District of Minnesota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Brooklyn Park Felon Charged in Federal Complaint for Possession of Fentanyl, Firearm Following Deadly Vehicle CrashRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Derrick John Thompson has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with illegal possession of fentanyl and a firearm following a deadly vehicle crash that killed five victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac SUV speeding north on I-35W, traveling at 95 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone. The trooper began following the SUV but did not initiate the emergency lights or attempt to make a traffic stop because the trooper did not want to cause the driver, later identified as Thompson, 27, to continue to drive recklessly on city streets. The trooper observed Thompson abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at the Lake Street exit. At the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson sped through a red light at the intersection without stopping or slowing. The SUV struck at full speed the driver’s side of a Honda Civic that was traveling lawfully through the intersection. All five occupants of the Honda Civic, four adult females and one juvenile female, were killed. When law enforcement responded to the scene of the crash, witnesses told officers that Thompson had fled on foot through a nearby alley. Officers found Thompson sitting on the curb outside of a nearby restaurant. Officers detained Thompson, who was later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.
According to court documents, an officer found at the scene a Hertz rental record for the Cadillac SUV indicating that Thompson rented the vehicle from a Hertz located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport approximately 30 minutes before the crash. After obtaining a warrant to search the SUV, officers found a black leather bag on the front passenger side floor that contained a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, as well as three baggies containing 2,169 blue “M-Box 30” fentanyl pills, a baggie containing an additional 14 grams of powder fentanyl, a baggie containing 13 MDMA pills, a baggie containing 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale.
Because Thompson has a prior felony conviction, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The complaint charges Thompson with possession of a firearm as a felon, possession of fentanyl, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the charges, Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Thompson, who is currently in state custody in Hennepin County, will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Police Department, in close coordination with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Ruth S. Shnider 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.
Federal Jury Convicts St. Paul Felon for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following Bar ShootoutRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury found a St. Paul man guilty of illegally possessing a firearm following a shootout at a St. Paul bar, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a five-day trial before Judge Eric C. Tostrud, Anthony Charles Deberry, 41, was convicted on one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
According to evidence presented at trial, on the afternoon of September 18, 2021, Deberry got into a verbal altercation with a man inside Born’s Bar in St. Paul and, as a result, was kicked out of the bar and prohibited from re-entering. Deberry remained in the vicinity of the bar and at times continued to antagonize the man. Later that evening, Deberry approached the bar, followed a group of men, and brandished a 9mm handgun with an activated laser site. Shortly thereafter, gunfire broke out, including one shot fired by Deberry. Deberry suffered from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Regions Hospital. Surveillance video footage from Born’s Bar showed Deberry hide his firearm under a parked car after the shooting. Responding law enforcement officers recovered Deberry’s firearm as well as multiple discharged cartridge casings on the sidewalk.
Because Deberry has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
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. Attorneys Joseph S. Teirab and Lindsey E. Middlecamp tried the case.
Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of MinneapolisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the City of Minneapolis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The Department also announced that the city and MPD have agreed in principle to resolve the Department’s findings through a court enforceable consent decree with an independent monitor, rather than through contested litigation.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that the MPD:
- Uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unreasonable use of tasers;
- Unlawfully discriminates against Black people and Native American people in its enforcement activities, including the use of force following stops;
- Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech; and
- Along with the city, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.
The Department identified and concluded that persistent deficiencies in policy, training, supervision, and accountability contribute to the unlawful conduct.
“George Floyd’s death had an irrevocable impact on his family, on the Minneapolis community, on our country, and on the world,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The patterns and practices of conduct the Justice Department observed during our investigation are deeply disturbing. They erode the community’s trust in law enforcement. And they made what happened to George Floyd possible. Today, we have completed our investigation, but this is only the first step. We will continue to work with the city and the MPD toward ensuring that MPD officers have the support and resources they need to do their jobs effectively and lawfully as we work together toward meaningful and durable reform.”
“I know this community is still hurting and that today’s announcement may also open up old wounds,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The Justice Department is committed to working with Minneapolis on a path forward, to constitutional policing, and stronger police-community trust. Together we can build a Minneapolis that protects the rights, safety, and dignity of all.”
“Every American deserves policing that is fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The protests that unfolded across Minneapolis, and the country, underscore the urgency behind our efforts to ensure that police departments respect constitutional rights, while garnering public trust. We will stand by the people of Minneapolis as we work to institute reforms that are lasting and enduring.”
“These findings present a sobering picture of a flawed system – but today we turn towards change through justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Bildtsen for the District of Minnesota. “This thorough investigation is the foundation to make fair and lawful policing a reality for our entire community.”
The city and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The Department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the city and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the city and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the Department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The Department opened this investigation on April 21, 2021. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. The team conducted numerous onsite tours of MPD facilities; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors, and command staff; spoke with city officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and watched thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates, service providers, and other stakeholders in the Minneapolis area.
The Department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the Department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of George Floyd.
The Department will reach out to members of the Minneapolis community for input on remedies to address the Department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-866-432-0268.
This is one of eight investigations into law enforcement agencies opened during this Administration by the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department under Section 12601. The Department has ongoing investigations into the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester Police Department; and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The Department has issued Section 12601 findings reports in the past year regarding the Louisville Metro Police Department, as well as the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota is available at www.justice.gov/usao-mn.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
The Justice Department will hold a virtual presentation on the findings at 5:00 p.m. CT. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings. Please join the meeting here.
View the findings report here and the settlement in principle here.
Coon Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to $1.29M Romance Fraud Scheme that Targeted Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Coon Rapids man has pleaded guilty to mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, from at least in or about June 2020 through in or about March 2021, Solomon Eghosa Wilfred, 42, and other scheme participants knowingly and intentionally participated in and facilitated an online romance fraud scheme that targeted primarily elderly victims and lured them into sending money under false pretenses. The scheme relied on impersonating a real or plausible but fictitious person, such as a senior U.S. diplomat or military official, that contacted the victims through online social media applications. The scheme participants then sought to forge a romantic connection with the victims. If successful, the scheme participants would then ask the victims for money purportedly to assist the false persona with some problem or need. Occasionally, the scheme participants would even introduce the victims to a purported third-party intermediary who would corroborate the false persona’s story and assist in defrauding the victims. The victims eventually were directed to send large sums of money by mail or other commercial means to a specified name and address.
Wilfred also assisted with the collection and transfer of the fraudulently obtained funds. Wilfred opened at least six Post Office boxes in Minnesota to receive victims’ packages and to send funds from victims to other scheme participants. Wilfred also communicated with some victims to facilitate the fraud scheme. For example, Wilfred admitted to sending victims cards and rings using the name of the false persona. In total, Wilfred received over 400 victim packages containing approximately $1,294,995 in fraud proceeds during the scheme. Wilfred kept some of the proceeds for his personal benefit and disbursed the remainder of the proceeds to other scheme participants.
Wilfred pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to mail fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan L. Sing and Robert M. Lewis are prosecuting the case.
Hutchinson Woman Charged with Embezzling More Than $2 Million from EmployerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Hutchinson woman has been charged with mail fraud for embezzling over $2 million from her employer, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Jennifer Lee Rath, 52, worked as the financial controller at R&R Excavating, Inc., a heavy civil construction company located in Hutchinson, Minnesota. As the financial controller, Rath was responsible for managing R&R’s payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, company credit cards, and corporate bank accounts. Rath used her position to embezzle funds and convert them to her own use and benefit. Rath routinely drafted manipulated checks that appeared to cover R&R’s liabilities, but instead she used the funds to pay her own credit card debts, tax liabilities, or cover other personal expenses. Rath also processed electronic fund transfers from R&R’s bank accounts to pay personal expenses and improperly charged personal expenses to R&R’s company credit cards. Rath manipulated R&R’s accounting software to conceal the money she stole, avoid detection, and prolong her fraud scheme.
In total, between August 2013 and December 2019, Rath knowingly and willfully embezzled $2,061,328.67 from her employer.
Rath 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 FBI and the Hutchinson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bloomington Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Bloomington man has pleaded guilty to his role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, Abdulkadir Awale, 50, admitted that from April 2020 through 2022, he knowingly participated in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to underprivileged children.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, Awale enrolled his businesses, Karmel Coffee, LLC, Sambusa King, Inc., and Nawal Restaurant, Inc., in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as vendors under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future and Sponsor A. Awale falsely claimed that through his businesses, he provided food for more than 3.6 million meals to various sites in Minnesota, totaling approximately $11.8 million in fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. As part of the scheme, Awale also paid at least $83,000 in kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee in exchange for Awale’s participation in the program. Awale used some of funds to pay off his home mortgage, make cash withdrawals, and purchase vehicles, including two Freightliner Cascadia trucks.
