Western District of North Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Asheville, N.C. Man Is Sentenced to 14 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jonathan Maurice Logan, 35, of Asheville, N.C., was sentenced to 14 years in prison today followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Interim Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, in February 2022, law enforcement learned that Logan was trafficking narcotics in the Asheville area. Upon further investigation, law enforcement determined that Logan was renting a room in a hotel in Asheville which he used to facilitate his drug trafficking activities. On March 31, 2022, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Logan’s hotel room and vehicle, seizing multiple plastic bags containing nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine and more than a kilogram of fentanyl. They further seized a digital scale, a blender, a brick press machine, a vacuum sealer, and more than $10,000 in cash.
Logan remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The DEA and the Asheville Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney's Office Observes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To commemorate the month and in observance of January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King renewed the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to fight against human trafficking by bringing traffickers to justice, assisting trafficked victims, and enhancing public awareness through community outreach.
Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion that is physical and/or psychological. The exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion is used by the trafficker.
“Human trafficking is a despicable crime that is happening in our cities, our towns, and our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Our notable federal prosecutions speak to our commitment to combat human trafficking and bring traffickers to justice. But there’s more work to be done. That’s why today, and every day, we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners, victim service providers, government entities, private businesses, and the community to combine and strengthen our anti-trafficking efforts. Together, we will ensure that traffickers who exploit human beings for profit are brought to justice, and that survivors receive the protection and assistance they need and deserve.”
To enhance awareness and educate the community about human trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has released a Public Service Announcement on how to identify potential trafficking situations and where to report suspected human trafficking activity.
2022 & 2023 Human Trafficking Prosecutions
In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s anti-trafficking efforts resulted in notable prosecutions that have led to federal charges, convictions, and lengthy prison sentences against individual traffickers:
U.S. v. Batten and King – In December 2023, a federal jury convicted Tawaan Batten, 33, of Charlotte, of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking of a minor, and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in commercial sexual activity. His co-defendant, Kristi Heather King, 33, of Locust, N.C. has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic a minor. From July 2021 to December 2021, Batten engaged in a conspiracy to sex traffic a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina and South Carolina. Batten, who was at times assisted by King, posted advertisements of the minor victim on commercial sex websites, arranged the minor victim’s sexual encounters with customers, and booked hotel rooms where the encounters took place. Batten kept almost all of the money the victim earned from these commercial sexual encounters and used various physical and psychological ways to control the minor victim, including branding the minor victim with tattoos. Both Batten and King are in federal custody and are awaiting sentencing.
U.S. v. Reynolds – In May 2023, a federal grand jury in Charlotte indicted Yusef Reynolds, 32, of Delaware, with sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, production of child pornography, transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in commercial sexual activity, and commission of a felony involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. The indictment alleges that, between December 30, 2021, and January 25, 2022, in Mecklenburg County and elsewhere, Reynolds sex trafficked a victim who was not yet 18-years-old. It is furthered alleged that Reynolds engaged in the sex trafficking of the minor after he was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for a federal sex trafficking crime involving a 17-year-old victim. The charges against Reynolds are pending and the defendant remains in federal custody.
U.S. v. Hasty – In March 2023, Milton Antonio Hasty, a/k/a “Montana,” 31, of Salisbury, N.C., was sentenced to 21 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor. From January 22, 2019, to June 5, 2019, Hasty sex trafficked an underage female, knowing the victim was a minor, for his financial benefit. Hasty met the victim through a mutual female acquaintance, and, upon meeting the victim, he took photographs of the victim, posted escort advertisements online, booked hotel rooms, and arranged the victim’s sexual encounters with customers. For over five months, Hasty and the minor victim traveled to various cities throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, where the victim engaged in commercial sex acts. Hasty set up sexual encounters for the minor victim twenty-four hours a day and seven-days a week and kept almost all of the money the victim earned from these commercial sexual encounters.
U.S. v. Blair – On June 27, 2022, Dajuan Akeem Blair, 26, of Charlotte, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor. Blair was convicted of causing a minor female to engage in prostitution. The victim was a 16-year-old runaway, and she was introduced to Blair by a mutual friend, also a teenager, who had previously dated the defendant. Blair knew that both females were minors. On December 26, 2018, Blair rented a motel room in Charlotte, where he took pictures of the minors and used the pictures to advertise the minors for sex online. Over the next two days, Blair arranged sexual encounters for the minors and set the prices for those encounters. Blair then took a portion of the minor victim’s earnings from the commercial sex.
U.S. v. Luong – On June 15, 2022, Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve 15 years in prison after a federal jury found that the defendant compelled the labor of one of her nail technicians at a salon she owned and operated in Davidson, N.C. From October 2016 to June 2018, Luong compelled the victim’s labor by, among other things, physically assaulting the victim, threatening to ruin the victim’s reputation with her family, and falsely claiming that the victim owed Luong a fictitious debt.
U.S. v. McIllwain – On January 26, 2022, Simone Cherelle McIllwain, 30, of Charlotte, was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor from December 2, 2019, to December 19, 2019. The minor victim was introduced to McIllwain through a mutual acquaintance, and shortly thereafter McIllwain began to advertise the victim online for commercial sex. McIllwain also arranged for the minor to engage in sex acts at McIllwain’s hotel room in Charlotte and the defendant kept a portion of the proceeds. At the time of the offense, McIllwain was on supervised release for a 2014 federal conviction in Florida, for transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
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If you believe you are the victim of human trafficking or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Specialists are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also send a text to 233733 or submit a tip online.
You can also contact the Charlotte Office of the FBI at 704-672-6100, or your local law enforcement agency.
Foreign National Is Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Arturo Sanchez-Delgadillo, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, after he attempted to trade 12 illegal firearms for half a kilogram of cocaine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Interim Chief Roy Sisk of the Matthews Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on December 2, 2021, Sanchez-Delgadillo knowingly possessed 12 illegal firearms which he attempted to trade for half a kilogram of cocaine with an individual working with law enforcement (CI). Court documents show that, over the course of the negotiations about the trade, Sanchez-Delgadillo sent the CI photographs of multiple firearms he possessed. On December 2, 2021, Sanchez-Delgadillo and the CI arranged to meet and make the trade. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Sanchez-Delgadillo’s vehicle while he was on his way to meet with the CI. Law enforcement searched Sanchez-Delgadillo’s vehicle and seized 12 firearms, including pistols and semiautomatic assault rifles, four pistol magazines, and two high capacity rifle magazines.
On June 21, 2023, Sanchez-Delgadillo pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and the Matthews Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Taylor G. Stout and Shavonn N. Bennette of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Tennessee Man for Armed Bank Robbery in AshevilleRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury has convicted Paul Gordon Day, 36, of Brentwood, Tennessee, for the armed robbery of a bank in Asheville, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina and Interim Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 9, 2022, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Day entered the PNC Bank branch at 8 O’Henry Avenue, located across the street from the federal courthouse in Asheville. Upon entering the bank, Day walked up to the teller counter, held up a firearm, and demanded money from tellers. According to trial evidence, the tellers complied and gave Day the cash. Unbeknownst to Day, the tellers also included a GPS tracking device concealed within the money. Day then fled the scene on a bicycle.
According to trial evidence, law enforcement tracked the GPS device and determined it was located inside a vehicle traveling on I-26 highway toward Weaverville, North Carolina. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and arrested Day, who was the sole driver and occupant of the vehicle. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and recovered the firearm, the stolen cash and GPS tracking device, a bicycle, and numerous articles of clothing worn by Day during the commission of the robbery.
Today, the jury convicted Day of bank robbery using a dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison, and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a minimum sentence of seven years in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Day will remain in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI, the Asheville Police Department, and the Weaverville Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marcus Alexander Allen, 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Allen will also be placed on federal supervised release upon completion of his active prison term.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on March 5, 2022, CMPD officers responded to a service call for a reported shooting at an apartment complex in Charlotte. Court documents show that law enforcement investigating the incident recovered 79 discharged cartridge cases from the parking lot of the apartment complex. In addition, one of the stray bullets fatally injured a resident while the victim was inside his apartment. According to court records, a Glock .40 caliber firearm with a 22 round magazine was recovered from the parking lot. A forensic analysis determined that Allen’s DNA was on the firearm’s grip and magazine. In addition, the firearm was a match to 19 discharged cartridge cases recovered from the scene of the shooting, however the firearm had not discharged the bullet that fatally injured the victim.
According to documents filed with the court, a search warrant was issued for Allen’s residence. Over the course of the search, law enforcement seized from the residence an SKS rifle, an American Tactical .300 caliber Omni Hybrid with a thirty-round magazine, fentanyl pills, and an ID card from the state of New Jersey bearing Allen’s image with another person’s name. Allen has a prior federal conviction for aggravated identity theft and he is not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition.
On August 16, 2023, Allen pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons.
The ATF and CMPD handled the investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Serial Fraudster Sentenced for Role in Multiple Investment Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A California man previously extradited from Mexico was sentenced yesterday to 4 years in prison for his role in two high-yield investment fraud schemes in which he and his co-conspirators defrauded elderly and other vulnerable victims out of millions of dollars.
According to court documents, Daniel Thomas Broyles Sr., aka Dan Thomas, 66, of Malibu, participated in a high-yield investment fraud scheme involving a sham company named Niyato Industries Inc. (Niyato). Broyles conspired with Niyato’s CEO, Robert Leslie Stencil, 66, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and others to defraud Niyato investors. Together, Broyles, Stencil, and others falsely portrayed Niyato as a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing and converting vehicles to run on compressed natural gas. In reality, Broyles knew, or intentionally avoided learning, that Niyato was merely a sham company that lacked any operational facilities or proprietary technology and virtually all investor funds were being disbursed among the co-conspirators and not used to promote Niyato’s business. In June 2016, after Broyles learned that federal law enforcement agents were investigating Niyato, he relocated to Mexico. When, in August 2016, he learned that he had been indicted, Broyles moved to a new address in Mexico and began using the alias “Daniel Cruz Torrez” to hide from federal law enforcement agents and obstruct the federal government’s prosecution of him.
