District of Minnesota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Apple Valley Man Sentenced to 13.5 Years in Prison for Possession of Narcotics, FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Apple Valley man has been sentenced to 162 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 23, 2023, law enforcement attempted to arrest Timothy Allen Torell Wetzstein, 31, on outstanding warrants. Wetzstein fled from police officers but was arrested after a short foot chase. During the chase, Wetzstein threw away a Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Police searched Wetzstein’s backpack and vehicle and recovered quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, more than $11,000 in cash, and three additional firearms. As part of his guilty plea, Wetzstein also admitted to possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms on multiple other occasions between October 2020 and July 2023.
On November 9, 2023, Wetzstein pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Ramsey Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Drug Task Force, and Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
Two Minneapolis Men Sentenced for Trafficking Narcotics Between California and MinnesotaRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two men have been sentenced to prison for possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendants’ plea agreements and court documents, beginning at least as early as January 2023, Cortez Ananias Williams, 24, was involved in trafficking controlled substances between California and Minnesota with his co-defendant and cousin Savontray Orlando Dwayne Collins, 23. On February 13, 2024, law enforcement intercepted Collins and Williams on I-35 near the Minnesota-Iowa border with 4.4 kilograms of “M30” fentanyl pills and nearly one kilogram of cocaine.
On June 28, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and was sentenced on December 14, 2023, in U.S. District Court by Judge Jerry W. Blackwell to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Collins pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release by Judge Blackwell.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Shnider prosecuted the case.
St. Paul Felon Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the possession of a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 15, 2021, St. Paul police officers responded to a report of shots fired near Rice and Winnipeg Streets in St. Paul. That same night, law enforcement recovered surveillance video of the shooting incident and recognized Ember Shawndale White, 23, holding a firearm and running away from the incident and into a white Volkswagen Jetta. On July 23, 2021, law enforcement arrested White in the same Jetta, in possession of a Beretta APX 9x19mm pistol. Because White has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey, Hennepin, and Dakota Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
White pleaded guilty on November 13, 2023, to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Joan N. Ericksen.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert prosecuted the case.
Sauk Centre Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Sauk Centre man has pleaded guilty to coercing minors to produce sexually explicit images, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Shawn Norbert Kulzer, 32, began chatting with a minor victim on Snapchat on or about January 2, 2023. During the course of their conversation, Kulzer learned that the minor victim was under the age of 18, yet still pressured them to send nude photographs. In his plea agreement, Kulzer also admitted that he used and enticed a second minor victim to produce and send sexually explicit images over Snapchat.
Kulzer pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
This case is the result of an investigation led by the FBI, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sauk Centre Police Department. Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children in crimes involving child pornography, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Polachek is prosecuting the case.
Burnsville Woman Indicted for Straw Purchasing Firearms Used in Fatal Shooting of Three First RespondersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Burnsville woman has been indicted for straw purchasing multiple firearms for a felon, two of which were used to fatally shoot two police officers and a firefighter paramedic and injure a third police officer in Burnsville on February 18th, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between September 21, 2023, and January 25, 2024, Ashley Anne Dyrdahl, 35, conspired with Shannon Cortez Gooden to place firearms in Gooden’s hands, despite the fact Gooden could not legally own or possess firearms. On February 18, 2024, Gooden used the firearms that Dyrdahl supplied to murder two police officers and a firefighter paramedic, and injure a third officer, during an armed stand-off with law enforcement officers who were responding to a call for help.
According to the indictment, in 2008, Gooden was convicted in Dakota County of second-degree assault, a felony offense. In 2016, Dyrdahl began a domestic relationship with Gooden and, as early as 2019, knew that Gooden had been convicted of a felony offense. In 2020, Dyrdahl filed a letter in support of Gooden’s petition to restore his firearm rights in which she acknowledged his conviction and crime. Despite knowing of Gooden’s felony status, between September of 2023 and January of 2024, Dyrdahl purchased five firearms from two different federal firearms licensees (FFLs) at Gooden’s direction and knowingly and intentionally transferred the firearms to Gooden.
As part of the conspiracy alleged in the indictment, Gooden sent text messages to Dyrdahl of firearms he wanted her to purchase. Dyrdahl placed the orders at FFLs and filled out ATF Forms 4473 falsely attesting that she was the actual buyer of the firearm, and falsely attesting that she was not planning to transfer the firearm to a felon. During a text exchange between Dyrdahl and Gooden discussing background checks and other questions from firearm sellers, Dyrdahl told Gooden, “We just gotta make sure we’re smart about all this ya know?”
As part of the conspiracy alleged in the indictment, on September 21, 2023, Dyrdahl bought a Glock 47 9mm semiautomatic pistol from an FFL. The same day, Dyrdahl sent Gooden a text asking him how he liked the new gun. Gooden responded with a video in which he displayed the firearm and its attachments, then loaded the firearm with an extended magazine. Dyrdahl replied to the video with a smiling heart emoji. In a text exchange on October 24, 2023, Dyrdahl and Gooden discussed purchasing another firearm. Gooden sent Dyrdahl a link to a Glock 43X 9mm semiautomatic pistol for sale, specified which Burnsville FFL she should have the firearm sent to, and said he would send her money for the firearm. Dyrdahl ordered the firearm, texted Gooden a confirmation of the purchase, and said, “Ordered,” to which Gooden replied, “Love you.” On October 30, 2023, Dyrdahl picked up the Glock 43X pistol from the FFL and transferred it to Gooden.
According to the indictment, among the firearms Dyrdahl bought and transferred to Gooden at Gooden’s direction were three semiautomatic AR-15–style firearm lower-receivers. One of these was a Franklin Armory FAI-15 .300 caliber semiautomatic firearm that was equipped with a binary trigger. A firearm with a binary trigger fires one shot when the trigger is pulled, and another when the trigger is released, effectively doubling the rate of fire. Dyrdahl also purchased a .300 caliber barrel for the lower receiver. Dyrdahl knew that Gooden was loading the semiautomatic AR-15–style firearms with .300 Blackout ammunition, which is a heavier load ammunition that has an increased potential for lethality.
According to the indictment, on February 10, 2024, Gooden went to a shooting range. While at the range, he and Dyrdahl had the following text exchange:
Gooden: I love my 300 blackout
Dyrdahl: Haha good baby
Dyrdahl: That’s your 300 blackout?
Dyrdahl: Wow
Dyrdahl: [Smiling heart emoji]
Gooden: It’s nasty bae
Dyrdahl: hell yeah …
Gooden: Thanks for making me so happy
Dyrdahl: You’re welcome baby thank you for making me so happy to [sic]
According to the indictment, on February 18, 2024, Gooden used two AR-15-style semiautomatic firearms Dyrdahl provided to him—the firearm equipped with a binary trigger and loaded with .300 Blackout ammunition, and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 firearm—to ambush first responders, killing two police officers and a firefighter paramedic and injuring a third police officer. During the attack, Gooden fired more than 100 rounds of ammunition from the AR-15–style firearms. After the attack, law enforcement officers found in Dyrdahl and Gooden’s bedroom a stockpile of fully loaded magazines as well as boxes with hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition.
According to the indictment, at Gooden’s direction, Dyrdahl knowingly purchased five firearms, including a Glock model 47 9mm semiautomatic pistol purchased on September 21, 2023; a Palmetto State Armory model Sabre-15 firearm lower receiver purchased on October 18, 2023; a Glock model 43X 9mm semiautomatic pistol purchased on October 30, 2023; a Franklin Armory FAI-15 firearm lower receiver purchased on January 5, 2024; and a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 firearm lower receiver purchased on January 25, 2024. Dyrdahl knowingly made false and fictitious written statements to the FFLs when purchasing the firearms by falsely indicating on ATF Forms 4473 that she was the actual buyer of the firearms.
Because Gooden had a prior felony conviction, he was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Dyrdahl with one count of conspiracy, five counts of straw purchasing, and five counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. She will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Burnsville Police Department, with assistance from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office and the Burnsville Fire Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian Weir and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dyrdahl IndictmentSt. Cloud Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Cloud man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing multiple firearms as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Roberto Antwan Williams, 39, attempted to rob a man at gunpoint outside an apartment in St. Cloud on July 31, 2020. Williams was apprehended by law enforcement in a vehicle that the victim identified. Law enforcement found a firearm in the vehicle’s glovebox with Williams’ DNA on it. In a separate incident on November 13, 2020, law enforcement was notified that a five-year-old child had been shot in the head and declared dead at a St. Cloud hospital. Williams and his fiancé, the child’s mother, were at the hospital and stated they were shopping when they got a phone call that the child had been injured. Williams claimed that they immediately returned home and took the child to the hospital together. However, law enforcement obtained surveillance video from a neighboring residence that showed the fiancé taking the child to the hospital alone while Williams placed two backpacks in a garbage bin outside of the house. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and garbage bins. Inside the bins, they discovered the two backpacks which contained a semiautomatic rifle and a purple Taurus model G2C 9mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine. The Taurus had the deceased child’s blood on it. Law enforcement also searched Williams’ cell phone and found a picture of the purple Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol with the text “my new toy.”
