District of Minnesota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Three Men Sentenced to Prison for their Roles in a Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring in greater Minnesota.
According to court documents, From May 2020 through September 2020, Aaron Michael Stenquist, 50, of Isanti, Gerald Allen Jensen, 58, of Brook Park, and Juan Jose Paniagua, 25, of West Covina, California, and others conspired together to sell methamphetamine in the Twin Cities as well as Pine and Kanabec Counties.
Over the summer of 2020, members of the East Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force (ECDVOTF) began developing information that Jensen was selling large amounts of methamphetamine out of his Brook Park residence. On July 29, 2020, Stenquist was stopped by a Minnesota State Trooper near East Bethel. During a subsequent search of Stenquist’s vehicle, the Trooper found approximately 355 grams of methamphetamine, which he had purchased from Jensen. On September 16, 2020, ECDVOTF agents searched Jensen’s home and seized approximately 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside PVC pipes. On September 18, 2020, Paniagua along with alleged co-conspirator Miguel Eduardo Del Real, 26, arranged for a methamphetamine delivery from the Twin Cities to Jensen at the Grand Casino in Hinkley. The attempted delivery was brought by co-defendant Ivan Lopez, 26, and was intercepted by ECDVOTF agents. The agents arrested Lopez at the scene. Paniagua and Del Real fled the scene. After a 90-minute manhunt involving police canine and thermal imaging, law enforcement found Paniagua and arrested him. Agents separately recovered approximately seven kilograms of methamphetamine in vacuum sealed bags from within the trunk of Lopez’s vehicle.
Defendants Lopez, Stenquist, Jensen, and Paniagua each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Stenquist was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison, Jensen was sentenced on July 14, 2021, to 112 months in prison, and Paniagua was sentenced on October 8, 2021, to 80 months in prison. Lopez is awaiting sentencing. On November 2, 2021, alleged co-conspirator Del Real was arrested in San Diego, California, pursuant to a federal warrant.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced the defendants.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the East Central Drug and Violent Offender Task Force, the Kanabec County Sheriff’s Office, the Pine County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Paul Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter.
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Mexican National Charged with Possessing Firearms, Methamphetamine in Checked Luggage at MSP AirportRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against a Mexican national after TSA agents at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport found firearms and methamphetamine in his luggage, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on October 29, 2021, Kevin Alan Aguilar-Moreno, 20, attempted to board a Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix, checking two suitcases prior to boarding. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening determined that Aguilar-Moreno’s luggage contained approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine; a FN, Model 509 9x19 pistol; a Rock Island Armory, 1911 A1-FS pistol; an AR-15 type firearm with no serial number; and 241 rounds of .223 ammunition, of which 39 were armor piercing ammunition. Law enforcement determined that the AR-15 type firearm is a privately made firearm (PMF). These firearms are commonly known as “ghost guns” because they do not have serial numbers, which makes them difficult for law enforcement to trace.
Aguilar-Moreno is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms while illegally present in the United States. Aguilar-Moreno made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson in U.S. District Court.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Dunne is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Convicted of Civil Rights Violations, Stealing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A former Minneapolis police officer was found guilty of stealing controlled substances and violating individuals’ civil rights through unconstitutional searches and seizures, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a nine-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank, Ty Raymond Jindra, 29, was convicted of three counts of acquiring a controlled substance by deception and two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.
“Ty Jindra failed to uphold his oath as a peace officer, he failed the community he was sworn to serve, and he failed his fellow officers” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk. “This office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate corruption and blatant abuse of authority. I am grateful to the Minneapolis Police Department for rooting out Jindra’s wrongdoing and notifying the FBI.”
“The cornerstone of the public’s trust in law enforcement relies on the expectation that each person who takes the oath to protect and serve the public will do so with integrity. Today, former Officer Jindra was convicted of violating that trust,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Paul. “I’m proud of our entire investigative team of agents and analysts that worked collaboratively with the Minneapolis Police Department after it brought forth concerns regarding the former officer’s conduct. They exemplify our commitment to ensure all public servants are worthy of the public’s trust and confidence.”
As proven at trial, from September 2017 through October 2019, Jindra, a former police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department (“MPD”), abused his position in order to obtain controlled substances including methamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl, tramadol, and other drugs by deception and by conducting unconstitutional searches and seizures.
As part of his scheme, Jindra diverted controlled substances for his own purposes by various means in the course of his duties as a MPD officer. Jindra diverted controlled substances by not reporting, logging, placing into evidence, or informing his partner or other officers on scene about the controlled substances that he had confiscated. On some occasions, Jindra would find ways to interact with or search an individual, vehicle, or residence so that he could surreptitiously recover controlled substances without his partner’s knowledge. At times, Jindra conducted searches beyond the scope warranted under the circumstances in attempt to recover controlled substances.
Jindra faces a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison on each count of acquiring a controlled substance and a maximum of one year in prison on each civil rights count. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with substantial assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber M. Brennan and Michelle E. Jones.
Detroit Lakes Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Convenience Store on the White Earth Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Detroit Lakes man pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a convenience store on the White Earth Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on November 11, 2020, Levi Brandin Jerome, 33, entered a convenience store located on the White Earth Indian Reservation carrying an American Tactical Imports, Omni Hybrid, multi-caliber rifle. Jerome pointed the rifle at the store clerk and demanded she open the cash register. Jerome stole approximately $2,250 in cash from the register and from a drawer next to the register before fleeing the store.
Jerome pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of robbery. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the White Earth Police Department, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Devils Lake (North Dakota) Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
St. Paul Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing Meth, PCP, Cocaine, Heroin, MarijuanaRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for his role in a multi-drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Buster Travoire Gaston, 45, participated in a drug distribution conspiracy. On June 12, 2019, Gaston and his co-conspirator were traveling back to Minnesota driving a rental car that was loaded with drugs. A Minnesota State Trooper stopped them and searched the vehicle. The search yielded four kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of heroin, one kilogram of cocaine, four boxes of marijuana edibles, three vacuum-sealed bags of THC wax containers, three bags of marijuana bud, and nine mason jars containing a liquid PCP mixture.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter and Lauren O. Roso.
