Western District of North Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
South Carolina Man Is Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Robbing Three PharmaciesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Christopher Michaud, 43, of Chesterfield, South Carolina, was sentenced to 147 months in prison and three years of supervised release today on robbery and firearms offenses, 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 R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief J. Bryan Gilliard of the Monroe Police Department.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between January and April 2020, Michaud robbed three pharmacies and illegally obtained large amounts of prescription opioids and other controlled substances. In two of the robberies, Michaud brandished a firearm. The first robbery occurred on January 26, 2020, during which Michaud walked into the Walgreens pharmacy located at 500 Fincher Street in Monroe, North Carolina, and handed a note to the pharmacy clerk. The note stated that Michaud had a gun and instructed the clerk to hand over specific prescription opioids. The clerk complied and Michaud fled the scene with various prescription medications including Oxycodone pills, generic Xanax pills, and Methadone pills.
On March 4, 2020, Michaud robbed the CVS pharmacy located at 625 East Roosevelt Boulevard in Monroe. Michaud entered the pharmacy at approximately 6:15 p.m. and gave a note to the clerk demanding certain prescription medications and threatening to come back and shoot everyone. During the robbery, Michaud flashed a small handgun at the clerk and demanded that the clerk “make it quick.” The clerk handed Michaud a bag with prescription drugs and Michaud left the store. The third robbery occurred on April 2, 2020, during which Michaud robbed the Walgreens located at 1993 Dickerson Boulevard in Monroe. Once again, Michaud handed the pharmacy clerk a note demanding prescription narcotics and flashed a handgun. The clerk complied, but during the robbery another store employee called 911 to report the incident. Officers with the Monroe Police Department arrested Michaud as he exited the pharmacy. At the time of the arrest, law enforcement recovered the stolen prescription medications and the pistol that Michaud used during the robbery.
On June 23, 2021, Michaud pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or “Hobbs Act” robbery, and one count of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Michaud 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 this announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and the Monroe Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced to More Than Nine YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Alberto Manuel Lara-Zuniga, 46, of Mexico, to 108 months in prison and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 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 Brian Mein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, 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 court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from December 2020 to February 2021, Lara-Zuniga conspired to distribute narcotics in the greater Charlotte area, as well as trafficked in illegal firearms. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Lara-Zuniga obtained methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico for distribution into North Carolina through his ties to Sinaloa and Nayarit Cartels in Mexico. Court documents also show that the narcotics were transported into North Carolina through Georgia and California.
Lara-Zuniga 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 this announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked ATF, HSI and CMPD for their investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Narcotics Investigation Leads to the Indictment of Six Involved in A Poly-Drug Distribution NetworkRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A drug investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) has resulted in the indictment of six members of a poly-drug trafficking organization (DTO), announced United States Attorney Dena J. King.
Brian Mein, 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 indictment was returned on March 16, 2022, and was unsealed today after ATF and DEA agents and CMPD officers arrested five of the six men during an early morning round-up. The defendants named in the indictment are:
- Laricco Eugene Sherrill, Jr., 23, of Charlotte (arrested)
- Brian Clinton, 23, of Charlotte (arrested)
- Jakieran Harris, 22, of Charlotte (arrested)
- Sadarian Armstrong, 40, of Charlotte (arrested)
- Quentin Nathaniel Stowe, 27, of Charlotte (arrested)
- Marquez Maxwell, 22, of Charlotte (not arrested).
According to allegations contained in the indictment, beginning as early as January 2020, the DTO distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana in Mecklenburg County and elsewhere. Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized narcotics, firearms, ammunition, and over $63,650 in cash that is believed to be drug proceeds.
Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute narcotics and related drug offenses.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King credited the ATF and CMPD’s OCDETF investigation which led to the indictment and thanked the DEA for their invaluable assistance in effectuating the arrests. 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 United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
Avery Co. Man Is Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Elenilson Ceron, 25, of Newland, N.C., was sentenced today to 26 months in prison for using stolen identification documents to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Ceron to serve two years under court supervision after he is released from prison.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte.
According to filed documents and today’s court proceedings, in November 2019, Ceron and his co-defendant, Jennifer Pardo, engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions by securing loans in the names of identity theft victims. Ceron and Pardo obtained the victims’ personal identifying information (PII) through personal checks, credit cards, medical documents, and other sensitive information the defendants stole from the victims’ mailboxes, homes, and vehicles, or the home computers of friends and family members. Using the stolen PII, the pair opened bank accounts and credit accounts and took out personal loans in the victims’ names.
In this manner, court records show that the defendants obtained at least $6,500 in unlawful proceeds.
Ceron and Pardo pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Pardo was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the USPIS for their investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Jury Finds That Charlotte Man Previously Convicted of Federal Crimes Violated the Federal Debt Collection Procedures ActRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has returned a verdict against Malcom Bynum, for fraudulently transferring a piece of property to a relative in violation of the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (FDCPA), to avoid paying restitution owed to victims of his criminal conduct, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney presided over the two-day civil trial.
The FDCPA prevents individuals who owe debts to the United States from improperly transferring properties and other assets in order to avoid paying their debt obligations, including court-ordered criminal restitution to victims.
On January 22, 2021, the United States filed a federal civil lawsuit against Tico Bynum, Malcolm Bynum, and Donald Bynum for violating the FDCPA. According to the civil complaint, Tico Bynum fraudulently transferred the property located at 1344 Downs Avenue to his son, Malcolm Bynum, to avoid his debt obligations, specifically, $221,818.98 in restitution payments owed to victims of his crimes. On February 22, 2022, Judge Whitney ruled that Tico Bynum’s transfer of the property to his son was indeed fraudulent.