On August 29, 2023, Williams was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of possession of firearms as a felon. Because he has multiple prior felony convictions, Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. He was yesterday sentenced in U.S. District Court by U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the St. Cloud Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Calhoun-Lopez and Mary S. Riverso prosecuted the case.
Member of the Minneapolis Lows Gang Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in April 2023, law enforcement began investigating members of the Minneapolis Lows, a street gang that engages in drug trafficking, firearm possession, and acts of violence. On June 29, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of a residence belonging to Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed, 21, a member of the Lows. As a result of the search, law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 Glock semi-automatic pistol with an attached auto-sear, also known as a switch; a conversion device that turns a handgun into a fully automatic machinegun. Law enforcement also recovered from the residence a loaded ghost gun.
On October 4, 2023, Hill-Turnipseed pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. He was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case.
Edina Financial Adviser Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Stealing $1.6 Million from ClientsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Edina financial adviser has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after misappropriating $1.6 million in client investment funds, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Kristi Margaret Berge, 47, was the founder and CEO of Keep Safe Investments, LLC, or “KSI Financial,” a financial planning and investment services firm. Berge also co-owned and operated J&K Connect LLC, a company that invested in real estate through buying, renovating, and re-selling properties. Berge maintained offices for her companies in Edina, Minnesota. Berge is registered as an investment adviser with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and licensed as an investment adviser with the State of Minnesota.
According to court documents, from June 2020 through February 2023, Berge fraudulently misappropriated approximately $1.6 million from some of her clients’ accounts by falsely representing to clients that she would maintain their money in safe and secure investment accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 401(k) retirement savings plans. Instead, Berge fraudulently misappropriated the money by repeatedly withdrawing client funds in varying amounts between $5,000 and $220,000 and depositing the funds into bank accounts she controlled. Berge then used the clients’ funds to purchase multiple properties in Edina for her real estate business. Berge tried to conceal her fraud by falsely labeling her illicit withdrawals as “management” or “administrative” fees and by creating fabricated records to give the false impression that she had authorization to withdraw clients’ investment funds.
Berge pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Craig Baune are prosecuting the case.
Indiana Sex Offender Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Failure to Register in MinnesotaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Bemidji man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for knowingly failing to register as sex offender as required by federal law, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in June 2009, Stephon Rene Jones, 34, was convicted of molesting a 7-year-old child in LaPorte County, Indiana. Based on this conviction, Jones is a Tier III sex offender under federal law. As a Tier III sex offender, Jones was aware that he was required to register as a sex offender for life and complete verification every three months. Additionally, Jones was required to provide registration updates within three days of a change of where he lived, worked, or attended school, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). However, starting in 2018, Jones was noncompliant and evaded his registration requirement for five years after he relocated from Indiana to Minnesota. Additionally, Jones admitted that he fraudulently used aliases and others’ names and social security numbers in order to gain employment in Minnesota in 2022 and 2023, most recently at a language immersion camp.
Jones pleaded guilty on October 20, 2023, in U.S. District Court to one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced on March 4, 2024, by Judge Katherine M. Menendez. Jones has a lifetime registration requirement as required under SORNA.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Three Additional Individuals Charged in Twin Cities Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three additional individuals have been charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between August 2022 through December 2023, Phyu Win Jame, 27, Amaya Tiffany-Nicole Mims, 23, and Da’Shawn Natori Domena, 24, and their previously charged co-defendants Cornell Montez Chandler, Jr., Robiel Lee Williams, Quijuan Hosea Bankhead, Stardasha Christina Davenport-Mounger, Fo’Tre Devine White, and Shardai Rayshell Allen, conspired to distribute fentanyl in Minnesota. Several defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl pills from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals, and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities. Law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties became aware of the trafficking and initiated a joint investigation, which resulted in the seizure of six packages containing over 30,000 grams of fentanyl pills.
All defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. White was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon and one count of possession of a machinegun.Jame and Mims made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court before a magistrate judge. Domena was arrested in Indiana and will make his initial appearance before a magistrate judge in the District of Minnesota at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Washington County Drug Task Force, and the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Repeat Federal Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Burnsville felon has been sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in September 2022, while John Paul Majerus II, 34, was still serving a prison sentence for a prior federal controlled substance crime, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking operation led by Bureau of Prisons inmates. While in custody, Majerus coordinated the sale of methamphetamine to an undercover officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Majerus continued his drug trafficking activity after he was released, and conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine from a “stash house” in Southeast Minneapolis belonging to codefendant Sara Evenson, 34. A search warrant was executed after additional controlled buys were conducted at Evenson’s apartment, and law enforcement found approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the wall, as well as drug paraphernalia and two firearms.
On November 8, 2023, Majerus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On February 20, 2024, Evenson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. She will be sentenced at a later date. Majerus was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren O. Roso prosecuted the case.
Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to $30 Million Magazine Fraud Scheme Targeting EldersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Canadian man has pleaded guilty on the first day of trial to his role in a $30 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Abdou Diallo, also known as Abdou-Rahmane Diallo, 36, of Montreal, Quebec, was a co-owner and operator of Readers Services, a Canadian-based company that carried out a telemarking fraud scheme. From 2011 through 2020, Diallo and other participants of the fraud scheme targeted people who had previously been victimized by fraudulent magazine companies and were currently being billed by one or more fraudulent magazine companies on an ongoing basis—and used this vulnerability to victimize them all over again through promises of being able to cancel their unwanted magazine subscriptions. Diallo pretended to be from the “magazine cancellation department” and offered to pay off the victims’ “outstanding balance” and cancel their existing magazine subscriptions in exchange for a large, lump-sum payment. In reality, the victims did not owe Diallo or his company any money and Diallo had no power or ability to cancel the victims’ existing magazine subscriptions or any outstanding balances. As a result of this “piggyback” fraud scheme, Diallo and other participants in the fraud scheme defrauded more than 20,000 victims—many of whom were elderly and vulnerable—across the United States out of approximately $30 million.
Diallo pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to two counts of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 5, 2024.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additional assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Garrett S. Fields are prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Finds St. Paul Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a St. Paul man guilty of possessing ammunition as an armed career criminal, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on July 12, 2022, law enforcement located Markhel D’John Harris-Franklin, 28 at a supermarket and placed him under arrest. Inside his vehicle, officers found a loaded 9mm privately made handgun with an extended magazine on the floor behind the driver’s seat.
Because Harris-Franklin has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey, Dakota, and Anoka Counties, including aggravated robbery, theft, assault, and domestic violence, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Following a three-day trial before Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court, Harris-Franklin was found guilty yesterday on one count of possession of ammunition as an armed career criminal. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the St. Paul Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the United States Marshal Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys LeeAnn K. Bell and Emily A. Polachek tried the case.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to 83 Months in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 83 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release for sexually abusing a minor on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on August 27, 2022, Ronald Royce Pearson, 63, was visiting a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. While there, Pearson engaged in a sexual act with a minor.
On September 6, 2023, Pearson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced yesterday by Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Red Lake Police Department, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.
Speedway Agrees to Improve Processes to Ensure Refueling Assistance for Customers with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a resolution with Speedway/7-Eleven, Inc. in response to allegations that Speedway failed to provide refueling assistance to customers with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and related regulations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“Speedway/7-Eleven has worked cooperatively to address this issue and promptly institute company-wide changes to ensure it is providing refueling assistance to individuals with disabilities as required by the ADA,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to enforcing the ADA and ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations.”
The resolution follows a civil rights complaint filed by an individual with disabilities alleging that Speedway failed on multiple occasions to provide refueling assistance to customers with disabilities in circumstances requiring such assistance.
As a result of the resolution, Speedway/7-Eleven is required to distribute information regarding refueling assistance requirements and company policy to all Speedway locations and employees nationwide; ensure that Speedway employees are promptly trained on the policy; ensure that telephone numbers and buttons located at or near fuel pumps contain accurate contact information for use by individuals seeking refueling assistance; implement new procedures to ensure that Speedway takes specific corrective action when it receives refueling assistance complaints; and pay $26,000 to compensate the individual complainant.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (833) 610-1264 (TTY). More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in the District of Minnesota is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 612-664-5600, or obtain information about how to file a complaint online by visiting www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen E. Rau of the District of Minnesota in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Bloods Gang Member Guilty of Firearms Violations After Shooting at 38th and Chicago AvenueRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Minneapolis man guilty of possessing ammunition as a felon after participating in a 2022 shooting at 38th and Chicago in South Minneapolis, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of August 7, 2022, Traigh Sean Tillman, 30, was involved in an altercation outside an abandoned Speedway parking lot located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis. Surveillance video footage shows Tillman armed with a gun as he approached a parked car. Tillman opened the driver’s-side door and began to wrestle with the driver. During the scuffle, Tillman can be seen firing two shots. Tillman accidentally fired the second shot into his own leg. Tillman can then be seen on the surveillance video limping away from the vehicle. Records show he went to the Hennepin County Medical Center, where he provided false accounts of his injuries, then left the hospital against medical advice. According to the indictment, Tillman is a member of the Minneapolis Bloods street gang.