Federal Jury Convicts Minneapolis Felon of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury convicted a Minneapolis man for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Nancy E. Brasel, Gregory Lynn McCoy, 60, was convicted on one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Due to his multiple prior felony convictions, McCoy qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 23, 2019, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on McCoy’s Dodge Durango and found an MC 1911 .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol in the center console. The vehicle was registered to McCoy and McCoy’s DNA was found on one of the three magazines found adjacent to the gun. Law enforcement also found a box of MagTech .45 caliber ammunition in McCoy’s residence. Because McCoy has multiple prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. MacLaughlin and Joseph S. Teirab.
St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on February 5, 2019, officers with the St. Paul Police Department observed Michael Antonio Miller, 38, and his girlfriend leave a residence and drive away together in a vehicle. At the time, there was an active Domestic Abuse No Contact Order in place between Miller and his girlfriend. The officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. As officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle where the girlfriend was seated, she opened the center console and moved some papers out of the way to reveal a loaded Smith and Wesson, .40 caliber pistol. In an interview following his arrest, Miller admitted that the firearm was his. Because of his prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Miller is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition at any time.
Miller pleaded guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. A sentencing hearing has been set for December 14, 2021.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates and Ruth S. Shnider are prosecuting the case.
Physical Therapy Provider to Pay $4 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – RehabAuthority, LLC, a physical therapy company with operations in Minnesota, has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims for payment for outpatient physical therapy services in violation of the False Claims Act.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, RehabAuthority clinics submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for payment to the government for outpatient physical therapy. The clinics, located in Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, and Wyoming, improperly billed Medicare Part B, Minnesota Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Veterans Health Administration for one-on-one outpatient physical therapy, including therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, ultrasounds, therapeutic activities, and gait training. The resolution centered on allegations that the company billed the government for direct, one-one-one care with physical therapists, but did not provide it when it overbooked government beneficiaries for certain outpatient physical therapy services.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act against RehabAuthority. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and the State of Minnesota ex rel. Cami Lane v. RehabAuthority, LLC, et al., No. 17-cv-5103 (DWF/ECW).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Defense Health Agency, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk of the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Bildtsen handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Golden Valley Man Indicted for Downloading and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Golden Valley man has been arrested and charged with receiving and distributing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in January 2021, John Scott Enderlein, 59, knowingly downloaded and distributed multiple video files depicting graphic child sexual abuse. Prior to these alleged offenses, in December 1995, Enderlein was convicted in Hennepin County of second degree criminal sexual conduct and was required to register as a sex offender.
Enderlein, who was arrested this morning by the FBI, made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson. Enderlein is charged with five counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Individuals Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking a Minor at a Bloomington HotelRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Maria Candelaria Zambrano Zavala, 27, and Humberto Rangel-Torres, 51, were sentenced to 144 months and 72 months in prison, respectively, for sex trafficking a minor out of a Bloomington hotel.
According to court documents, beginning in March 2019 through May 2019, Zambrano Zavala began transporting and providing a minor for commercial sex to Rangel-Torres, who was at the time a construction worker residing at a hotel in Bloomington. On multiple occasions, Rangel-Torres arranged for commercial sex acts through Zambrano Zavala and paid Zambrano Zavala or the minor in cash for each commercial sex act.
“These defendants knowingly engaged in the sexual exploitation of a child for their own selfish gains,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk. “Criminals who victimize and abuse children in this way will be investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned.”
In April 2021, Zambrano Zavala pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and Rangel-Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. In addition to the prison time, U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud also sentenced Zambrano Zavala to 10 years of supervised release and Rangel-Torres to five years of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 was the result of an investigation conducted by HSI and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manda M. Sertich and Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.
St. Paul Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Downloading and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a St. Paul man for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on January 4, 2020, Drayton Dean Wilson, 28, downloaded an image containing depictions of child sexual abuse. On June 1, 2020, and October 15, 2020, Wilson was found in possession of multiple digital files containing depictions of child sexual abuse. On February 2, 2010, prior to these allegations, Wilson was convicted in Cass County of second degree criminal sexual conduct and was required to register as a sex offender.
Wilson is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Justice Department Obtains Consent Decree in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owners of Minneapolis Area Rental PropertiesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – The Justice Department today announced that it has obtained a consent decree with Reese Pfeiffer and several other defendants to resolve allegations that Pfeiffer violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by subjecting 23 women to severe and repeated sexual harassment and retaliation at residential properties defendants own or manage in and around Minneapolis.
Under the consent decree, the defendants must pay a total of $736,000 in compensation to 23 victims of the alleged sexual harassment and retaliation, and a $14,000 civil penalty to the United States. Additionally, the consent decree permanently bars Reese Pfeiffer from property management and requires the retention of an independent property manager approved by the Department of Justice at specified Twin Cities properties. The defendants must also undergo education and training on the FHA, with specific emphasis on discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual harassment.
The defendants are property managers/owners Reese Pfeiffer, Jeanne Pfeiffer, Michael Fruen and Jeremy Martineau and business entities Fruen & Pfeiffer LLP (F&P) and M. Fruen Properties (MFP).
The consent decree, entered today by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, resolves a lawsuit that the department filed in Sept. 2020, as well as a related private lawsuit brought by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid on behalf of three women who were subjected to Pfeiffer’s alleged sexual harassment.
“All people deserve to feel safe in their homes,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual harassment in housing deprives individuals of that security. The Justice Department will not tolerate landlords who abuse their power by sexually harassing their tenants and will continue to work resolutely to hold such persons accountable and obtain relief for their victims.”
“The sexual harassment and discrimination of female tenants is unacceptable and a violation of federal law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota. “This resolution helps restore the public safety of these female tenants. No one should be subjected to an environment of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, especially in their own homes.”
The United States’ lawsuit alleged that Reese Pfeiffer, property manager for numerous rental properties in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs, subjected multiple female tenants and prospective tenants to sexual harassment. The complaint alleged that Reese Pfeiffer commented on female tenants’ looks and body parts, engaged in unwelcome touching, asked personal questions about their relationship status, made unwelcome sexual advances, discussed sexual topics without consent, entered their homes under the pretense of collecting rent to solicit sexual favors, and offered them rental benefits, such as excusing late or unpaid rent, in exchange for sexual favors. The complaint further alleged that Reese Pfeiffer’s co-defendants are vicariously liable for Pfeiffer’s discriminatory conduct because he acted as their agent when he sexually harassed tenants at properties in which they had an ownership interest.