According to information contained in the civil suit and evidence presented at Malcolm Bynum’s civil trial, Malcolm Bynum also transferred the same property to his grandfather, Donald Bynum, to avoid his own debt of $169,923.24, which included both restitution to victims of his crimes, and special assessments. Trial evidence established that Malcolm Bynum signed a quitclaim deed transferring 1344 Downs Avenue to his grandfather, shortly before Malcom Bynum was indicted for multiple violations of federal criminal statutes, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, financial institution fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The evidence at trial further demonstrated that, as part of his plea agreement with the government, Malcolm Bynum agreed to make full restitution and pay back his victims for certain losses incurred as a result of his crimes. According to trial evidence, the day before Malcolm Bynum signed the plea agreement, the quitclaim deed was recorded with the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds, effecting the transfer of the 1344 Downs Avenue to his grandfather. The deed reflected that Donald Bynum did not pay any consideration to Malcolm Bynum in exchange for the property, which, at the time of transfer, had a tax value of $207,900. As part of his sentence for the criminal case, Malcolm Bynum was ordered to pay restitution and penalties totaling $169,923.24 to his victims. On Tuesday, March 22, 2022, a federal jury found that the property transfer was a violation of the FDCPA.
Next, the Court will determine the appropriate statutory relief, which may include the avoidance or voiding of the property transfers and the issuance of a writ of execution on the property, to satisfy the restitution judgments stemming from the criminal convictions.
“Time and again, the Bynums have tried to dodge their financial obligations to crime victims and thwart the United States’ efforts to enforce court-ordered judgments. But the proverbial buck stops here,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Collection on federal debts – and particularly restitution judgments entered for the benefit of crime victims – remains a priority for my Office.”
In making toay's announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Office's Financial Litigation Unit for their investigation of the case.
The Financial Litigation Unit enforces collection of criminal restitution, fines, and other monetary penalties ordered as the result of criminal convictions, as well as civil debts owed to the United States. Funds collected for restitution are disbursed directly to the victims of the crime identified in the criminal judgment. Criminal fines go to the National Crime Victims Fund, which disburses grants to various victims’ groups across the country.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia Wood and Katherine Armstrong of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the civil action.
Florida Man Is Sentenced to Prison for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. sentenced Jalon Carlos Torres, 43, of Boynton Beach, Florida, to 27 months in prison for cyberstalking and making interstate threats, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and today’s court proceedings, from July 2020 to February 2021, Torres used various means of communication to cyberstalk a bank employee and her husband. The cyberstalking began after the bank employee, identified in documents as Jane Doe, informed Torres that his bank account would be closed due to unauthorized activity. Over the next eight months after the initial communication with Torres, the victim and her family endured a campaign of constant harassment and intimidation by the defendant, through dozens of telephone calls, voice mails, and text messages. These communications contained explicit and implicit threats to harm Jane Doe, her husband and her children, racial slurs, racist imagery including Nazi symbols, and pornographic imagery.
On October 1, 2021, Torres pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and two counts of making interstate threats. 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 FBI for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Catawba Co. Man Faces COVID-19 Relief Fraud and Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte has returned a criminal indictment against Spenc’r Denard Rickerson, 35, of Claremont, N.C., charging him with wire fraud and bank robbery offenses, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment was returned on March 15, 2022, and was unsealed today following Rickerson’s arrest on Monday.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division.
According to allegations in the indictment, between June 30, 2020, and March 20, 2021, Rickerson used false information to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
To obtain the PPP loan, the indictment alleges that Rickerson submitted a fraudulent application for a non-existent company that contained a number of falsehoods, including the purpose of the loan and the company’s payroll costs. The indictment also alleges that Rickerson submitted fraudulent applications for several loans under the EIDL program, in which he provided fake information about the number of company employees and gross revenues. As a result of the fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications, Rickerson allegedly received over $74,200 in fraudulent funds intended to assist businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the fraudulent loan scheme, according to allegations in the indictment, on March 18, 2021, Rickerson committed an armed robbery of a BB&T Bank located at 12 North Main Avenue, in Newton, N.C. Rickerson allegedly used the stolen funds from the fraudulent loan scheme and the bank robbery to pay bills and to buy cryptocurrency.
Rickerson remains in federal custody. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for the bank robbery offense is 25 years and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI in Charlotte investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lambert Guinn and Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution.
To report suspected COVID-19 fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed by the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Father and Son Convicted of $1.7 Million COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte convicted two men today for the submission of fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.7 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 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 Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), Charlotte Field Office; and J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
According to evidence presented during a six-day trial, Izzat Freitekh, 55, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, and his son Tarik Freitekh, aka Tareq Freitekh, 33, whose last known residence was in Glendale, California, obtained $1.7 million in fraudulent proceeds obtained by submitting multiple fraudulent PPP loan applications for companies owned by Izzat Freitekh: La Shish Kabob, La Shish Kabob Catering, Green Apple Catering, and Aroma Packaging. The loan applications misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses. After obtaining the fraudulent loan proceeds, defendants engaged in unlawful monetary transactions with the proceeds of the scheme, including making $30,000 payments to family members.
“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but in the Freitekhs’ case they also lie to cover up the fraud,” said U.S. Attorney King. “This father and son duo exploited a national emergency for their own benefit, then tried to obstruct justice to avoid punishment. A federal jury saw through their criminal shenanigans and now the Freitekhs will be held accountable for their actions. Protecting important taxpayer-funded programs remains a priority for my office, and together with our law enforcement counterparts we will continue to identify and prosecute those who exploit these programs for their own profit.”
“The CARES Act was intended to help people and businesses harmed by the pandemic, not to line the pockets of greedy individuals. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who lie and cheat the government out of money to enrich themselves,” said Inspector in Charge Coke.