Because Tillman has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Following a two-day trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court, Tillman was found guilty of one count of possession of ammunition as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department. the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and David M. Classen tried the case.
Owatonna Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography, Threatening to Carry Out a Murder PlotRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Owatonna sex offender has pleaded guilty on the first day of trial to producing sexually explicit images of a minor and sending graphic threats detailing a murder plot against his former child sexual abuse victim, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2021, law enforcement in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, began investigating Michael Lee Kurkowski, 28, regarding the communication and exchange of sexually explicit images of a minor. The investigation revealed that Kurkowski traveled to Pennsylvania to locate the minor and to try to continue a “relationship” after the minor attempted to end the online communications. In April 2021, Kurkowski was charged with multiple felonies and convicted in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, of corruption of a minor related to the sexual exploitation of the minor and was sentenced to 142 days in prison followed by probation. Kurkowski’s probation conditions required him to register as a sex offender, not to contact his victim, to refrain from behavior which may present a danger to others, and not to possess any weapons.
According to court documents, in November 2021, law enforcement began investigating Kurkowski’s online communications and sexual exploitation of another minor victim. Investigators reviewed several messages from Kurkowski to the minor describing in graphic detail a plan to travel to Pennsylvania where Kurkowski would murder the parents of his former victim, rape his sister, and then kill her in front of his former victim.
According to court documents, on February 4, 2022, law enforcement learned that Kurkowski had purchased a Greyhound bus ticket and was currently en route to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the general location of Kurkowski’s former victim and his family. FBI investigators tracked Kurkowski to a bus stop in Toledo, Ohio, where authorities took him into custody. According to court documents, when he was arrested, Kurkowski had with him a bag containing 16 heavy flex cuffs, electrical tape, a taser, a knife, rubber gloves, handcuffs, and hooded facemasks.
Kurkowski pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Joan N. Ericksen to one count of threatening interstate communication and one count of production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Owatonna Police Department, Steele County Community Corrections, the Upper Allen Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department, the East Peoria (Illinois) Police Department, Watertown (Wisconsin) Police Department, Toledo (Ohio) Police Department, and the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Laura M. Provinzino are prosecuting the case.
Additionally, NCMEC’s peer support network, Team HOPE, can provide support, empowerment, and resources to families of missing or exploited children from people who have experienced a similar trauma. If you’d like to connect with someone for emotional support, email: [email protected] or call: 1-877-446-2632 ext. 6117.
Edina Financial Adviser Charged with Wire Fraud for Stealing $1.6 Million from ClientsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Edina financial adviser has been charged with wire fraud after misappropriating $1.6 million in client investment funds, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Kristi Margaret Berge, 47, was the founder and CEO of Keep Safe Investments, LLC, or “KSI Financial,” a financial planning and investment services firm. Berge also co-owned and operated J&K Connect LLC, a company that invested in real estate through buying, renovating, and re-selling properties. Berge maintained offices for her companies in Edina, Minnesota. Berge is registered as an investment adviser with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and licensed as an investment adviser with the State of Minnesota.
According to court documents, from June 2020 through February 2023, Berge fraudulently misappropriated approximately $1.6 million from some of her clients’ accounts by falsely representing to clients that she would maintain their money in safe and secure investment accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 401(k) retirement savings plans. Instead, Berge fraudulently misappropriated the money by repeatedly withdrawing client funds in varying amounts between $5,000 and $220,000 and depositing the funds into bank accounts she controlled. Berge then used the clients’ funds to purchase multiple properties in Edina for her real estate business. Berge tried to conceal her fraud by falsely labeling her illicit withdrawals as “management” or “administrative” fees and by creating fabricated records to give the false impression that she had authorization to withdraw clients’ investment funds.
Berge is charged with one count of wire fraud. On March 7, 2024, Berge is scheduled to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case.
An information is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Government’s Online Auctions, Purchasing Vehicles and Jewelry for $1Read the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after hacking a government auction website and purchasing vehicles and jewelry for $1, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between February 25 and March 6, 2019, Evan James Coker, 41, participated in a scheme to defraud General Service Administration’s (“GSA”) auctions. The GSA conducts online auctions through which it sells excess equipment, including surplus, seized, and forfeited assets, as well as equipment that is no longer needed by government agencies. The auctions are conducted online through servers located in Eagan, Minnesota.
As part of his scheme, Coker bid in multiple auctions for vehicles and jewelry on the GSA Auctions website. When Coker won a particular auction, he was directed to the pay.gov website to remit payment in the amount of his winning bid. Instead of remitting payment in the amount of his winning bid, Coker breached the pay.gov website and falsified the true auction price to $1.
In total, Coker bid on and won 19 auction items and fraudulently paid just $1 for each item. As a result of his scheme, Coker obtained three vehicles, including a 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid, for which he bid $8,327; a Ford F550 pickup truck, for which he bid $9,000; and a Chevrolet C4500 Box Truck, for which he bid $22,700.
Coker pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Matthew D. Forbes are prosecuting the case.
Final Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Violent Uber and Lyft Carjacking Conspiracy, Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for his role in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies targeting Uber and Lyft drivers and for assaulting a federal officer, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between September and October 2021, William Charles Saffold, 21, and his co-defendants Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 20, Javeyon Demario Tate, 23, and Eric Harrell Knight, 20, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, the defendants conspired with each other to lure drivers to preplanned locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the drivers arrived, the defendants carjacked the drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, they brandished firearms, beat, and pistol-whipped the drivers. They also demanded keys, wallets, and cell phones and forced the drivers at gunpoint to unlock their phones and provide passcodes. The defendants then used the passcodes to further victimize the drivers by accessing and stealing money from the drivers’ Cash App accounts or other applications.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2022, while attempting to execute an arrest warrant, an FBI agent approached Saffold, who immediately drew a pistol and pointed it at the agent before fleeing on foot.
On October 21, 2022, Saffold pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence and one count of assaulting a federal officer. Saffold was sentenced yesterday by Judge Katherine M. Menendez to 87 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger thanked the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI for their skilled investigative work on the case, and Uber and Lyft for their assistance throughout the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Three Individuals Found Guilty of Child Neglect, Endangerment on the Red Lake ReservationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Three individuals living on the Red Lake Indian Reservation have been convicted by a federal jury of felony child neglect, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to evidence presented at trial, between February 2022 and January 2023, Robin John Roy, 55, Nicole Robyn Roy, 29, and Harrison Edwin Dudley Sr., 36, willfully deprived the minor victims of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision despite their reasonable ability to make the necessary provisions, resulting in substantial harm to the minor victims’ physical, mental, and emotional health.
On February 16, 2024, following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, all three defendants were found guilty of felony child neglect. Nicole Roy and Dudley were also found guilty of felony child endangerment. Sentencing hearings for the defendants will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Middlecamp and Rachel L. Kraker tried the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Minneapolis Man for Insider Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury has convicted a Minneapolis man in an insider trading conspiracy involving nonpublic negotiations for the acquisition of a medical device company valued at $1.6 billion, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Bildtsen.
According to evidence presented at trial, beginning in January 2018 through at least August 2020, Doron “Ron” Tavlin, 68, of Minneapolis, and Afshin “Alex” Farahan, 57, of Los Angeles, engaged in an insider trading conspiracy. The conspiracy involved nonpublic information about the acquisition of Mazor Robotics, an Israeli-based company that specialized in robotics for spinal procedures, by Medtronic, Inc., an Ireland-based medical device company that primarily operated from its executive headquarters in Minneapolis. Tavlin, while working as vice president of business development at Mazor Robotics, learned material, nonpublic information about Medtronic’s potential acquisition of his company. In violation of federal law and his duty to his former employer, Mazor Robotics, Tavlin tipped this information about the acquisition to his friend, Farahan, and instructed him to keep the information secret. Farahan knew that Medtronic’s imminent acquisition of Mazor would likely result in an increase in Mazor’s stock price. Farahan used the nonpublic information to quickly buy more than $1 million of Mazor stock throughout August and September 2018. The morning after the acquisition was announced, Farahan immediately sold all the stock he had purchased over the preceding weeks, which resulted in a combined profit of over $500,000 for himself and one other individual. According to evidence presented at trial, after the acquisition occurred, Tavlin learned that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) was investigating certain trades of Mazor securities that occurred prior to the publicly announced acquisition. As part of its inquiry, FINRA asked Tavlin, and other insiders who knew about the secret acquisition negotiations, whether he knew any of the parties who traded in Mazor securities leading up to the public announcement. In January 2019, Tavlin responded to FINRA’s inquiry by falsely denying that he recognized any names on a list of persons and entities that purchased Mazor securities, which included Farahan.