Broyles also participated in a second high-yield investment fraud involving EarthWater Limited (EarthWater). Broyles conspired with EarthWater’s CEO, Cengiz Jan Comu, 63, of Dallas, and others to sell EarthWater stock. Broyles and others made numerous false and misleading representations, including that EarthWater used the money raised from victim investors to develop and operate the company’s business. In truth, Broyles, Comu, and their co-conspirators had agreed to use the invested victim funds largely for their personal benefit.
Broyles was extradited from Mexico in March 2022. In June 2022, Broyles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering in connection with the Niyato scam. Broyles also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with the EarthWater fraud.
Seven other defendants have previously been convicted in connection with the Niyato scam, including Stencil, who was convicted following a three-week jury trial and sentenced to 12 years and three months in prison.
Eleven other defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the EarthWater fraud, including Comu, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas, Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
Mexican officials provided significant assistance in the extradition of Broyles to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Broyles.
USPIS investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service transported Broyles from Mexico to the United States.
Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting both cases. Trial Attorney Theodore Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Walters for the Northern District of Texas are also prosecuting the EarthWater case.
Florida Man Is Sentenced for Money Laundering Stemming from A Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Pierre Yvelt Almonor, 51, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to launder illegal proceeds from a business email compromise scheme that defrauded law firms and other companies of more than $1 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
A business email compromise scheme, or BEC, is a sophisticated scam, often targeting businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by fraudsters compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause employees of the victim company or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, from August 2014 through November 2017, as part of the money laundering conspiracy, Almonor arranged to have nearly $395,000 in real estate closing proceeds stolen through a BEC deposited in a business account over which he exercised control, utilizing it as a “money mule” bank account. Money mule bank accounts are accounts used by fraudsters as a pass-through means of moving fraudulently obtained funds. Almonor then facilitated wires to Spain and South Africa totaling more than $200,000 and withdrew more than $50,000 in proceeds as compensation for his role in the conspiracy.
In May 2022, a federal jury convicted Almonor of engaging in a conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, international concealment money laundering, and transactional money laundering.
Almonor will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence, upon designation of a federal facility.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Warren and Maria Vento of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Indiana Man of Distribution and Transportation of Child Pornography and Making Notice of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaging in Sexually Explicit ConductRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury in Asheville has convicted Brandon Keith Hardy, 44, of Bremen, Indiana, of distribution and transportation of child pornography, and making notice of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
“Hardy’s conviction reflects the important work we do every day to keep children safe and prosecute those who seek to harm them. Child predators using anonymous online networks and encryption walls to exploit children and evade justice will not deter our mission,” said U.S. Attorney King.
“Protecting children from predators that seek to exploit them is one of the most important missions for HSI,” Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “We are fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute these individuals for their heinous crimes.”
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, law enforcement determined that an individual later identified as Hardy was using chatrooms on the dark web to traffic child sexual abuse material and to solicit sexual activity with a minor. Trial evidence established that over the course of the investigation Hardy used the dark web and an encrypted text messaging platform to share dark web links to child pornography with undercover law enforcement. Evidence presented at trial also established that Hardy possessed a collection of child pornography on his phone, expressed his interest in engaging in sexual activity with a child, and said he had sexually abused other children.Hardy is currently in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set. The charge of transportation of child pornography and distribution of child pornography each carry a minimum statutory sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The notice of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.
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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Two Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Patrick Tylicki, 32, of Matthews, North Carolina, and his co-conspirator, Gregory Alan Kirk, 28, of Charlotte, were sentenced today for their role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in a victim’s death, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tylicki was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Kirk was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release.
“Fentanyl kills,” said U.S. Attorney King. “It’s a lethal drug that devastates our communities and shatters families affected by accidental drug poisonings and fatal overdoses. Fentanyl dealers like Tylicky and Kirk will be brought to justice and held accountable for their role in bringing this deadly substance into our communities.”
“Dangerous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives. This successful operation has ensured these drug traffickers have been taken off our streets, ultimately making the communities safer for everyone,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office.
“Nothing will bring back the victim nor ease the unnecessary pain the family was subjected to from losing a loved one. However, I hope knowing these drug traffickers are off the streets helps the family with grieving and aiding in closure,” said Chief Joseph A. Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department.
“It is sad to see the impact that this terrible drug has had across our nation. With the known devastation that the illegal use of fentanyl brings, it makes it that much harder to see that some are so willing to take part in profiting from it with no concern whatsoever for life,” said Interim Chief Roy Sisk of the Matthews Police Department. “We are grateful for the strong alliance with the United States Attorney’s Office and their commitment to helping protect the citizens of our community. We also want to thank the DEA for their continued partnership in investigating these types of crimes in our area. We hope that this collaborative effort of holding Tylicki and Kirk accountable for their crimes serves as a compelling deterrent for all others.”
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on January 26, 2021, Tylicki sold fentanyl supplied by Kirk to an individual who later died from a drug overdose. Over the course of the investigation into the victim’s overdose death, law enforcement recovered text messages between the victim and Tylicki arranging the drug transaction. Court documents further show that law enforcement officers working undercover conducted multiple controlled fentanyl purchases from Tylicki and determined that Tylicki continued to sell fentanyl knowing that the victim had died due to a drug overdose from the fentanyl supplied by Kirk. According to court records, during a conversation with an undercover officer, Tylicki told the officer that the drugs came from Kirk, that the drugs were “strong,” that customers should be warned about their potency, and that people will “drop dead” if they don’t heed that warning.
Court documents further show that in addition to being Tylicki’s drug supplier, Kirk was present or nearby during Tylicki’s controlled fentanyl sales to undercover officers. As part of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kirk’s residence, where they recovered nearly a kilogram of fentanyl, which is approximately 10,000 usage units, 13 pounds of marijuana, digital scales, a pill press, a kilogram press used for preparing cocaine for large-scale distribution, and more than $4,800 in cash.
In August 2022, Tylicki pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking conspiracy resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl.
In September 2022, Kirk pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl and aiding and abetting, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, at the time Kirk was engaged in the distribution of fentanyl, he had three prior felony drug trafficking convictions. As a result, Kirk’s sentence was enhanced due to his classification as a “career offender” under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the DEA, the Mint Hill Police Department, and the Matthews Police Department for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for assisting with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. According to the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign, the agency seized a record of 74.5 million fentanyl pills in 2023. Laboratory testing indicates that seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, more than two thirds (68%) of the reported 107,081 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved synthetic opioids and primarily fentanyl.
For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator.
Gaston County Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. sentenced Patrick Andrew Shomo, 42, of Gastonia, N.C., to 286 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and for violating the terms of his federal supervised release, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between December 2021 and February 2022, Shomo was trafficking methamphetamine in and around Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted several controlled drug buys of methamphetamine with Shomo. Law enforcement conducting surveillance also observed Shomo engage in drug transactions with other individuals. On December 15, 2021, law enforcement searched the hotel room where Shomo had been staying, from which they recovered digital drug scales, Xanax pills, fentanyl, more than half a kilogram of methamphetamine, and 17 rounds of ammunition.
During that time, Shomo was on federal supervised release after serving a term of imprisonment for an armed drug trafficking conviction. On February 15, 2022, law enforcement attempted to arrest Shomo at his residence on a supervised release violation arrest warrant. Shomo refused to comply and instead barricaded himself in the residence with two firearms. After several hours, law enforcement were able to arrest Shomo and recover from the residence the firearms and additional narcotics.
On July 26, 2022, Shomo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited an investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), and thanked the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Gastonia Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Division of Community Supervision for their investigative efforts.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for COVID-19 Fraud, Drug Distribution, and Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Donte O’Neill Clements, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $993,081 in victim restitution for participating in a COVID-19 fraud scheme, drug distribution, and illegal gun possession, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from June 2020 to September 2021, Clements conspired with Kaila Leaann Shanteau-Jackson to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Arizona, by fraudulently receiving and cashing COVID-19 unemployment insurance (UI) payments diverted to Clements by Jackson. During the relevant time period, Jackson was employed as a vendor-contractor and held the position of Pre-Paid Claims Initiation Agent for a financial institution that serviced the UI benefit program in Arizona. As part of her employment, Jackson had access to the financial institution’s Pre-Paid Administration System (PAS) and was responsible for mailing UI benefits to qualified recipients in the form of pre-paid debit cards.
According to court documents, Jackson used her employment credentials to divert and re-route UI benefits payments intended for 138 victims to Clements, herself, and others. To effectuate the scheme, Jackson changed in the PAS database the rightful recipients’ address information to addresses in Charlotte to which Clements and others had access. Once Clements and others received the re-routed pre-paid debit cards, they either withdrew the benefits in cash from ATMs or conducted retail purchases with the stolen funds. During the scheme, Clements and Jackson diverted approximately $993,000 in UI benefits to themselves.
In August 2022, Clements pleaded guilty to wire fraud for the COVID-19 fraud scheme. In addition, Clements pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, stemming from criminal charges brought against him under a separate indictment filed in the Western District of North Carolina.
Clements remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In July 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in the COVID-19 scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
The U.S. Secret Service, HSI, and CMPD investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Indian Trail, N.C. Man Is Charged with Committing Fraud Using Stolen Identities of Military Service MembersRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment charging Shabazz Emmanuel McCarthan, 38, of Indian Trail, N.C., with committing fraud using the stolen identities of military service members was unsealed today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned the criminal indictment in October 2023. The indictment remained sealed until McCarthan’s arrest in Arizona yesterday. McCarthan had his initial appearance today in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, beginning no later than January 2019 through October 2019, McCarthan and his co-conspirators engaged in an extensive identity fraud scheme. As alleged in the indictment, McCarthan and others obtained personal identifying information (PII) of military service members and used their PII to manufacture fictitious forms of identification in the victims’ names. Then, McCarthan allegedly used these fictitious forms of identification to fraudulently open bank accounts, lease apartment units, purchase furniture, and rent multiple vehicles, that were subsequently stolen and transported in interstate and foreign commerce. The indictment alleges that, during the scheme, McCarthan and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain more than $250,000 in fraudulent goods and damaged the credit of military members, including at least one service member deployed overseas.