“While businesses were suffering and doing their best to make it through the pandemic, others chose greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. “IRS CI will continue to utilize its financial expertise to follow the money and recommend the prosecution of criminals taking advantage of a crisis.”
“Today’s results demonstrate the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to corruptly interfere with federal tax administration,” said Inspector General George. “We appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to ensure this criminal activity is held to account.”
Izzat Freitekh was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of money laundering, and one count of making false statements. He faces up to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering counts, and five years in prison for the false statements count.
Tarik Freitekh was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of money laundering, and one count of falsifying and concealing material facts. He faces up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud count, 20 years in prison for the wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, 10 years in prison for the money laundering count, and five years in prison for the falsifying material facts count.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Law enforcement previously obtained and executed seizure warrants for over $1.3 million in proceeds of the fraud, held in various accounts. The seized money was administratively forfeited by the federal government prior to the trial.
The US Postal Inspection Service, IRS-CI, and TIGTA investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Joshua N. DeBold and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Odulio of the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Division is in charge of the forfeiture proceedings.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
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 (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Charlotte Woman on Federal Supervised Release Indicted for COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging Nkhenge Shropshire, 48, of Charlotte, with wire fraud conspiracy, for allegedly submitting fraudulent loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain COVID-19 relief loans, 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 Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees Charlotte.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, Shropshire conspired with others to defraud the SBA by submitting fraudulent applications for Economic Disaster Relief Loans (EIDL), available under the expanded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to business owners adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain a loan under the EIDL program, business owners are required to submit certain information in support of the application, including information about the business’s gross revenues in the 12 months prior to COVID-19’s impact and the number of workers employed by the company, among other things.
The indictment alleges that, between July 2, and September 2, 2020, Shropshire and her co-conspirators submitted at least 10 fraudulent EIDL applications to the SBA. The applications and supporting documents were allegedly for fictitious businesses and contained false information regarding the total number of employees employed by each business and total gross revenues. The indictment alleges that Shropshire and her co-conspirators attempted to obtain at least $331,072 in relief funds. The SBA accepted and paid out at least $45,000 to Shropshire and her co-conspirators as a result of the scheme. According to the indictment, Shropshire spent the fraudulent proceeds on personal expenses, including hotel stays, shopping sprees, and cars.
Court records show that, in 2014, Shropshire was convicted of filing false tax returns and lying on a loan application and was sentenced to 33 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Shropshire was on federal supervised release when she allegedly participated in the EIDL fraud scheme. She is currently in federal custody and will have her initial appearance in federal court in Charlotte.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended USPIS for their investigation that led to today’s charges.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Warren, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina need the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint. Complaints filed will be reviewed by the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Charlotte Business Owner Is Indicted for Selling Stolen iPhones OverseasRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte business owner is facing federal charges for allegedly selling stolen Apple iPhones (iPhones) and other electronic devices overseas, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A federal criminal indictment charges Rami Mahmod Mhana, 45, of Charlotte, with four counts of transportation of stolen goods.
Reginald DeMatteis, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service (USSS), Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, Mhana was the owner of Wireless City Fashions, Inc. (Wireless City) and Protocol Business Group Inc. (Protocol), located at 441 Bradford Drive in Charlotte. The indictment alleges that, from at least May 2017 through October 2019, Mhana purchased hundreds of fraudulently obtained iPhones and other electronic devices which he sold and shipped overseas to the United Arab Emirates (the U.A.E.) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong). The indictment also alleges that Mhana knew these devices were stolen or was willfully blind to the fact.
As alleged in the indictment, Mhana obtained the stolen devices from multiple “boosters.” A booster is a person who steals goods and products and sells them for profit. The indictment further alleges that Wireless City and Protocol were known to boosters as places they could sell stolen devices for cash with no questions asked. Mhana allegedly provided his employees with a price list of how much they should pay for certain iPhones and other electronic devices, but generally Mhana paid more for new or unlocked devices. Over the course of the scheme, Mhana allegedly sold thousands of dollars in stolen iPhones and devices to overseas buyers.
Mhana will be ordered to appear on a summons for his initial appearance, which will be scheduled in federal court in Charlotte. If convicted, Mhana faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of transportation of stolen goods.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was the result of the investigative efforts of CMPD and the Secret Service, which have established a fully integrated partnership to combat the most significant organized criminal groups operating in Charlotte. Through this partnership, this unit has successfully leveraged local and federal resources, personnel, expertise and authorities to identify and combat the criminals and criminal organizations that have the largest negative impact on the community.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Savage and William Bozin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Announces the Successful Forfeiture and Return of Stolen Cryptocurrency to Elderly Man Victimized by Government Imposter ScamRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today the civil forfeiture and return of cryptocurrency worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that was stolen from an older adult victimized by a government imposter scam. This is the latest public legal action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its ongoing efforts to combat fraudsters seeking to financially exploit the elderly.
According to allegations contained in the civil complaint, in August 2021, fraudsters likely operating from overseas contacted by telephone the victim, who is an elderly Asheville resident, claiming to be with the “Office of the Inspector General.” The fraudsters deceived the victim into believing his personal information had been used to facilitate a drug trafficking and money laundering scheme, and as a result all of the victim’s assets would be frozen. One of the imposters, who identified himself as Agent James Hoffman, told the victim that he was required to deposit funds into a secure government account until the government verified that the victim was not involved in criminal activity. The imposters further demanded all of the victim’s personal identifying information (PII) and details regarding his financial accounts.
