Three men pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in a drug distribution conspiracy that operated in Cecil County, Maryland. The following defendants pleaded guilty:
Oscar O. Pilarte-Rivera, age 36, of Baltimore;
Elvin Solano-Pena, a/k/a Joseph Allen Fields and Jose, age 37;
Herme Soriano, a/k/a Miguel Urraca-Gonzalez, age 21.The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP).
According to their plea agreements, beginning in at least June 2017 and continuing through September 26, 2018, Solano-Pena, and Soriano conspired with others to distribute heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine to drug users living primarily in Cecil County. Witnesses advised law enforcement that they purchased narcotics from the conspirators by calling a designated phone number (the dispatch phone). Solano-Pena was the primary user and possessor of the dispatch phone. Drug users would call the number and place an order for drugs. Solano-Pena or another conspirator would then arrange a meeting place. Solano-Pena, Soriano, or a co-conspirator would arrive at the meeting location and provide the drugs in exchange for cash.
On September 5, 2018, Soriano and a co-conspirator were arrested. Soriano lied to police as to his identity, claiming to be a U.S. Citizen born in Puerto Rico and providing a fraudulently obtained driver’s license using his alias (Miguel Urraca). The car that they were driving, a black Honda Civic, had previously been used during drug transactions that were observed by law enforcement. The vehicle was towed to Cecil County. The car was registered in the name of Pilarte-Rivera, who admitted that he provided assistance to the drug dealers, among other things, by allowing them to use a car registered in his name, knowing the men were involved in drug trafficking. Pilarte-Rivera claimed possession of the black Honda from police custody.
Federal investigators obtained a search warrant for a co-conspirator’s residence in Aberdeen that was executed on September 26, 2018, and recovered over 160 grams of heroin, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and crack cocaine packaged for sale. Shortly before the execution of the warrant, investigators observed Pilarte-Rivera driving the black Honda Civic in front of the leasing office. Investigators proceeded to the leasing office in an attempt to identify all occupants utilizing the vehicle and encountered Pilarte-Rivera and Solano-Pena. When questioned by investigators, Solano-Pena falsely identified himself as Joseph Allen Fields. Pilarte-Rivera is a naturalized U.S. citizen, also born in the Dominican Republic. According to his plea agreement, during the events charged in his case, Pilarte-Rivera had an application pending to be a Baltimore City police officer.
Investigators asked the men about the vehicle and the reason for attempting to obtain entry to the co-conspirator’s apartment. Both Pilarte-Rivera and Solano-Pena claimed to have arrived at the apartment to pick up some items for a friend whom they identified by an alias. Pilarte-Rivera provided a Maryland driver’s license and told officers he had obtained a power of attorney from the co-conspirator in order to enter the apartment and gather some birth certificates for him that he needed. The power of attorney was fraudulently notarized. According to the plea agreements, both men knew there were drugs inside the apartment.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Solano-Pena began to actively resist officers, made an unsuccessful attempt to run, and was quickly subdued by officers. Solano-Pena was fingerprinted and the information yielded prior removals from the United States, his true name (Elvin Solano-Pena) and previous criminal history.
Pilarte-Rivera gave MSP consent to search the black Honda Civic after a canine alerted on the vehicle for the presence of drugs. MSP officers recovered the dispatch phone described above on the driver’s seat.
Solano-Pena pled guilty to a narcotics charge carrying a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Soriano pled guilty to distribution of heroin and cocaine and faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Both defendants also pled guilty to immigration crimes related to their illegal status in the United States. Pilarte-Rivera pled guilty to using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for Solano-Pena and Soriano for October 25, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., respectively. Judge Bennett scheduled Pilarte River’s sentencing for October 18, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.
The fourth charged defendant, Ivanovich Mercedes-Soriano, is scheduled for trial on August 26, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HSI Baltimore and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation and thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Paul Riley, who are prosecuting the case.
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Correctional Dietary Officer and Two Others Plead Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Maryland Correctional Institute JessupRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Patricia McDaniel, Correctional Dietary Officer, age 26, of Baltimore; Tyirisha Johnson, age 23, of Baltimore, each pleaded guilty today to a federal racketeering charge related to the Maryland Correctional Institute Jessup (MCIJ), and India Parker, age 33, of Parkville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to a drug distribution conspiracy, for participating in a scheme to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, unauthorized flash drives, tobacco, and cell phones into the prison.
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.
“Federal, state, and local officials will continue to work together to root out corrupt employees and others who undermine the administration of justice at our prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.