McCarthan is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; wire fraud, which has a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; financial institution fraud, which carries a statutory prison sentence of 30 years; interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, that has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and three counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each charged offense consecutive to any other prison term imposed.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI for their investigation which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Drug Trafficking Ring Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Dismantled, Six Charged with Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A superseding criminal indictment has been unsealed in U.S. District Court, charging six members of a drug trafficking ring with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine and related drug or gun charges, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service deputies, and officers with the Hickory Police Department (HPD) arrested four defendants earlier this week. Two defendants were already in custody.
“My Office has an important mission: to ensure the safety of our communities. We do that when we confront drug trafficking and drug-fueled violence head on, with the full support of our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney King.
“Drug trafficking fuels a great deal of the gun violence in our communities,” said Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF in Charlotte. “That’s why these collaborative efforts are so critical. When we can disrupt drug trafficking networks, we’re not just removing drugs from our streets. We’re recovering firearms and preventing violent gun crime.”
“We are grateful for the continued partnerships that produce these kinds of impactful results in our community. Working together has proven to be one of the most effective ways to make a real difference in reducing these kinds of drug and gun crimes,” said Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department.
The indictment is the result of a 10-month joint ATF and HPD investigation aimed at reducing drug distribution and drug-induced criminal activity in Catawba County and surrounding areas, including in Mecklenburg County. According to allegations in the indictment, filed court documents, and court proceedings, the drug trafficking ring operated out of Hickory, North Carolina, and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the area. To identify the drug conspirators and their operations, ATF agents and HPD officers utilized controlled drug purchases, conducted physical surveillance, and executed search warrants. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that members of the drug ring allegedly used several residences either as “stash houses” to store drugs and/or guns, or to conduct drug sales and other drug trafficking activities. One of the alleged stash houses was located two blocks from the federal courthouse in Charlotte.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than 200 pounds of marijuana. Law enforcement also seized seven firearms used by some of the traffickers to support their drug distribution, including an AR-15 rifle and a privately made firearm or “ghost gun,” and ammunition.
The superseding indictment charges the six defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Their names and additional charges are:
- Ashton Durrell Farley, also known as Hood, 35, of Hickory, is charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Farley allegedly engaged in the charged criminal activity while he was under federal and state court supervision for prior drug-related offenses.
- Dustin Eric Wilson, 36, of Charlotte, is charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Whitney Necole Bryant, 30, of Hickory, is charged with distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
- Tonya Quantina Jackson, also known as New York, 42, of Hickory, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl.
- Harold Marquis Wilfong, 36, of Hickory, is charged with distribution of fentanyl.
- Thomas Eugene Ikard, 44, of Lenoir, N.C., is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making the announcement U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF, HPD, and the Catawba County Sheriff's Office for their investigative efforts and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance with the arrests.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty for Facilitating Multi-Million Dollar Financial Fraud Schemes and Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Emmanuel Unuigbe, 41, of Dallas, Texas, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez today and pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s plea hearing, from 2018 to 2023, Unuigbe conspired with other individuals in the United States and overseas to launder millions of dollars of illegal proceeds obtained through extensive financial criminal activity. As Unuigbe admitted in court today, he created Stage 23 Konsult LLC (Stage 23) that claimed to be, among other things, a transportation business. In reality, the majority of Stage 23’s business was related to money laundering and the unlawful money transmitting of criminal proceeds.
According to court records, Unuigbe and his co-conspirators engaged in two separate but related conspiracies. The first, a conspiracy to commit money laundering, involved engaging in financial transactions involving the proceeds of various fraudulent schemes. This included online romance scams, in which co-conspirators contacted victims, most of whom were elderly, through various online dating and social media sites, and convinced those victims to transfer funds to bank accounts under the control of Unuigbe, Stage 23, and others. It also included laundering the proceeds of Business Email Compromise schemes, or BECs, which often target businesses involved in wire transfer payments. As Unuigbe admitted in court today, as part of this conspiracy, businesses were tricked into wiring legitimate payments into bank accounts controlled by Unuigbe and other co-conspirators. Once the fraud proceeds of the romance and the BEC scams were received, Unuigbe and other individuals rapidly depleted the accounts through multiple withdrawals and transfers into other accounts, including overseas accounts.
According to filed court documents, Unuigbe and his co-conspirators earned compensation by keeping a percentage of fraudulent proceeds obtained through the schemes. They also earned compensation by conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, whereby he and his co-conspirators agreed to “pay” for the domestic deposits received by others by transferring Nigerian Naria from accounts the co-conspirators controlled in Nigeria to other accounts in Nigeria, based upon a “black market” exchange rate for United States Dollars to Naira.
Unuigbe is in federal custody. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charge of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business has a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI for their investigation of the case, which is ongoing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Fourteen Members of Major Drug Organization That Trafficked Hundreds of Kilograms of Cocaine and Fentanyl SentencedRead the Press Release
Fourteen members of a major drug organization that trafficked hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area and illegally possessed firearms in support of that operation, were sentenced today, following a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“These sentences are another example of how the Justice Department is targeting the Sinaloa and CJNG cartel networks that are poisoning the American people with fentanyl and fueling violent crime in communities across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The cartels are responsible for creating the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced — we will continue to attack every aspect of their operations, including their associated drug trafficking organizations in the United States.”
“Deadly drugs like fentanyl and the gun violence tied to the drug trade are responsible for shattering families and devastating our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. “The prosecution of this trafficking organization with ties to Mexican drug cartels exemplifies our ongoing efforts to disrupt drug networks, reduce drug-induced gun violence, and build strong and safe communities. I want to thank the DEA and all of our law enforcement partners for their exemplary work in this case and for joining forces to combat drug activity and violent crime.”
“Dangerous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This successful operation has ensured these violent drug traffickers have been taken off our streets, ultimately making the communities safer for everyone.”
According to court documents and court proceedings, from 2017 to 2022, the defendants were members of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and other narcotics in and around the Charlotte area. Information presented in court shows that the DTO had ties to, and was directly supplied from, the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the multi-agency investigation into the DTO included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, extensive surveillance, and the execution of dozens of search warrants, and led to the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, including approximately 328 kilograms of cocaine, 26 kilograms of fentanyl, and a kilogram of heroin. In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement seized approximately 60 firearms, 18 high-capacity magazines and ammunition, more than $2.4 million in cash drug proceeds, over $300,000 in jewelry, two residences, ten vehicles, a boat, and two tractor-trailers with hidden compartments for smuggling narcotics.
United States District Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced the 14 defendants as follows:
- Salvador Barrera Jr., 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Ricardo Johnathan Gomez, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Johnny Lane Owens Sr., 46, of Albemarle, North Carolina, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Isaac Sandoval, 31, of Salisbury, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Adrian Christopher Solares, 33, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Luis Raymundo Macias-Robles, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Norberto Macedo Jr., 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 95 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Derek Duane Crump, 42, of Albemarle, was sentenced to 77 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Christian Alexander Hernandez, 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 74 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Erik Perales, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
- Jesus Adrian Perales, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Janquil Josselyn Jackson, 30, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Christok Alexander Mata, 21, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- David George Jansen, 45, of Indian Land, South Carolina, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Anderson County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, York County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit, Albemarle Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Cornelius Police Department, Mint Hill Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Pineville Police Department, and Salisbury Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Taylor G. Stout and Alfredo De La Rosa for the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Fourteen Members of A Major Drug Organization That Trafficked Hundreds of Kilograms of Cocaine and Fentanyl SentencedRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Fourteen members of a major drug organization that trafficked hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in the Charlotte area and illegally possessed firearms in support of that operation were sentenced today, following a two-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“These sentences are another example of how the Justice Department is targeting the Sinaloa and CJNG cartel networks that are poisoning the American people with fentanyl and fueling violent crime in communities across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The cartels are responsible for creating the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced -- we will continue to attack every aspect of their operations, including their associated drug trafficking organizations in the United States.”
“Deadly drugs like fentanyl and the gun violence tied to the drug trade are responsible for shattering families and devastating our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The prosecution of this trafficking organization with ties to Mexican drug cartels exemplifies our ongoing efforts to disrupt drug networks, reduce drug-induced gun violence, and build strong and safe communities. I want to thank the DEA and all of our law enforcement partners for their exemplary work in this case and for joining forces to combat drug activity and violent crime.”
“Dangerous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives. This successful operation has ensured these violent drug traffickers have been taken off our streets, ultimately making the communities safer for everyone,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division.
According to court documents and court proceedings, from 2017 to 2022, the defendants were members of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and other narcotics in and around the Charlotte area. Information presented in court shows that the DTO had ties to, and was directly supplied from, the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the multi-agency investigation into the DTO included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics, extensive surveillance, and the execution of dozens of search warrants, and led to the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, including approximately 328 kilograms of cocaine, 26 kilograms of fentanyl, and a kilogram of heroin. In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement seized approximately 60 firearms, 18 high-capacity magazines and ammunition, more than $2.4 million in cash drug proceeds, over $300,000 in jewelry, two residences, ten vehicles, a boat, and two tractor-trailers with hidden compartments for smuggling narcotics.