Awale pleaded guilty today before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of wire fraud and agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $2,126,200. 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 Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Blaine Business Owner Indicted for $600,000 Scheme to Defraud Hundreds of JobseekersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Blaine man has been indicted on wire fraud charges after devising an employment opportunity scheme to defraud hundreds of jobseekers out of approximately $600,000, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Charles Edward Fields, 43, was the owner and operator of a series of companies through which he pitched employment opportunities to prospective workers throughout the United States. The employment opportunities that Fields purported to provide were through his businesses, some of which included HOMESoft Systems Incorporated, WaterTek Marketing Corporation, Water Innovations Group, Inc., W I G Holdings Corporation, Mile High H20 Corporation, and the NEW H20. Fields, claimed that, after job applicants paid him an upfront deposit of approximately $3,000 to $5,000, he would hire them as sales contractors to sell products nationwide to the public, primarily home security or water filtration systems. As part of the scheme, Fields also misrepresented his affiliation with, and his authority to act on behalf of, Company A, a long-standing international company that designs and distributes various models of water machines and filtration systems.
According to court documents, Fields routinely posted nationwide online employment advertisements promising job seekers training, sales leads, and $6,000 in guaranteed monthly profit. In reality, the employment opportunities never materialized as promised by Fields. In order to conceal his fraud and to stave off scrutiny, Fields lulled his victims with bogus excuses as to why he was unable to fulfill his promises or to return their funds. In total, Fields defrauded at least 250 victims of at least $600,000.
The indictment charges Fields with five counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on June 30, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew 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.
Brooklyn Center Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Insurance Fraud After Staging a Politically Motivated Arson AttackRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,850 in restitution and an $18,381 fine for filing fraudulent insurance claims for a staged arson, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 23, 2020, Denis Vladmirovich Molla, 30, falsely reported to law enforcement that someone had lit his camper on fire and that three unknown males were near his home when he heard an explosion. Molla also reported that his garage door was vandalized with spray painted graffiti stating, “Biden 2020,” “BLM,” and an Antifa symbol, and that his camper was targeted because it had a Trump 2020 flag displayed on it. In reality, Molla started his own property on fire and spray painted the graffiti on his own garage.
According to court documents, Molla submitted multiple insurance claims seeking coverage for the damage to his garage, camper, vehicles, and residence caused by the fire. When Molla’s insurance company denied some of those claims, Molla submitted a written complaint to the insurance company claiming that it was defrauding him and threatened to report the company to the Department of Commerce and to the Attorney General. Molla also created and allowed others to create two GoFundMe accounts to benefit Molla and his family. In total, Molla submitted more than $300,000 in fraudulent insurance claims, and he received approximately $61,000 from his insurance company. Molla also received more than $17,000 from individual donors via GoFundMe.
Molla pleaded guilty on October 11, 2022, to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge David S. Doty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela M. Munoz prosecuted the case.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on October 30, 2022, the Brooklyn Center Police Department located a vehicle that had previously been used to flee from law enforcement. Three people were inside the vehicle, including Kevin Ronnell Lynch, 55, who was seated alone in the backseat. During a pat down search of the driver, the officers observed Lynch moving around inside the vehicle. The officers removed Lynch from the vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm from his jacket. The recovered firearm was a Ruger model EC9 semiautomatic pistol. At the time of his arrest, Lynch was on pretrial release for two other firearm-related offenses. Since 1986, Lynch has at least 14 felony convictions, including for aggravated robbery, assault, domestic violence, and terroristic threats.
On February 2, 2023, Lynch pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal. Lynch was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on convictions for illegal possession of a machinegun and illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
As proven at trial, on October 12, 2021, Marques Dwell Armstrong, Jr., 28, possessed a machinegun, namely, a loaded 9mm-caliber Glock pistol, with a high-capacity magazine, equipped with an attached machinegun conversion device, or “switch,” enabling it to be fired as a fully automatic weapon.
A jury found Armstrong guilty on February 16, 2023, of one count of illegal possession of a machinegun and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. Armstrong was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank to two concurrent terms of 120 months imprisonment. Armstrong also received a consecutive term of seven months imprisonment for a prior supervised-release violation.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Albania Concepcion prosecuted the case.
Maple Grove Felon Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking, Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maple Grove felon has been sentenced to 360 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl while possessing a machinegun, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 4, 2022, officers with the Minneapolis Police Department received a complaint that an individual, later identified as Derrick Maurice Scott, 35, had threatened a man at a convenience store while brandishing a firearm. Two days later, officers located Scott and conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Scott was a passenger. Following a search of the vehicle, officers recovered 355 fentanyl pills and a Glock 41, .45 caliber pistol equipped with an auto-sear or “switch” (a device that makes a firearm function as a fully automatic machinegun) and a high-capacity magazine. Because Scott has multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery, domestic assault, and terroristic threats, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
On February 7, 2023, Scott was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a machinegun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm as a felon. Scott was sentenced today to the mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, before Senior U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Hollenhorst and Chelsea A. Walcker prosecuted the case.
Faribault Couple Plead Guilty to Their Roles in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Mohamed Ali Hussein and Lul Bashir Ali have pleaded guilty to their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and court documents, Hussein, 53, and Ali, 57, both of Faribault, admitted that between June 2020 and January 2022, they knowingly and willfully conspired with others to participate in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to underprivileged children.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and court documents, in April and September 2020, Ali and Hussein enrolled their companies, Lido Restaurant and Somali American Faribault Education (SAFE), respectively, in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. After enrolling, Hussein and Ali began submitting fraudulently inflated invoices for reimbursement in which they claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day. In support of these fraudulent claims, they prepared and submitted fake paperwork, including falsely inflated meal counts.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and court documents, Lido Restaurant also participated in the program as a vendor. Lido Restaurant had a contract to prepare meals to be served by Hussein’s SAFE site. Ali and Hussein submitted fraudulent claims that sought reimbursement for far more meals and food than Ali’s company actually prepared. As part of the scheme, Hussein also paid more than $100,000 in kickbacks to Feeding Our Future personnel in exchange for the nonprofit’s sponsorship of Lido Restaurant and SAFE.
In total, Hussein’s company claimed to have served more than 1.2 million meals to children between February and November 2021 and obtained approximately $2.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Ali’s company claimed to have served more than 700,000 meals to children between June 2020 and April 2021 and obtained approximately $2.9 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
Hussein and Ali pleaded guilty today before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $5,037,649 and to forfeit to the United States real property and a vehicle. Sentencing hearings 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, Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Federal Jury Convicts Richfield Man for Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found a Richfield man guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a two-day trial before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, Marquice Shaquan Morris, 26, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to evidence presented at trial, from spring 2022 to October 2022, Morris and his coconspirator Brandon Pierre Johnson, 34, of Chicago, conspired to distribute approximately 83,000 fentanyl pills, weighing about 18 pounds, or 8.3 kilograms. In late September 2022, Morris and Johnson agreed to fly from Minnesota to Arizona to pick up the fentanyl, then Johnson would bring the drugs back to Minnesota on a bus, to give them back to Morris. In return, Morris agreed to pay Johnson $1,500. On September 30, 2022, Morris and Johnson flew from Minnesota to Arizona and obtained the fentanyl pills from Morris’s source. Morris then flew home, while Johnson boarded a Greyhound bus to St. Paul. Johnson carried the pills along with a loaded 9 mm handgun onto the bus, in a duffle bag. When Johnson’s bus stopped in Amarillo, Texas, law enforcement officers found and seized the fentanyl pills and the gun. Officers arrested Johnson.
On March 17, 2023, Johnson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2023.
Morris is scheduled to be sentenced on October 12, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Amarillo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew D. Forbes, Harry M. Jacobs, and Thomas M. Hollenhorst tried the case.
Richfield Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Glock with Full Auto SwitchRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Richfield man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm with an attached “switch,” making it a fully automatic weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2022, law enforcement attempted to arrest Vatthana Andy Sengsouriya, 28, on an outstanding warrant. When officers tried to take Sengsouriya into custody in the parking lot of the Eden Prairie Home Depot, he fled in his vehicle. Officers pursued Sengsouriya and were able to stop his vehicle with a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver, but Sengsouriya fled his vehicle on foot and ran into the woods. After a brief foot chase, law enforcement apprehended Sengsouriya and took him into custody. Officers searched a cross-body bag Sengsouriya was wearing and found 115 grams of cocaine, some of which was packaged into smaller bags meant for distribution, and a Glock Model 21 .45 caliber pistol with a switch attached to it, which transformed the handgun into a fully automatic weapon.
Sengsouriya pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Kate M. Menendez to 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 DEA, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Eden Prairie Police Department, and the Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion and Lauren O. Roso are prosecuting the case.
Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty in Drunk Driving Manslaughter CaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter resulting from a drunk driving crash, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on the morning of November 6, 2021, Gerald Wayne Johnson, 27, was driving a vehicle while intoxicated with a passenger in the front seat. Johnson was driving above 90 miles per hour on a public road which had a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour. While speeding and driving recklessly, Johnson lost control and crashed the vehicle into a nearby tree. Johnson’s passenger died from her injuries caused by the crash. Johnson’s blood was drawn, and his blood alcohol content was determined to be .224.
Johnson pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of involuntary manslaughter. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Red Lake Police Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph S. Teirab is prosecuting the case.
Wisconsin Man Indicted for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Manitowoc, Wisconsin man has been indicted for producing images depicting his sexual abuse of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on or about June 7, 2019, Jason Lee, 27, used and coerced a prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
Lee was arrested on May 11, 2023, and made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin before Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries, during which Lee was ordered to be transported to the District of Minnesota. Lee made his initial appearance yesterday before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. Lee was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
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. 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.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Saint Paul Police Department, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor 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.
Minneapolis Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 92 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2022, Lamonte Edjuan Brown, 39, pointed a loaded gun at two victims outside of a Minneapolis apartment complex. Officers with the Minneapolis Police Department were dispatched to the apartment, and when they approached Brown, he fled on foot. Officers chased Brown and apprehended him. In Brown’s sweatshirt pocket, officers found the loaded gun—a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol that had been reported stolen by the Eagan Police Department.
Brown pleaded guilty on January 11, 2022, to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Senior Judge Susan Richard Nelson. In handing down the sentence, Judge Nelson remarked that that “the trauma in this case is palpable,” and emphasized that “our community is experiencing an epidemic of gun violence.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
Two Minneapolis Men Plead Guilty to Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – Two Minneapolis men have pleaded guilty to carjacking, kidnapping, and holding a victim at gunpoint for several hours, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on the evening of February 14, 2023, Jamal Timothy Funchess, 18, T’Shawn Teon Palton, 21, and a juvenile posted an advertisement on Facebook Marketplace to purportedly sell an iPhone. The victim responded and made arrangements to buy the phone. The victim and the purported seller agreed to meet at a location in Columbia Heights. When the victim arrived at the location and was still in the car, Palton and the juvenile approached. The juvenile had a gun and hit the victim in the face with the firearm. The men ordered the victim to the backseat of the car. The men then got into the victim’s car, drove a few blocks, and picked up Funchess.
For several hours, the three men drove the victim’s car around the Twin Cities, holding the victim at gunpoint in the backseat. Each of the three men at some point held the firearm and pointed it at the victim. During this time, they demanded that the victim surrender his cell phone, wallet, credit cards, and banking information. They drove to several gas stations around the Twin Cities in an attempt to use the victim’s cards to withdraw money. Toward the end of the ordeal, the three men discussed what to do with the victim and openly talked about murdering him. Eventually, they dropped the victim on a road in St. Paul and drove away in the victim’s car. The victim ran to a nearby gas station and borrowed an employee’s cell phone to call 911.
Officers were able to use the location of the victim’s stolen cell phone to find Palton, Funchess, and the juvenile, along with the victim’s stolen car and possessions.
Funchess and Palton pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Susan Richard Nelson to one count each of carjacking. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case.
Rush City Woman Pleads Guilty to $1.8 Million Scheme Involving Romance Fraud and Federal Pandemic ProgramsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Rush City woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud after participating in multiple schemes that defrauded individuals throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, from 2017 through April 2022, Gayle Joyce Ferngren, 69, and others participated in a scheme to launder proceeds that were fraudulently obtained from victims throughout the United States, including the proceeds of romance fraud scams and schemes to defraud Federal Pandemic Assistance Programs.
According to her guilty plea, from approximately June 2020 through December 2020, Ferngren acknowledges that she received at least 68 debit cards containing approximately $1.3 million in fraudulent unemployment benefits from California and Nevada to which she was not entitled. After receiving the fraudulent proceeds, Ferngren kept a portion for herself and transmitted most of the funds to other scheme participants, including to individuals located overseas. In total, Ferngren laundered at least $1.8 million in fraud proceeds.
According to her guilty plea, on or about May 27, 2021, a scheme participant—not Ferngren—submitted an application in Ferngren's name seeking a PPP loan in the amount of approximately $20,833.00. Among other falsehoods, the PPP application claimed that Ferngren had worked as an independent contractor doing residential remodeling since 2017 and included falsified tax records and income claims. Ferngren did not sign this application or fill out the information contained within it. Based on the false information presented by another scheme participant, the fraudulent PPP loan application was approved and approximately $20,833 in fraudulent PPP proceeds were deposited into Fergren’s bank account in May 2021, which she knew she was not entitled to receive.
Ferngren pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of mail fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Department of Labor–Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Allison K. Ethen are prosecuting the case.
Minnesota Man Charged in Connection with “Ruby Slippers” TheftRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Terry Martin for the theft of an object of cultural heritage from the care, custody, or control of a museum. Martin is charged with one count of theft of major artwork. The indictment was filed on May 16 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
The Indictment alleges that in 2005, Martin stole an authentic pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz,” from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. At the time of theft, the slippers were insured for $1 million but current fair market appraisal value the slippers at $3.5 million.
The ruby slippers, which were recovered by the FBI and Grand Rapids Police Department in July 2018, are one of the four remaining pairs and are widely viewed as among the most recognizable memorabilia in American film history.
The charges announced today are the result of a federal investigation into the initial theft of the ruby slippers. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Minneapolis Division.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter was assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 515(a).
Because the case is ongoing, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota will have no additional comment at this time.
# # #
Savage Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Savage man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun, 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 today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge David S. Doty to one count of possession of a machine gun. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Savage Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manda Sertich and Andrew Winter, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Justin Sher.
Court Enters $487 Million Judgment Against Precision Lens and Owner Paul Ehlen for Paying Kickbacks to Doctors in Violation of the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright has entered a judgment against Defendants Cameron-Ehlen Group, Inc. dba Precision Lens and its owner Paul Ehlen in the amount of $487,048,705.13.
On February 27, 2023, a federal civil jury concluded that the Defendants violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks to ophthalmic surgeons to induce their use of the Defendants’ products in cataract surgeries reimbursed by Medicare. The jury found that 64,575 false claims were submitted to Medicare due to the Defendants’ conduct, which resulted in $43,694,641.71 in damages to Medicare.
Under the False Claims Act (FCA), a person or entity found to have violated the FCA is liable to the United States Government for a minimum civil penalty of $5,000 per false claim and three times the amount of damages sustained by the Government. In this matter, the amount included $358,445,780 in statutory penalties and an additional $131,083,925.13 in trebled damages, resulting in a total amount of $489,529,705.13, less $2,481,000 in proceeds from a previous settlement with Sightpath Medical.
As proven at trial, the Defendants provided kickbacks to physicians in various forms, including travel and entertainment. The United States identified multiple examples of trips, including high-end skiing, fishing, golfing, hunting, sporting, and entertainment vacations, often at exclusive destinations. For many of the trips, the Defendants transported physicians to luxury vacation destinations on private jets. These included trips to New York City to see a Broadway musical, the College Football National Championship Game in Miami, Florida, and the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. The Defendants also sold frequent flyer miles to their physician customers at a significant discount, enabling the physicians to take personal and business trips at well below fair market value.
“This judgment affirms Congress’ intent to hold individuals and companies accountable when they use illegal kickbacks to defraud federal healthcare programs,” said Bahram Samie, Deputy Civil Chief for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. “Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to know with certainty that their physician’s decision-making has not been compromised by a private flight, expensive ski-trip, or any other unlawful inducement. This office is committed to investigating misconduct and recovering funds unlawfully obtained from federal healthcare programs.”
The United States also proved that Precision Lens maintained a fund, referred to internally at Precision Lens as a secret fund or slush fund, in furtherance of its kickback scheme. Precision Lens used money from the secret fund to finance multiple physician trips.
The United States previously announced a $12 million settlement of related allegations with Sightpath Medical, Inc. and TLC Vision Corporation (collectively Sightpath) and their former CEO, James Tiffany. Dr. Jitendra Swarup also resolved claims that he had accepted kickbacks in a settlement agreement of more than $2.9 million.
This civil lawsuit was originally brought by a Relator, or whistleblower, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. The government often relies on whistleblowers to bring fraud schemes to light that might otherwise go undetected. The whistleblower in this matter, Kipp Fesenmaier, will receive a percentage of the amounts awarded at trial.
The case was handled by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, including AUSAs Chad Blumenfield, Bahram Samie, and Andy Tweeten and paralegals Darcie Boschee and Laura Kolars. The case was investigated with assistance from the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Two St. Paul Men Indicted for Assaulting a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two St. Paul men have been indicted for conspiracy and assault of a federal law enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on March 30, 2023, Dion Darnell Miller, 27, and Aaron Maurice Admir Harris, 29, conspired with each other to assault, intimidate, and interfere with a law enforcement agent, who was engaged in their official duties, by use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, namely a 9mm Taurus Model semi-automatic handgun.