According to the filed complaint, the imposters directed the victim to use hundreds of thousands of dollars of his retirement funds to purchase Bitcoin through Coinbase Global, Inc. (Coinbase). On August 31, 2021, 12.164699 Bitcoin, worth approximately $574,766, was transferred from the victim’s Coinbase account to the account controlled by the imposters. Coinbase and the FBI ultimately identified the transfer as possible elder financial fraud. Following an investigation and successful civil forfeiture proceedings, the seized cryptocurrency was forfeited to the United States and will be returned to the victim.
“Government imposter scams are pervasive and can be financially and psychologically devastating for those who fall prey. Thankfully, in this instance, the fraud was detected quickly and the stolen funds will be returned to the victim. Unfortunately, the majority of these cases do not share a similar ending,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Law enforcement and federal prosecutors will continue to use all tools at our disposal to make sure that thieves do not get to keep criminal proceeds, but public awareness and education remain key, especially when it comes to protecting older adults from becoming victims. I urge everyone to learn how to spot imposter scams and help warn others.”
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI for its work in this case and thanked cryptocurrency exchanges and entities and financial institutions operating in the Western District of North Carolina for their cooperation and ongoing efforts to detect and report financial fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, handled the civil forfeiture proceedings and Trial Attorney Jane Lee of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section assisted with remitting the assets to the victim.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative, continues to combat financial fraud against older Americans by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors, educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud, and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners.
Some examples of financial scams targeting seniors are:
• Lottery phone scams – Scammers persuade seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
• Grandparent scams – Scammers convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to pay rent, repair a car, or make bail.
• Romance scams – Scammers lull victims into believing that they are in a romantic relationship and that the scammers need money to travel to the U.S. or for some other purpose.
• IRS or government imposter scams – Scammers pose as IRS or other government officials claiming that the victims owe the government money.
• Sham business opportunities – Scammers convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.
Many of these schemes involve not only scammers stealing money from seniors but also using seniors as unwitting financial “money mules” to transfer criminal proceeds stolen from other fraud victims.
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 or texts.
• Don’t send gift cards, checks or money orders, wire money, make cryptocurrency payments 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.
If you have been contacted by a scammer or believe you have fallen victim to a scam please file a report with:
- The Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-Fraud-11 (1-833-372-8311).
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) via their website or by calling 877–FTC–HELP (877-382-4357).
- The FBI, for law enforcement action at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud.
The National Elder Fraud hotline was created for the public to report fraud against individuals who are age 60 or older. The hotline is open seven days a week. For more information about the hotline, please visit https://stopelderfraud.ovc.ojp.gov/.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 11 ½ Years for Robbing A Metro T-Mobile Store at GunpointRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. sentenced Joseph Antwan Faulk, 37, of Charlotte, to 138 months in prison and three years of supervised release for robbing a Metro T-Mobile at gunpoint, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte 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 documents and court proceedings, on December 7, 2020, Faulk entered the Metro T-Mobile store located at 2504 Little Rock Road in Charlotte. Upon entering, Faulk approached the counter, pointed a firearm at two store employees, and ordered them to hand over the cash from the registers. Faulk also threatened to shoot the employees if they did not do as he said. The employees complied and Faulk fled the scene with the store’s cash and the employees’ personal cell phones. CMPD officers were able to identify Faulk, and days later Faulk was located and arrested at a residence in Charlotte. Inside the residence, CMPD officers found the firearm Faulk used during the robbery. Faulk has four prior state convictions in North Carolina for Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon.
On July 7, 2021, Faulk pleaded guilty to robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or “Hobbs Act” robbery, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Two Gastonia Drug Traffickers Are Sentenced to 15+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. handed down lengthy prison sentences to two individuals convicted of drug trafficking in Gaston County, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Corey Dusean Edwards, 45, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; and possession of a firearm by felon. According to court documents and proceedings in this case, from 2018 to 2020, Edwards was responsible for trafficking more than a kilogram of crack cocaine in Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized cocaine and other drugs from Edwards’ residence, as well as a stolen firearm and $1,723 in cash. As a result of Edwards’s multiple prior drug convictions, the Court sentenced him as a career offender.
In a separate case, Caleb O’Brian Kendrick, 31, of Gastonia, was also ordered to serve 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; and possession of firearm by a felon. Court documents filed in this case show that, from 2016 to 2019, Kendrick was engaged in drug trafficking activities in Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered from Kendrick’s residence narcotics and firearms, and evidence of his membership in the Bloods gang. At today’s hearing, the Court enhanced Kendrick’s term of imprisonment due to his prior convictions for, among other things, drug trafficking, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
U.S. Attorney King credited today’s outcomes to investigations led by one of the Western District of North Carolina’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which have resulted in the conviction of more than 70 individuals, and the seizure of over 1,625 kilograms of crack cocaine, 561 kilograms of cocaine, more than 1,430 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 210 kilograms of heroin, over 28 kilograms of fentanyl, 89 firearms, and more $290,000 in cash and other property.
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.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigative efforts.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the cases.
Charlotte Man Convicted of Using Stolen Identities to Defraud Government-Funded COVID-19 Relief Programs Is Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Keon Taylor, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for using stolen identities to defraud government-funded coronavirus aid relief programs of more than $219,000. In addition to the prison term imposed, Taylor was ordered to pay $252,849.50 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) which oversees Charlotte, and Matthew Broadhurst, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Region.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020, and it is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program, which provides low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters.
According to the information to which Taylor pleaded guilty, other documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from March 2020 to February 2021, Taylor engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the North Carolina Division of Employment Security, and the States of Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Arizona by filing fraudulent claims for COVID-19 related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. As part of the scheme, Taylor obtained stolen personal identifying information, or PII, of more than 35 victims, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses. Taylor used the PII to apply for and receive over $219,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits, and to submit numerous additional applications seeking fraudulent UI benefits. Court documents show that Taylor also attempted to defraud the SBA by using false information to submit applications for three loans under the EIDL program set aside for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Documents further show that in February 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Taylor’s apartment, seizing equipment used to manufacture fake identification cards. According to court records, Taylor continued to engage in fraudulent ID-making activities even after pleading guilty, which resulted in the revocation of his federal bond.