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, McDaniel, Johnson and Parker conspired with inmates and others to smuggle contraband into MCIJ, including narcotics, cell phones, unauthorized flash drives, and tobacco. McDaniel admitted that she abused her position of trust as a sworn officer of DPSCS by soliciting and receiving bribes in exchange for bringing contraband into MCIJ. Johnson and Parker admitted that as outside facilitators they managed the proceeds of illegal contraband sales for specific inmates, obtained contraband including, but not limited to, Suboxone strips, Percocet, MDMA, K2, and tobacco from additional co-conspirators, and provided the contraband and bribe payments to MCIJ employees and contractors to smuggle into the prison. Payments for contraband were sent by inmates through PayPal, Green Dot, and Western Union to Johnson and Parker. Inmates and facilitators, such as Johnson and Parker, paid COs, employees, and contractors for smuggled contraband in cash, money orders, Green Dot cards, and using PayPal and other electronic forms of payment.
As detailed in her plea agreement, in order to smuggle contraband into the facility, McDaniel often entered on weekends and secreted the packages on her person in order to avoid detection. Once inside the facility, McDaniel would deliver the packages to an inmate with whom she had a personal relationship, or to other MCIJ inmates. McDaniel was compensated in cash and by PayPal MyCash.
McDaniel, Johnson, and Parker were all overheard by law enforcement on a series of recorded calls arranging for contraband to be smuggled into MCIJ and arranging payment for the contraband and for bribes.
McDaniel, Johnson, and Parker each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Johnson on September 20, 2019, and for Parker and McDaniel on October 2, 2019.
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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Previously Convicted Sex Offender Facing Federal Indictment for Sexual Exploitation and Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Jeffrey R. Cummings, Jr., a/k/a Olivia Harris, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, for federal charges related to the alleged sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor during a period of time when Cummings was required to register as a sex offender. The indictment was returned on July 18, 2019, and unsealed at Cummings’ initial appearance in U.S. District Court on July 19, 2019. At that hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite ordered that Cummings be detained pending a detention hearing on July 23, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
The indictment 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 Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the seven-count indictment, Cummings was convicted of a sex offense in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 2008, and was required to register as a sex offender in Maryland. The indictment alleges that beginning on May 13, 2017, Cummings operated multiple social media accounts using a variety of aliases, including Olivia Harris, to communicate with minor boys, many of whom lived in the Spokane, Washington area. During his communications with the minor boys, Cummings allegedly falsely represented that Olivia Harris was a teenage girl. Using his accounts, the indictment alleges that Cummings coerced and enticed minor boys to send Cummings pictures and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. According to the indictment, Cummings also sent the boys money and gifts in exchange for them sending him their previously worn socks by mail.
Further, the indictment alleges that on December 16 and 29, 2018, as well as January 20, 2019, Cummings, posing as Olivia Harris, communicated with Boy 1, who was approximately 15 years old and resided in Stevens County, Washington. During each of those conversations Cummings, posing as Olivia Harris, allegedly requested Boy 1 to send “her” a sexually explicit photograph or video, which Boy 1 provided. On December 16, 2018, Olivia Harris also sent Boy 1 a picture of a teenage girl purported to be a picture of “herself,” as well as nude images of a pubescent female’s genital area, claiming to be pictures of herself.
If convicted, Cummings faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years in prison for each of three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography; a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for each of three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity; and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for committing these crimes while being required to register as a sex offender.
Anyone who may have information about possible victims or details related to the investigation of Jeffrey R. Cummings, Jr is asked to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 202-636-2220.
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 the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Baltimore Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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Member of Violent “Trained to Go” Gang Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Federal Racketeering and Drug ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Timothy Floyd, a/k/a Tim Rod, age 28, of Baltimore, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG). The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. Floyd and his co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. The sentence was imposed on July 19, 2018.
The sentence 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; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
“Timothy Floyd will now spend 30 years in federal prison for the violence and misery he and his fellow gang members brought to West Baltimore, in the form of murders, shootings, armed robbery, witness intimidation, and drug dealing. Anyone who participates in the criminal enterprise can be held accountable for all crimes committed by fellow gang members,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Hopefully criminals who are not deterred from terrorizing our neighborhoods by the threat of prison can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”
According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Floyd and his co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG.
The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory. Floyd served as one of TTG’s primary distributors of heroin and marijuana, routinely selling “packs” of heroin and gram quantities of marijuana from multiple locations in Sandtown. Typically, a “pack” contained between 25 and 50 gel capsules of heroin. In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and January 9, 2017, Floyd, his co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes. Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.
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.
Dennis Pulley, a/k/a Denmo, age 31, of Baltimore, is the final defendant convicted at the trial who is awaiting sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.