United States District Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced the 14 defendants as follows:
- Salvador Barrera Jr., 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Ricardo Johnathan Gomez, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Johnny Lane Owens Sr., 46, of Albemarle, North Carolina, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Isaac Sandoval, 31, of Salisbury, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Adrian Christopher Solares, 33, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Luis Raymundo Macias-Robles, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Norberto Macedo Jr., 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 95 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Derek Duane Crump, 42, of Albemarle, was sentenced to 77 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Christian Alexander Hernandez, 29, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 74 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Erik Perales, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
- Jesus Adrian Perales, 32, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Janquil Josselyn Jackson, 30, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Christok Alexander Mata, 21, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- David George Jansen, 45, of Indian Land, South Carolina, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Kansas Highway Patrol, Anderson County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, York County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit, Albemarle Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Cornelius Police Department, Mint Hill Police Department, Monroe Police Department, Pineville Police Department, and Salisbury Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Taylor G. Stout and Alfredo De La Rosa for the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Postal Service Employee Is Sentenced for Stealing A Firearm from Mailed PackageRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A United States Postal Service employee was sentenced today for mail theft after stealing a firearm from a mailed package, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Demarkis Deon Houston, 31, of Charlotte, to serve 15 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, and Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to information contained in court filings, Houston worked as a mail handling equipment operator at a USPS processing and distribution center in Charlotte. Between August and September 2022, Houston unlawfully opened and destroyed mail entrusted to him and removed firearms, to include a 9mm firearm, which was intended to be delivered by a carrier of the Postal Service. On October 10, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Houston’s vehicle for a license plate violation. Over the course of the stop, law enforcement removed a firearm from Houston’s vehicle. Upon further investigation, law enforcement determined that the firearm recovered from Houston’s vehicle was one of the firearms reported stolen from a mailed shipment. On August 24, 2023, Houston pleaded guilty to destruction of theft of mail by a postal employee.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked USPS-OIG and ATF for their investigation of the case and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina H. Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Illegally Armed Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to 27 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, Brandon Alan Purvis, 44, of Waynesville, N.C., was sentenced to 27 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff William Wilke of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to documents filed with the court, in October 2021, an investigation into Purvis’s drug trafficking activities was initiated, after law enforcement learned that the defendant was acquiring methamphetamine and redistributing it to others in and around Haywood County. On November 2, 2021, law enforcement conducting surveillance observed Purvis drive away from his residence in Waynesville. Shortly thereafter, Haywood County deputies attempted to pull over Purvis’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Purvis failed to stop and continued to speed away with the deputies in pursuit of the vehicle. As Purvis was driving over a bridge, deputies observed Purvis toss a backpack from his passenger window into the river and he continued to speed away.
According to court records, Purvis eventually stopped his vehicle and was arrested at the scene. Haywood County officers recovered nearly $9,000 in cash, narcotics, and an air power rifle from Purvis and his vehicle. Law enforcement then located the backpack Purvis had tossed into the river and found more than 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine at the bottom of the bag. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at Purvis’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash. Purvis has a lengthy criminal history and he is prohibited under federal law of possessing a firearm or ammunition. Court records also show that over the course of the investigation law enforcement determined that Purvis was responsible for trafficking over $2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
On May 17, 2023, Purvis pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited the investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, which are part of an investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). U.S. Attorney King also thanked the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesville Police Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Canton Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Maggie Valley Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigative efforts in the broader OCDETF investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl Dealer Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Antonio Markel Hewitt, 33, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 96 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and today’s court proceedings, in April 2022, investigators became aware that Hewitt was involved in the distribution of fentanyl in the Catawba County area. Court records show that law enforcement conducted an investigation into Hewitt, that included multiple controlled fentanyl purchases from the defendant at or near his home. On June 21, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hewitt’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized four firearms, one of which was affixed with a high capacity magazine, ammunition, and digital scales.
On March 8, 2023, Hewitt pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF and the Hickory Police Department conducted the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Asheville Man Convicted of Bank Fraud Involving the Purchase of Short-Term Rental Properties and Illegal Firearms Possession Is Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Shawn Thomas Johnson, 38, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 92 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for bank fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger imposed a $2.77 million asset forfeiture judgement against Johnson.
According to information contained in filed court documents and court proceedings, from 2012 to 2019, Johnson executed a bank fraud scheme involving the purchase of short term rental properties in Buncombe County. Court records show that Johnson acquired the loans to purchase the properties by submitting applications that contained false and fraudulent information, including falsely claiming that the homes would be used as primary residences, providing false statements related to his income and employment, and omitting important information about pending lawsuits and the source of funds used as down-payments. Contrary to claims Johnson made on the loan applications, once he purchased the properties, Johnson used them as short-term rentals and listed them on online platforms such as Airbnb, Homeaway, and VRBO. Johnson rented the properties knowing that local laws, ordinances, and zoning regulations in Buncombe County prohibited the use of many of these homes as short-term rentals.
According to court documents, Johnson also recruited other individuals to obtain mortgage loans based on false and fraudulent information to purchase homes that Johnson would then list as short-term rentals and share the proceeds. During the course of the scheme, Johnson and his co-conspirators closed on at least 16 loans from financial institutions totaling over $3.5 million to purchase real estate.
According to court records, in November 2021, Johnson traveled from Western North Carolina to Utah. While there, Johnson visited a gun club where Johnson rented a firearm and shot several boxes of ammunition he purchased from the club’s store. Johnson has two prior convictions for manufacturing and uttering counterfeit United States currency and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. In order to rent the gun, court documents indicate that Johnson lied on the gun club’s rental agreement, falsely certifying that he was not prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Johnson pleaded guilty to bank fraud and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charges. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence upon designation of a federal facility.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service in the Western District of North Carolina for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Charlotte Man of All Charges for Sex Trafficking A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte convicted Tawaan Batten today of sex trafficking a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Batten, 33, of Charlotte, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in commercial sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. presided over the three-day trial.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
"Batten took advantage of a vulnerable 15-year-old girl who turned to him out of desperation and exploited her in the worst way – for profit," said U.S. Attorney King. "My Office will not allow our children to be traded as commodities and sold for sex. With the help of our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes, hold offenders accountable, and more importantly identify, rescue, and support victims."
“It is difficult to fathom that someone would sell a child for sex. But that is exactly what Batten did and now he faces a possible life sentence for his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge DeWitt. “The FBI works tirelessly to hold accountable those who carry out crimes against children, and we devote significant resources to help sex trafficking victims recover from the trauma they suffer.”
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, from July 2021, through December 2021, Batten engaged in a conspiracy to sex traffic a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina and South Carolina. Trial evidence established that Batten, who was at times assisted by Kristi Heather King, 33, of Locust, North Carolina, posted advertisements of the minor victim on commercial sex websites, arranged the minor victim’s sexual encounters with customers, and booked hotel rooms where the encounters took place. Trial evidence further established that Batten kept almost all of the money the victim earned from these commercial sexual encounters. Batten used various physical and psychological ways to control the minor victim, including branding the minor victim with tattoos.
Batten remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
On November 9, 2023, King pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic the minor victim and is currently awaiting sentencing.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Spaugh and Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
U.S. Attorney's Office Warns About Common Holiday ScamsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –U.S. Attorney Dena J. King issued a warning today to alert consumers about a potential uptick in online scams during the holiday season, and cautioned against financial schemes that target older adults. To further the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts to protect seniors from online scams, federal prosecutors hosted a game of Fraud Bingo today, to educate older Americans about online fraudsters and internet schemes that specifically target the elderly.
“December is the month of giving, but it’s also the time of year when cybercriminals try to take advantage of consumers, quickly turning a joyous season into a living nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Whether shopping online for a gift, choosing a charity for a donation, or applying for seasonal work to earn extra money, it is imperative for everyone to stay vigilant against online scams and identity theft schemes. It’s important for all of us to do all we can to protect our hard-earned money and our personal information from financial predators.”
2023 Holiday Scams
According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crimes Report, North Carolina is ranked among the top 20 States for online financial fraud, both in the number of victims and in monetary losses. The report notes that in 2022 Americans lost a combined total of over $281 million to internet scams, including online shopping and “non-delivery” schemes, that generally spike during the holiday season.
Here are the most common scams that consumers may encounter during the holiday season this year:
Fake Online Stores or “Lookalike Stores.” Be on the lookout for online stores that are either entirely fake or made to look like a legitimate store. Watch out for red flags, such as deeply discounted prices especially for in-demand items, like electronics, jewelry, and clothing. Be particularly careful with social media ads that link you to bogus online stores or product listings. These scams target shoppers looking to buy luxury or hard-to-find items at an affordable price. Consumers may end up with stolen credit card information or paying for an item that is never received.
Missed Delivery/Non-Delivery Notification. With the rise in online shopping, lots of packages arrive at our front door during the holiday season. Beware of fake delivery notification emails or text messages alerting you of a missed package delivery. Do not be quick to click on the link provided in a text or email, as you may be directed to a website designed to steal your information. Make sure you pay attention to the domain address of the link to ensure it is a reputable delivery site and be especially cautions with delivery websites that ask for your personal or payment information in order to complete a package delivery.
Gift Card Scams. Gift card scams involve either scamming consumers into buying fake gift cards or tricking consumers into using gift cards to pay for fraudulent goods or services. For example, avoid online stores or advertisements that purport to sell commercial gift cards at deeply discounted prices. While they may have you believe you are buying a gift card on sale, in fact you may end up receiving a gift card with zero money value. Instead, purchase gift cards from reputable retailers.
Fake Charities. During the holidays, cybercriminals seek to take advantage of consumers’ generosity through fraudulent charities, GoFundMe campaigns, and other charitable causes. These types of scams can be particularly difficult to decipher, so before donating money be extra cautious about selecting a charity. If donating online, research the charity thoroughly, check with the Better Business Bureau, and take a look at the charity’s URL and website for telltale signs of fraud, including misspellings, bad grammar, and no contact information. For GoFundMe type of donations research the organizer or the group behind the campaign before making a donation.