The indictment charges Miller and Harris with one count of conspiracy to assault a federal law enforcement officer, one count of assault upon a federal law enforcement officer, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendants made their initial appearances on April 3, 2023, in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung. They were ordered to remain in federal custody pending further court proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ramsey County Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter 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.
Cottonwood County Farmer Pleads Guilty in $19 Million Organic Grain Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – A Cottonwood County man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2021, James Clayton Wolf, 65, a certified organic farmer, engaged in a scheme to defraud grain purchasers by selling them non-GMO grains falsely represented as organic. In his guilty plea, Wolf admitted purchasing conventionally farmed grains from a supplier and reselling the grains labelled as organic. The scheme netted profits of more than $19.6 million, which Wolf used to purchase real estate, vehicles and farm equipment, and investments. As part of the agreement, Wolf will forfeit all the proceeds of the fraud.
Wolf pleaded guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Lewis, Craig Baune, and Quinn Askew are prosecuting the case.
Burnsville Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of MachinegunsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Burnsville man has been charged in a criminal complaint for illegal possession of machinegun conversion devices, or switches, and for possessing firearms as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2023, federal agents received information that Benjamin Jehle Zwack, 29, an employee at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) business, was selling 3D-printed machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears.” These devices enable firearms to be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger and qualify as machineguns under federal law.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, an undercover agent went to the FFL business and purchased eleven 3D-printed machinegun conversion devices designed to convert a semiautomatic AR-Type weapon to shoot automatically from Zwack. During the purchase, the undercover agent observed a firearm in Zwack’s waistband.
According to court documents, on March 30, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Zwack’s residence and vehicle. Officers recovered a Girsan-Regard, 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the center console of Zwack’s vehicle and a shotgun and ammunition from his residence. A search of Zwack’s storage locker revealed additional firearms, suspected homemade silencers, ammunition, and a suspected destructive device.
Because Zwack has a prior felony conviction he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The complaint charges Zwack with one count of possession of machineguns and one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Zwack made his initial appearance yesterday before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. He was ordered to remain in detention pending further court proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dakota County Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp 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.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Violent Armed Robbery Spree of Minneapolis BusinessesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man was sentenced to 88 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in three armed robberies of Minneapolis businesses, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on March 31, 2022, Matthew Dereck Howell, 23, entered Dollar City Plus, a retail store in Minneapolis, while an unidentified co-conspirator waited outside as a lookout. Howell pulled a handgun and aimed it at the store owner who was behind the counter and demanded money from the register. As Howell was ordering the employees to move faster, he fired the gun in the direction of the store owner causing a bullet to graze the store owner's neck. After firing the shot, Howell went behind the counter, opened the register, and took approximately $1,200. Howell left the store and fled on foot.
A few days later, on April 3, 2022, Howell borrowed a white Cadillac sedan to drive to Sam's Market and Meat, located in Minneapolis. Howell entered the market and approached the counter as if to pay for an item. Howell pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the clerk, demanded money from the cash register, and threatened to shoot. Howell reached over the counter into the register and took approximately $50. Howell then fled back to the Cadillac and drove away.
Later that same day, Howell entered Minneapolis Market, approached the counter, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at an employee, and demanded money from the register. Howell then reached over the counter and took approximately $700 before fleeing.
Howell was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez. On November 8, 2022, he pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura M. Provinzino and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Hudleston prosecuted the case.
Duluth Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Operating Fraudulent Law FirmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Duluth man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after pretending to operate a law firm and defrauding an individual out of thousands of dollars in legal fees, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between March and April 2022, Gale Allen Rachuy, 73, devised and executed a scheme to defraud an individual (Victim A) by falsely representing that he could provide legal services in connection with Victim A’s post-conviction motion in exchange for $10,000. Rachuy told Victim A that he operated Midwest Legal Service, a Duluth-area law firm, for more than 38 years and claimed to employ several attorneys, including a retired federal judge who previously served on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge A) and a retired Hennepin County District Court judge (Judge B).
According to court documents, on March 10, 2022, Rachuy sent a letter to Victim A on Midwest Legal Service letterhead falsely claiming that Judge A would assist in Victim A’s legal representation and enclosed a copy of a retainer agreement seeking a $2,500 payment. On March 15, 2022, Rachuy received the $2,500 retainer from Victim A. Shortly thereafter, Victim A became suspicious and confronted Rachuy because Victim A had not received a draft of the legal documents Rachuy had promised to file. Rachuy promised Victim A that he would promptly refund the money, but never did so. Instead, Rachuy continued to falsely assure Victim A that Judge A and Judge B were working on the case.
Rachuy pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Joan N. Ericksen to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Duluth Police Department, and the Hermantown Police Department, with assistance from the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case.
Plymouth Man Indicted on Federal Civil Rights, Arson ChargesRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – A Plymouth man has been indicted on one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little, 36, started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, 2023, just before 7:00 p.m., Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al Rahma. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque, and the building was evacuated.
According to court documents, prior to the arson incidents, on January 5, 2023, Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Minneapolis district office of a U.S. Representative. Little spray-painted the text “500” on the front door of the U.S. Representative’s office and photographed the graffiti. Later that same day, Little spray-painted the same text (“500”) on the side of a patrol vehicle assigned to a Somali Minneapolis Police Department officer as well as in an entryway at a marketplace, colloquially referred to as the “Somali Mall.”
Little, who was arrested in Mankato on April 29, was arraigned this morning in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. He was ordered to remain in detention pending further court proceedings.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich 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.
45 Minneapolis Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two indictments were unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging 30 members and associates of two Minneapolis-based street gangs – the Highs and the Bloods – with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy involving alleged murder, attempted murder, robbery, obstruction of justice, and drug trafficking. Additional charges include the use of a firearm to commit murder and drug trafficking. In addition to these indictments, separate charging documents have been brought against an additional 15 Highs or Bloods members on drug and gun charges.
“Today’s announcement marks a fundamental change for federal law enforcement. We are now addressing gang violence for what it is: organized criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “As alleged, these defendants engaged in an unrelenting trail of violence, resulting in today’s federal RICO charges and related charges. The aggregate nature of a RICO prosecution has a deeper impact and carries a stronger deterrence message, with the ultimate goal of reducing violence and returning peace to our communities.”
“Violent gangs wreak havoc on local residents, engaging in bloody street wars and peddling dangerous drugs that devastate communities and families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As today’s announcement demonstrates, the Criminal Division is deploying its resources and expertise in close coordination with our partners to target the specific drivers of violent crime and hold gang members and associates accountable for their offenses.”
“When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the ATF. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and all of our law enforcement partners involved in bringing this case.”
“Today's indictment of numerous Highs and Bloods gang members is the result of an exhaustive investigation conducted with our local, state, and federal partners,” Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “No American should be forced to live in perpetual fear of being a victim of violent crime. These arrests demonstrate our efforts are turning the tide against organized crime in the Twin Cities and the upper Midwest.”
“For too long, criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on our streets, leaving in their wake tragedy and trauma that threatens to destroy families, neighborhoods, and communities. When we refrain from utilizing the full force of laws available to hold these bad actors accountable, we allow for this horrific behavior, and its impact on residents, to continue to be normalized. The behavior of these bad actors is outrageous and entirely unacceptable,” said Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department. “The most vulnerable in our communities are often those most impacted by gun violence and criminal gang activity. Our most vulnerable residents are entitled to the same protections and safety as everyone else in society. These arrests are just the beginning. For the first time ever, we have embedded Minneapolis police officers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will continue to develop future cases. Today we are standing shoulder to shoulder with all of law enforcement and making clear that this behavior will not be tolerated. If you intend to engage in violent crimes in our city, we will find you, we will track you down, and we will bring you to justice.”
Highs Enterprise Indictments
Twenty members and associates of the Highs Enterprise are charged in a 12-count indictment with RICO conspiracy involving five separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. Five additional defendants are charged in this indictment with separate drug and gun charges.
As alleged in this indictment, the Highs have been operating primarily in the north side of Minneapolis since approximately 2008. The Highs congregated at specific businesses and residences located at or near the West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North intersection. Prospective Highs members proved their loyalty to the gang by “putting in work,” i.e., committing acts of violence for the benefit of the gang or offering other benefits such as introducing a source for drugs or firearms. Highs members were expelled from the gang and physically assaulted for failing to “put in work.” The Highs leaders, or “shot callers,” determined the quantity of drugs bought and sold and the locations where members were permitted to sell the drugs. The shot callers sometimes took the lead in obtaining and distributing firearms to other Highs members.