This case is handled by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. The goal of the initiative is to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the Initiative in October 2017, the Department of Justice has filed 23 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $4.8 million for victims of such harassment.
If you think you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord, or other forms of housing discrimination, you may contact the Justice Department by submitting a report online or contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota at (612) 664-5600.
Reports also may be made by contacting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Red Lake man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child over the course of several years, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, between August 2014 and August 2020, Kory Paul Lussier, 25, knowingly and repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with a minor female who was between seven and thirteen years old at the time.
Lussier pleaded guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson to one count of abusive sexual contact with a child. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
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St. Paul Felon Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Possessing Firearms, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man was sentenced today to 110 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing firearms as a felon and for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on March 22, 2021, officers with the Eagan Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop and arrest Joshua Cameron Hanes, 32, on an outstanding felony warrant. Hanes, driving a rented Jeep Compass, tried to flee from officers and smashed into one of the squad cars. After several minutes of disregarding officers’ verbal commands, Hanes eventually exited his vehicle and was taken into custody.
According to court documents, officers searched the Jeep Compass and recovered two bags of methamphetamine weighing a total of 198 grams, and a loaded Springfield Armory, 9mm semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen in Hudson, Wisconsin. As part of his plea, Hanes also admitted to possessing a 9mm semiautomatic pistol with a high-capacity magazine. On September 14, 2021, Hanes pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Because he has prior felony convictions, Hanes is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Eagan Police Department, and the St. Paul Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating an FBI Agent about a Fake Terrorism Investigation Concerning Victim’s HouseholdRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to impersonating a federal officer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2017, Bernard Holmes, 66, pretended to be a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Holmes spoofed his telephone number to make it appear that he was calling his victim from the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. Holmes provided the victim with his purported name, “FBI Special Agent John Tidwell,” and alleged FBI badge number. Holmes falsely stated that he was investigating terrorism-related conduct involving the victim's household, including terrorism evidence that supposedly originated from a computer and IP address at the victim's house. In his fake capacity, Holmes asked questions of the victim in furtherance of the supposed terrorism investigation.
Holmes pleaded guilty today to one count of impersonating a federal officer before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
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Minneapolis Man Arrested, Charged with Straw Purchasing Firearm Used in West Seventh Street ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against Jerome Fletcher Horton, 25, for illegally purchasing multiple firearms, one of which was used in a recent St. Paul shooting, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
On October 10, 2021, gunfire erupted inside the Seventh Street Truck Park bar in St. Paul. Amid the gunfire, 14 people were injured and 27-year-old Marquisha Wiley was killed.
According to court documents, investigators with the St. Paul Police Department identified one of the suspects in the shooting. Surveillance video footage showed the suspect leave the bar holding a firearm and get into the back of a vehicle. Investigators later recovered from the vehicle a Mossberg model MC2C 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Investigators also recovered numerous 9mm discharged cartridge casings inside of the bar, which were consistent with the caliber of the firearm recovered from the vehicle.
According to court documents, a trace of the firearm revealed that it was purchased by Horton on July 31, 2021, from a Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) in Blaine. When Horton purchased the firearm, he stated on ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. A review of sales reports submitted by various FFLs in and around the Twin Cities metropolitan area revealed that Horton had purchased 33 firearms from June 15, 2021, through October 17, 2021. On October 19, 2021, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Horton’s residence and found no firearms, despite his multiple purchases.
“As recent tragedies have shown, illegal guns on the street make our communities less safe for everyone,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “Stopping straw purchasers from putting guns in the hands of violent felons is a priority for my office and for the Department of Justice.”
Horton has been charged with making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. He made his initial appearance today before Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer in U.S. District Court.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Substitute Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sextortion ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Carver County man pleaded guilty to child pornography and extortion charges related to a years-long sextortion scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, Mitchell James Ottinger, 25, a former substitute teacher and paraprofessional, engaged in a scheme to obtain sexually explicit images and videos of minors and adults by using false online personas. Ottinger threatened to disseminate the images and videos of his victims in order to extort more images and videos. Over the course of several years Ottinger victimized more than 10 minors, some of whom he knew from the school district where he worked.
Law enforcement was alerted to the sextortion when one of the victims contacted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center and reported the threats. Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.
Ottinger pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright to two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography and one count of interstate communication with intent to extort. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the FBI and the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi is prosecuting the case.
Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Ponemah man pleaded guilty today to second degree murder after violently assaulting a woman on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in 2019, William Jones, IV, 24, and the victim were involved in a romantic relationship and lived together at the victim’s house in Ponemah. During the evening of November 6, 2019, Jones repeatedly assaulted the victim in their residence, hitting her on the shoulders, arms, and torso, and throwing her against a wall. After the assault the victim fell to the floor and struck her head. Jones did not contact emergency personnel or attempt to render aid. The victim remained in the house unconscious for almost two days, where Jones chose not to contact emergency personnel or otherwise render any aid to the victim.
According to court documents, on November 8, 2019, Jones’s mother contacted emergency personnel after arriving at the house and observing the victim’s condition. The victim was transported to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, where medical personnel determined that the victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, which caused the victim to remain in a persistent vegetative state with no hope for recovery. As a result of her injuries, the victim died on November 22, 2019.
“This defendant not only perpetrated an extremely violent assault on his victim, he showed complete disregard for human life when he failed to seek medical aid,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who commit horrific acts of domestic violence such as this, which disproportionately plague Native American women.”
Jones pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel. A sentencing date has not been set.
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. Attorneys Evan B. Gilead and Deidre Y. Aanstad are prosecuting the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution RingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in February of 2021, Randall Alex Ayon, 29, was one of three occupants staying at a hotel room in South St. Paul. While executing a search warrant for the room, law enforcement discovered two separate bags above the rented room’s bathroom ceiling tiles. Inside the two bags were several clear plastic baggies that contained approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized a wire transfer receipt and seven cell phones from the hotel room. On June 24, 2021, Ayon pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dakota County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Utah State Highway Patrol.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter, Jr.
Hell's Angels Member Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing pound quantities of high-purity methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between April and July 2019, Justin Steven Schmitz, 39, a member of the Minneapolis Chapter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, sold multiple pounds of high-purity methamphetamine to an undercover officer for approximately $6,000 per pound. After pleading guilty on August 14, 2020, to one count of methamphetamine distribution, Schmitz absconded from a treatment center and fled to California, where he remained a fugitive for nearly three months before being apprehended and brought back to Minnesota.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, the St. Paul Police Department, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Rochester Police Department, the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha H. Bates and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.