According to evidence presented at trial, the insider trading conspiracy included an agreement between Tavlin and Farahan that Farahan would pay money to Tavlin in exchange for the material, nonpublic information. For example, in October 2019, Farahan gave Tavlin a $25,000 check in exchange for the information that Tavlin had provided about Mazor Robotics leading up to the acquisition.
On February 16, 2024, following a nine-day trial before U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank, Tavlin was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading and ten counts of securities fraud and aiding and abetting securities fraud. Another defendant, David Jay Gantman, 58, of Mendota Heights, was found not guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit insider trading and six counts of securities fraud.
Farahan pleaded guilty on August 4, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to engage in insider trading. Sentencing hearings for both defendants will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Robert M. Lewis, and William C. Mattessich tried the case.
Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Violent Carjacking Conspiracy that Targeted Uber and Lyft DriversRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies targeting Uber and Lyft drivers, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“The defendants targeted innocent people who were simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “The crimes committed by these four men contributed to the sharp increase in violent carjackings throughout the Twin Cities in recent years and left victims with physical and emotional scars. I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in bringing these defendants to justice.”
“The residents of Minneapolis have dealt with violent crime for far too long,” said Minneapolis Police Chief, Brian O’Hara. “The sentencing of these individuals sends a clear message: anyone who chooses to use violence and terror for personal gain will be held accountable. I am grateful for the leadership and partnership we have with U.S. Attorney Luger. I’m also thankful for the continued partnership with our law enforcement partners who helped ensure justice was done and accountability was achieved.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners are determined not to allow our community to become a breeding ground for violent, carjacking criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “These sentencings send a clear message: carjacking will be met with swift and decisive action. We are committed to working tirelessly with law enforcement, community leaders, private sector partners, and residents to eradicate this heinous crime. Our community deserves safety and security, and we are prepared to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that carjackers are brought to justice.”
According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 20, William Charles Saffold, 21, Javeyon Demario Tate, 23, and Eric Harrell Knight, 20, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, the defendants conspired with each other to lure drivers to preplanned locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the drivers arrived, the defendants carjacked the drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, they brandished firearms, beat, and pistol-whipped the drivers. They also demanded keys, wallets, and cell phones and forced the drivers at gunpoint to unlock their phones and provide passcodes. The defendants then used the passcodes to further victimize the drivers by accessing and stealing money from the drivers’ Cash App accounts or other applications.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2022, while attempting to execute an arrest warrant, an FBI agent approached Saffold, who immediately drew a pistol and pointed it at the agent before fleeing on foot.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence. Saffold also pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. Knight was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 13, 2023, Tate was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 12, 2024, Childs-Young was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Saffold is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2024. Judge Katherine M. Menendez sentenced the defendants.
U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger thanked the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI for their skilled investigative work on the case, and Uber and Lyft for their assistance throughout the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Royalton Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Royalton man has been sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in November 2022, Andrew John Groen, 35, contacted a minor victim using the messaging application TextMe. Groen, who knew the victim was a minor, identified himself in messages as a 19-year-old man named “Tyler.” On multiple occasions, Groen coerced the minor to send sexually explicit images. Groen also sent the minor victim obscene images and links to pornography and encouraged the minor victim to have sex with an adult man identified in messages.
On August 24, 2023, Groen pleaded guilty to one count of production and attempted production of child pornography. Groen was sentenced on February 6, 2024, in U.S. District Court by Judge Jerry W. Blackwell.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Willmar Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on April 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a Minneapolis home belonging to Luis Fernando Cervantes, 37. As a result of the search, law enforcement found seven one-kilogram packages of cocaine and a firearm.
On October 18, 2023, Cervantes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Cervantes was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Charges Against 10 Additional Defendants in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota today announced federal criminal charges against 10 additional defendants for their alleged roles in the fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 10 defendants are charged across two separate indictments and one criminal information with charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery.
As outlined in the charging documents, the defendants participated in a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud the Federal Child Nutrition Program by obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to children. The defendants exploited changes in the program intended to ensure underserved children received adequate nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than feed children, the defendants enriched themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
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The following defendants are named in the two indictments:
- Ikram Yusuf Mohamed, 41, of Minneapolis, worked as a consultant for Feeding Our Future. Ikram Mohamed opened several food sites that were enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. To conceal her involvement, she put the sites and entities in the name of family members, including her husband, mother, and siblings. Ikram Mohamed also solicited and received kickbacks from individuals and companies involved in the program. Ikram Mohamed registered IM Consultation LLC with the Minnesota Secretary of State on or about March 10, 2021. She used IM Consultation to receive and launder kickback payments and fraud proceeds. Ikram Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, 45, Ikram Mohamed’s husband, created a company called Inspiring Youth & Out Reach LLC (“Inspiring Youth”), which he enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Inspiring Youth purported to run a food site in Minneapolis. Between February and November 2021, the company claimed to have served more than 1 million meals. Based on these fraudulent claims, Inspiring Youth received more than $1.5 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Abdisalam also paid a $21,000 kickback to his wife’s entity, IM Consultation. Abdisalam is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Aisha Hassan Hussein, 27, Ikram Mohamed’s sister, was the principal of United Youth of MPLS LLC (“United Youth”). Hussein enrolled her company in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and purported to operate two sites in Minneapolis. As alleged, from December 2020 through November 2021, Hussein and her co-conspirators falsely claimed to have served more than 1.3 million meals to children at the United Youth sites, totaling approximately $2.2 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Hussein also paid a $166,000 kickback to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Hussein is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Fadumo Mohamed Yusuf, 57, Ikram Mohamed’s mother, ran Active Mind’s Youth LLC (“Active Minds”), another company that enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Active Minds purported to operate a food site located on East Lake Street in Minneapolis. Between February and June 2021, Active Minds fraudulently claimed to have served more than 500,000 meals and received more than $1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Yusuf also paid a $38,500 kickback to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Yusuf is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Sahra Sharif Osman, 41, of Savage, was the principal of Youth International Club LLC (“Youth International”). Youth International operated two Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. The Youth International food sites were in Hopkins and Edina, both purportedly serving meals out of community rooms in townhome complexes. Between March and November 2021, Youth International fraudulently claimed to have served nearly 700,000 meals and received more than $1.4 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Osman also paid a $7,500 kickback to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Osman is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, 39, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of Star Distribution LLC, which purported to be a food distribution business in Minneapolis. Star Distribution purported to be in the business of providing meals to be served at the Federal Child Nutrition Program site run by Suleman Mohamed’s family members and co-defendants. As alleged, from February 2021 through April 2022, Star Distribution received approximately $10 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, including more than $4.9 million from Feeding Our Future, $1.6 million from United Youth of Mpls, and $1 million from Inspiring Youth & Outreach. As part of the scheme, Suleman Mohamed also paid more than $330,000 in kickbacks to Ikram Mohamed’s IM Consultation. Suleman Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, 43, Ikram Mohamed’s brother, was the owner of GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, companies used to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme. Gandi Mohamed also submitted fraudulent meal counts and claims on behalf of his family’s companies. As alleged, between March 2021 and July 2022, Gandi Mohamed fraudulently received and laundered more than $1.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Gandi Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. 24-CR-15 (ECT/DJF)
- Said Ereg, 45, and was the owner and operator of Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a for-profit grocery and deli in south Minneapolis. Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, 34, worked for Evergreen Grocery and Deli. Evergreen Grocery and Deli was enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As alleged, April 2020 and April 2021, Evergreen Grocery and Deli fraudulently claimed to have served over 1.4 million meals to children and received more than $4.2 million in payments from Feeding Our Future for purportedly serving meals. Ereg and Ahmed transferred most of the money to fund their own lifestyles, including to make purchases from Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Canada Goose. Ereg and Ahmed also transferred more than $2.5 million to foreign accounts controlled by foreign companies. As part of the scheme, Ereg and Ahmed also paid more than $100,000 in kickbacks to Abdikerm Eidleh, a Feeding Our Future employee. Ereg and Ahmed are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. 24-CR-13 (PJS/DTS)
Criminal informations:
- Hoda Ali Abdi, 53, was the owner of Alif Halal LLC (“Alif Halal”), a grocery store located in Burnsville, which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. As alleged, Abdi fraudulently claimed to have provided approximately $3 million worth of food for children through other co-conspirator’s sites. Abdi also claimed, falsely, to have served more than 242,000 meals to children at her Burnsville site and received approximately $243,268 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Abdi is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 24-CR-24 (JWB)
United States Attorney Andrew Luger thanks the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their collaboration and skilled investigative work in bringing these charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
These charges are merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Fast Food Manager Charged with Wire Fraud for Embezzling More Than $140,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Woodbury man has been indicted for embezzling over $140,000 from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Timothy Michael Hill, Jr., 36, was employed by The Grove, Inc., to manage a Chik-fil-A franchise restaurant at the Minneapolis airport. As manager, Hill was responsible for collecting and making daily cash deposits into a safe deposit box.