“Taylor went on a crime spree, stealing taxpayer dollars from federal and state programs intended to help those in real need as a result of the coronavirus. In the process, he victimized individuals whose stolen identities were used to carry out the fraud. Taylor’s crimes are serious and now he has to endure the consequences. My office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from the pandemic and exploit government benefits intended to help people impacted by COVID-19.”
“Taylor took advantage of the American people whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic to try and enrich himself through fraud,” stated Inspector in Charge Coke. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to criminals exploiting the American people.”
“Taylor defrauded the unemployment system of multiple states by fraudulently collecting over $219,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. His conduct further exacerbated the distribution of unemployment benefits at a time when so many Americans are in desperate need of this assistance. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of DOL programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Broadhurst.
On July 27, 2021, Taylor pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended USPIS for their investigative efforts in this case. U.S. Attorney King also thanked DOL-OIG for their coordination and recognized the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance.
The prosecution for the government was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina need the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed by the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Gastonia Man Is Sentenced to 15 Years on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kyle Williamson Auten, 37, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison and five years of supervised release on drug and gun charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Joseph D. Ramey of the Gaston County Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on February 17, 2020, officers with the Gaston County Police Department learned that Auten was staying at a hotel in Gastonia and had an outstanding arrest warrant. Officers effectuating the warrant arrived at Auten’s room, where they observed a firearm in plain view. In addition to the firearm, law enforcement recovered from the room narcotics, including methamphetamine and marijuana, cash, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. From Auten’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered a rifle, ammunition and more narcotics. Law enforcement also determined that the vehicle Auten was driving was stolen.
On June 1, 2021, Auten pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Auten 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 the ATF and the Gaston County Police Department for their investigation of the case and thanked the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess prosecuted the case.
Former Charlotte Attorney Is Sentenced to 10 Years for Online Enticement of A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former Charlotte attorney was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. to 10 years in prison for the online enticement of a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Joshua Michael Reed, 32, was also ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve the rest of his life under court supervision after he is released from prison.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s court proceedings, between February 10 and February 18, 2020, Reed used the Kik Messenger application to engage in multiple communications with an FBI undercover employee posing as a 13-year-old female. Court records show that during these communications Reed discussed his interest in engaging in sexual contact with the “minor” and tried to solicit a nude photograph from the minor. Reed also discussed making arrangements to meet the minor and told the minor they had to be careful or he could get into trouble because “older guys are not supposed to mess around” with girls the minor’s age.
On October 22, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Reed’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices. Reed’s laptops contained the aforementioned online Kik chats, as well as images depicting the sexual abuse of children. According to documents filed in the case, law enforcement also recovered previous online chats dating back to approximately five years between Reed and females who claimed to be minors, some as young as 13.
On June 8, 2021, Reed pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. He is currently in federal custody and he will be transferred to custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Reed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa 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.
U.S. Attorney's Office Kicks Off National Consumer Protection WeekRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is joining an array of government, non-profit and private organizations to raise public awareness about widespread and emerging scams during National Consumer Protection Week.
“National Consumer Protection Week is an opportunity to join forces with public and private agencies in amplifying the message against sinister scams and educating the public on how to identify scams and avoid falling prey to scammers,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The best way to protect yourself is to learn how to spot a scam and what to do if you are contacted by a scammer. We also encourage everyone to report suspected fraudulent schemes to help us track emerging scams and warn others.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in 2021, North Carolinians submitted more than 64,000 fraud reports totaling $93 million in losses, compared to $74 million in 2020. The top fraud categories reported involved imposters scams, online shopping, sweepstakes and lotteries, and internet services, among others.
Spotting the four signs of a scam can stop consumers from falling victims to one. The signs are:
- Fraudsters pretend to be affiliated with a widely known organization, like a government entity, a law enforcement agency, a utility company, or a charity.
- Scammers claim there is an imminent problem that requires immediate attention. For example, they claim you or a loved one are in legal or financial trouble, your computer has a virus, or your bank account has been locked.
- You are pressured to act immediately, including to pay a fine or settle a debt to avoid arrest, pay for computer tech repairs to restore your data, log into your account using a provided link, or pay a fee in order to receive lottery winnings.
- Scammers direct you to pay using a specific payment method, such as a gift card, a pre-paid debit card, a wire transfer, or an instant money transfer.
To avoid getting scammed consumers are encouraged to:
- Ignore unknown callers and block unwanted numbers and text messages.
- Do not open or respond to suspicious emails or click on suspicious links.
- Do not give personal or financial information such as name, date of birth, Social Security Number, bank account, or credit card number.
- Do not succumb to pressure tactics urging you to act immediately. Take your time to verify the source’s legitimacy and do your own research.
- Do not pay using an unusual payment method such as wire transfers, instant money transfers, internet currency, or gift cards, and do not use your bank account to cash a check mailed to you.
- If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer talk to a trusted family member, a friend, or neighbor.
It is equally important that consumers do their part to help us identify existing or emerging scams and help warn others. If you are the victim of a scam or think you have been contacted by a scammer, report the fraud to your local law enforcement, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Visit NCWP for a list of events throughout the week and to obtain additional information on how to avoid scams.