Former Fortune Bay Casino Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling More Than $300,000Read the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Louis County woman was sentenced today to eight months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and full restitution for embezzling more than $300,000 in Tribal funds.
“Ms. Boutto took advantage of the managerial position she had been trusted with and selfishly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “This brazen theft of Tribal funds deeply impacted the Tribe’s ability to provide services to its own members. Today’s sentence signals the seriousness of Ms. Boutto’s crimes.”
“Far too often crimes are committed against tribes in Indian Country and the punishment is a slap on the wrist,” said Bois Forte Tribal Chairwoman Cathy Chavers. “We applaud Judge Tostrud for realizing the seriousness of the crime committed. Boutto serving time in federal prison reinforces the fact that crimes like these won’t be tolerated.” Chavers went on to say, “we are relieved to put an end to this matter and are now able to breathe a bit easier seeing justice done. Now our community can begin the process of healing and ensuring this never happens again.”
According to court documents, in 2008, Jennifer Lynn Boutto, 33, began working as a reservationist at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino, which is owned and operated by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. Boutto later received a promotion to Front Desk Supervisor, a position that allowed her to issue cash refunds without direct supervision. Between January 2013 and October 2019, Boutto used her position at Fortune Bay to steal money by issuing false cash refunds against the invoices of previous Fortune Bay customers. Boutto would then access the Fortune Bay vault and retrieve the falsely refunded amount. In total, Boutto executed the scheme 2,994 times and stole $315,739.87.
On March 9, 2021, Boutto pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of Tribal funds.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with significant assistance from the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing.
Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine out of Hotel RoomsRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Burnsville man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2020, law enforcement determined that Eric Michael Dungy, 50, was selling methamphetamine out of hotel rooms in the Twin Cities metro area. On September 30, 2020, law enforcement encountered Dungy in the Element Hotel parking lot in Bloomington. Agents arrested Dungy and found heroin and $16,621 in cash on his person. Agents conducted a search of Dungy’s vehicle and recovered 364 grams of methamphetamine, three methamphetamine pipes, needles, gallon Ziploc bags with methamphetamine residue on them, an electronic money counter, and a Kel-Tec 9mm handgun. On October 3, 2020, law enforcement searched Dungy’s unoccupied hotel room and found 5.5 pounds of methamphetamine and other personal effects belonging to Dungy.
After obtaining release on bail from the Hennepin County Jail in November 2020, Dungy was again investigated for methamphetamine distribution and by December 14, 2020, he agreed to sell three pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover officer for $15,000. On the same day, law enforcement searched two adjacent rooms he rented at the Country Inn & Suites in Bloomington, and recovered approximately 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 13.5 grams of heroin, three digital scales, multiple small Ziplock bags, eleven phones, and $12,286 in cash.
Dungy pleaded guilty today to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cannon River Drug and Violent Offender Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Paul Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter Jr. is prosecuting the case.
Stock Promoters Plead Guilty to “Pump and Dump” Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two men have entered guilty pleas to securities fraud charges in connection to their illegal pump-and-dump stock manipulation scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to their guilty pleas, Mark Allen Miller, 44, of Breezy Point, and Christopher James Rajkaran, 36, of Queens, New York, and Guyana, participated in a scheme to hijack and assume control over dormant public shell companies. The defendants used their control over the companies to fraudulently manipulate and pump up the price of the companies' stock so that they could profit from the sale of stock to unwitting investors.
The defendants carried out their scheme by obtaining hundreds of thousands or even millions of shares of stock in dormant public shell companies that traded over-the-counter at low prices, often for less than a fraction of a penny per share. The defendants then assumed control over the shell companies by creating fake and filing fake resignation letters and board resolutions purporting to announce the resignation of the existing management team and the appointment of one or more conspirators as new officers and directors of the companies. The conspirators used their control over the hijacked shell companies to issue fraudulent press releases and filings designed to fraudulently inflate and “pump up” the price of the hijacked companies’ stock. The defendants then sold or “dumped” their stock at the fraudulently inflated prices.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud before Senior Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court. Miller entered his guilty plea earlier today and Rajkaran entered his guilty plea on October 7, 2021. Co-conspirator Saeid Jaberian, 59, of Hopkins, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, securities fraud, and wire fraud charges.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance on this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson and Miranda E. Dugi are prosecuting the case.
Ponsford Man Sentenced to Prison for Violent Assault on the White Earth Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – A Ponsford man was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violently assaulting a man on the White Earth Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, during the early morning hours of June 3, 2020, Wesley Robert Warren, 23, and another man got into an argument with the victim. The argument escalated into a physical altercation and Warren and the other man knocked out the victim. Once the fight was over and the victim was laying face down on the ground, Warren continued the assault by picking up a 42-pound cinderblock and dropping it on the back of the victim’s head. As a result of the assault the victim was hospitalized for several weeks due to brain trauma and was later transferred to a long-term care facility.
On June 17, 2021, following a four-day jury trial, Warren was found guilty of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Police Department, and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Caleb J. Dogeagle.
Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Minneapolis Police officers received information that Brandon Marcel Thomas, 33, was engaged in drug and firearms trafficking. Officers executed a search warrant at a storage locker in Minneapolis that had been leased by Thomas since approximately October 2020. Officers recovered from the storage locker seven firearms, including a Radical Firearms, .300 caliber, semi-automatic rifle; a Smith and Wesson, .357 caliber, pistol; a Taurus, 9mm caliber, pistol; a Glock, .40 caliber, pistol; a Smith and Wesson, .380 caliber, pistol; a Glock .45 caliber, pistol; and a Glock, .22 caliber, pistol.
Because Thomas has prior felony convictions, including a 2009 federal carjacking conviction in the District of Minnesota, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Thomas entered his guilty plea today before Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp is prosecuting the case.