According to court documents, between September 2022 and October 2023, Hill collected the daily cash receipts from The Grove’s airport restaurants and instead of depositing it into the safe deposit box, pocketed some or all of the cash. Hill used future cash receipts to cover his theft, creating a false impression that the cash deposits were delayed rather than stolen. Hill spent the stolen cash on jewelry, online sports betting, and the adult website Only Fans. He also transferred thousands of dollars through CashApp to various individuals, including several female colleagues in exchange for personal photos and videos.
In total, Hill knowingly and willfully embezzled approximately $144,000 from The Grove over a period of 13 months.
Hill was charged with five counts of wire fraud and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on February 14, 2024.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Airport Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Finds White Earth Man Guilty of Production of Child Pornography on the Red Lake ReservationRead the Press Release
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – A federal jury found a White Earth man guilty of production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in December 2020, Ryan Edward Thompson, 34, a.k.a. “Ryan Edward Wayne Townsend,” knowingly used a minor in sexually explicit activity to produce pornography images.
Using her school-issued laptop to message the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 13-year-old victim disclosed that the defendant, whom she had recently moved in with, began sleeping in her room at night and sexually abusing her. Law enforcement responded and later discovered photographs of a sexual nature had been taken with the victim’s own cell phone.
Following a three-day trial before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court, Thompson was found guilty yesterday on two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Red Lake Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the White Earth Nation Indian Child Welfare Services, the Red Lake Nation Victim Services, Fosston Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, and the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If you need suicide or mental health crisis support, or are worried about someone else, please call or text 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline chat to connect with a trained crisis specialist.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary S. Riverso and Laura M. Provinzino tried this case.
Bloomington Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Bloomington man has pleaded guilty to his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Jesus Martinez Salazar, 32, and his co-defendant, Derrick Dammons, 45, of Minneapolis, agreed to sell 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine for $3,750 to an individual who, unbeknownst to them, was an undercover law enforcement officer. On January 10, 2023, Dammons retrieved the methamphetamine from Martinez Salazar before meeting with the undercover officer to make the transaction. Following the transaction, Dammons got into a vehicle with Martinez Salazar and divided up the cash from the sale.
Because Martinez Salazar has a prior drug conviction, he is subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum prison term.
Martinez Salazar pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On December 7, 2023, Dammons pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Eagan Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Three Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,100 in restitution to the victims of three violent carjackings committed within a 24-hour period in March 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“This individual put several lives at risk by going on an armed carjacking spree and evading law enforcement by driving 120 miles per hour through a residential neighborhood,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “This case offers a snapshot of a disturbing trend of violent and reckless behavior. Wilson-Branch’s spree is one of the reasons our office has focused our resources on prosecuting violent carjacking cases.”
“Wilson-Branch's cowardly and reprehensible actions, aimed at terrorizing innocent victims for personal gain, have no place in a just society,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI will not tolerate criminals depriving our citizens of safety within their own communities. We will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to target, identify and bring to justice violent offenders.”
According to court documents, on March 16, 2023, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Javon Thomas Wilson-Branch, 20, along with another individual, approached two people in Minneapolis who had just parked and exited a Mercedes Benz SUV to unload groceries. Wilson-Branch pointed a Springfield Armory assault rifle at the victims and demanded they hand over everything they had. At gunpoint, the victims provided Wilson-Branch with the keys to the vehicle and other items. Wilson-Branch got into the carjacked SUV and drove away.
Approximately eight hours later, at around 4:00 a.m., Wilson-Branch and another individual carjacked a Toyota Highlander at gunpoint in Minneapolis. Wilson-Branch and others pulled the carjacked SUV up next to the Highlander, and demanded the victim’s car keys at gunpoint. An AirTag inside the carjacked vehicle tracked the vehicle to Saint Paul, where it was left and abandoned at approximately 4:30 a.m., and Saint Paul police later recovered the carjacked vehicle.
About thirty-minutes later, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Wilson-Branch and another individual drove the carjacked SUV to Saint Paul and parked behind an Audi A6. When the owner approached the Audi A6, Wilson-Branch and the other individual exited the carjacked SUV armed with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and the Springfield Armory rifle. Both men pointed the firearms at the victim and forced him to give up his keys, wallet, and phone. The victim was also forced at gunpoint to unlock his cell phone, which was later used to make unauthorized money transfers from the victim’s bank account to Wilson-Branch and others. Wilson-Branch drove away in the carjacked Audi and the other individual drove away in the carjacked Mercedes Benz SUV. Officers with the St. Paul Police Department spotted the two carjacked vehicles about 30 minutes later in the area of Maryland Avenue and Western Avenue. When officers attempted a traffic stop, both vehicles fled police at high rates of speed through residential areas and onto the highway and evaded the pursuit.
Officers with the Woodbury Police Department later located the carjacked Audi A6 in a mall parking lot and apprehended Wilson-Branch in another building after a short foot chase. Two of the firearms used in the carjackings, each fully loaded with high-capacity magazines, and a recently stolen box of ammunition, were located inside the Audi A6, along with the keys to the previously carjacked Toyota Highlander.
Wilson-Branch pleaded guilty on August 4, 2023, to two counts of aiding and abetting carjacking, and admitted to aiding and abetting a third carjacking. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Saint Paul Police Department, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Woodbury Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Minnesota Woman Charged for Embezzling More Than $1 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Eden Prairie woman has been indicted for embezzling more than $1 million from her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Monica Svobodny, 51, worked as the Supply Chain and Engineering Manager at Sico, Inc, a furniture and home furnishing manufacturing company located in Edina, Minnesota. Svobodny used her position to embezzle funds and convert them to her own use and benefit.
According to court documents, Svobodny regularly used company credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses such as designer clothing, spa services, and luxury hotel stays. To cover her fraud, she left unapproved credit card expenses as “pending” for accounting purposes. On more than 300 occasions, she used company cards to transfer funds to herself via PayPal to cover personal expenses. Svobodny also edited PayPal transaction receipts and fraudulently listed some of the expenses as payments to a defunct company.
In total, Svobodny knowingly and willfully embezzled more than $1,137,000 from Sico, Inc. over a period of seven years.
Svobodny was charged with one count of wire fraud. She will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Edina Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Arson of Target Corporation HeadquartersRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the arson of the Target corporate headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Minneapolis experienced arson, rioting, and looting following the suicide of a suspect in a homicide, and in response to false rumors surrounding the man’s death. Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 37, and his co-defendants went to the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building (“Target Corporation building”) in downtown Minneapolis where dozens of other people had gathered. Williams and others broke into the Target Corporation building and repeatedly attempted to set fire both inside and outside the building.
On October 26, 2023, Williams was convicted on one count of arson. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Paul A. Magnuson.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Nathan H. Nelson prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Partners for the 2022 and 2023 Attorney General’s AwardsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. Two prosecution teams from the District of Minnesota were awarded the Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service.
“Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.”
“The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award is the Justice Department’s highest award for employee performance,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “The prosecutors, agents, paralegals, victim/witness and litigation support specialists on these teams showed exceptional skill and professionalism in their work on two monumental civil rights cases, cases that will have a lasting impact for years to come. I am so proud of these individuals and their outstanding work and commitment in service of justice.”
The 2022 Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is presented to the investigation and prosecution team in United States v. Chauvin, et al., a prosecution involving four former police officers who violated George Floyd’s civil rights, resulting in his death.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Slaughter, Evan Gilead, LeeAnn Bell, Manda Sertich, and Samantha Bates for the District of Minnesota; Paralegal Stefnie Braun for the District of Minnesota; Victim/Witness Specialists Selina Kolsrud and Christina Busse for the District of Minnesota; Litigation Support Specialist Daniel Czapko for the District of Minnesota, FBI Special Agent Blake Hostetter; Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division; Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division; and Paralegal Henry Fronk for the Civil Rights Division.