The indictment alleges a years-long pattern of violence including murders, numerous shootings and acts of retaliation against rival gang members, dealing in fentanyl, and robberies. Between April and September 2021, Highs members are alleged to have committed five murders.
Minneapolis Bloods Enterprise Indictments
Five members and associates of the Minneapolis Bloods charged in a separate indictment, including two who are charged with RICO conspiracy involving two separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. The remaining three defendants are charged with separate drug and gun charges, including using a firearm in a killing for two separate murders.
As alleged in this indictment, the Minneapolis Bloods chapter has been in existence for several decades, controlling and operating territory on the south side of Minneapolis. The hierarchy of the Bloods includes a head or leader of the gang, senior leaders, street-level leaders, and other members or associates. New recruits (called “YGs” or young gangsters) must fight, shoot, or make money to gain respect and increase their position in the gang. The next level in the gang is “OG” (original gangsters), who are well-respected members of the gang, and the highest level is “double OG.” All OGs are equal in rank and can direct “shots” or orders. “Enforcers” carry out the OG’s “shots” or orders by beating or assaulting the offender. Members of the Bloods often wear red clothing, display gang signs, and obtain tattoos that identify the Bloods, its members, or territory.
This indictment alleges a pattern of violence, including a 2020 shootout and murder at the 200 Club in north Minneapolis. In April 2022, Bloods members physically attacked, shot at, and murdered an individual outside of William’s Pub in Uptown. The indictment also alleges other criminal acts, including numerous instances of narcotics trafficking.
The following defendants are charged in the Highs indictment, with all defendants being from Minneapolis, unless otherwise noted below.
- Montez Brown, aka Tez Blood, 31, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Dantrell Johnson, aka Trell Moe, 30, is charged with RICO conspiracy and with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Gregory Hamilton, aka Lil’ Lord, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Keon Pruitt, aka KenKen, 20, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Jovan Knight, aka 23, aka JoJo, 23, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Tyreese Giles, aka Reese, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- Josiah Taylor, aka Joker, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Douglas Mobley, aka Nut, 35, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Jarrett Robinson, aka Gator, 25, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- Trevaun Robinson, aka Tricky Tre, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Isaac Hodge, aka Ike, 46, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Christopher Finch, aka Twin, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Tony Jelks, aka BD, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Cortez Blakemore, aka Tez, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Randy Tate, aka “Randy,” aka 32, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Trevoneia Felton, aka Tre, 21, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Chase Robertson, aka Chase Loco, 25, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Malcolm Samuels, aka Reggie, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- William Banks, aka Bear, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Ronald Washington, aka Black, 36, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- William Johnson, aka Lil’ Will, 32, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Dashaun Morris, aka Mush, 21, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Ernest Boyd, aka Shaky Shawn, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Maron Bailey, aka Boonie, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Isaiah Bell, 20, of St. Paul, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Additionally, the following defendants are Highs members or associates who were charged in individual indictments:
- Montrell Shief, 23, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a machinegun.
- Deon Williams, aka Ghost, 28, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Dennis Mobley, aka Diddy, 34, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The following defendants are named in the Bloods indictment:
- Desean James Solomon, aka Black, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Michael Allen Burrell, aka Skitz, 42, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Leontawan Lentez Holt, aka Leon, aka Shotta, aka Shot Dog, 25, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
Additionally, the following defendants are Bloods members or associates who were charged separately:
- Theodore Harold Bobo Jr., aka Boo, 37 of St. Paul, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Jordan Kenneth Edwards, aka J-Bird, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Isaiah Lamuel Elisha Ferguson, 26, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Josiah Ferguson, 24, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Demarcus Cortez Garner, 24, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
- Andrew Dayjon Griffin, 32, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Obuatawan Holt, aka Bone, 47, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Latoya Bea Smith, 47, is charged with knowingly transferring firearms to a felon.
- John Eric Solomon, aka Eastside, 33 of Minneapolis, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Traigh Sean Tillman, 29, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Nathan Walz, aka Fat Nate, aka Fat Blood, aka Fat Boy, aka White Boy Nate, 34, of Prior Lake, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Esther Soria Mignanelli, and Joseph S. Teirab for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and S. Benjamin Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
45 Minneapolis Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
Two indictments were unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging 30 members and associates of two Minneapolis-based street gangs – the Highs and the Bloods – with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy involving alleged murder, attempted murder, robbery, obstruction of justice, and drug trafficking. Additional charges include the use of a firearm to commit murder and drug trafficking. In addition to these indictments, separate charging documents have been brought against an additional 15 Highs or Bloods members on drug and gun charges.
“Violent gangs wreak havoc on local residents, engaging in bloody street wars and peddling dangerous drugs that devastate communities and families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As today’s announcement demonstrates, the Criminal Division is deploying its resources and expertise in close coordination with our partners to target the specific drivers of violent crime and hold gang members and associates accountable for their offenses.”
“Today’s announcement marks a fundamental change for federal law enforcement. We are now addressing gang violence for what it is: organized criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “As alleged, these defendants engaged in an unrelenting trail of violence, resulting in today’s federal RICO charges and related charges. The aggregate nature of a RICO prosecution has a deeper impact and carries a stronger deterrence message, with the ultimate goal of reducing violence and returning peace to our communities.”
“When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and all of our law enforcement partners involved in bringing this case.”
“Today's indictment of numerous Highs and Bloods gang members is the result of an exhaustive investigation conducted with our local, state, and federal partners,” Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “No American should be forced to live in perpetual fear of being a victim of violent crime. These arrests demonstrate our efforts are turning the tide against organized crime in the Twin Cities and the upper Midwest.”
“For too long, criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on our streets, leaving in their wake tragedy and trauma that threatens to destroy families, neighborhoods, and communities. When we refrain from utilizing the full force of laws available to hold these bad actors accountable, we allow for this horrific behavior, and its impact on residents, to continue to be normalized. The behaviors of these bad actors is outrageous and entirely unacceptable,” said Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department. “The most vulnerable in our communities are often those most impacted by gun violence and criminal gang activity. Our most vulnerable residents are entitled to the same protections and safety as everyone else in society. These arrests are just the beginning. For the first time ever, we have embedded Minneapolis police officers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will continue to develop future cases. Today we are standing shoulder to shoulder with all of law enforcement, and making clear that this behavior will not be tolerated. If you intend to engage in violent crimes in our city, we will find you, we will track you down, and we will bring you to justice.”
Highs Enterprise Indictments
Twenty members and associates of the Highs Enterprise are charged in a 12-count indictment with RICO conspiracy involving five separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. Five additional defendants are charged in this indictment with separate drug and gun charges.
As alleged in this indictment, the Highs have been operating primarily in the north side of Minneapolis since approximately 2008. The Highs congregated at specific businesses and residences located at or near the West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North intersection. Prospective Highs members proved their loyalty to the gang by “putting in work,” i.e., committing acts of violence for the benefit of the gang or offering other benefits such as introducing a source for drugs or firearms. Highs members were expelled from the gang and physically assaulted for failing to “put in work.” The Highs’ leaders, or “shot callers,” determined the quantity of drugs bought and sold and the locations where members were permitted to sell the drugs. The shot callers sometimes took the lead in obtaining and distributing firearms to other Highs members.
The indictment alleges a years-long pattern of violence including murders, numerous shootings and acts of retaliation against rival gang members, dealing in fentanyl, and robberies. Between April and September 2021, Highs members are alleged to have committed five murders.
Minneapolis Bloods Enterprise Indictments
Five members and associates of the Minneapolis Bloods charged in a separate indictment, including two who are charged with RICO conspiracy involving two separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. The remaining three defendants are charged with separate drug and gun charges, including using a firearm in a killing for two separate murders.
As alleged in this indictment, the Minneapolis Bloods chapter has been in existence for several decades, controlling and operating territory on the south side of Minneapolis. The hierarchy of the Bloods includes a head or leader of the gang, senior leaders, street-level leaders, and other members or associates. New recruits (called “YGs” or young gangsters) must fight, shoot, or make money to gain respect and increase their position in the gang. The next level in the gang is “OG” (original gangsters), who are well-respected members of the gang, and the highest level is “double OG.” All OGs are equal in rank and can direct “shots” or orders. “Enforcers” carry out the OG’s “shots” or orders by beating or assaulting the offender. Members of the Bloods often wear red clothing, display gang signs, and obtain tattoos that identify the Bloods, its members, or territory.
This indictment alleges a pattern of violence, including a 2020 shootout and murder at the 200 Club in north Minneapolis. In April 2022, Bloods members physically attacked, shot at, and murdered an individual outside of William’s Pub in Uptown. The indictment also alleges other criminal acts, including numerous instances of narcotics trafficking.
The following defendants are charged in the Highs indictment, with all defendants being from Minneapolis, unless otherwise noted below.