Dodge County Man Indicted on Impersonating a Federal Officer and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against a Dodge County man for impersonating a federal officer, felon in possession of firearms, felon in possession of explosives, possession of unregistered firearms, and possession of an unauthorized badge, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on August 17, 2021, the FBI received a tip that Reyel Devon Simmons, 52, of Dodge Center, was impersonating a federal agent with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The investigation revealed that Simmons used the false name “Rey Reeves,” and regularly held himself out as a federal agent on social media. Simmons, who had nearly 10,000 followers on TikTok, used a profile photo that showed him wearing law enforcement gear and made several posts displaying law enforcement equipment, badges, and firearms, and referring explicitly and implicitly to himself as a federal agent. Simmons is not, and has never been, employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
According to court documents, during the September 20, 2021 arrest of Simmons, law enforcement discovered a “go bag” that bore the departmental emblem of the Department of Homeland Security and contained a Glock handgun, fake Department of Homeland Security badge, and other items related to Simmons’ supposed service in law enforcement and the military. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at Simmons’ residence. Law enforcement seized seven firearms from the property, where most were discovered in a “safe room” or bunker that could be accessed only through a hidden doorway located in the storage area of the basement. Law enforcement also found silencers/suppressors, a suspected detonating cord, and a suspected blasting cap in the secret space. Law enforcement determined that the silencer/suppressors were not registered with the National Firearms Registry and Transfer Record (NFRTR). Law enforcement later assessed the suspected detonating cord and concluded that it contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), an explosive. Additionally, law enforcement found thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor with law enforcement emblems affixed to it, and other law enforcement style badges and identification documents.
Because Simmons has a prior felony conviction in Colorado, he is prohibited under federal law, from possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives at any time.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, ATF, Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Owatonna Police Department, Kasson Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department Bomb Squad, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander D. Chiquoine is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to St. Paul Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery in relation to a robbery spree of St. Paul businesses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2021, Warren Dean, 27, entered a Speedway gas station, flashed a realistic looking replica gun at the employees, and ordered them to give him money from the cash register. Dean ordered the employees to lay on the ground and fled the scene with approximately $292 in cash.
As part of his guilty plea to the Speedway robbery, Dean also admitted to robbing or attempting to rob another six St. Paul businesses between June 14 and 16, 2021. After his last robbery on June 16, St. Paul police attempted to apprehend Dean, but he fled from officers and led them on a 30-mile car chase that ended in north Minneapolis after Dean crashed into multiple parked cars. After his vehicle stopped, Dean refused to surrender and a four-hour standoff ensued before officers were able to take Dean into custody without incident.
Dean entered his guilty plea yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the FBI, the St. Paul Police Department, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs is prosecuting the case.
Minneapolis Felon Indicted for Making Threats Against Hennepin County Government Officials, Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against a Minneapolis man for making threats against Hennepin County employees and illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2021, the Hennepin County District Court issued an arrest warrant for Peter Robert Berry, 60, after he failed to appear in court for a hearing. Berry called an employee of Hennepin County Community Corrections to ask questions about his court appearance. During the call Berry became angry and began yelling and threatened to “shoot up the place.” That same day, Berry left a voice message for a Hennepin County Probation Officer in which Berry demanded a call back before he starts “killing everybody.” On June 25, 2021, Berry called a Hennepin County Service Center employee who informed him of the active warrant for his arrest due to his failure to appear in court. Upon learning about the warrant, Berry stated that he was going to “come down and kill everybody, all the judges, clerks, and deputies.” On June 29, 2021, Berry left a voice message for a Hennepin County Public Defender in which Berry expressed his dissatisfaction with the representation he received in his criminal case and threatened that people were going to die and stated that he knew where the public defender lived.
According to court documents, on July 10, 2020, and on April 7, 2021, Berry unlawfully possessed three firearms, including a Beretta .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol, and a Diamondback DB15 rifle. Because Berry has prior felony convictions in Hennepin, Dakota, and Ramsey Counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Berry is charged with two counts of possessing firearms as a felon and three counts of interstate transmission of threats.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison K. Ethen is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Duluth Souvenir and T-Shirt Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – A Duluth man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion for failing to report his business revenue and income to the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, between June 2019 and April 2020, Shimon Shaked, 57, owned and operated several t-shirt and souvenir shops in Duluth’s Canal Park tourist zone, including I Love Duluth, I Love Duluth 2, Up North-The Good Life, and the Lake Life (the “Duluth Stores”). Shaked operated the Duluth Stores under a holding company called ALMS18, LLC, which he formed in 2012. Although Shaked owned, operated, and controlled ALMS18, LLC, he listed his teenage daughter as the nominal owner in order to hide and evade taxes on income he received from the company. In 2017, Shaked opened I Love Marquette, another souvenir store located in Marquette, Michigan, operated under the company SkyMqt, LLC.
According to his guilty plea, Shaked evaded the assessment of taxes on the income he earned through his Duluth and Michigan stores by failing to report the full revenue and income to the IRS. Specifically, Shaked reported the credit card sales for his stores, but failed to report or pay taxes on most of the cash sales. To further conceal his income, Shaked used the cash from the unreported cash sales to pay for personal expenses and to pay some of his employees' overtime wages in cash. In doing so, Shaked failed to account for and pay over to the IRS some or all of the required federal payroll taxes due and owing for those employees. In total, Shaked evaded paying approximately $620,362 in taxes.
Shaked entered his guilty plea earlier today before Chief U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for February 15, 2022.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson and Angela M. Munoz are prosecuting the case.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution in Greater MinnesotaRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring in greater Minnesota.
According to court documents, Jonathan Stuart Listrom, 35, of Circle Pines, conspired with his co-defendant Steven Leroy Johnson, 53, of Glenwood, to sell methamphetamine in the Alexandria area. On August 25, 2019, law enforcement arrested Johnson in Alexandria on an outstanding warrant and found 240 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle. On August 27, 2019, law enforcement arrested Listrom in Alexandria with 886 grams of 99 percent pure methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to Johnson. On January 23, 2020, Listrom was arrested again with approximately 70 grams of methamphetamine.
Listrom pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on October 6, 2021 to 192 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced today to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendants.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Alexandria Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.
Michigan Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm Following a Deadly Shootout in MinneapolisRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Michigan man was sentenced today to 84 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon after he and two others were involved in a deadly shootout in downtown Minneapolis.
According to court documents, in September 2019, Marvin Lavell-Caine Lomax, 25, of Detroit, Michigan, and his associate engaged in a shootout during the early evening commute hours at the Hawthorne Bus Terminal in downtown Minneapolis. Surveillance video showed bystanders fleeing the area as Lomax and his associate exchanged gunfire with a third person. The third person was shot multiple times and later died as a result of his injuries. Lomax and his associate fled the area, threw their guns into a trash bin, and boarded a commuter bus back to Detroit.