The 2023 Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is presented to the investigation and prosecution team in United States v. Sumalee Intarathong, et al. and United States v. Michael Morris, et al., a prosecution involving an international sex trafficking organization that was responsible for coercing hundreds of Thai women to engage in commercial sex acts across the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda Williams, Laura Provinzino, Craig Baune, and David Genrich for the District of Minnesota; Paralegal Stefnie Braun for the District of Minnesota; Victim/Witness Specialist Selina Kolsrud for the District of Minnesota; Litigation Support Specialist Daniel Czapko for the District of Minnesota; Supervisory Litigation Support Specialist Mark Zeitz for the District of Minnesota; HSI Supervisory Special Agent Tonya Price; IRS Special Agent John Tschida; Special Agent Kevin Sullivan of the Minnesota Department of Commerce; Director Hilary Axam of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit; and Deputy Director William Nolan of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-justice-department-employees-and-partners-70th-and
Savage Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and Attempted Possession of GrenadesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Savage man has been sentenced to 80 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a machine gun and attempted possession of hand grenades, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in September of 2022, the FBI received tips from concerned citizens reporting disturbing behavior of a man at a firearm range, later identified as River William Smith, 21. In November and December 2022, Smith began communicating via a social media platform with an FBI confidential human source (the “CHS”). The FBI’s investigation revealed evidence that Smith was preparing for a violent exchange with police. Smith stated he is “pro mass shooting,” sympathized with the Parkland school shooter, and expressed admiration for the individual charged with the recent shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub. The FBI also discovered Smith had access to an AR-style rifle, handguns, body armor, and a Kevlar helmet. In online messages, Smith discussed learning about his “enemy” by watching police bodycam shootings online.
According to court documents, on November 17, 2022, Smith asked a second CHS for auto sears to convert his AR-15 style rifle and his Glock handgun into fully automatic machine guns. The CHS told Smith that he could obtain the auto sears for him, and Smith provided the CHS with a down payment of $60. On November 28, 2022, Smith asked whether the CHS knew about M67 fragmentary grenades, which are hand grenades used by the U.S. military in close combat. Smith told the CHS that he wanted three hand grenades to outfit his tactical vest and discussed a plan to purchase the grenades. On December 5, 2022, Smith provided the CHS with a $200 down payment for three hand grenades, priced at $250 per hand grenade.
According to court documents, on December 14, 2022, under supervision of law enforcement, a meeting between Smith and the second CHS was arranged. At the meeting, Smith took possession of three auto sears and three inert hand grenades in exchange for $690 in cash. Smith was then placed under arrest by law enforcement.
Smith pleaded guilty on May 16, 2023, to one count of possession of a machine gun. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Savage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Justin Sher prosecuted the case.
One Iranian and Two Canadian Nationals Indicted in Murder-for-Hire SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – One Iranian and two Canadian nationals have been charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot.
According to court documents, from December 2020 through March 2021, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland. The defendants, one of whom is based in Iran, used an encrypted messaging service called “SkyECC” to recruit individuals who would travel into the United States to carry out the killings, to discuss the identities and locations of the would-be victims, to plan logistics and mechanics of how to carry out the murders, and to negotiate payment for completion of this “job” in Maryland. The intended victims of this plot, who at the time resided in Maryland, had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.
Concurrent with today’s indictment, the Treasury Department took action against Zindashti’s criminal network that targets Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for kidnapping and assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime. Pursuant to today’s designations, Zindashti and several of his key associates are prohibited from engaging in any transaction or dealing that involves a U.S. person or occurs in the United States.
“To those in Iran who plot murders on U.S. soil and the criminal actors who work with them, let today’s charges send a clear message: the Department of Justice will pursue you as long as it takes – and wherever you are – and deliver justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
“As alleged, Mr. Zindashti and his team of gunmen, including a Minnesota resident, used an encrypted messaging service to orchestrate an assassination plot against two individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Thanks to the skilled work of federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents, this murder-for-hire conspiracy was disrupted and the defendants will face justice.”
“Today’s charges show a pattern of Iranian groups trying to murder U.S. residents on U.S. soil,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Mr. Zindashti and his accomplices’ alleged plot is reprehensible, and the FBI will not tolerate such acts against U.S. residents, and we will continue to pursue these individuals until they are brought to the U.S. to face justice.”
As alleged in the indictment, between December 2020 and January 2021, Zindashti and Ryan communicated about “jobs,” “equipment,” “tools” and plans to “make some money.” In January 2021, they discussed a job in the United States, with Ryan noting that doing a job in the United States was challenging, but that he “might have someone to do it.” That same day he messaged Pearson about a “job” in Maryland. Pearson stated, “shooting is probably easiest thing for them,” and that he was “on it.” Ryan recommended “2 guys go with proper equipment.” Pearson said he would encourage the recruits for the job to “shoot [the victim] in the head a lot [to] make example” and that he would tell them “we gotta erase his head from his torso.”
On or about Jan. 30, 2021, Zindashti messaged Ryan on SkyECC seeking an update on the job. Ryan responded that he was getting “things in order” and that he would need money. A few days later, Zindashti told Ryan that Zindashti’s organization was ready to move forward. Zindashti and Ryan then agreed on a $350,000 payment for the “job,” in addition to $20,000 to cover expenses. After Zindashti introduced Ryan to Co-Conspirator 1, Ryan responded: “We have a 4 man team ready.”
Over the days that followed, Ryan and Co-Conspirator 1 continued to correspond on SkyECC about the plot. Specifically, Co-Conspirator 1 sent Ryan information about the would-be victims, including their photographs and images of a map that highlighted the victims’ known address. In or around March 8, 2021, Co-Conspirator 1 facilitated a $20,000 payment to Ryan for purposes of covering travel expenses associated with the plot.
All three of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Pearson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a fugitive from justice and one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.
Zindashti currently resides in Iran. Ryan and Pearson are currently incarcerated in Canada on unrelated offenses.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter for the District of Minnesota, Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Zindashti et al. IndictmentOne Iranian and Two Canadian Nationals Indicted in Murder-for-Hire SchemeRead the Press Release
One Iranian and two Canadian nationals have been charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire plot.
According to court documents, from December 2020 through March 2021, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland. The defendants, one of whom is based in Iran, used an encrypted messaging service called “SkyECC” to recruit individuals who would travel into the United States to carry out the killings, to discuss the identities and locations of the would-be victims, to plan logistics and mechanics of how to carry out the murders, and to negotiate payment for completion of this “job” in Maryland. The intended victims of this plot, who at the time resided in Maryland, had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.
Concurrent with today’s indictment, the Treasury Department took action against Zindashti’s criminal network that targets Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for kidnapping and assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime. Pursuant to today’s designations, Zindashti and several of his key associates are prohibited from engaging in any transaction or dealing that involves a U.S. person or occurs in the United States.
“To those in Iran who plot murders on U.S. soil and the criminal actors who work with them, let today’s charges send a clear message: the Department of Justice will pursue you as long as it takes – and wherever you are – and deliver justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
“As alleged, Mr. Zindashti and his team of gunmen, including a Minnesota resident, used an encrypted messaging service to orchestrate an assassination plot against two individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “Thanks to the skilled work of federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents, this murder-for-hire conspiracy was disrupted and the defendants will face justice.”
“Today’s charges show a pattern of Iranian groups trying to murder U.S. residents on U.S. soil,” said Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “Mr. Zindashti and his accomplices’ alleged plot is reprehensible, and the FBI will not tolerate such acts against U.S. residents, and we will continue to pursue these individuals until they are brought to the U.S. to face justice.”
As alleged in the indictment, between December 2020 and January 2021, Zindashti and Ryan communicated about “jobs,” “equipment,” “tools” and plans to “make some money.” In January 2021, they discussed a job in the United States, with Ryan noting that doing a job in the United States was challenging, but that he “might have someone to do it.” That same day he messaged Pearson about a “job” in Maryland. Pearson stated, “shooting is probably easiest thing for them,” and that he was “on it.” Ryan recommended “2 guys go with proper equipment.” Pearson said he would encourage the recruits for the job to “shoot [the victim] in the head a lot [to] make example” and that he would tell them “we gotta erase his head from his torso.”
On or about Jan. 30, 2021, Zindashti messaged Ryan on SkyECC seeking an update on the job. Ryan responded that he was getting “things in order” and that he would need money. A few days later, Zindashti told Ryan that Zindashti’s organization was ready to move forward. Zindashti and Ryan then agreed on a $350,000 payment for the “job,” in addition to $20,000 to cover expenses. After Zindashti introduced Ryan to Co-Conspirator 1, Ryan responded: “We have a 4 man team ready.”
Over the days that followed, Ryan and Co-Conspirator 1 continued to correspond on SkyECC about the plot. Specifically, Co-Conspirator 1 sent Ryan information about the would-be victims, including their photographs and images of a map that highlighted the victims’ known address. In or around March 8, 2021, Co-Conspirator 1 facilitated a $20,000 payment to Ryan for purposes of covering travel expenses associated with the plot.