Phishing Emails or Texts. Cybercriminals take advantage of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to dupe consumers via phishing emails or texts that contain suspicious links. Be particularly mindful of purported communications from your bank or credit card company, warning you that your account has been compromised. These phishing emails or texts generally prompt you to click on the provided link to log into your account to update your compromised information, so scammers can steal your information. Also avoid clicking on emails that promise free giveaways, prompt you to claim a prize, or ask you to confirm a reservation or other booking. If you receive this type of communication do not use the provided link. For example, if it’s an email related to a compromised bank account, instead of using the link in the email, go to your bank’s main website to log into your account.
Fraudulent Seasonal Jobs. Employment scams tend to increase during the holiday season, as scammers prey on individuals seeking to make extra money. Be mindful of fake job ads, especially online job listings that offer really good money for very little work. Do not ever pay upfront for any equipment or training you need for a new job. Also, do not readily provide your personal identifying information (social security number, date of birth, address, etc.) or your financial and banking information without confirming the job is legitimate. Be particularly mindful of money mule schemes, in which a fake employer asks you to cash a check through your bank, keep a portion of the money, and then send the rest of the money back to the employer.
Scams Targeting Older Adults
U.S. Attorney King also noted that older adults are particularly vulnerable of becoming victims of online fraud, not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crimes Report, adults 60 years and older reported the highest financial losses last year, with a combined $3.1 billion in money lost to financial fraud.
In an effort to educate older adults about online scams and financial fraud, today the U.S. Attorney’s Office hosted a scam alert seminar at the Rutherford County Senior Center, during which participants were presented important information about financial fraud. Following the presentation, the attendees played a game of “Fraud Bingo,” a fun activity designed to deliver information and practical tips on how to prevent the financial exploitation and victimization of older adults by scammers.
“Online scams that target seniors are a growing concern in North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We have a responsibility to protect our vulnerable older population from financial fraud and from scammers that victimize seniors and threaten to leave them in financial peril. Elder Fraud Bingo is an entertaining way to help older adults understand how scams operate and to educate them on how to protect themselves from financial ruin.”
Some examples of financial fraud targeting seniors are:
- Lottery Phone Scams – in which the callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Grandparent Scams – which convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.
- Romance Scams – which lull victims to believe that their online paramour needs funds for a U.S. visit or some other purpose.
- Tech Support Scams – which convince victims to pay for non-existent problems with their computers.
- IRS Imposter Scams – which defraud victims by posing as IRS agents and claiming that victims owe back taxes.
- Sham Business Opportunities – which convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.
Below are some tips shared with participants during the seminar on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know.
- Don’t pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.
- Don’t click on pop-up ads or messages.
- Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.
- Don’t send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.
- Don’t fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.
- If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.
- Keep in mind that if you send money once, you’ll be a target for life.
- Remember, it’s not rude to say, “NO.”
- A good rule of thumb is, if it’s too good to be true, it’s likely a scam.
To report elder fraud please call the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). If you believe you are the victim of an online scam call the FBI and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.
South Carolina Man Is Sentenced to 8+ Years in Prison for Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Lamar Jacquise Floyd, 28, of York, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department (HPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on December 9, 2022, at approximately 9:23 a.m., HPD patrol officers responded to a call for service at a McDonald’s restaurant, in reference to a suspicious person with a firearm. Responding officers identified Floyd as the person reported in the service call. Law enforcement escorted Floyd outside of the restaurant, and asked Floyd whether he had a firearm on his person. Court records show that Floyd responded that he had a firearm in the pocket of his jacket. The officers retrieved the firearm, along with two loaded magazines, ammunition, narcotics, and approximately $1,860 in U.S. currency.
Floyd has previous state convictions for narcotics and firearms violations and he is prohibited for possessing a firearm or ammunition. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Boykin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Armed Narcotics Trafficker Is Sentenced to 18.5 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Keith Cato Hammie, 55, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 223 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Hammie sold increasing amounts of methamphetamine to an undercover detective on four occasions from November 2021 through February 2022. Court records show that Hammie generally drove directly from his Charlotte residence to the agreed upon locations, where the controlled drug purchases took place, and then returned directly to his residence afterward. On February 10, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Hammie’s residence. Investigators seized from the residence nearly two kilograms of highly pure methamphetamine, a drug ledger, and four firearms, including three loaded pistols and an assault-style shotgun found unloaded but adjacent to ammunition. Inside Hammie’s vehicle, investigators found a key to a local storage unit. After obtaining a search warrant for the storage unit, investigators found additional trafficking amounts of cocaine and marijuana inside the storage unit.
During today’s sentencing hearing, the Court emphasized Hammie’s extensive criminal history, including several state convictions for armed robbery and a federal conviction for armed bank robbery. In sentencing Hammie, the Court highlighted that the defendant committed the armed drug trafficking in this case after serving nearly 20 years in federal prison on the federal armed bank robbery conviction. The Court also noted that Hammie used his residence – where small children lived – as a base for conducting his drug trafficking activities.
Hammie pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on August 9, 2023. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigative efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor G. Stout of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Arizona Woman Is Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Medicaid Programs in Two StatesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An Arizona woman was sentenced to prison today for participating in a scheme that defrauded the Medicaid programs in North Carolina and Georgia of more than $3.7 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Bree’Anna Harris, 32, of Phoenix, Arizona, to 36 months in prison and two years of supervised release and ordered the defendant to pay $3,971,649 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS- CI), Charlotte Field Office, and Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division (MID).
The criminal charge filed against Harris in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in November 2022. In December 2022, Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud in connection with both federal prosecutions. Harris also pleaded guilty to a money laundering conspiracy offense in the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Harris and her co-conspirators, Markuetric Stringfellow and Glenn Pair, operated an after-school and youth mentoring program known as Do-It-4-The Hood Corporation (D4H). From January 2016 through November 2018, Harris, Pair, and Stringfellow paid individuals to recruit at-risk youths, in particular children who were Medicaid eligible in North Carolina, for D4H’s programs. Once enrolled, children were required to submit urine specimens for drug testing. Harris, Pair and Stringfellow conspired with certain laboratories - including United Diagnostics Laboratory (UDL) in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Aspirar Labs in Cary, North Carolina - to perform the drug testing of the enrolled children’s urine specimens and received kickbacks once the laboratories were reimbursed by the North Carolina Medicaid. Harris incorporated BPollini Consulting, LLC to receive and conceal fraudulent kickback payments and distribute them to her coconspirators. In 2017, Harris and Pair moved to Georgia, where they and Stringfellow expanded the fraudulent scheme to defraud Georgia’s Medicaid program.
Harris is currently released on bond. She will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
Glenn Pair was sentenced in July 2022 to 70 months in prison, and Markuetric Stringfellow was sentenced in February 2021 to 78 months in prison, and both defendants were ordered to pay more than $5 million in restitution. Donald Booker, the owner of UDL, was convicted after a jury trial in January 2023 and was sentenced to 200 months in prison. Booker was also ordered to pay more than $11 million in restitution. Aspirar Labs and its owner, Pick Chay, agreed to pay $1,951,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing North Carolina Medicaid for urine drug tests that were not medically necessary and tainted by illegal kickbacks.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia, the FBI in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and the Medicaid Investigations Division in the three states for their investigative efforts and coordination throughout case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Savage and Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Sistla of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta prosecuted the case, assisted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jermaine Sellers formerly with the Medicaid Fraud Investigation Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Paralegal Pleads Guilty to Embezzling over $2 Million from Employer's ClientsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jennifer Elaine Roarke, 54, of Hickory, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling more than $2 million from the clients of the law firm that employed her, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s plea hearing, from 2007 to 2021, Roarke, who is also known as Jennifer Claveria, was employed as an assistant and a paralegal for a law firm in Hickory, North Carolina. The law firm handled, among other things, the administration and management of trusts for clients, including the trusts’ bank accounts. As part of her duties, Roarke was responsible for opening mail, depositing checks into trust bank accounts, and processing invoices. As Roarke admitted in court today, from 2015 to September 2021, Roarke executed the embezzlement scheme by causing at least 190 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires, totaling more than $2 million, from the law firm’s clients’ trust bank accounts to bank accounts controlled by Roarke. Roarke used the embezzled funds to pay for personal items, make mortgage, car, and credit card payments, and to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
Roarke was released on bond following the plea hearing. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution.
Charlotte Man Arrested for Possession of A Machinegun and Possession of A Firearm by A Felon Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Joshua Michael Jenkins, 20, of Charlotte, appeared in court today after he was arrested on federal charges for possession of a machinegun and possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jenkins was arrested on Thursday and his initial appearance was scheduled today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler. A grand jury returned a criminal indictment against Jenkins on November 14, 2023.
According to allegations in the indictment, on October 30, 2022, Jenkins possessed a machinegun, that being a Glock model 23, .40 caliber pistol, with an affixed machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch.” The indictment further alleges that on July 26, 2022, Jenkins illegally possessed a Glock model 23, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison term exceeding one year.
Jenkins remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the charge of possession of a machinegun. The charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges against Jenkins are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Convicted Felon Is Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms on Three Separate OccasionsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Quincy Dushawn McWaine, 26, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 82 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to information contained in court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between July 2021 and June 2022, McWaine illegally possessed firearms on three separate occasions. Specifically, court documents show that on July 2, 2021, CMPD officers were dispatched on a service call for an alleged assault with a deadly weapon. Responding officers approached McWaine to question him in connection with the incident and observed a firearm sticking out of the defendant’s pant pocket. McWaine was arrested and officers removed two firearms from the defendant’s pockets, one of which had been reported stolen. In addition to the firearms, officers also seized from the vehicle digital scales, marijuana, more than $25,000 in cash, and a Glock magazine.