Another defendant, Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, age 28, of Baltimore, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019, and is now awaiting trial. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
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 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. 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, 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 the investigation. 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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Member of Violent TTG Gang Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Federal Racketeering and Drug ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Timothy Floyd, aka Tim Rod, 28, of Baltimore, to serve 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to participate in a drug distribution conspiracy and a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG). The racketeering conspiracy included eight murders, as well as drug trafficking and witness intimidation. Floyd and his co-defendants were also convicted of a drug distribution conspiracy involving heroin, marijuana, and cocaine. The sentence was imposed on July 19.
The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
According to the evidence presented at their 24-day trial, Floyd and his co-defendants are all members of TTG, a criminal organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore, whose members engaged in drug distribution and acts of violence including murder, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity for TTG.
The evidence at trial showed that members and associates of TTG sold heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, and worked to defend their exclusive right to control who sold narcotics in TTG territory. Floyd served as one of TTG’s primary distributors of heroin and marijuana, routinely selling “packs” of heroin and gram quantities of marijuana from multiple locations in Sandtown. Typically, a “pack” contained between 25 and 50 gel capsules of heroin. In addition, the evidence proved that between May 20, 2010 and Jan. 9, 2017, Floyd, his co-defendants, and other members of TTG committed acts of violence, including murders, shootings, armed robbery, and witness intimidation. Murders were committed in retaliation for individuals robbing TTG members of drugs and drug proceeds, or while TTG members robbed others of their drugs and drug proceeds, as well as in murder-for-hire schemes. Further, the defendants engaged in witness intimidation through violence or threats of violence, to prevent individuals from cooperating with law enforcement.
The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, aka Tana, and Tanner, 23, and his brother, Terrell Sivells, aka Rell, 27, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 15 and April 26, 2019, respectively. Co-defendants Brandon Wilson, aka Ali, 24, and Taurus Tillman, aka Tash, 30, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to serve 25 years in prison on March 1 and May 21, 2019, respectively. Two other co-defendants, John Harrison, aka Binkie, 28, and Linton Broughton, aka Marty, 25, both from Baltimore, were sentenced to serve 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.
Dennis Pulley, aka Denmo, 31, of Baltimore, is the final defendant convicted at the trial who is awaiting sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the racketeering and drug conspiracies.
Another defendant, Roger Taylor, aka Milk, 28, of Baltimore, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019, and is now awaiting trial. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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 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.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. 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 of the Criminal Division prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
Former Government Contractor Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Willful Retention of National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Harold Thomas Martin, III, age 54, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for willful retention of national defense information.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers; and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
“For nearly 20 years, Harold Martin betrayed the trust placed in him by stealing and retaining a vast quantity of highly classified national defense information entrusted to him,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This sentence, which is one of the longest ever imposed in this type of case, should serve as a warning that we will find and prosecute government employees and contractors who flagrantly violate their duty to protect classified materials.”
“Harold Martin was entrusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive information,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Instead of respecting the trust given to him by the American people, Martin violated that trust and put our nation’s security at risk. This sentence will hold Mr. Martin accountable for his dangerous and unlawful actions.”
“Harold Martin took an oath to preserve and protect the nation's secrets, and violated that oath repeatedly over many years, causing damage with his unlawful mishandling of classified information,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone, FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Martin’s actions harmed Intelligence Community sources and methods. The vitality and integrity of the Intelligence Community requires the strictest adherence to the law for handling classified information. The FBI will be tireless in investigating cases like the Martin case.”
According to his plea agreement, from December 1993 through August 27, 2016, Martin was employed by at least seven different private companies and assigned as a contractor to work at a number of government agencies. Martin was required to receive and maintain a security clearance in order to work at each of the government agencies to which he was assigned. Martin held security clearances up to Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) at various times. A Top Secret classification means that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. An SCI designation compartmentalizes extremely sensitive information. Because of his work responsibilities and security clearance, Martin was able to access government computer systems, programs, and information in secure locations, including classified national defense information. Over his many years of holding a security clearance, Martin received training regarding classified information and his duty to protect classified materials from unauthorized disclosure.
Martin admitted that beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through August 31, 2016, he stole and retained U.S. government property from secure locations and computer systems, including documents in both hard copy and digital form relating to the national defense, that bore markings indicating that they were the property of the United States and contained highly classified information of the United States, including Top Secret/SCI information.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Martin retained the stolen documents and other classified information at his residence and in his vehicle. Martin knew that the hard copy and digital documents stolen from his workplace contained classified information that related to the national defense and that he was never authorized to retain these documents at his residence or in his vehicle. Martin admitted that he also knew that the unauthorized removal of these materials risked their disclosure, which would be damaging to the national security of the United States and highly useful to its adversaries.