Methamphetamine Dealer Is Sentenced to 10 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. today sentenced a methamphetamine dealer to 120 months in prison, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Christian Allen Garcia, 30, of West Covina, California, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
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 (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed documents and statements made in court, in 2018, law enforcement identified Garcia as a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing bulk quantity of narcotics in Western North Carolina, including the greater Charlotte area. On March 27, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle where Garcia was a passenger and Garcia’s co-defendant, Henry Danny Collao, was the driver. Over the course of the traffic stop, law enforcement recovered nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine from the rear passenger seat. Law enforcement also found a loaded firearm in Garcia’s pants pocket and a second loaded gun in Collao’s right waistband. Officers also located within the vehicle different bank transaction receipts from various U.S. banks totaling over $75,000 in drug proceeds.
On July 8, 2021, Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Collao was previously sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in the drug trafficking scheme.
The investigation was handled by DEA and CMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to More Than 11 Years for Carjacking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Jontez Xavier McLeod, 27, of Charlotte, to 141 months in prison today for carjacking and gun charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also ordered McLeod to serve three years under court supervision after completing his prison term and to pay restitution to the victim of the carjacking.
Vincent C. Pallozzi, 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 the sentencing hearing, on the night of January 13, 2021, Jontez Xavier McLeod and his co-defendant, Ricky Lewis Bush, carjacked at gunpoint a female victim identified in court documents as C.K. Court records show that C.K. was exiting her vehicle which was parked at the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte, when McLeod and Bush approached the victim. Bush pointed a firearm at the victim, and the two men grabbed the victim and pulled her from her vehicle. McLeod and Bush then got into the victim’s car and fled the scene, leaving the victim in the parking lot.
According to court documents, CMPD officers located the victim’s car. McLeod was driving the vehicle and Bush was in the front passenger seat. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the defendants sped off in an attempt to evade the police. CMPD officers eventually pulled over the vehicle and arrested the two men. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement recovered several “selfie” videos from Bush’s cell phone, taken shortly before and after the carjacking. In one video the defendants are together prior to the carjacking and in a second video McLeod and Bush are together in the victim’s vehicle. In both videos, Bush is brandishing the same firearm used in the carjacking.
On April 16, 2021, McLeod pleaded guilty to carjacking and aiding and abetting, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence. 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. Bush was previously sentenced to six and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to the same charges.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor G. Stout, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, handled the prosecution.
Cherokee Man Is Sentenced to More Than 30 Years for Second Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Cherokee, N.C. man convicted of second degree murder by a federal jury was sentenced to 365 months in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Shane McKinley Swimmer, 22, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was also ordered to serve eight years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Josh Taylor of the Cherokee Indian Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and today’s sentencing hearing, on November 10, 2018, Swimmer and his uncle, Charles Ray “Chino” West, were at his uncle’s residence on Rocky Knob Trail in Swain County, which is within the Qualla Boundary. Trial evidence established that shortly before 7:00 p.m., Swimmer attacked his uncle with a baseball bat, striking the victim in the head multiple times. Following the attack, Swimmer went to another family member’s house nearby and announced that the victim was dead before calling 911. Officers with the Cherokee Indian Police Department arrested Swimmer shortly thereafter. According to witness testimony, the victim was struck between eight and 30 times and sustained massive brain injuries. The victim’s official cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
“Swimmer’s unprovoked and brutal attack caused the victim’s violent and untimely death,” said U.S. Attorney King. “I commend the FBI and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigative efforts in this case, which led to today’s lengthy sentence.”
Swimmer remains in federal custody. 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 the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pritchard and Alexis Solheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Six Drug Traffickers Are Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney has ordered six defendants responsible for trafficking narcotics in Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties to serve prison terms ranging from seven to 25 years, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The federal prosecutions are the result of investigations conducted by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which focuses on disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks operating in Western North Carolina.
The charges the defendants were convicted of and the sentences they received are as follows:
- Dietrich O’Brian Sarratt, 37, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on May 19, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and was sentenced on Tuesday to 300 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Daniel William Brock, IV, 35, of York, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on Tuesday to 228 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Dakota Reese Davis, 34, of Maiden, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on April 21, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on Tuesday to 144 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Christopher Dewayne Jenkins, 31, of Gastonia, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on April 7, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Chad Richard Tate, 51, of Cherryville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on January 26, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Mildred Marie Johnson Colon, 33, of Dallas, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on November 5, 2020, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced on Tuesday to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Since 2019, these OCDETF investigations have led to the federal prosecution of more than 60 individuals for drug trafficking, and law enforcement have seized more than 87 kilograms of narcotics, including over 24 kilograms of fentanyl, 66 firearms, more than $385,000 in cash, and over $800,000 in other property.
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.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, the Huntersville Police Department, and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigative efforts.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.
Statesville Man Who Robbed Two Convenience Stores on the Same Day at Gunpoint Is Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Anthony Dwayne Turner Jr., 23, of Statesville, N.C. to 135 months in prison and three years of supervised release for robbing two convenience stores at gunpoint, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Turner’s co-defendant, Xavier Lamar Poteat, 21, also of Statesville, was sentenced to three years in prison and two years of supervised release for his role in the robbery.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Chief Ron Campurciani of the Mooresville Police Department, and Chief Josh Watson of the Troutman Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on October 9, 2020, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Turner and Poteat walked into a BP convenience store located in Iredell County. Upon entering, Turner walked up to the store clerk while Poteat waited by the door. Turner then pointed a firearm at the store clerk and demanded money. The store clerk emptied both registers, gave the money to Turner and the two men fled the scene. Court documents show that, on the same day at approximately 3:40 a.m., Turner and Poteat entered a Circle K convenience store also located in Iredell County. Poteat again waited by the front door while Turner approached the store clerk, pointed a gun at him and demanded cash from the register. The clerk obeyed and the two men fled the scene. Law enforcement responding to the robbery located Turner and Poteat’s vehicle and the two men were arrested shortly thereafter. Over the course of the arrest, law enforcement found two firearms inside the vehicle. According to court records, Turner has previous felony convictions and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On October 21, 2021, Turner pleaded guilty to robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or “Hobbs Act” robbery, and use, carry and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Poteat pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI, the Mooresville Police Department and the Troutman Police Department for their investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lambert Guinn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Supplier of Drug Ring Operating in Asheville Is Sentenced to 25+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Rodney Dejuan Allison, 46, of Asheville, was sentenced in federal court late yesterday to 310 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on drug conspiracy charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
On April 2, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Allison and seven other defendants on drug conspiracy charges following a two-year joint federal, state and local investigation into drug distribution and drug related criminal activity in Buncombe County. Court records show that Allison supplied the drug ring, which was operating in the Asheville area, with multiple controlled substances, including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other narcotics. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized drugs, 12 firearms and ammunition, and $153,674 in cash.