Hours after the shooting, the firearms, a loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and a loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol, were found in the trash bin by Minneapolis police officers. Both firearms had previously been reported stolen. Ballistics analysis linked the discarded shell casings found at the scene to the two recovered firearms. Additionally, Lomax’s DNA matched the DNA found on one of the .45-caliber shell casings recovered at the scene. Investigators searched Lomax’s social media accounts and found a video of him talking and laughing with his associate about the shooting incident.
In December 2019, Lomax was indicted by a federal grand jury and on June 3, 2021, Lomax pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced the defendant.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar.
Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Violent Robbery of a Minneapolis Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis men have been sentenced to prison for violently robbing a south Minneapolis jewelry store.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2019, Demilo Demontez Martin, 30, Dierre Jameson Martin, 32, and Corey Roscell Chester, 29, robbed the Joyeria Ecuador jewelry store on Lake Street in Minneapolis. Dierre Martin smashed the jewelry cases and stole jewelry while Chester and Demilo Martin restrained and assaulted the store owner. The defendants stole between $50,000 and $60,000 worth of jewelry.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Demilo Martin was sentenced to 100 months in prison, Dierre Martin was sentenced to 80 months in prison, and Chester was sentenced to 100 months in prison. All three defendants were also ordered to pay $46,755.63 in restitution to the victim.
The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute individuals who commit armed robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced the defendant.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
Federal Jury Convicts Hopkins Man of Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted a Hopkins man for tax evasion after failing to file income tax returns since 1997, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a five-day trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson, Daniel Berglund, 64, was convicted on all four counts of tax evasion.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between approximately 1987 and 2017, Berglund was the owner and sole employee of Faith Software (FAITH) where he worked as a computer language instructor. Despite earning a substantial income annually through FAITH, Berglund did not file any individual income tax returns since 1997, and never once filed a corporate tax return of any kind on behalf of FAITH. Proving that he was well aware of his tax obligations, Berglund took numerous steps to hide his income from the IRS, including giving his FAITH clients a fabricated Tax Identification Number to prevent their payments from being reported to the IRS as income attributable to him, depositing clients’ payments into accounts where the funds would not be traceable to him, and converting his income into silver that he stashed in concealed locations in his home. Berglund’s evasion resulted in a total tax debt of approximately $146,806.
Berglund faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 per count. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of IRS Field Collections.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Kimberly A. Svendsen.
Red Lake Man Indicted for First Degree Murder, Assault with Intent to Murder in the Shooting Death of a Red Lake Tribal Police OfficerRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against a Red Lake man for fatally shooting a Red Lake tribal police officer, assaulting with intent to murder four other officers, and firearms violations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2021, officers with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department (“RLTPD”) responded to a call to conduct a welfare check on an armed man, David Brian Donnell, Jr., 28, at his residence in Redby, Minnesota. Five RLTPD officers responded to Donnell’s residence. Upon arrival, the officers found Donnell standing outside on the porch and attempted to have him walk towards the officers, but Donnell instead went inside the residence. Because Donnell had an active tribal warrant and was refusing to comply, the officers made the decision to breach the door. As soon as the door was breached, Donnell opened fire on the officers. Officer Ryan Bialke was immediately struck by gunfire through the front door and fell. Donnell continued shooting, firing several rounds from an Izhmash Saiga 7.62 caliber rifle at the four other officers on the scene. One RLTPD officer returned fire to allow the officers to escape into the woods. Donnell continued firing at the officers as they fled into the woods. Officer Bialke succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene. Donnell then fled the scene, taking the rifle with him. Shortly thereafter, officers arrested Donnell at a nearby residence.
Donnell is charged with one count of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to commit murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of discharging, carrying, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possessing firearms as an unlawful controlled substance user.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda A. Williams and Joseph S. Teirab are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Jury Finds Illinois Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury found an Illinois man guilty of sex trafficking a woman and transporting another woman to engage in prostitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Following a four-day trial before Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, Darnell Deshawn Stennis, 29, was convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, transporting an individual to engage in prostitution, and obstruction.
According to the evidence presented at trial, between January and March 2019, Stennis transported a woman between Minnesota and North Dakota for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. During this same time, Stennis used threats and physical violence to force another woman into performing commercial sex acts.
On March 25, 2019, officers with the Bloomington Police Department were dispatched to the La Quinta Inn in Bloomington, Minnesota, following a report that a hotel guest heard yelling and what sounded like someone being thrown against a wall. Upon arrival, officers encountered Stennis and the two women, identified as Victim A and Victim B. Officers checked the hotel room and observed obvious signs of a disturbance, including a toilet seat that was broken into multiple pieces and a towel rack that was bent. Victim A reported to officers that Stennis had violently assaulted her after she told him she didn’t want to engage in commercial sex work anymore. Victim A reported that Stennis choked her, bashed her head into the towel rack, and pushed her down onto the toilet seat. Stennis, who also had outstanding warrants, was arrested and placed into custody.
“Darnell Stennis is a violent sex trafficker whose singular goal was to make money by gaining physical, emotional, and financial control over his victims. I commend the trial team and our investigative partners who built a strong case against this defendant and brought him to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
“The damage inflicted upon survivors of this form of sexual exploitation is immeasurable. The victims are subject to multiple forms of trauma, which never fully fade,” said Jamie G. Holt, acting special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “Stennis used violent assault, fear, coercion, and control to abuse and exploit two people for nothing more than simple greed. HSI special agents remain steadfast in our pursuit of all those who perpetrate this modern-day slavery.”
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bloomington Police Department.
This case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Manda M. Sertich, and Evan B. Gilead.
Eden Prairie Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Firearms Straw Purchasing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Eden Prairie man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing straw purchased firearms and possessing an unregistered firearm.