In court documents and at today’s sentencing hearing, the government noted that crimes such as Martin’s not only create a risk of unauthorized disclosure of, or access to, highly classified information, but often require the government to treat the stolen material as compromised, resulting in the government having to take remedial actions including changing or abandoning national security programs. In addition, Martin’s criminal conduct caused the government to expend substantial investigative and analytical resources. The diversion of those resources resulted in significant costs.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the National Security Agency for its assistance. Mr. Hur and Mr. Demers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Harvey E. Eisenberg, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, who prosecuted the case.
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Former Government Contractor Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Willful Retention of National Defense InformationRead the Press Release
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Harold Thomas Martin, III, age 54, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for willful retention of national defense information.
The sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur, Assistant Director John Brown of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.
“Harold Martin was entrusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive information,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Instead of respecting the trust given to him by the American people, Martin violated that trust and put our nation’s security at risk. This sentence will hold Mr. Martin accountable for his dangerous and unlawful actions.”
“For nearly 20 years, Harold Martin betrayed the trust placed in him by stealing and retaining a vast quantity of highly classified national defense information entrusted to him,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “This sentence, which is one of the longest ever imposed in this type of case, should serve as a warning that we will find and prosecute government employees and contractors who flagrantly violate their duty to protect classified materials.”
“Whether an individual is a federal contractor or government employee, when given the privilege of holding a security clearance, the American people expect classified information to be protected,” said Assistant Director Brown. “That is essential to protecting our national security. In this case, Harold Martin was a serial offender in retaining national defense information for more than two decades. Today’s sentencing should signal that the FBI takes these violations extremely seriously and will vigorously investigate cases when people improperly handle classified information.”
“Harold Martin took an oath to preserve and protect the nation's secrets, and violated that oath repeatedly over many years, causing damage with his unlawful mishandling of classified information,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone, FBI Baltimore Field Office. “Martin’s actions harmed Intelligence Community sources and methods. The vitality and integrity of the Intelligence Community requires the strictest adherence to the law for handling classified information. The FBI will be tireless in investigating cases like the Martin case.”
According to his plea agreement, from December 1993 through Aug. 27, 2016, Martin was employed by at least seven different private companies and assigned as a contractor to work at a number of government agencies. Martin was required to receive and maintain a security clearance in order to work at each of the government agencies to which he was assigned. Martin held security clearances up to Top Secret and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) at various times. A Top Secret classification means that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. An SCI designation compartmentalizes extremely sensitive information. Because of his work responsibilities and security clearance, Martin was able to access government computer systems, programs, and information in secure locations, including classified national defense information. Over his many years of holding a security clearance, Martin received training regarding classified information and his duty to protect classified materials from unauthorized disclosure.
Martin admitted that beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through Aug. 31, 2016, he stole and retained U.S. government property from secure locations and computer systems, including documents in both hard copy and digital form relating to the national defense, that bore markings indicating that they were the property of the United States and contained highly classified information of the United States, including Top Secret/SCI information.
As detailed in his plea agreement, Martin retained the stolen documents and other classified information at his residence and in his vehicle. Martin knew that the hard copy and digital documents stolen from his workplace contained classified information that related to the national defense and that he was never authorized to retain these documents at his residence or in his vehicle. Martin admitted that he also knew that the unauthorized removal of these materials risked their disclosure, which would be damaging to the national security of the United States and highly useful to its adversaries.
In court documents and at today’s sentencing hearing, the government noted that crimes such as Martin’s not only create a risk of unauthorized disclosure of, or access to, highly classified information, but often require the government to treat the stolen material as compromised, resulting in the government having to take remedial actions including changing or abandoning national security programs. In addition, Martin’s criminal conduct caused the government to expend substantial investigative and analytical resources. The diversion of those resources resulted in significant costs.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the National Security Agency for its assistance. Mr. Hur and Mr. Demers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Harvey E. Eisenberg, and Trial Attorney David Aaron of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, who prosecuted the case.
Baltimore Pimp Convicted on Federal Charges of Sex Trafficking of a Child and Using the Internet to Promote a Prostitution BusinessRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Ryan Russell Parks, a/k/a Dinero, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, for two counts of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of using the Internet to promote a business enterprise involving prostitution. The verdict was returned late on July 18, 2019, after a four-day trial.