According to court records, the second incident occurred on December 10, 2021, while CMPD officers were investigating McWaine in connection with a shooting incident. CMPD officers located McWaine, who was on court-ordered electronic monitoring for prior offenses, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle he was driving. McWaine did not stop and tried to evade arrest, first by speeding away in his vehicle and later on foot. McWaine was apprehended shortly thereafter. Investigating officers also found a firearm McWaine had discarded while he fled on foot. The recovered firearm was affixed with a large capacity magazine and was loaded with five rounds of ammunition.
The third incident took place on June 3, 2022, while CMPD officers were attempting to execute outstanding arrest warrants against McWaine. Officers located McWaine seated in the rear passenger seat of a vehicle parked at a gas station, and the defendant was taken into custody. Arresting officers also searched the vehicle and located a loaded firearm tucked under the seat where McWaine had been sitting.
On June 20, 2023, McWaine pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. He remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and CMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, a
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced a local man to 11 years in prison today for receipt of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Luis Ramirez Avila, 23, was also ordered to serve 30 years under court supervision, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay $15,300 in assessments.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in 2019, the FBI began an investigation that later identified that Avila had used the internet to receive and share child pornography. The FBI located Avila in Charlotte, and Avila agreed to talk to law enforcement. Court records show that Avila admitted that he used messaging applications like Snapchat and other online platforms to view, share, and receive child pornography. Avila also told law enforcement that he used Snapchat to find and communicate with minors. The investigation revealed that Avila convinced, and sometimes paid, minor victims to make sexually explicit videos of themselves and send the videos to Avila.
On November 29, 2022, Avila pleaded guilty to three counts of receipt of child pornography. He is currently in federal custody and he will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of this case.
The prosecution for the government was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford of U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Criminal Division’s 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Superseding Indictment Charges Four with Conspiracy to Sell Firearms Without A License and to Transport Firearms from North Carolina to New YorkRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal superseding indictment was unsealed in court today, charging four men with conspiracy to sell firearms without a license and to transport to New York firearms unlawfully obtained in North Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Three of the defendants also face additional firearms offenses.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The superseding indictment charges Keyuon Divine Cannie, 24, Trashawn Tavaris Edward Coleman, 23, Daquan Collins, 29, and Lamar Moore, 25, all of Charlotte, with conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and to illegally sell, transfer, trade and transport firearms out-of-state. Coleman is also charged with two counts of straw purchasing a firearm and two counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Moore is also charged with one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and one count of transferring a firearm to a prohibited person. Cannie is charged with two additional counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to allegations contained in the charging document, between July 1 and July 23, 2022, the defendants conspired with each other to purchase firearms in North Carolina, for the purpose of transporting and selling the firearms for profit to individuals in New York.
According to allegations in the indictment, on July 8, and on July 12, 2022, Coleman engaged in the straw purchasing of a firearm, by falsely purchasing two firearms on behalf of Cannie, knowing that Cannie intended to illegally sell the firearms. The indictment further alleges that, when he purchased the firearms from a federal firearms licensee, Coleman made false statements on the federal form required to obtain a firearm, falsely attesting that he was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearms, knowing that he was not.
The indictment also alleges that on February 8, 2022, Moore purchased a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. In purchasing the firearm, the indictment alleges that Moore made a false statement on the required federal form, falsely attesting that Moore was the transferee/buyer of the firearm, when in fact Moore knew he was not. The indictment also alleges that, on the same day, Moore transferred the firearm to another person, knowing the that the person had been previously convicted of a crime and was therefore not permitted to own or possess a firearm.
The indictment alleges that between February 8 and March 10, 2022, and on July 12, 2022, Cannie illegally possessed one or more firearms, knowing he had previously been convicted of at least one crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding a year.
The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charge of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each straw purchasing of a firearm charge carries a statutory penalty of 25 years in prison, and the maximum penalty for the charge of possession of a firearm by a felon is 15 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
This case is prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Two Charlotte Men Charged with Orchestrating High-End Auto Thefts from South Carolina Businesses Appear in CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Aaron Duncan Hall, 31, a Charlotte man charged in the theft of numerous high-end vehicles from multiple businesses in South Carolina made his initial appearance in federal court this morning, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The federal indictment charging Hall was unsealed last week and also charges Jacquarreus Rashon Clyburn, 26, of Charlotte, for conspiring with Hall to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce, and interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. Clyburn, who is also charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, made his initial federal court appearance last week and is scheduled to appear in court again tomorrow.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to allegations contained in Hall and Clyburn’s indictment, from December 2022 to April 2023, the men were part of a conspiracy to steal high-end vehicles from multiple businesses located throughout South Carolina. The indictment alleges that Hall and Clyburn and other co-conspirators generally stole the luxury vehicles late at night or into the early morning hours, using wire cutters to cut open large portions of security fences surrounding the targeted businesses. Once inside, the co-conspirators allegedly drove the vehicles off the lots through the openings of the security fences, often using key fobs left overnight in the vehicles. According to the indictment, Hall and Clyburn and their co-conspirators drove several of the stolen South Carolina vehicles back to Charlotte. The indictment further alleges that, over the course of the scheme, the co-conspirators stole at least 20 vehicles made by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover, and highly desired Dodge models such as Challengers and Chargers, worth over $900,000.
As alleged in the indictment, Hall, Clyburn and their co-conspirators used a number of methods to avoid detection by law enforcement, to include using fake tags to transport the stolen vehicles, removing the stolen vehicles’ GPS navigation and tracking systems, listening to police radio transmissions, and fleeing from law enforcement to evade arrest.
This is the second indictment filed in the Western District of North Carolina related to criminal activity stemming from high-end vehicle thefts. In August 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought charges against five individuals for their alleged involvement in the theft of dozens of luxury vehicles worth millions of dollars from car dealerships located across the United States.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charge of conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle each carry a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney King thanked FBI, HSI, and CMPD for their investigative efforts and recognized the contributions of many other state and local law enforcement partners involved in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Federal Indictment Unsealed After U.S. Postal Employee and Two Co-Conspirators Are Arrested for $24 Million Stolen Check SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A U.S. Postal Service employee and two co-conspirators have been arrested on federal charges for a scheme involving stolen checks worth over $24 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The federal indictment was unsealed following the defendants’ initial court appearances.
Nakedra Shannon, 29, Donnell Gardner, 27, and Desiray Carter, 24, all of Charlotte, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and five counts of theft of government property. Carter and Gardner are also charged with seven counts of possession of stolen mail matter, and Shannon is charged with eight counts of theft of mail by a postal employee.
According to allegations in the indictment, from March 2021 to July 2023, Shannon was employed by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as a mail processing clerk at a USPS processing and distribution center in Charlotte. From April to July 2023, Shannon conspired with Gardner and Carter to steal incoming and outgoing checks from the U.S. mail, which Gardner and Carter then sold to other individuals including using the Telegram channel OG Glass House. Over the course of the conspiracy, the co-conspirators allegedly stole checks totaling more than $24 million, including more than $12 million in stolen checks which were posted for sale on the Telegram channel OG Glass House, and more than $8 million in stolen U.S. Treasury checks. The indictment also alleges that the defendants obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds of the mail theft scheme.
Shannon, Gardner, and Carter were released on bond following their initial appearances in court.
The bank fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The charge of theft by a postal employee and possession of stolen mail has a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison for the counts charged in the indictment. The charge of theft of government property carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each offense.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Department of Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation which led to the charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Federal Indictment Charges Dentist for $3 Million Loan Scheme and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
UPDATE
Matthew Johnson was acquitted of the charges alleged in the indictment as described in the press release below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has indicted Matthew Johnson, 58, of Troutman, N.C., for orchestrating a fraudulent loan scheme that defrauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of more than $3 million and tax evasion, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment was unsealed today following Johnson’s initial appearance in court.
Donald "Trey" Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, Johnson was a dentist and oral surgeon that owned Johnson Oral Surgery in Mooresville, N.C. In addition to the dental practice, Johnson also owned Mount Mourne Springs LLC, a real estate development company. The indictment alleges that from August 2018 to November 2021, Johnson submitted a false and fraudulent loan application in the name of his dental practice and the real estate development business. The application was for a loan backed by the SBA, and allegedly contained fraudulent information, including false information regarding the status of Johnson’s personal and business taxes and outstanding tax debts. For example, the indictment alleges that one of the fraudulent documents Johnson allegedly submitted in support of the loan application was a fabricated letter purporting to be from the IRS, falsely representing that Johnson was on a payment plan with the IRS. As a result of the fraudulent loan application, Johnson received more than $3 million in an SBA-backed loan. Contrary to claims Johnson made on the application about the purpose of the loan, Johnson allegedly used the loan funds to pay for personal expenses including travel, cash withdrawals, and to pay for farm equipment and home improvement projects.
In addition to the loan scheme, the indictment alleges that, from October 2015 to November 2021, Johnson committed tax evasion, and failed to pay more than $615,000 in taxes he owed to the IRS for tax years 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Johnson has been released on bond. He is charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and tax evasion, which has a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years in prison. Both charges also carry a fine of up to $250,000 for each offense.
The charges against Johnson are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked IRS-CI for their investigation which led to the federal charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Domestic Violence Offender Is Sentenced to Prison for Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A convicted domestic violence offender was sentenced to prison today for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. ordered Gregory Dashawn Fondren, 26, of Charlotte, to serve 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
“Armed domestic abusers are far more likely to inflict serious bodily harm on their intimate partners, and potentially create dangerous situations for innocent bystanders and responding law enforcement officers. My Office will continue to utilize federal gun laws to prevent and prosecute prohibited persons from illegally possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney King.
“Too often, we’ve seen domestic violence turn deadly when a firearm is involved,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jones. “ATF works daily to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous and prohibited individuals, including those with a history of domestic violence.”
According to information contained in court documents and court proceedings, on September 17, 2021, a witness called 911 to report that a male, later identified as Fondren, was physically assaulting and strangling a female at the parking lot of a grocery store. CMPD officers arrived at the scene and saw that the victim, who was Fondren’s girlfriend, was injured and was bleeding as a result of the assault. A witness told CMPD officers that he saw Fondren put the victim in a headlock, then punch and kick her while she was on the ground. Fondren ran away when law enforcement arrived.