“Today’s sentencing reaffirms our office’s commitment to reducing gun violence and prosecuting violent offenders who put public safety at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, between June 15, 2020, and October 28, 2020, Damien Lashaun Nelson, 32, conspired with three women to illegally buy multiple firearms that he was prohibited from possessing because he is a convicted felon. One of the straw buyers, Melissa Hallich, 48, of Brooklyn Park, pleaded guilty to buying four guns on behalf of Nelson, including a Taurus .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, and two Sccy 9mm semi-automatic pistols. Hallich lied on the required ATF Forms 4473, stating that she was the actual purchaser of the guns when, in reality, Nelson gave her money and directed her to buy the guns. On October 22, 2020, Nelson also possessed a loaded Western Field, Model 30, 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. Because he has multiple prior felony convictions in Dakota, Scott, and Hennepin Counties, Nelson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Nelson pleaded guilty on December 29, 2020, to one count of conspiracy and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Hallich, who pleaded guilty on June 21, 2021, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery sentenced the defendant.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Human Trafficking Task Force, the Burnsville Police Department, and the Eden Prairie Police Department, with assistance from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Distribution RingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in February of 2021, Francisco Leon, 31, was one of three occupants staying at a hotel room in South St. Paul. While executing a search warrant for the room, law enforcement discovered two separate bags above the rented room’s bathroom ceiling tiles. Inside the two bags were several clear plastic baggies that contained approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized a wire transfer receipt and seven cell phones from the hotel room. On May 20, 2021, Leon pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dakota County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Utah State Highway Patrol.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter, Jr.
Two Men Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking on the Red Lake ReservationRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two men have been charged by a federal grand jury for their roles in distributing fentanyl onto the Red Lake Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Christopher Douglas Richard, 40, of Detroit, Michigan, conspired with others to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl on and around the Red Lake Indian Reservation. In a separate indictment, on April 30, 2021, Leroy Varney, 52, of Bemidji, Minnesota, allegedly possessed more than 40 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it on and around the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
Richard is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances. Varney is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
These cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica Ramirez.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Lyon County Men Sentenced for Causing 3,900-Gallon Oil Spill into Yellow Medicine RiverRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two Lyon County men have each been sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $1,138,772.06 in restitution for causing thousands of gallons of oil to spill into the Yellow Medicine River.
According to court documents, on April 24, 2019, Eric Jay Weckwerth-Pineda, 25, of Cottonwood, Minnesota, and Tanner John Sik, 21, of Ivanhoe, Minnesota, traveled to the northwest side of Cottonwood Lake in Lyon County to a bridge that spans a dam between Cottonwood Lake and a creek called Judicial Ditch 24, which flows into the Yellow Medicine River. Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik took guns to the bridge to shoot. Sik used a DPMS AR-15 rifle to fire multiple shots at a diesel fuel pipeline that runs perpendicular across Judicial Ditch 24. Weckwerth-Pineda used the scope on his own rifle to spot Sik’s shots. Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik admit at least one shot struck and ruptured the pipe. Later that day, Weckwerth-Pineda and Sik returned to the area and saw that the pipeline was leaking and reported the leak to the authorities.
According to court documents, the owner of the pipeline, Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., claimed that the pipe’s rupture caused at least 3,906 gallons of diesel fuel to spill into Judicial Ditch 24 at a cost of approximately $1,122,617.64 to clean up the spill and repair the pipeline. The Environmental Protection Agency also expended $16,154.42 in assisting in the clean-up operation.
“We hope that today’s sentencings cause people to think twice before engaging in irresponsible and reckless behavior in the vicinity of an active pipeline,” said Andrea M. Kropf, Special Agent-in-Charge, Midwestern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Working with our federal law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to protect the safety and integrity of the pipeline transportation system, as well as our nation’s natural resources and environment.”
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lyon County Attorney’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek.
Minneapolis Man Charged with Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A recently unsealed federal indictment charges a Minneapolis man with sex trafficking a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, between August 12, 2020, and August 14, 2020, Charles William Dexter III, 40, knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, and advertised a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act, knowing that the victim had not attained the age of 18 years.
Dexter is a fugitive. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Dexter’s location and arrests. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, and the Bloomington Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manda M. Sertich and Chelsea A. Walcker are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Cottage Grove Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography via SnapchatRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Cottage Grove man pleaded guilty today to production, attempted production, and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, between June 2019 and April 2020, Peter James Monson, 38, engaged in “catfishing” by taking on false personas in order to communicate with children on the internet, including via Snapchat. Monson made a fake Snapchat profile of a 16-year-old girl named “Brianna” and asked minor girls to create sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to Monson so they could be rated by others as “princesses.” In order to participate as a “princess,” Monson used “Brianna’s” profile to instruct the girls to follow certain rules, including creating and sending images and videos of the girls nude or engaging in sex acts.
According to court documents, in April 2020, Monson also used his iPhone to make a secret recording of an eight-year-old while the child was getting dressed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
If you know of any child who may have been a victim of exploitation, please call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit NCMEC’s web site at www.missingkids.com.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, the Cottage Grove Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi.
St. Paul Man Indicted for Shipping Heroin into Minnesota Correctional FacilityRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin, and for illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on April 12, 2021, Walter Davis, a/k/a “Disney,” 39, attempted to distribute a substance containing heroin by depositing it into the United States mail, addressed to one or more recipients at a Minnesota state correctional facility. On April 16, 2021, Davis also possessed a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, a Rossi .357 Magnum revolver, and over 100 grams of heroin. Davis has multiple prior felony convictions in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Davis is charged with one count of attempted distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth S. Shnider is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Stearns County Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Stearns County man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms as a felon.
According to court documents, on November 22, 2019, Samuel Charles Skelton, II, 30, sold a pound of methamphetamine for $4,500 to a confidential informant. On January 16, 2020, after conducting surveillance on Skelton, law enforcement arrested him as he traveled from St. Cloud to the Twin Cities. Following the arrest, law enforcement searched Skelton’s black BMW and found 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, multiple standard and flip phones, cocaine, $1,665 in U.S. currency, and multiple pills, including gabapentin, cyclobenzapinre, and oxycodone.
According to court documents, on April 13th, 2020, law enforcement was involved in an investigation of a suspected death overdose at a residence in Brook Park, Minnesota. While the investigation was underway, Skelton arrived at the location in a silver BMW. Law enforcement searched Skelton’s vehicle and located a bag containing 14 grams of methamphetamine, three bags containing 9.4 grams of marijuana, four loaded 30 round magazines containing .223 ammunition and one loaded 30 round magazine containing .300 ammunition, and four firearms, including a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun, a High Standard .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, an Anderson .300 caliber AR-15 style rifle, and a .223 caliber FR AR-15 style rifle.
Skelton has multiple prior felony convictions in Clay and Stearns Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced the defendant.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Task Force, the East Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the St. Paul Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter.