The conviction 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 Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
“Ryan Parks preyed on vulnerable girls in order to profit by selling them for sex. When an adult profits from sex with a child, that is human trafficking, period,” said Maryland U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Through the Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force and the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners are working with non-profit organizations to help human trafficking victims and prosecute the traffickers. Working to end human trafficking is a priority for the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
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 Girl 1 online. During their communications Parks learned that she was hungry and had no real place to live, and he offered Girl 1 a place to stay. Parks sent a car to pick up Girl 1, and within a day, he caused advertisements to be posted on a website that marketed commercial sex workers. These advertisements contained photographs and descriptions of Girl 1 and offered Girl 1 for commercial sex acts. Parks stayed with Girl 1 in the motel room, along with another woman he was advertising on the Internet for commercial sex. Parks would leave the room for short periods of time, 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. Parks paid for additional advertisements on the website offering Girl 1 for commercial sex on August 1, and August 2, 2017. Girl 1 did not get to keep the money that she was paid by the men who came to the room to have sex with her. One of Girl 1’s customers returned to the room the next day to rescue her, and he took her to live in a different city with his sister.
The evidence also proved that in November 2017, Parks met Girl 2 online, and he learned that she had run away from her foster home. On November 16, 2017, Parks paid a driver through an application on his cell phone to pick up Girl 2 and bring her to his home. Girl 2, who was 15 years old, told Parks that she was 17 years old, in foster care, and was in an unhappy situation. Parks provided Girl 2 with marijuana and had sex with her. 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. Because she had run away from her foster home without a coat, a purse, or change of clothing, Parks purchased a bra, panties, and condoms for Girl 2. Parks took photographs of Girl 2 and paid for an online advertisement offering Girl 2 for commercial sex using his cell phone. Several of the photos that Parks uploaded to the website were rejected, because they contained nudity and were too explicit. Less revealing photos of Girl 2, wearing the bra and panties purchased by Parks, were accepted and uploaded to the online advertisement. As he had with Girl 1, Parks then set the prices and time limits for the sex acts to be performed on Girl 2, and he instructed her on the process of checking a man for a wire when he came into the motel room. Parks stayed in the motel room with Girl 2 when other men were not present, but he left the room and stood outside in a stairwell when men arrived to have sex with Girl 2. Parks offered Girl 2 for commercial sex from November 16 through November 20, 2017. During this time, over 300 individuals contacted the phone number placed by Parks on the advertisement, to inquire about commercial sex with Girl 2. On November 21, 2017, Girl 2 contacted her foster care social worker, who dispatched police to the motel. According to trial testimony, Parks reviewed Girl 2’s phone while she was in the shower and saw that she had contacted her social worker. Parks became angry, told her to delete information from her phone and to remove the chip from her phone, and then he left the motel. Girl 2 went to the lobby and turned herself in to police.
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 from February 25, 2017, through the date that he was arrested on January 10, 2018, Parks paid over $1,000 for approximately 295 commercial sex advertisements placed on the Internet. 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.
As a result of his conviction, Parks will be required 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).
Parks faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for each of the two counts of sex trafficking a minor; and a maximum of five years in prison for using the Internet to promote a business enterprise involving prostitution. U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston has not yet scheduled a date for sentencing. Parks remains detained.
The case was investigated by the FBI-led Maryland Child Exploitation Task Force (MCETF), created in 2010 to combat child prostitution, with members from 10 state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Task Force coordinates with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Maryland State Police Child Recovery Unit to identify missing children being advertised online for prostitution.
MCETF partners with the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders. Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members. For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Duey and Matthew Maddox, who are prosecuting the case.
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Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment for Threatening a Member of CongressRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Darryl Albert Varnum, age 42, of Westminster, Maryland, on the federal charge of threatening a federal official. The indictment was returned on July 17, 2019, and Varnum will have his arraignment and detention hearing on August 5, 2019 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Chief Steven A. Sund of the U.S. Capitol Police.
United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur stated, “We take these types of violent threats extremely seriously. The investigation began immediately upon learning of the threats. Mr. Varnum was charged federally by criminal complaint and arrested on July 8th.”
According to the one-count indictment, on June 26, 2019, Varnum allegedly threatened to murder a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, with intent to impede, intimidate, and retaliate against that person on account of the performance of that person’s duties as a member of U.S. House of Representatives.
Varnum was arrested on July 8, 2019, on a federal criminal complaint. On July 10, 2019, U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth P. Gesner ordered that Varnum complete a 28-day inpatient program at the Shoemaker Center in Sykesville, Maryland, and return to the court at the conclusion of the program.
If convicted, Varnum faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
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. Capitol Police for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the case.
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Elkton Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake today sentenced Frank Ray Leary, Jr., age 24, of Elkton, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography. Judge Blake also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Leary must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The sentence was announced by 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.