According to court records, CMPD officers located Fondren and he was apprehended soon after. Officers also recovered Fondren’s backpack that he had discarded as he was fleeing the scene and removed from the backpack Fondren’s ID card and a .38 caliber revolver. Court records show that Fondren is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior domestic violence conviction of Assault by Strangulation and a conviction for Common Law Robbery.
Fondren is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF in coordination with CMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 19% of domestic violence involves a weapon. The presence of a gun in a domestic situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
To understand more about domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv. If you require immediate help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483.
U.S. Attorney's Office Joins Virtual Listening Session on Voting Barriers Encountered by Individuals with Disabilities in North CarolinaRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joined the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Disability Rights Section, to hold a statewide virtual listening session on voting barriers faced by individuals with disabilities.
The purpose of the virtual event was to encourage community members to share experiences related to obstacles and barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in the voting process, and to address questions and concerns on the topics of registering to vote, obtaining voting and election information, absentee ballot procedures and in-person voting, accessibility in the polling places, and assistance with voting.
Representatives from nonprofit agencies, private organizations, educational institutions, disability advocates and individuals affiliated with the disability community were among those invited to participate in the listening session.
In her remarks to participants, U.S. Attorney King said, “Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and every citizen who is eligible to vote must be able to do so without interference or discrimination. Our role as federal prosecutors is to protect the integrity of the election process. That includes ensuring that every American citizen has access to the ballot, and that Americans with disabilities can be full participants in civic life and exercise the franchise. With today’s event, we hope to understand where the needs exist in the community and what barriers may prohibit individuals with disabilities to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s “The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities” provides guidance to states, counties, cities, election officials, poll workers, and voters on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws help ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to vote. For more information, including how to file an ADA complaint please visit here.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Meeting of the Western District's Health Care Fraud Working GroupRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced a meeting of the Western District’s Health Care Fraud Working Group, which focuses on combating health care fraud in the Western District of North Carolina.
The working group is a multi-agency team of federal and state investigators, analysts, auditors, and attorneys with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the North Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Investigations Division, and the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
At today’s meeting of the working group, U.S. Attorney King welcomed partner agencies and thanked agency representatives for their participation.
“Today, we strengthen an important partnership to combat health care fraud in the Western District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney King. “As health care fraud schemes increase in scope and sophistication, we are vigorously responding to this escalating crime with innovative and well-coordinated investigative efforts to identify and prosecute fraud effectively and efficiently. I want to thank all the partner agencies for dedicating their resources and expertise to the working group. This is an important step in our fight to protect taxpayer dollars, shield government-funded health care programs from fraud and abuse, hold bad actors responsible for their misdeeds, and deter future misconduct.”
The mission of the working group is to identify and bring to justice those who defraud the health care system and reduce the potential for health care fraud and abuse in the future. The working group focuses on the coordination of cases, information sharing, identification of trends in health care fraud throughout the region, staffing of all whistle blower complaints, and the creation of investigative teams so that individual agencies may focus their unique areas of expertise on investigations.
Examples of joint investigations include false billings, COVID-19 fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and other schemes that victimize patients, health care providers, private insurers and government insurers, such as Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid. The working group also focuses on fraud committed by both corporate and individual defendants, including hospitals, telemedicine companies and providers, nursing home chains, pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, durable medical equipment suppliers, individual physicians, therapists, and affiliated health care professionals.
The working group builds upon existing partnerships between the agencies and its work reflects a heightened effort to reduce health care fraud and recover taxpayer dollars.
If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or via email at [email protected]. To report Medicaid fraud in North Carolina, call the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320 or fill out an online complaint form. TRICARE fraud can be reported here. Fraud against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system can be reported at www.vaoig.gov/hotline.
Former Customs Employee Pleads Guilty to Auctioning Online A Customs Declaration Form Signed by A CelebrityRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Alan Nordman, 75, of Denver, North Carolina, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to one count of conveyance of a government record, for auctioning online a customs declaration form signed by a celebrity, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed court documents and today’s plea hearing, from 1984 to 2014, Norman was an employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the John F. Kennedy International Airport Port of Entry. As Nordman admitted in court today, on April 9, 2022, he unlawfully sold on eBay for $795 an official Customs and Border Protection form 6059B, which is a customs declaration document, signed by Michael Jackson upon his entry into the United States. The form is an official government record belonging to the United States.
Nordman was released on bond following the plea hearing. The charge of conveyance of a government record carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing hearing has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Armed Charlotte Man Indicted for Assaulting Two U.S. Postal Service Employees on the Same Day Appears in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment was unsealed in court late yesterday, following the arrest of Dujuan Marquise McNeil, 38, of Charlotte, for assaulting two U.S. Postal Service employees on the same day and related firearms offenses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about June 1, 2023, McNeil, used a deadly weapon to assault a U.S. Postal Service employee, identified in the indictment as K.S., while she was at work. The indictment also alleges that on the same day McNeill used a deadly weapon to assault a second U.S. Postal Service employee, identified as A.H., while she was working. As alleged in the indictment, during both incidents, McNeil possessed and brandished a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, that being the assaults. The indictment further alleges that, on June 14, 2023, McNeil possessed a number of firearms, including an assault rifle, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was not permitted to possess a firearm.
In addition to the criminal charges, the indictment lists four firearms, a ghost gun, magazines, and ammunition seized from the defendant’s residence, which are subject to forfeiture for violation of federal law.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
McNeil is currently in federal custody. The maximum penalty for each count of assault of a federal employee by means of a dangerous weapon is 20 years in prison. The minimum penalty for each count of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence is seven years and the maximum is life in prison. The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King commended USPIS for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Charlotte Child Psychiatrist Is Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of A Minor and Using Artificial Intelligence to Create Child Pornography Images of MinorsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – David Tatum, 41, a child psychiatrist in Charlotte, was sentenced today to 40 years in prison followed by 30 years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor and using artificial intelligence (AI) to create child pornography images of minors, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tatum was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined within 90 days, a $100 special assessment per count of conviction, and a special assessment totaling $99,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA). After he is released from prison, Tatum will also be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board in any state or jurisdiction where he works or resides.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
“As a child psychiatrist, Tatum knew the damaging, long-lasting impact sexual exploitation has on the wellbeing of victimized children. Regardless, he engaged in the depraved practice of using secret recordings of his victims to create illicit images and videos of them,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Tatum also misused artificial intelligence in the worst possible way: to victimize children. Today’s 40-year sentence underscores our efforts to do all we can to bring justice to child victims. As the field of artificial intelligence advances, my office is committed to prosecuting predators who seek to exploit this technology to inflict harm on children.”
“It is horrific to believe anyone would secretly record children undressing and showering for their own sexual gratification. And when the evidence proves that person is a doctor entrusted to help children through difficult mental health situations, it is inconceivable,” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge DeWitt. “The FBI will never stop working to put predators like Tatum behind bars for a very long time.”
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at Tatum's trial and witness testimony, between 2016 to 2021, Tatum possessed images and videos of child pornography. As trial evidence established, in or about July 2016, Tatum secretly recorded a minor while the minor was undressing and showering. A forensic analysis of electronic devices revealed that Tatum produced the video of the minor and possessed it, along with other images and videos of child pornography. According to trial evidence, Tatum made similar surreptitious recordings of others, including of his patient during an outpatient visit who had just turned 18 years old five days before the recording.
Additionally, trial evidence also established that Tatum used AI to digitally alter clothed images of minors making them sexually explicit. Specifically, trial evidence showed that Tatum used a web-based artificial intelligence application to alter images of clothed minors into child pornography. Two of the images Tatum used AI to modify were from a school dance and a photo commemorating the first day of school.
On May 4, a federal jury in Charlotte convicted Tatum of one count of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Tatum is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended FBI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Cervantes and Mark T. Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Mexican National Is Sentenced to 8+ Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of A Firearm by an Illegal AlienRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Yael Aguilar, 30, of Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced today to 97 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Ron Campurciani of the Mooresville Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, in August 2022, the ATF and the Mooresville Police Department initiated an investigation into Aguilar for suspected drug distribution. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted at least three controlled purchases of narcotics from Aguilar, including for methamphetamine. During one of the controlled purchases, law enforcement observed that Aguilar was armed. On September 22, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Aguilar’s residence and the two vehicles located in the driveway. During the search, law enforcement recovered narcotics, digital scales, and more than $24,000 in cash. Law enforcement also seized a loaded firearm, assorted ammunition, and a privately made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun,” with a Glock slide, magazine, and ammunition. Aguilar is an illegal alien and he is not permitted to own or possess firearms.
Aguilar remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF and the Mooresville Police Department investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Federal Judge Sentences Hickory, N.C. Man to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine in Catawba and Caldwell CountiesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Joseph William Patton, 34, of Hickory, N.C., to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Alan C. Jones, of the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Patton was operating as a major source of supply of methamphetamine in Catawba and Caldwell Counties. Between April and December 2022, law enforcement conducted a joint investigation into Patton’s drug trafficking activities, including arranging multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from the defendant. On December 12, 2022, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle Patton was a passenger in for an expired tag violation. During the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered from the vehicle a firearm, $5,448 in cash, and several baggies filled with methamphetamine, fentanyl, and Xanax pills. On the same day, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Patton’s residence, where they recovered 9 mm rifle and four magazines.
On July 20, 2023, Patton pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Patton is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The ATF, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department conducted the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Charlotte Woman in Charge of $1.9 Million Debt Collection Scheme Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Carissa Eugenia Brown, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.9 million debt collection scheme. In addition to the prison term imposed, Brown was ordered to serve three years under court supervision after she is released from prison and to pay $1,708,920.60 as restitution.