All three of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Pearson is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a fugitive from justice and one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.
Zindashti currently resides in Iran. Ryan and Pearson are currently incarcerated in Canada on unrelated offenses.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter for the District of Minnesota, Trial Attorney Menno Goedman of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Trial Attorney Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Zindashti et al. indictmentWinona Man Indicted on Child Exploitation Charges After Targeting More Than 60 Young Girls in Online Sextortion SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Winona man has been charged in an online sextortion scheme that victimized more than 60 minor girls across the country and abroad, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“Online predators are using social media apps to befriend, coerce, and ultimately extort children and teens,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “Thousands of minor victims have been the target of this horrific exploitation. It’s imperative that we as a community engage with our kids about sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place.”
According to court documents, between April 2022 and June 2023, Valentin Silva Quintana, 30, used social media apps, including Snapchat and Instagram, to threaten, sexually manipulate, and exploit more than 60 young girls primarily between 9 and 12 years old in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Zealand and elsewhere. Quintana, who knew that most of the girls were between 9 and 12 years of age, used fake identities and lied about his age in communications with the girls, posing as a minor girl himself. He used images and videos of youthful appearing girls to make his communications with other victims more believable.
According to court documents, Quintana used a wide range of tactics to coerce his victims, sometimes by convincing young girls that he was their friend or romantic partner, or by offering them money. But most frequently, he convinced young girls to send him a sexual photo or video or covertly recorded them engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then threatened to send the first image to their friends and family unless the girls produced ever more graphic sexual images and videos for him. He continued this type of sextortion even as his victims wept and begged him to stop.
“The sexual exploitation of Minnesota’s children is horrific and tragic but never more so than when the offenses also include the physical assault of the young victims,” BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said. “Our Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with local law enforcement to root out those who commit these acts and help bring them to justice.”
“Today’s indictment sends a crucial message to all predators – we will not allow any crimes against our most vulnerable population to go unpunished,” said Jamie Holt, special agent in charge for HSI St. Paul. “HSI is dedicated to protecting our children against sexual predators who seek to take advantage of their innocence by working with our federal, state and local partners to bring people like Quintana to justice.”
The indictment charges Quintana with thirteen counts of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Quintana made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. Quintana was ordered to remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
To date, more than 60 minor girls have been identified, although law enforcement believes there may be additional victims. Anyone who believes they may have information about this matter is encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations through the toll-free tip line at 1-866-347-2423.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Winona County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McBride is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Northern Minnesota Felon Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Onamia man has been sentenced to 292 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm following a domestic assault, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on November 19, 2020, Leech Lake Tribal Police were dispatched to a residence following a report that Justin Lyle Cutbank, 37, had physically assaulted a woman, held her at gunpoint, threatened to kill her, and then fled the residence into the woods. Shortly after officers arrived at the residence and took the victim’s statement, a neighbor reported that Cutbank was in their garage and refused to leave. Officers from multiple agencies responded to the location and found Cutbank barricaded in the garage. Several hours of negotiations followed with Cutbank retreating into the attic of the garage and refusing to surrender. Ultimately, officers were able to apprehend Cutbank, who continued to actively resist arrest. The following day, officers searched the wooded area where Cutbank had fled and found a Marlin Model 100 .22 caliber rifle with no serial number, a knife, and the victim’s cell phone.
Because Cutbank has multiple prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
On March 17, 2023, Cutbank was convicted by a federal jury on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Ruth S. Shnider prosecuted the case.
Former CFO Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay Restitution for Embezzling More Than $3 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release and full restitution after embezzling more than $3 million from his employer, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, David Efrem Katz, 56, was the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Durand and Associates (“D&A”), a property management company that specialized in servicing homeowner associations (“HOAs”). Between 2012 and 2017, Katz embezzled over $3 million from D&A and its client HOAs.
Katz worked for D&A from approximately 1998 to 2017, starting as an accountant and eventually becoming CFO. As CFO, Katz had authorization to open credit cards in D&A’s name and use those credit cards for business expenses. However, Katz was not authorized to charge personal expenses to the cards, take out loans on D&A’s behalf without the owner’s approval, or use funds belonging to D&A or its HOA clients to pay his personal expenses.
Beginning in at least 2012 and continuing into 2017, Katz embezzled over $3 million from D&A and its HOA clients. Katz, who as CFO of D&A was responsible for payroll, paid himself significantly more than his agreed upon salary. Between 2011 and 2017, Katz paid himself $6,500 every two weeks as a salary despite his base salary never being more than $47,500 annually.
Katz also reimbursed himself for personal expenses and business expenses he never actually incurred. Katz paid himself between approximately $6,000 and $10,000 in reimbursements every two weeks. He labeled these payments as miscellaneous earnings and reimbursements, “recovery loans,” bonuses, and commissions. Katz never loaned or invested money in D&A that he was entitled to “recover.” To the extent he earned bonuses and commissions, they were in amounts significantly less than what he paid himself. And although Katz incurred some legitimate business-related expenses, they were in amounts significantly less than what he reimbursed himself.
On June 26, 2023, Katz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of wire fraud.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Harry M. Jacobs prosecuted the case.
Mankato Felon Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession After Shooting at Police Officers During a Home InvasionRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Mankato man has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm after firing at police officers during a violent home invasion, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“These charges allege a night of terrifying home invasions and violent assaults,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “I commend the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to apprehend this defendant.”
According to court documents, on January 14, 2024, a woman called 911 to report that a man had broken into her apartment in south Minneapolis. The woman and her two children fled the apartment after the man, identified as Kamau Evans, 31, shattered a window and entered the woman’s bedroom. Evans then went to a second residence in north Minneapolis and broke into the home by shattering a sliding glass door. Once inside, Evans assaulted two of the residents with a firearm and brandished the firearm at a minor who was hiding inside a closet. Evans then held all three residents in the home against their will.
According to court documents, officers of the Minneapolis Police Department arrived at the residence and were able to pull one of the victims out of the house to safety. Officers entered the home behind a ballistic shield and as they were walking upstairs, Evans appeared in the stairwell and fired a shot at them. Evans then leaped out of a bathroom window and tried to escape through the backyard but was apprehended and arrested. Officers recovered an SCCY model CPX-1 9mm semiautomatic pistol on the side of the garage where Evans was apprehended.
Because Evans has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The complaint charges Evans with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Evans made his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Kristian Weir are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maple Grove Felon Indicted for $10 Million Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maple Grove man has been indicted for defrauding investors and financial institutions out of more than $10 million, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Aditya Raj Sharma, 50, was the founder, CEO, and president of Crosscode Inc., a cloud-based software development company headquartered first in Maple Grove and later in Foster City, California. From Crosscode’s founding in 2015 through at least May 2019, Sharma was the primary operator of the company, its controlling shareholder and, at times, its only employee and shareholder.
According to court documents, from 2017 through at least 2019, Sharma knowingly and intentionally devised and executed a scheme to defraud investors, financial institutions, and lending and finance companies. Sharma manipulated and falsely inflated Crosscode’s financial records to induce private investors and financial entities to extend capital to his company in order to avoid or delay financial hardship for Crosscode, which was mired in debt with virtually no incoming revenue or cash-on-hand.
According to court documents, as part of his multi-year scheme, Sharma fraudulently applied for hundreds of thousands in funding from multiple lenders and finance companies. In total, Sharma induced at least one financial institution to provide him with a $950,000 line of credit, and further induced at least 150 investors, including Minnesotans, to provide approximately $9.25 million to Crosscode.
The indictment charges Sharma with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud. Sharma made his initial appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Hibbing Felon Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Hibbing man has been indicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and illegal possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in November 2022, Phillip Lamount Davis, 53, was found to be in possession of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Law enforcement also discovered evidence of drug distribution and a firearm; a second firearm was found in Davis’s possession in June 2023.
Because Davis has multiple prior felony convictions in Illinois, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Davis with one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court yesterday before Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois, and a detention hearing has been scheduled for January 16, 2024, in Duluth.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Lake Superior Violent Offenders Task Force, in coordination with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Baumel is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Finds Minneapolis Felon Guilty of Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a Minneapolis man guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of October 25, 2022, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department responded to an apartment building on Hiawatha Avenue following reports of a possible domestic incident involving a person with a gun. Officers went to the apartment unit and, as they approached the door, could hear a male voice yelling loudly. Officers ultimately opened the door using a key from apartment security and located Devon Lamont Holt, 33, and a woman inside. Officers obtained a search warrant for the apartment and recovered a loaded Taurus model G2C nine-millimeter pistol. Subsequent testing revealed Holt’s DNA on the firearm.