“Frank Ray Leary, Jr. preyed on vulnerable young victims, including a five-year-old boy,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Law enforcement agencies will continue to work to identify and prosecute those who harm our children.”
According to his plea agreement, in 2012 Leary distributed images of child pornography using a file-sharing network. In 2014 and 2015, Leary sent e-mails containing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including prepubescent minors. In September 2015, Leary used a messaging application to participate in group chats during which the members of the group discussed the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, shared files of child pornography, and commented on the files.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 1, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Leary’s person and his residence, seizing his mobile phone, among other things. A forensic examination of the phone, as well as the execution of various provider search warrants revealed that Leary used a messaging application on his phone to induce at least six minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send Leary images of that conduct. For example, on July 7, 2018, Leary engaged in chat with a victim who was between 14 and 16 years old, and enticed that victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct with his sleeping nine-year-old brother and take photographs of the sexual acts. Leary admitted that he engaged in sexually explicit chats with five other victims from around the world, including Germany, Bulgaria, California, and Kentucky. Leary requested and received images of the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, often directed by Leary. In addition, Leary shared images of child pornography with the victims and other minors, sending them links to accounts he maintained.
Finally, according to the plea agreement, a five-year-old victim disclosed that he had been abused by Leary between 2017 and 2018.
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 for its work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Washington, DC Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today sentenced Jamila Kibibi Hargrove, a/k/a Ms. Bossy, age 42; and Lonnell Staton, a/k/a Papi Chulo, age 38, both of Washington, D.C., to five years and eleven years in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. Hargrove and Staton each pleaded guilty in September 2018 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentences, which were imposed yesterday, 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; Special Agent in Charge Jesse Fong of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron.
According to their plea agreements, Staton and Hargrove conspired with James Ronnell Davis and others to distribute at least three kilograms of cocaine. Specifically, Staton and Hargrove purchased cocaine from Davis, who used his business, Shades, Suds and Sounds LLC (SS&S), as a front to distribute cocaine.
Staton, Hargrove, and Davis used disposable, prepaid cellular telephones, commonly referred to as “burner phones,” and frequently switched phones in an effort to thwart law enforcement. Hargrove purchased and provided the burner phones to Staton and Davis in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.
During several phone calls that were intercepted by law enforcement, Davis, Staton, and Hargrove made arrangements to meet in order for Staton and Hargrove to purchase drugs. Those purchases were made at SS&S as well as at other locations including in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Search warrants executed at Hargrove’s residence, an apartment used by the couple, and vehicles driven by Staton and Hargrove resulted in the seizure of numerous cellular telephones, over $8,200 in cash, and three identically packaged bricks found in a backpack, with each brick containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine, as well as packaging material which had Staton’s fingerprints on it, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.
On November 7, 2018, a federal jury convicted James Ronnell Davis, a/k/a Twin, Slim and Slick, age 41, of Springfield, Virginia, for a cocaine distribution conspiracy, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Hazel has not set a date for Davis’ sentencing.
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, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Dick, who is prosecuting the case.
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Twenty Baltimore Men Charged for a Federal Drug Conspiracy Allegedly Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Marijuana in Northwest BaltimoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted 19 Baltimore men on federal charges related to an alleged drug distribution conspiracy operating in Northwest Baltimore near the intersection of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. The indictment was returned on June 27, 2019, and was unsealed today upon the execution of search warrants and the arrests of the defendants. The following defendants, all from Baltimore, are charged in the indictment:
Brandon Crawford, a/k/a Goat, age 38;
Robert Anderson, a/k/a Rock, age 46;
Daryl Burke, age 23;
Linwood Davis, age 23;
Marcus Hall, a/k/a Pill, age 18;
Lewis Hayward, a/k/a Junebug, age 59;
Antonio Johnson, a/k/a Sosa and Tony, age 26;
Christopher Jones, age 24;
Robert Jones, age 37;
Moses Lewis, a/k/a Moe, age 35;
Ronald McCormick, a/k/a Sleezy, age 36;
Donald McNeill, age 35;
Michael Mercer, age 32;
James Murray, a/k/a Crazy James, age 21;
Jermaine Porter, a/k/a Pistol, age 27;
Ivan Potts, a/k/a Spottie, age 33;
Sean Weston, age 52;
Donte White, age 30; and
Michael Williams, a/k/a Mega, age 28.Another defendant, also named Michael Williams, age 28, of Baltimore was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint.
The federal charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Armed drug traffickers are on notice that federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to target leaders and key members of violent gangs operating in Baltimore City,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will not tolerate those who peddle death through drugs and gun violence in our neighborhoods. Gun crime can lead to federal time, where there is no parole—ever. Please put down the gun. You’ll save a life, maybe even your own.”