In addition to Allison, seven other defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy charges. They are:
- Prophet Karim Hadialim Allah – sentenced to 108 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- William Luther Downs, Jr. – sentenced to 108 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Jeffrey Allen Wright – sentenced to 100 months in prison and five years of supervised release.
- Harry James Odum – sentenced to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Elliot Norris Smith – sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Derrick Maurice Perry – sentenced to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release.
- Teresa Day Shuping – sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Black Mountain Police Department, and the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office for leading the investigation. U.S. Attorney King also thanked the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
Georgia Man Is Convicted of Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Statesville has convicted Da Lee, 37, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, of trafficking methamphetamine and marijuana in Western North Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, from 2018 to July 2020, Lee and his co-defendant, Paul Mark James, 52, of Hickory, North Carolina, conspired to distribute methamphetamine in and around Catawba County. Court records show that law enforcement investigating James’s drug distribution activities in Hickory determined that James frequently traveled out of state to purchase methamphetamine from his supplier in Georgia, later identified as Lee. According to trial evidence, in July 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lee’s Georgia residence, from which they seized a firearm, four pounds of marijuana, and more than $7,900 in cash. Trial evidence also established that, over the course of the conspiracy, Lee was responsible for supplying James with more than two pounds of methamphetamine.
The jury convicted Lee of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and 50 grams or more methamphetamin, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. James has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine. Both Lee and James are awaiting sentencing.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Hess and Taylor Stout are prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney Dena J. King Participates in Youth Discussion About Teen Dating ViolenceRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAPM). U.S. Attorney Dena J. King was joined yesterday by representatives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services to host a discussion on the topic of youth violence, with a focus on teenage unhealthy and abusive relationships.
In observing TDVAPM, U.S. Attorney King said, “This year’s theme is ‘Talk About It’ and that is exactly what all of us should be doing. Engaging in conversations with teenagers about what teen dating violence is, what it looks like, what it feels like, how to prevent it from happening, and how young people can protect themselves from abusive dating situations.”
During yesterday’s discussion with more than 15 youths, U.S. Attorney King talked about the importance of teaching young people how to navigate romantic relationships, how to communicate their feelings in healthy ways, and how to handle emotional situations in a non-aggressive manner. The discussion also centered around the many forms of teen dating abuse such as physical, psychological, sexual, emotional and verbal aggression, harassment, stalking, and exploitation, and warned teens that dating abuse happens in person, via social media or through a different mode of technology.
U.S. Attorney King also highlighted the importance of reporting the abuse. According to statistics, one in three teens in the United States will experience a form of abuse from an intimate partner before adulthood. U.S. Attorney King further noted that teen dating violence cuts across lines of age, gender, race, religion and socioeconomic status, and that dating abuse is just as serious in LGBTQ+ relationships as it is in heterosexual relationships.
During the discussion, the participants discussed the role of social media and the intersection between technology and teen dating violence. “As technology advances and our means of communication change, so does the form of dating violence. Tweens, teens and young adults who are victims of cyber stalking, text messaging harassment, and cyber bullying are just as much in danger as victims of physical abuse,” U.S. Attorney King stated. “What’s equally significant is that the experience of violence, abuse and trauma in the formative years can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”
As the misuse of technology is becoming an increasingly common tactic on the part of harmful partners, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has shared a new resource funded by the OVW, the Teens and Technology Resource Series. The Teens and Technology resources aim to help adults who teach, work with, and care for teenagers understand technology from their perspective to empower teenagers to safely navigate relationships and technology use. These resources include examples of technology abuse, uses and misuses of social media applications, and five ways to engage with young people.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking, there are many services available to help, including:
Teen Dating Abuse Hotline, 1-866-331-9474, text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522, or visit loveisrespect.org;
- State, territory and tribal sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions, which can direct you to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved; and
- The StrongHearts Native Helpline, which offers online chat on their website and a hotline – at 1-844-7NATIVE (or 1-844-762-8483) and provides culturally-appropriate services and advocacy to American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence.
To close out Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, on Monday, February 28, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. CST join @SAFEatx program Expect Respect for a youth-led workshop to learn more about the issue, how to support youth experiencing dating violence, & how to prevent it from happening. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87664006352#success
Gastonia Man Is Sentenced to 30 Years for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. has sentenced Marcus Isaiah Curry, 39, of Gastonia, N.C., to 360 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on drug trafficking and firearms charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Charlotte, and Chief Travis Brittain of the Gastonia Police Department (GPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at Curry’s trial and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, law enforcement determined that Curry engaged in drug trafficking activities in and around Gastonia. On March 5, 2020, FBI agents and GPD officers executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence and seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, various chemicals and other supplies consistent with converting cocaine into crack cocaine and $1,800 in drug proceeds. Court records show that law enforcement also recovered from the residence two firearms, including an assault pistol loaded with an extended high-capacity magazine, a .45 caliber handgun capable of firing shotgun shells, and a 100-round capacity ammunition drum loaded with 76 rounds. Curry has multiple prior felony convictions and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. According to witness testimony, in addition to engaging in drug trafficking activities, law enforcement determined that Curry was planning to intimidate a witness.