Because Holt has prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Following a three-day trial before Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court, Holt was found guilty yesterday on one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth S. Shnider and Bradley M. Endicott tried the case.Bemidji Man Charged with Sexual Assault on Red Lake ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Bemidji man has been charged with sexual assault on the Red Lake Reservation, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Brent Lee Sigana, Jr., 25, knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a victim who at the time was physically incapable of declining participation in the act or communicating unwillingness to engage in the act.
The indictment charges Sigana with one count of sexual abuse of a person incapable of consenting. Federal courts have recognized that this law includes sex acts with individuals who are “physically incapable” of declining or communicating unwillingness due to being asleep or as a result of intoxication. Sigana made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on January 5, 2024, before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby.
Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If you have any information about other potential victims, please contact the FBI’s Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography in Cyberstalking and Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man has pleaded guilty to producing a video depicting his sexual abuse of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, beginning in July 2019 through February 2023, Chedor TV, 39, created multiple online personas on apps such as Discord and Snapchat in order to cyberstalk a minor victim. He used aliases such as “Chang Vang” and “Hailey Ly” to pose as a minor and communicate with the minor victim, sending her sexually explicit pictures. During this time, while the minor victim was unaware that TV was cyberstalking her using these online aliases, TV also secretly recorded the minor victim while she was naked in the shower at his residence. TV also recorded a sexually explicit video depicting the minor victim while she was asleep at his residence. When the minor victim tried to cease contact with TV’s online persona “Chang,” TV threatened to share publicly explicit videos and images he took of the minor victim without her knowledge, causing her substantial emotional distress.
TV pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud to one count of production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and St. Paul Police Department. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
Big Lake Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Big Lake woman has pleaded guilty to her role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Sharon Denise Ross, 53, was the executive director of House of Refuge Twin Cities, a St. Paul-based non-profit which she enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. Ross claimed that House of Refuge operated distribution sites at a dozen locations throughout the Twin Cities that served food by a vendor called Brava Café, a restaurant in Minneapolis run by Hanna Marakegn. Between September 2021 through February 2022, Ross falsely claimed to be serving thousands of children each day at her House of Refuge sites. In total, Ross fraudulently claimed to have served nearly 900,000 meals and received approximately $2.4 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Ross distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to family members and used the rest of the money to fund her lifestyle, including to pay for vacations to Florida and Las Vegas, to purchase a suite at a Minnesota Timberwolves game, and to purchase a house in Willernie, Minnesota.
Ross, who is the 17th defendant to plead guilty to charges relating to the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, appeared today in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Chelsea A. Walcker, Matthew S. Ebert, and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case.
Fridley Felon Charged in Federal Court After Shooting 11-Year-Old on New Year’s DayRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Fridley man has been charged federally with possession of ammunition as a felon after firing multiple shots from an AR-style rifle, one of which struck an 11-year-old girl in the face, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, just after midnight on January 1, 2024, officers of the Minneapolis Police Department received a report of a shooting at a residence in north Minneapolis. When officers arrived at the scene a woman told them that shots had been fired outside the residence and a round had struck the woman’s 11-year-old daughter in the face. The victim said she was sitting in her second-story bedroom when she heard gunshots outside the residence at approximately midnight. She went to her window to observe when a round came through the window and hit her in the face.
According to court documents, officers obtained a Snapchat video of James William Turner, 44, that was filmed just prior to the shooting. The two-minute video showed Turner outside, near the victim’s residence, arguing with an unknown individual before the camera turned to show an AR-style rifle lying across the driver’s seat of a vehicle. A neighbor provided officers with a doorbell surveillance video that showed Turner fire multiple rounds in the direction of the victim’s bedroom window. Officers found eight live cartridges and 24 discharged cartridge casings throughout the boulevard, sidewalk, and yard.
Because Turner has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The complaint charges Turner with one count of possession of ammunition as a felon. Turner made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C.S. Weir is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Paul Man Charged for Armed Robbery of Postal EmployeesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint for armed robbery of postal employees on two separate occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on November 18, 2023, Rubin David Adams, 26, approached a USPS letter carrier in Edina, pointed a handgun at them, and demanded the “mailbox key,” which the victim did not have. Instead, the victim handed over two sets of USPS vehicle keys. The following day, Adams approached another USPS letter carrier in Brooklyn Center. Adams pointed a handgun at the victim’s head, demanded and stole two USPS mailbox keys. Mailbox keys are valuable to criminals who use them to steal mail, cash, checks, and other financial instruments. Mailbox keys are the property of USPS, and it is a federal offense for an unauthorized person to possess one.
“This is part of an alarming trend that law enforcement is seeing around country, including here in the Twin Cities,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “We take this issue very seriously and will continue to ensure postal employees are safe and free from violence as they serve their communities.”
The complaint charges Adams with two counts of assault and attempted robbery, while putting a person’s life in jeopardy with the use of a deadly weapon. The charge of robbery of any person having lawful charge, control, or custody of any mail matter or of any money or other property of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Adams made his initial appearance last week in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. A preliminary and detention hearing has been scheduled for January 9, 2024.
“The safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers is core to the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and this incident is a tremendous example of how local, state, and federal partners can join together to quickly and safely resolve situations like this,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove. “Mr. Adams’s alleged crimes showed blatant disregard for human decency and overall greed. I would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts.”
Law enforcement encourages anyone who may have mailed letters or checks from Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park that did not reach their destination to contact the USPIS Tip Line at 612-884-7962 or [email protected].
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, Hennepin County Violent Offenders Task Force, Edina Police Department, the Brooklyn Center Police Department, the St. Louis Park Police Department, and the Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Inside Stillwater PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An inmate has pleaded guilty to conspiring with a corrections officer to distribute methamphetamine inside the Stillwater prison, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Axel Rene Kramer, 36, an inmate who is currently serving a 288-month sentence for second degree murder, conspired with Faith Rose Gratz, 26, a former Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Stillwater corrections officer, to distribute methamphetamine within MCF – Stillwater, Minnesota’s largest high security prison facility. As part of the conspiracy, Kramer obtained wholesale quantities of prepackaged methamphetamine from sources of supply outside the prison. After Kramer and another co-conspirator inmate worked with the drug suppliers to arrange meet up times and locations, Gratz would pick up the drug packages. Gratz used her position as a prison guard to smuggle the drugs into the secure facility and then provide the drugs to Kramer while she was on duty guarding him. Gratz did this on approximately six different occasions. Gratz also smuggled into the prison multiple cell phones that she provided to Kramer. Kramer used the cell phones to communicate with people inside and outside the prison and to facilitate his drug distribution network from within the prison.
According to court documents, Kramer and Gratz exchanged hundreds of text messages with each other. The messages included communications about the drug distribution conspiracy as well as discussions about their romantic relationship. Gratz also warned Kramer about upcoming searches of inmates’ cells.
Kramer pleaded guilty on January 5, 2024, in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bayport Police Department, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Matthew D. Evans are prosecuting the case.
Two Minnesota-Based Executives Plead Guilty to Orchestrating Multimillion Dollar Accounts Receivable Factoring SchemeRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – Two medical services company executives have pleaded guilty to orchestrating an accounts receivable factoring fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Khemwattie Singh, 53, was the chief executive officer of Global Medical Services, a Minnesota-based healthcare solutions company. Neeraj Chepuri, 55, was the chief medical officer of Global Medical Services. Between June and October 2018, Singh, Chepuri, and others entered into factoring contracts with MD Capital Solutions, a Florida-based investment company, to purchase the accounts receivable of Global Medical Services and Minnesota International Medicine for more than $2.6 million. Factoring is a form of short-term financing in which a business sells its accounts receivable to a third-party at a discount.
According to court documents and their admissions in court, Singh and Chepuri defrauded MD Capital Solutions by failing to pay over the receivables as they were collected and falsely represented to MD Capital Solutions that no funds had been received. Instead, Singh and Chepuri pocketed the money, wiring more than $5 million overseas.
In addition, Singh was responsible for complying with all federal tax laws pertaining to Global Medical Services as the Chief Executive Officer, including the requirement that the business would withhold federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare (“FICA”) taxes from employees’ pay and report and pay over the withheld amounts to the Internal Revenue Service. Beginning in approximately 2018, Singh willfully failed to file quarterly payroll tax returns or pay over the withheld amounts and the employer’s contribution to FICA.
Singh and Chepuri each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on December 29, 2023, in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. Singh also pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over payroll taxes for withholding federal taxes from employee payroll and not reporting or paying the withholdings to the IRS. The plea agreements include restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Loan obtained by the defendants for the company they operated. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for May 7, 2024 (Singh) and May 9, 2024 (Chepuri).
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau, and the IRS.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Lewis and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case.