Self-Described Member of “Boogaloo Bois” Pleads Guilty to RiotRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Texas man pleaded guilty today to a federal riot charge in connection to the 2020 civil unrest, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, Ivan Hunter, 24, admitted to traveling from San Antonio, Texas to Minneapolis with the intent to participate in a riot. Hunter is a self-described member of the Boogaloo Bois, a loosely connected group of individuals who espouse violent anti-government sentiments. The term “Boogaloo” itself references an impending second civil war in the United States and is associated with violent uprisings against the government.
On the night of May 28, 2020, Hunter was captured on video discharging 13 rounds from an AK-47 style semiautomatic rifle into the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct building. At the time of the shooting there were other individuals believed to be looters still inside the building. Law enforcement recovered from the scene discharged rifle casings consistent with an AK-47 style firearm.
According to court documents, upon returning to Texas, Hunter made various statements on social media describing the violence in which he engaged in Minneapolis. On June 3, 2020, officers with the Austin Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a pick-up truck for numerous traffic violations. Hunter was one of three occupants in the vehicle. Hunter, the front seat passenger, had six loaded magazines for an AK-47 style assault rifle affixed to a tactical vest he was wearing. Officers found three semi-automatic rifles on the rear seat of the vehicle, one loaded pistol in plain view next to the driver’s seat, and another loaded pistol in the center console. Several days after the traffic stop, federal agents became aware of Hunter’s online affiliation with Boogaloo Bois member Steven Carrillo, who has been charged in the Northern District of California with the May 29, 2020, murder of a Federal Protective Service Officer in Oakland, California.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter, and Trial Attorneys George Kraehe and Felice John Viti of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.
Minneapolis Felon, Member of Tre Tre Crips Gang Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2020, Donell Deon Flowers, 26, a member of the Tre Tre Crips gang, knowingly possessed a loaded Ruger LCP .380 semi-automatic pistol, with an obliterated serial number. The firearm was equipped with a large capacity magazine, capable of accepting more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Flowers is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. He has multiple prior felony convictions in Hennepin County and one prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm as a felon.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan H. Nelson is prosecuting the case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, on August 19, 2019, law enforcement received a tip that Antonio Tedell Hammonds-Ford, 29, was walking around a parking lot wearing a replica bullet proof vest and carrying a firearm. After reviewing surveillance footage, law enforcement confirmed the defendant’s identity and responded to the parking lot. When officers approached, Hammonds-Ford pulled a handgun from his waistband and dropped it one the ground and attempted to walk away. The firearm was a loaded Norinco 9mm semiautomatic pistol and Hammonds-Ford admitted that he knew the gun was stolen.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs.
Moorhead Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Loaded Firearm in his HomeRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Moorhead man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm in his residence after a minor was shot and killed with his gun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on March 21, 2021, Phillip Neal Jones, Jr., 34, possessed a Walther .40 caliber pistol in his Moorhead residence. While Jones was away from the residence, a visiting child found the loaded gun under a large snack chip box in the kitchen. The gun went off, hitting and killing a second child.
Jones has multiple prior felony convictions in Hennepin and Anoka Counties and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moorhead Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber M. Brennan is prosecuting the case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man was sentenced today to 228 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for trafficking thousands of fentanyl-laced pills.
According to court documents, Lyndon Aukeem Swarn, a/k/a Lyndon Aukeem Wiggins, 36, trafficked large amounts of imitation oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. In October 2019, law enforcement searched two properties associated with Swarn and seized more than 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 120 pounds of marijuana, three firearms, and $22,300 in cash. Law enforcement agents also raided Swarn’s farm in Ironwood, Michigan, and seized 300 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl-laced pills, Swarn’s passport, and more than $8,000 in cash.
According to court documents, following the raids, Swarn continued his fentanyl trafficking activities. On July 21, 2020, law enforcement arrested Swarn and executed a search warrant on his Hopkins residence and his vehicle. As a result of the searches, law enforcement seized a total of 34,640 fentanyl-laced pills, $21,000 in cash, and a firearm.
Swarn has also been charged in Hennepin County District Court with first-degree premeditated murder in connection to the 2019 kidnapping and murder of a local real estate agent.
Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk for the District of Minnesota made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Hopkins Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Dunne and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.
Itasca County Man Sentence to 160 Months in Prison for Vehicular Assault on White Earth ReservationRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Itasca County man was sentenced today to 160 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting an individual with his vehicle, resulting in serious bodily injury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
“Mr. Doerr is a danger to the community, his actions caused pain and suffering for both the victims and for the White Earth community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk. “I hope today’s sentence offers a sense of relief and an opportunity to heal.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 7, 2020, Kevin Doerr, 35, was driving erratically through Elbow Lake Village on the White Earth Indian Reservation. Neighbors called 911 to report that a silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by Doerr, was trying to run people over and chasing people through the neighborhood. When law enforcement arrived, they found a chaotic scene with neighbors outside and badly injured victims. Law enforcement took Doerr into custody and the victims were airlifted to the hospital.
Doerr was convicted by a federal jury on May 20, 2021, on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Judge Susan Richard Nelson sentenced Doerr to serve 80 months in prison for each count, to be served consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the White Earth Police Department, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force and the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Allery and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad tried the case.
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Four Defendants Arrested, Charged in Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against four individuals for their involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney W. Anders Folk.
Victor Carbello, 50, of Glendale, Arizona, Carmelo Jerry D’Alessandro, 28, of Phoenix, Giovanni Luon D’Alessandro, 23, of Phoenix, and Taureen Curtis Jackson, 36, of Minneapolis, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. All four defendants made their initial appearances earlier today before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, on September 19, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Carbello. After Carbello consented to a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located inside a secret compartment of the vehicle three brick-shaped packages weighing approximately 10 pounds. The powdery substance inside the packages tested positive for fentanyl. Law enforcement also located more than 10,000 pills, suspected to contain fentanyl.
On September 21, 2021, law enforcement officers conduct a controlled delivery of the drugs to Carmelo D’Alessandro and Giovanni D’Alessandro at a residence in New Hope, Minnesota. Once the delivery was completed, law enforcement arrested the four defendants and executed a search warrant on the residence. The search resulted in the seizure of several thousand dollars in cash, two firearms, and five pills containing suspected fentanyl.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hope Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst 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.