According to the indictment and court documents, beginning no later than 2018 and continuing through the filing of the indictment, the defendants allegedly operated a drug distribution operation in Northwest Baltimore, distributing heroin, crack and powder cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana in the area of Liberty Heights Avenue and Garrison Boulevard. The indictment further alleges that several of the defendants illegally possessed firearms in relation to drug trafficking. Before the indictment was returned, more than a dozen guns were seized from these defendants during the investigation.
Although not alleged in the indictment, the affidavit filed in support of the search warrants executed today alleges that the defendants are part of an organization called LNG. According to the affidavit, LNG is comprised of two allied groups who work together: the Yellow Bus Gang (YBG) Crips and the Black Guerilla Family (BGF). The affidavit alleges that LNG members participate in violent acts, including a gunfight on January 19, 2019, that occurred at approximately 11 a.m.
Fifteen of the 20 defendants have been arrested and law enforcement executed search warrants at 14 locations today, seizing electronic devices, guns, drugs, drug paraphernalia, drug packaging materials, and cash. Law enforcement is still searching for Antonio Johnson, Ivan Potts, Daryl Burke, Robert Anderson, and Christopher Jones.
If convicted, all of the defendants except C. Jones face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the drug conspiracy. C. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the drug conspiracy. McNeill and Mercer each face a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, respectively, and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. For illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Porter, White, Davis, C. Jones, and Mercer each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; McNeill and Lewis face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison; and R. Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. Lewis and McNeill each face a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, while Mercer and R. Jones face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison for the same charge. Finally, Sean Weston faces a maximum of three years in prison for selling drug paraphernalia
The defendants began having initial appearances today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Hall, Davis, McNeill, and Porter have been detained pending detention hearings which are scheduled to begin tomorrow.
An indictment or criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation, and recognized the U.S. Marshals Service, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations for their assistance with today’s arrests and search warrants. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew DellaBetta and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney Announces Justice Department Launch of National Public Safety Partnership with Baltimore Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur, officials from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Baltimore Police Department, the Office of the State’s Attorney’s for Baltimore City, and other federal law enforcement officials convened in Baltimore to initiate the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) program with the Baltimore Police Department. This Justice Department program is a three-year engagement that seeks to leverage department assets in support of a local jurisdictions' commitment to drive down violent crime.
On June 3, 2019, Attorney General William Barr announced the selection of the Baltimore Police Department as one of ten FY 2019 PSP sites where the Justice Department will work collaboratively to provide training and technical assistance in areas such as crime analytics, emerging technology and community engagement.
Since 2017, the Justice Department has directed nearly $14.9 million in customized training and technical assistance to help build crime fighting capacity in PSP sites, including $6.6 million to support the FY 2019 sites through FY 2022. PSP seeks to bring law enforcement stakeholders together to work collaboratively in reducing violent crime attributed to felonious firearm use, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
“Reducing violent crime in Baltimore is job one. It’s what we in law enforcement think about morning, noon, and night,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We will continue to do everything we can to prosecute the violent criminals who wreak havoc in and terrorize Baltimore’s neighborhoods.”
“Today our team is on-site in Baltimore to collaborate with local law enforcement officials in their mission to improve public safety and drive down violent crime,” said Jon Adler, Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance. "Through the Public Safety Partnership, we are committed to fulfilling the Attorney General's priority of supporting local law enforcement combat violent gangs, felonious firearms use and drug trafficking," added Adler.
“Reducing violent crime in Baltimore will require the hard work and dedication of people on the local, state and federal levels. This partnership is exactly the kind of collaboration that is needed to help make Baltimore a safer city,” added Superintendent Harrison.
Since 2017, the Justice Department has worked with more than 30 local jurisdictions under the nationwide PSP program. Many participating cities have already seen dramatic reductions in violent crime. New Orleans ended 2018 with 146 murders, the lowest number of murders since the early 1970s. In Milwaukee, homicides declined in 2018 for a third straight year after hitting a deadly peak in 2015.
Agencies in attendance at this meeting will include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland; the Office of Justice Programs; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Department of Homeland Security; the Baltimore Police Department; the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office; and Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young‘s Office.
For more information about PSP, visit https://www.nationalpublicsafetypartnership.org.