Donald "Trey" Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Review Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from 2015 to July 2020, Brown executed a fraudulent debt collection scheme that defrauded hundreds of victims located in North Carolina and elsewhere in the United States. Court records show that, during the relevant time period, Brown had registered three companies in North Carolina, which she used in furtherance of the scheme: Accredited Recovery Solutions, LLC (a/k/a Accredited Recovery Network); Elite Credit Adjusters, LLC (a/k/a Elite Credit Network); and Martin Recovery Group, LLC (a/k/a Martin Recovery, P.C. and the Law Office of Martin and Associates).
According to court records, Brown operated her fraudulent debt collection scheme by contacting individuals who had been sued by various creditors for their outstanding debt and falsely represented that she was authorized to collect the debt on behalf of those creditors. Brown generally offered victims to “settle” the outstanding debt for a reduced amount, but only if the victims accepted the offer and paid the reduced amount in full, or began to make payments immediately to one of Brown’s companies. As court records show, Brown often mailed victims official-looking documents, including a purported settlement agreement. Victims then made a lump-sum payment, or several payments, to Brown and her companies, believing that doing so would resolve their debt and outstanding court case, only to later learn that Brown was not authorized to collect the debt and they still owed the full debt to the actual creditor.
To further induce victims to comply with the debt repayment demands, Brown sent correspondence to victims on letterhead that implied the communication was coming from a law firm, and left voicemails for victims falsely representing that she was calling from a law firm. In addition, Brown also employed threatening and harassing pressure tactics to fraudulently induce victims to pay her, including threatening to garnish victims’ wages, to seize victims’ bank accounts, or to file judgments in court if payment on the debt was not received.
As a result of the false and fraudulent representations and threatening and harassing tactics used by Brown, court documents show that hundreds of individuals throughout the United States were fraudulently induced to pay Brown and her companies more than $1.9 million. This resulted in victims being placed in the untenable position of either having to pay their debts twice, or face the financial consequences for failing to pay the true creditor.
Brown previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked IRS-CI and USPIS for handling the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced for Possession of A Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Benjamin James Hemphill, 24, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to information in court documents and court proceedings, on August 4, 2021, CMPD officers arrested Hemphill after the defendant fled on foot from the scene of a car accident. Court documents show that officers at the scene of the accident searched Hemphill’s vehicle and recovered two firearms, over 3,500 pressed oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl, MDMA pills, and quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana. Hemphill was arrested shortly thereafter.
Hemphill is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Hickory, N.C. Man Is Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of A Firearm by A FelonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Hickory, N.C. man was sentenced to five years in prison today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Edward Leroy Bailey, 48, was also ordered to serve four years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and court proceedings, in October 2022, law enforcement received information that Bailey was distributing narcotics from his hotel room in the Hickory area. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of narcotics from Bailey, and, on October 18, 2022, they executed a search warrant at Bailey’s hotel room. During the search, law enforcement found and seized distribution quantities of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine base and marijuana, and more than $1,800 in cash. Law enforcement also seized three stolen firearms, two of which were loaded, and ammunition. Bailey has a criminal history that includes convictions for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and Possession of a Firearm by Felon, and he is not permitted to own or possess firearms.
On July 12, 2023, Bailey pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The ATF and the Hickory Police Department investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former Corrections Officer Is Sentenced to 17 Years for Traveling from Tennessee to North Carolina to Engage in Sexual Activity with A MinorRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – John Allen Biggins, 42, of Surgoinsville, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 17 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for traveling to Western North Carolina to engage in illicit sex acts with a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Biggins to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Jeff Cassidy, Sheriff of the Sullivan County Sheriff's office in Tennessee, join U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement.
"As a sworn officer of the law, Biggins compromised public trust and violated federal statutes," said U.S. Attorney King. "Protecting our children from harm is one of our highest priorities, and identifying and prosecuting predators like Biggins is at the forefront of our efforts to combat child sexual exploitation. I commend Homeland Security Investigations and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office for taking swift action. Thanks to their work and coordination, children are safe from this dangerous predator."
“Thankfully, Biggins’ plan to exploit a child was thwarted and he will be held accountable for his heinous crime. Additionally, he also stole the public’s trust when he betrayed his oath to protect the community and enforce the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “Finding and arresting predators involved in victimizing and exploiting children is one of HSI’s highest priorities and we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to use all available resources to protect our communities.”
“I’m thankful for the work of Homeland Security Investigations agents who identified this predator and took immediate action,” said Sheriff Cassidy. “I hope this case sends a very clear message that no matter where you work or what title you hold, we have no tolerance for those seeking to sexually exploit and abuse children.”
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, beginning in June 2022, Biggins communicated with undercover agents expressing interest in engaging in illicit sexual acts with a minor female child. On July 8, 2022, Biggins traveled from his home in Surgoinsville to the Western District of North Carolina for the purposes of engaging in sexual acts with a female toddler and was subsequently arrested. When law enforcement arrested Biggins, he was found to be in possession of child pornography images and videos as well as a personally owned Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic pistol and other police equipment. At the time of the offense, Biggins was employed in a position of public trust as a corrections officer at the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. Upon notification of the offense, Sheriff Cassidy immediately terminated Biggins from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
On February 27, 2023, Biggins pleaded guilty to traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
U.S. Attorney King credited HSI with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Solheim with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
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 (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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Fentanyl Dealer Is Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Antonio Morquett Phillips, 46, of Hickory, N.C., to seven years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in February 2022, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Phillips for suspected distribution of fentanyl-based pressed pills. During the investigation, an ATF special agent acting in an undercover capacity conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl-pressed pills from Phillips. On May 25, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Phillips’ residence. During the search, officers seized approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills, five firearms, and body armor.
On May 23, 2023, Phillips pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF, the SBI, and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign, the agency has seized a record 62 million fentanyl pills to date in 2023, which exceeds last year’s totals of 58 million pills. Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of 10 pills seized by DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.
For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced for Prescription Fraud and Pill DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Savonte Watkins, 46, of Charlotte, to 42 months in prison on drug charges yesterday, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Bell also ordered Watkins to serve three years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in the spring of 2020, Watkins was involved in a scheme to get fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone filled at local pharmacies in order to illegally distribute the pills. Court documents show that Watkins was responsible for at least 20 fraudulent prescriptions for approximately 1,200 pills of oxycodone. According to filed documents and court proceedings, Watkins recruited others, often suffering from opioid addiction, to get the prescriptions filled and would pay them with a portion of the filled prescription.
On May 31, 2023, Watkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
Watkins is currently released on bond. Upon designation of a federal facility, he will report to the federal Bureau of Prisons for his term of imprisonment.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Mooresville Police Department for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Armed Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Joel Wesley Creech, 45, of Brevard, N.C., to 132 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Reidinger also imposed five years of supervised release following incarceration.
According to filed documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, between 2020 and 2022, Creech was responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in McDowell, Haywood, Transylvania, and Buncombe Counties. Court documents show that Creech supplied the methamphetamine to other individuals for further local distribution. On June 22, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrant at Creech’s residence, where they seized more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine buried in Creech’s backyard, and $2,950 in cash. Law enforcement also seized eight firearms, some of which were loaded, multiple high-capacity magazines, and multiple of rounds of ammunition. According to court records, over the course of the conspiracy, Creech was responsible for assisting and distributing multiple kilograms of methamphetamine.
On April 24, 2023, Creech pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Haywood County Sherriff’s Office, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina Announces Funding During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) draws to a close, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announces that the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded funding to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes.
Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals.
In the Western District of North Carolina, OVW awarded $375,000 to the Town of Mooresville under the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program to promote coordinated community responses among law enforcement agencies, courts, victim service providers, and other system partners.
The Town of Mooresville, in collaboration with its project partners, will utilize this award to continue improving the jurisdiction’s criminal justice system response to domestic violence. Specifically, the funding will be used to develop and implement policies and training for
police, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting crimes of domestic violence.
Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina said, “I am pleased to announce that the Town of Mooresville has been awarded funding from the Office on Violence Against Women. The funding will enhance a coordinated response to crimes of domestic violence and appropriate treatment of victims.”
“Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 14 Years on Gun Charge in Connection with Armed Robbery and Possession of A Weapon by an InmateRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Antoine Marquis Williams, 35, of Charlotte, to 14 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearms offense in connection with an armed robbery and possession of a weapon by an inmate, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, Terry J. Burgin, United States Marshal of the United States Marshals Service for the Western District of North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on February 5, 2019, at 4:37 p.m., Williams and another individual entered the NY Jewelry & Repair Store located at 6121 South Boulevard in Charlotte. Williams and his co-conspirator had their faces covered and were armed with handguns. The two men encountered the store owner who was with a customer and ordered him into the backroom with two other employees. Court documents show that Williams and his co-conspirator then went to the front of the store and began stealing jewelry. Afterwards, Williams’ co-conspirator fled the store with several items. Williams stayed behind and became involved in a struggle with the store owner. At some point during the struggle, Williams discharged his firearm two times before fleeing the store. The owner called 911 and CMPD officers located Williams hiding under a vehicle at a nearby residence. Officers also recovered the firearm Williams had used during the robbery and had attempted to discard while he was fleeing from the store.
According to court documents, on September 2, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Service received a criminal investigation concerning Williams for repeated possession of weapons and use of weapons while he was in federal custody at a local detention facility. Court documents in this case indicate that, on four different occasions, Williams was found in possession of homemade weapons, generally consisting of pieces of metal filed down to a point. On one occasion, Williams used a homemade weapon to attack another inmate. During the altercation, Williams cut the victim with the homemade weapon multiple times on the face and neck. The victim required medical treatment due to injuries sustained from the attack.
On April 28, 2021, Williams pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm, in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence, in connection with the armed robbery. Then on June 24, 2022, Williams pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by an inmate. Williams remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and CMPD for their investigative efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.