- Montez Brown, aka Tez Blood, 31, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Dantrell Johnson, aka Trell Moe, 30, is charged with RICO conspiracy and with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Gregory Hamilton, aka Lil’ Lord, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Keon Pruitt, aka KenKen, 20, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Jovan Knight, aka JoJo, 23, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Tyreese Giles, aka Reese, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- Josiah Taylor, aka Joker, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Douglas Mobley, aka Nut, 35, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Jarrett Robinson, aka Gator, 25, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- Trevaun Robinson, aka Tricky Tre, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Isaac Hodge, aka Ike, 46, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Christopher Finch, aka Twin, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Tony Jelks, aka BD, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Cortez Blakemore, aka Tez, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Randy Tate, aka Randy, 32, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Trevoneia Felton, aka Tre, 21, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Chase Robertson, aka Chase Loco, 25, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Malcolm Samuels, aka Reggie, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- William Banks, aka Bear, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Ronald Washington, aka Black, 36, is charged with RICO conspiracy.
- William Johnson, aka Lil’ Will, 32, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Dashaun Morris, aka Mush, 21, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Ernest Boyd, aka Shaky Shawn, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Maron Bailey, aka Boonie, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
- Isaiah Bell, 20, of St. Paul, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Additionally, the following defendants are Highs members or associates who were charged in individual indictments:
- Montrell Shief, 23, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a machinegun.
- Deon Williams, aka Ghost, 28, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Dennis Mobley, aka Diddy, 34, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The following defendants are named in the Bloods indictment:
- Desean James Solomon, aka Black, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Michael Allen Burrell, aka Skitz, 42, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
- Leontawan Lentez Holt, aka Leon, aka Shotta, aka Shot Dog, 25, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder.
Additionally, the following defendants are Bloods members or associates who were charged separately:
- Theodore Harold Bobo Jr., aka Boo, 37 of St. Paul, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Jordan Kenneth Edwards, aka J-Bird, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Isaiah Lamuel Elisha Ferguson, 26, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Josiah Ferguson, 24, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Demarcus Cortez Garner, 24, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
- Andrew Dayjon Griffin, 32, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Obuatawan Holt, aka Bone, 47, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Latoya Bea Smith, 47, is charged with knowingly transferring firearms to a felon.
- John Eric Solomon, aka Eastside, 33 of Minneapolis, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Traigh Sean Tillman, 29, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Nathan Walz, aka Fat Nate, aka Fat Blood, aka Fat Boy, aka White Boy Nate, 34, of Prior Lake, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control.
Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and S. Benjamin Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Esther Soria Mignanelli, and Joseph S. Teirab for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Plymouth Man Arrested, Charged in Federal Complaint with Arson Following Fires at Two Minneapolis MosquesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Jackie Rahm Little, aka Joel Arthur Tueting, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with arson following fires at two Minneapolis mosques, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Little was apprehended and arrested last night in Mankato by the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office and taken into federal custody today by FBI and ATF agents, with assistance from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments.
According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little, 36, started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, 2023, just before 7:00 p.m., Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al Rahma Mosque. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque and the building was evacuated.
According to court documents, prior to the arson incidents, on January 5, 2023, Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Minneapolis district office of a U.S. Representative. Little spray-painted the text “500” on the front door of the U.S. Representative’s office and photographed the graffiti. Later that same day, Little spray-painted the same text (“500”) on the side of a patrol vehicle assigned to a Somali Minneapolis Police Department officer as well as in an entryway at a marketplace, colloquially referred to as the “Somali Mall.”
Little will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Monday, May 1, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich 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.
Brainerd Felon Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Distribution of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Brainerd man has been sentenced to 150 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on April 26, 2022, a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper traffic stopped Kyle Vernon Elwell, 29, at a gas station in Motley, Minnesota. Elwell was arrested on an active warrant. Before his arrest, Elwell threw a pouch with approximately $7,995 onto the ground. The State Trooper also found a bag with 51 M-30 fentanyl pills on the ground. During a subsequent search of Elwell’s vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 834 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and an unserialized “ghost” handgun.
Elwell pleaded guilty on September 2, 2022, to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was sentenced yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley M. Endicott prosecuted the case.
Maple Grove Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Carjacking at Blaine Grocery Store Parking LotRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maple Grove man has pleaded guilty to an armed carjacking at a Blaine grocery store, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 24, 2022, Justin Michael Kittleson, 20, targeted two victims as they left the Cub Foods grocery store in Blaine and loaded groceries into their car. Kittleson approached one of the victims at the trunk of the car and pointed a gun at them. The second victim attempted to intervene, and a struggle ensued. The gun discharged, and the shot is believed to have grazed the second victim’s ear. Kittleson took control of the car and drove away. A 9MM shell casing was recovered at the scene by officers with the Blaine Police Department. After reviewing surveillance video footage and with the assistance from other members of the public, officers were able to identify and locate Kittleson. On September 29, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence associated with Kittleson and recovered two 9MM firearms (the same caliber as the casing found at the scene of the carjacking) and a hooded sweatshirt that matched the sweatshirt Kittleson was seen wearing in the surveillance footage.
Kittleson pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Ann D. Montgomery to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Kittleson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Law Enforcement Partners in Fourth Annual “Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice” Awards CeremonyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – The United States Attorney’s Office recognized members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies at its fourth annual “Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice” Awards ceremony. The ceremony, held on April 25, 2023, honored law enforcement professionals who have gone above and beyond their duties to safeguard Minnesota’s communities.
“It is a great honor to recognize the exceptional work and unwavering dedication put forth by the law enforcement officials and victim advocates with whom we are fortunate to work on a daily basis,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “In conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, I applaud our law enforcement partners for their outstanding service to our communities and their pursuit of justice for the victims as well as the offenders.”
The honorees are members of the following agencies:
- Bloomington Police Department
- U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General
- Burnsville Police Department
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
- Brooklyn Park Police Department
- Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
- Albert Lea Police Department
- Minnesota Department of Corrections
Maple Grove Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Maple Grove man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in January of 2022, the brothers were both charged in Hennepin County District Court for possession of machineguns after they brought to the funeral of a known gang member firearms that had each been modified with auto sears. An auto sear, also known as a switch, is a device used to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm and is considered a machinegun under federal law. In the spring of 2022, both Cortez and Quantez Ward pleaded guilty to their Hennepin County charges and were released on terms of probation.
On May 6, 2022, the brothers were pulled over by the Maple Grove police department. During that traffic stop, Cortez Ward was in possession of an unserialized Polymer 80 pistol with a large-capacity magazine loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition on his person. Quantez Ward had an AK-style gun in a backpack in the car. On July 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a federal arrest warrant at the Ward brothers’ residence. Inside, law enforcement found multiple firearms, including a 9mm Ruger rifle, a H&K MP5 rifle and a Polymer 80 pistol with a switch.
On November 21, 2022, Quantez Ward pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms as a felon related to several of the firearms recovered on July 19, 2022. He was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. Cortez Ward will be sentenced at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Maple Grove Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.
Thai Woman Sentenced for Her Role in International Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Sumalee Intarathong also known as Alice Spencer Warren has been sentenced for her role in a large-scale international Thai sex trafficking organization, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, the criminal organization conspired to make money by compelling hundreds of women from Bangkok, Thailand, to engage in commercial sex acts in various cities across the United States. Before her arrest in Belgium on August 5, 2016, Intarathong, 62, served as a visa broker for the sex trafficking organization. Each trafficked victim was “owned” by Intarathong and her co-conspirators, until the victim could repay an exorbitant “bondage debt” of between $40,000 and $60,000. Intarathong and other co-conspirators arranged for victims to travel from Thailand to the United States and placed the victims in a house of prostitution somewhere in the United States.
According to court documents, Intarathong and other co-conspirators in the organization engaged in widespread visa fraud to facilitate the international transportation of the victims. Members of the criminal organization assisted the victims in obtaining fraudulent visitor visas and travel documents. As a part of obtaining visa documents, members of the criminal conspiracy gathered personal information from the victims, including the location of the victims’ families in Thailand. This information was later used to threaten victims who became non-compliant or tried to flee the organization in the United States.
One of Intarathong’s victims wrote to the Court: “I am a victim of human trafficking and suffered psychologically because I was afraid that I would be arrested or the traffickers would come hurt or kill me. I was so scared even after the defendants in my case were arrested because I knew them directly. I did not dare go outside and was not able to sleep for a long time.” That victim had to engaged in commercial sex acts with “about seven to eleven customers per day” until she paid off her bondage debt.
According to court documents, the organization dealt primarily in cash and engaged in rampant and sophisticated money laundering in order to promote and conceal illegal profits. Throughout the course of the conspiracy the criminal organization has moved tens of millions of dollars in illegal proceeds from the United States to Thailand and elsewhere.