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Former Chief of Eastern Shore Volunteer Fire Department Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced to 60 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced James Morris, Jr., age 70, of Cordova, Maryland, to 60 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor. Morris pleaded guilty to that charge today. Judge Russell also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Morris 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). As detailed in his plea agreement, Morris admitted that his sexual abuse of minor victims spanned several decades, including during the time when he was Chief of the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department. The victims reported that they met Morris in a variety of ways, including through his role as a bus driver for the Talbot County Public Schools and as a Little League umpire.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Talbot County State’s Attorney Scott G. Patterson; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
“James Morris admitted that since the 1980s he has used his position in the community to meet victims that he then sexually abused,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Hur. “We are grateful for the collaboration of our law enforcement partners to remove this sexual predator from the community so he can no longer victimize our children.”
“For decades, Morris preyed upon children using lies, deceit, and even more perversely, his community status,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of HSI Baltimore. “This exploitation of a position of trust is an atrocity for which no sentence can bring sufficient justice and peace. However, we can be assured by this sentence that Morris will never again be free to victimize another innocent child.”
According to his plea agreement, on September 29, 2017, the Maryland State Police (MSP) received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alleging sexual abuse of multiple minor victims by a member of the Cordova Volunteer Fire Department, who was later identified as Morris. MSP’s investigation led to a search warrant being executed at Morris’ residence on November 30, 2017.
During the search, law enforcement seized several electronic devices. A review of these electronic devices showed that Morris used a specific Yahoo e-mail address and law enforcement obtained a search warrant for this Yahoo email address. The results from that warrant showed that Morris used the e-mail address to respond to an advertisement placed on Craigslist titled “Underage boy looking for daddy – m4m.” The advertisement was placed by a seventeen-year-old minor male victim who lives in Virginia.
The results of the e-mail search showed that Morris and the victim engaged in a sexually explicit conversation online on November 3, 2017. During the conversation, Morris asked to visit the victim at his residence in Virginia and requested a sexually explicit photo of the victim, which the victim provided to Morris.
On March 29, 2019, Morris pleaded guilty in Talbot County Circuit Court to six sex offenses, including the sexual abuse of five separate victims beginning in the 1980s, as well as one count of possession of child pornography in 2017, and one count of solicitation of child pornography related to this case. Sentencing in that case is scheduled for August 2, 2019.
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 HSI Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, and the Talbot County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ayn B. Ducao, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Physician Assistant Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charge for Conspiring to Distribute and Dispense Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Methadone, and Alprazaolam at A Pain Management Practice with Offices in Towson and Owings MillsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – William Soyke, age 66, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, and alprazolam outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
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; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Opioid overdoses are killing thousands of Marylanders each year, and opioid addiction is fueled by health care providers who prescribe drugs for people without a legitimate medical need,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Doctors and other medical professionals who irresponsibly write opioid prescriptions are acting like street-corner drug pushers. State and federal authorities are continuing to look at ways to shut down ‘pain clinics’ that are really just fronts for criminals who divert pharmaceutical drugs and hook a new generation of addicts. We are determined to reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths here in Maryland.”
According to his plea agreement, from 2011 until the business closed in February 2018, Soyke served as a physician assistant (PA) at Rosen Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management, P.A. During his tenure, Soyke was able to observe and treat patients of both Dr. Norman Rosen and Dr. Howard Hoffberg, who had hired him and who usually worked at the Towson and Owings Mills offices, respectively.
According to the plea agreement, each new Rosen Hoffberg patient was initially seen by Dr. Rosen or Dr. Hoffberg, who determined the patient’s treatment plan and medication levels. Soyke would then see the patients for follow-up visits. As a PA, Soyke had privileges to prescribe controlled substance medications but was required to operate under a delegation agreement between himself and the Rosen Hoffberg owners.
Soyke admitted that he believed that Drs. Rosen and Hoffberg prescribed excessive levels of opioids. According to the plea agreement, both doctors overruled any attempts by Soyke to lower patients’ dosages. Further, if another health care provider within the practice declined to treat a patient due to the patient’s aberrant behavior (such as failing a drug screening test for illicit drugs or selling their prescriptions), Drs. Rosen and Hoffberg would take over that patient’s care.
Soyke admitted that he knew that many of the patients presenting to Rosen Hoffberg did not have a legitimate medical need for the oxycodone, fentanyl, alprazolam, and methadone they were being prescribed. Nevertheless, Soyke issued prescriptions for these drugs to patients without a legitimate medical need and outside the bounds of acceptable medical practice. Soyke also admitted that in several instances he engaged in sexual, physical contact with female patients who were attempting to get prescriptions. Although the female patients complained to Dr. Rosen and Dr. Hoffberg about Soyke’s behavior, the doctors did not fire Soyke because Soyke saw the largest number of patients at the practice and generated significant revenue for Rosen Hoffberg.
Soyke faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the DEA, and HHS-OIG for their work in the investigation. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting the case.
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