Intarathong was arrested in Belgium in August 2016 and remained in custody there until she was extradited to the United States in February 2021. On November 29, 2022, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Intarathong, the last of the 38 defendants sentenced in the trafficking scheme, was sentenced today before Senior Judge Donovan W. Frank to time served since her arrest in 2016 and $500,000 in restitution to the victims. In addition, Intarathong agreed to be removed from the United States to Belgium or Thailand and will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out the Court’s order.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, Diplomatic Security Service, St. Paul Police Department, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, and Cook County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office, with the support of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Belgium.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Laura M. Provinzino prosecuted the case with the assistance of the DOJ Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
Rapper “Desiigner” Charged with Indecent Exposure on an AircraftRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A California man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with indecent exposure on an aircraft, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to a law enforcement affidavit, on April 17, 2023, Sidney Royel Selby III, 25, also known as “Desiigner,” was traveling on Delta Flight 120 from Tokyo, Japan, to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. While the flight was in the air, Selby, who was seated in the Delta One cabin, exposed his genitals multiple times. During one of the exposures, he masturbated. A flight attendant handed Selby an FAA violation card, which is a notice that states a passenger’s behavior “appears to be in violation of federal law.” At the request of flight attendants, Selby moved to the rear of the plane and was seated near two travel companions who agreed to monitor him. When Flight 120 arrived in Minneapolis, Selby was detained and interviewed by an FBI agent.
Selby is charged with one count of indecent exposure on an aircraft. The alleged offense is a misdemeanor punishable by no more than 90 days imprisonment and a $500 fine. Selby will make his initial appearance before a Magistrate Judge in U.S. District Court at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew D. Forbes and Laura M. Provinzino 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.
Rochester Drug Trafficker Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man has been sentenced to 235 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for leading a methamphetamine trafficking ring, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, from September 2021 through February 2022, Jerry Lee Milliken, 40, led a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy based in Rochester and operated throughout southeastern Minnesota and elsewhere. Milliken organized the delivery of methamphetamine from a supplier in Kansas City, Missouri, to sub-distributors in the Rochester area. Milliken also collected and received drug proceeds and facilitated communications in support of the conspiracy. Between the fall of 2021 and the winter of 2022, law enforcement seized approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine from the conspiracy during various enforcement operations.
Milliken pleaded guilty on November 18, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson.
Aaron Raymond Dombovy, 30, one of Milliken’s coconspirators, pleaded guilty on November 16, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rochester Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter Jr. prosecuted the case.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking of a Delivery TruckRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Devils Lake, North Dakota man has been sentenced to 136 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carjacking a man at gunpoint in Blaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2022, at approximately 3:52 a.m., Joshua Lee Sinawa, 27, approached a bakery delivery box truck in the parking lot of a Cub Foods in Blaine, Minnesota. While the delivery driver was in the vehicle’s driver seat, Sinawa approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded that the victim get out of the vehicle. Sinawa then forced him to walk into the Cub Foods store at gunpoint. Sinawa left the Cub Foods store while the victim remained inside and fled the scene in the stolen bakery delivery box truck.
Sinawa was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to 52 months for carjacking and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne and Craig R. Baune prosecuted the case.
Bemidji Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Murder and Assault on the Red Lake Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Bemidji woman has been sentenced to 240 months in prison for her role in a murder and an assault that took place in August 2019 on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, shortly before 1:00 a.m. on August 12, 2019, Alexia Gah Gi Gay Mary Cutbank, 21, Mia Faye Sumner, 21, of Duluth, and Daniel Charles Barrett, 31, of Redby, entered the garage of a Red Lake residence where Daniel Alan Johnson was known to reside. Cutbank, Sumner, and Barrett were masked and armed. Once inside, Cutbank fired multiple gunshots, fatally wounding Johnson and seriously injuring a second victim, T.B.S. The three defendants returned to the waiting vehicle and left the scene. To assist the defendants in avoiding arrest, Rose Celeste Siewert, 50, of Cass Lake, drove Cutbank, Barrett, and Sumner off the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
On September 20, 2022, Cutbank pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting murder in the second degree and one count of aiding and abetting assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Cutbank was sentenced yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. Sumner was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 120 months in prison and Siewert was sentenced on March 8, 2023, to 48 months in prison. Barrett will be sentenced at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the FBI, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Duluth Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad prosecuted the case.
Red Lake Felon Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Firearm Possession, Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 22, 2022, after Matt Dion Sayers, 47, had escaped from Red Lake Police custody, agents began investigating Sayers for suspected ongoing drug distribution from a motel in Bemidji. Agents observed Sayers arrive and park his vehicle at the motel, and then enter and exit a silver van parked nearby. Law enforcement detained Sayers moments after he left the van for suspicion of controlled substance sales and driving without a valid driver's license. Sayers told agents that he was staying at a room inside the motel, for which agents had already obtained a search warrant. During a search, agents found approximately 46 grams of fentanyl powder in Sayers’ pants pocket. During a search of Sayers’ Chevy Impala, law enforcement located approximately $11,000 in cash, a small safe containing various packaged controlled substances (including but not limited to multiple additional fentanyl and methamphetamine in small baggies). Law enforcement also located a loaded UZI Pro Brand 9 x 19 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was found on the front driver's side floorboard.
Sayers pleaded guilty on December 13, 2022, to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 16, 2023, before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion and Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.
Sauk Rapids Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Unlicensed Manufacturing, Selling Ghost GunsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Sauk Rapids man has been sentenced to the statutory maximum 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlicensed manufacturing and selling ghost guns, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
“Jay Olson was manufacturing and trafficking untraceable, unmarked firearms and accessories, including a fully automatic machinegun and a silencer. The proliferation of these ghost guns and machinegun conversion devices presents a serious threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “To underscore the significance of his crimes, Mr. Olson has been handed the statutory maximum prison term.”
“A case like this demonstrates the immense value of collaborative law enforcement efforts in curbing gun violence in our communities,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt. “I’m proud of the efforts of our West Metro Drug Taskforce and our Violent Offender Taskforce, who partnered with ATF and Stearns County Sheriff’s Office on this investigation. I would like to thank the U.S Attorney’s Office for our continued partnership as we all work to reduce violent crime in our communities.”
“Firearms trafficking puts dangerous weapons in the hands of violent criminals and will absolutely not be tolerated,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge William McCrary, of the St. Paul Field Division. “We are pleased with the outcome of this case and are grateful to work beside law enforcement partners like Sheriff Witt who make the reduction of gun violence a top priority.”
According to court documents, between the fall of 2021 through April 2022, Jay James Olson, 22, willfully engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms for profit, despite the fact that he is not and has never been a federally licensed manufacturer of firearms. In the spring of 2022, Olson offered to sell numerous unserialized firearms, commonly referred to as “ghost guns,” and various firearms-related accessories, including a silencer, a machinegun conversion device, carbine conversion kits, and multiple high-capacity magazines, to an individual for $20,000. Unbeknownst to Olson, the individual was working with law enforcement as a confidential source. During their conversations, Olson touted the illicit benefits of unserialized firearms and told the confidential source that the price for each firearm would be going up because of the federal government’s then-recent initiative targeting ghost guns.
On April 26, 2022, at a residence in Waite Park, Olson sold the confidential source 16 ghost guns, nine high-capacity magazines, one silencer, a machinegun conversion device, and other firearms accessories. Immediately after the transaction, law enforcement arrested Olson and executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, investigators recovered various firearm assembly kits, unserialized lower receivers, and multiple miscellaneous firearms parts and accessories. On May 4, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Olson’s Sauk Rapids residence, and recovered from the basement manufacturing tools, various firearm assembly kits, and a Glock firearm assembly diagram. The investigation revealed that Olson was trafficking these firearms and offering to sell them to others whom he knew or had reason to know were otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms or intended to use them for unlawful purposes.
Olson plead guilty on September 28, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud to one count of willfully engaging in the business of manufacturing firearms without a license. During Olson’s sentencing hearing yesterday, Judge Eric C. Tostrud said Olson’s actions posed a “grave danger” to the public.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Two Minneapolis Men Indicted for Armed Carjacking, KidnappingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two Minneapolis men have been indicted for violently carjacking, kidnapping, and holding a victim at gunpoint for several hours, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on the evening of February 14, 2023, a man called 911 to report that he had been kidnapped and robbed by three individuals, later identified as Jamal Timothy Funchess, 18, T’Shawn Teon Palton, 21, and a juvenile. The victim reported that he had made arrangements over Facebook Marketplace to buy a cell phone. The victim and the purported seller arranged to meet at a location in Columbia Heights. When the victim arrived at the location and was still in the car, Funchess and Palton approached, and one pointed a firearm at the victim. The men ordered the victim to the backseat of the car. The men then got into the victim’s car, drove a few blocks, and picked up the juvenile. The three individuals held the victim at gunpoint for the next several hours. Each of the three at some point held the firearm and pointed it at the victim. During this time, they demanded that the victim surrender his cell phone, wallet, credit cards, and banking information. They drove to several gas stations around the Twin Cities in an attempt to use the victim’s cards to withdraw money. At one point, one of the men struck the victim in the face with the firearm. Toward the end of the ordeal, the three men discussed what to do with the victim and openly talked about murdering him. Eventually, they dropped the victim on a road in St. Paul and drove away in the victim’s car. The victim ran to a nearby gas station and borrowed an employee’s cell phone to call 911.
Officers were able to use the location of the victim’s stolen cell phone to find Palton, Funchess, and the juvenile kidnapper, along with the victim’s stolen car and possessions.
The indictment charges Funchess and Palton with kidnapping, carjacking, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The defendants, who are currently in federal custody, previously made initial appearances on a related complaint in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bloomington Police Department, and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Hudleston and Matthew D. Forbes are 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.
Eagan Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Eagan man has been sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to his guilty plea, Tyler Michael Sauve, 29, admitted to possessing thousands of images and videos depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Sauve pleaded guilty on December 15, 2022, to one count of receipt of child pornography. Sauve was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Eagan Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich prosecuted the case.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal Prison for RapeRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a woman in her home on the Red Lake Reservation, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
As proven at trial, on July 3, 2020, Descart Austin Begay, Jr., 38, knowingly raped and sexually assaulted a victim in her home until she was finally able to escape.
On September 6, 2022, Begay was found guilty on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse. Begay was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Finds Anton “Tony” Lazzaro Guilty on All Counts in Child Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been found guilty by a federal jury of orchestrating a sex trafficking conspiracy in which he trafficked multiple minor girls, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a 10-day trial before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, Anton Joseph Lazzaro, a/k/a “Tony Lazzaro,” 32, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and five counts of sex trafficking of minors. Lazzaro’s co-defendant, Gisela Castro Medina, 20, pleaded guilty on December 19, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and one count of obstruction. Sentencing hearings for Lazzaro and Castro Medina will be scheduled at a later date.
The prosecution team, led by Assistant United States Attorneys Melinda Williams, Laura Provinzino and Emily Polachek, emphasized that this case “represents the face of modern-day sex trafficking.” They went on to state that, “today’s guilty verdict recognizes the bravery of the five young victims who were trafficked by Lazzaro. We are humbled by their courage and inspired by their journeys to regain their power.”
“Today, justice was served. This judgment of guilt means that Mr. Lazzaro will never again be able to use his fortune to manipulate young, vulnerable girls for his benefit. Few crimes are as heinous as the sexual exploitation of minors. The FBI and its law enforcement partners are dedicated to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of society and will continue to use all available resources to investigate anyone who engages in such predatory criminal activity.” said Alvin M. Winston, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Minneapolis Division.
“We hope the individuals Lazzaro victimized feel some sense of justice today, and that all sex trafficking survivors know we will continue to work to hold accountable the men and women who commit these terrible crimes. This verdict reinforces that no one is above the law. Lazzaro’s wealth and privilege helped him facilitate these crimes but did not shield him from justice,” said Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
As proven at trial, Lazzaro conspired with Castro Medina to recruit young girls – 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds – to have sex with him in exchange for cash and other items of value. Lazzaro met Castro Medina in May of 2020 through the Seeking Arrangements website, which is known as a “sugar daddy” website. Lazzaro directed Castro Medina to identify girls she knew and others on social media who would have sex with him for money. Lazzaro specified that he was looking for young girls of a certain skin color, petite body type, and those who were considered vulnerable, referring to them as “broken girls.” Castro Medina would show Lazzaro photographs of minor girls and if Lazzaro “approved” Castro Medina would provide the minor’s contact information to Lazzaro. Castro Medina told the minors that Lazzaro was an older guy with a lot of money, and that he wanted to be a sugar daddy to younger girls. For her role in recruiting multiple minor girls, Lazzaro paid Castro Medina more than $50,000.
As proven at trial, Lazzaro often sent cars, typically Ubers, to transport the minor girls to his luxury condo in the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis. At one point, Lazzaro sent a driver to pick up a group of 14 and 15-year-olds from a slumber party in St. Michael, Minnesota. When minor girls came to his condo, Lazzaro would give them alcohol, flash stacks of cash, and offer the girls precise sums of money to perform various sex acts. Lazzaro would send the minor girls home with cash, vapes, alcohol, Plan B, cell phones, and other items of value. Lazzaro carried out this trafficking scheme from May 2020 through December 2020.
Following the execution of federal search warrants at Lazzaro’s condo on December 15, 2020, Lazzaro and Castro Medina discussed which of the minor victims spoke to law enforcement. As part of her guilty plea, Castro Medina admitted that in March 2021, she and Lazzaro agreed to pay off a 15-year-old victim to prevent her from talking to law enforcement about engaging in commercial sex with Lazzaro.
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI and the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force – led by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Minneapolis Police Department, the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams, Laura M. Provinzino, and Emily A. Polachek tried the case.
Coon Rapids Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening a U.S. SenatorRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Coon Rapids man has been sentenced to one year and one day for making interstate threats against a U.S. Senator, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on June 11, 2022, Brendon Michael Daugherty, 35, left two voicemail messages on the field office telephone of a U.S. Senator located outside the state of Minnesota. Both messages contained threats of violence directed at the U.S. Senator. In his first message, Daugherty stated, “You and the Republican Party should be proud that you’re pushing me to become a domestic terrorist. Have a nice [expletive] day; can’t wait to kill ya.” In his second message, Daugherty stated, “I also just wanted to note, thank God the Republican Party is against gun control laws because it would keep guns out of the hands of a person that was disabled and volatile like I am, but you guys are totally against that. So, I may actually get to carry out my nefarious goals.” Field office staff retrieved and recorded the messages and reported them to U.S. Capitol Police.
Daugherty pleaded guilty on November 1, 2022, to one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure the person of another. Daugherty was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. In handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud emphasized that threats directed at elected officials pose a “pernicious threat to our democratic institutions.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen prosecuted the case.
Brooklyn Park Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Brooklyn Park man was sentenced to 87 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on September 19, 2021, Marlin Lavar White, 27, possessed a Springfield Armory, model XDM-9, 9mm caliber, semiautomatic pistol while in downtown Minneapolis. When White saw police officers he ran and placed the firearm into a planter near a hotel. The firearm was later recovered from the planter.
Because White has several prior felony convictions in Hennepin County, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing any firearms or ammunition. White pleaded guilty on December 1, 2022, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced yesterday by Senior Judge Ann D. Montgomery.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David P. Steinkamp, Justin A. Wesley, and Craig R. Baune prosecuted the case.
Minnesota Pool Contractor Charged in Federal Indictment for Defrauding HomeownersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Scott County man has been indicted on four counts of wire fraud for defrauding multiple homeowners in a swimming pool contracting scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Charles Ray Workman, 37, was the owner of MN Crete Pools, LLC, a Minnesota company that marketed and sold concrete swimming pools to families and individuals in and throughout the Twin Cities area. Beginning in 2021 continuing through 2022, Workman knowingly devised a scheme to market and advertise concrete swimming pools and pool installation services to customers around Minnesota. In soliciting down payments for the swimming pools, Workman represented to his customers that in exchange for their down payments he could “secure” their spot in MN Crete Pool’s workload for the installation of a swimming pool the same year their down payment was provided.
According to court documents, between April 2021 and June 2021, Workman collected down payments from approximately one customer a month and subsequently failed to complete pool projects for any of those customers. Despite this, Workman increased the rate at which he signed up customers and collected down payments throughout the remaining summer months, despite knowing he had not fully utilized customer down payments for the completion of pool projects. Workman sometimes falsely represented to customers he only had one spot left available for a certain customer, before continuing to solicit and signup customers after making that representation.
According to court documents, Workman converted some or all of customers’ payments for his own personal use and benefit, including $3,000 in child support payments, $18,000 at a casino, and more than $6,000 on a horse and saddle. In total, Workman fraudulently solicited and received more than $750,000 in payments from customers for whom he did not construct and install a complete and operational concrete swimming pool.
Workman, who was arrested on March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Alistair E. Newbern, in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Tennessee. He will appear for his arraignment on April 10, 2023, before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Esther Soria Mignanelli 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 Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2021, Clifton Earl Jiles, 31, purchased a Glock Model 27, 40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, stating on the ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of the firearm, however he was not. Jiles admitted to making false statements to purchase at least nine firearms. Jiles also admitted he gave one of the firearms to an individual who was legally unable to possess it.
Jiles pleaded guilty on October 20, 2022, to one count of false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Jiles was sentenced yesterday before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.