On January 22, 2021, a federal jury convicted Curry of four counts of distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. 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 FBI and GPD for their investigative work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Former Catawba County Director of Utilities Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy for Accepting BribesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Barry Bryan Edwards, 65, of Hickory, N.C. appeared in federal court today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for accepting kickbacks and bribes from a private contractor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed plead documents and today’s plea hearing, from 2012 to 2018, Edwards and an unnamed individual identified in court documents as the Contractor, devised a bribery and kickback scheme involving Catawba County (the County) government contracts. As Edwards admitted in court today, as Director of Utilities and Engineering, Edwards had the authority to review and award on behalf of the County government contracts to private businesses for engineering and consulting activities related to the County’s landfill, solid waste and natural gas projects, among others. As court documents show, Edwards admitted to awarding contracts to three businesses associated with the Contractor, all while receiving gifts and other things of value that influenced his decisions, including expensive meals, tickets to sporting events, and wine-tasting tours, totaling more than $30,000.
Edwards pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler and was released on bond. The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the SBI and the FBI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is in charge of the prosecution.
Charlotte Man Is Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Trevon Darnell Hopkins, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years of supervised release for illegal gun possession, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In October 2021, a federal jury convicted Hopkins of possession of a firearm by a felon.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Vincent C. Pallozzi, 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).
According to filed documents, trial evidence, and today’s sentencing hearing, on June 23, 2018, CMPD officers observed Hopkins driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen. When law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop of the vehicle, Hopkins refused to comply and sped away. The defendant then proceeded to drive recklessly, including into oncoming traffic and on the sidewalk. Hopkins eventually lost control and crashed the vehicle. CMPD officers arrested Hopkins at the scene. As trial evidence established, law enforcement located two firearms in the stolen vehicle. Hopkins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions. At the time of the incident, Hopkins was on post-release supervision with the State of North Carolina.
Hopkins is currently in federal custody. 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 ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Kelly and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Federal Judge Sentences Two Methamphetamine Traffickers to 17.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. handed down 17.5-year prison sentences to Rene Garcia, Jr., 43, of Laredo, Texas, and Jose Luis Ramirez, Jr., 45, of Concord, North Carolina, for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison terms imposed, both defendants were ordered to serve 10 years under court supervision upon completion of their prison terms.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, Chief Michael Hudgins of the Pineville Police Department, and Chief Kevin Black of the Cornelius Police Department.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearings, on August 19, 2020, law enforcement learned that Garcia and Ramirez were trafficking narcotics in the Charlotte area. Law enforcement investigating the case recovered from the defendants’ hotel room more than 230 grams of methamphetamine the pair had accidentally left behind after checking out of the hotel. Court records show that law enforcement arrested Garcia and Ramirez when the men returned to the hotel to recover the drugs from the room. At the time of the arrest, law enforcement recovered from Ramirez a loaded firearm and a large amount of cash, and from Garcia more drugs and cash. Law enforcement seized from the defendants’ truck a second loaded firearm, two magazines containing ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and fake identification cards. Law enforcement also determined that the truck Garcia and Ramirez were driving had been reported as stolen.
Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that, within the previous 30 days, the pair had trafficked approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine in the Charlotte area.
In handing down today’s sentences, the Court took into consideration Garcia’s and Ramirez’s extensive prior drug trafficking and felony convictions. At the time of the offense, Garcia was on supervised release after he previously served more than 10 years in prison on federal racketeering conspiracy and firearms offenses for his affiliation with a cartel assassination squad.
Both Garcia and Ramirez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. They are currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The DEA, the Pineville Police Department, and the Cornelius Police Department handled the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stoutt, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Indian Trail Man Is Sentenced to 13.5 Years in Prison for Robbing A Family Dollar Store at Gun PointRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. ordered James Arden Alexander, 33, of Indian Trail, N.C., to serve 162 months in prison and two years of supervised release for robbing a Family Dollar store, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alexander’s co-defendant, Gerran McClure, 33, of Charlotte, was previously sentenced to four years in prison and two years of supervised release.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, on December 16, 2019, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Alexander entered the Family Dollar store located at 6716 Nations Ford Road in Charlotte. Upon entering, Alexander pointed a firearm at two customers and the store’s cashier and ordered them to get on the ground. Court records show that the victims complied and Alexander went behind the counter. He then pointed his firearm at the cashier and forced her to stand up and open the register. Alexander took cash out of the register and the store’s safe and fled the scene. Shortly thereafter, CMPD officers located Alexander and McClure in a vehicle and attempted to stop them. McClure and Alexander ignored the officers, drove recklessly, and fled into South Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol continued to attempt to pull over the getaway car, and eventually were successful in stopping the vehicle on Interstate 77. Both defendants were arrested at the scene. CMPD officers recovered from the vehicle the cash taken from the Family Dollar store, a loaded firearm, and additional firearm magazines.
On April 12, 2021, Alexander pleaded guilty to robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, or “Hobbs Act” robbery. McClure pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to the Hobbs Act robbery.
Alexander is currently in federal custody and will be transferred into 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 and the South Carolina Highway Patrol for their assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Spaugh and David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Former North Carolina Police Sergeant Resentenced for Using Excessive Force Against an ArresteeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Justice Department announced today that Robert George, 49, was resentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to three years in prison and one year of supervised release in connection with a 2013 incident that occurred while he was a Sergeant with the Hickory Police Department in North Carolina.
On Jan. 17, 2019, a federal jury convicted George of using excessive force for assaulting a woman whom he had arrested and transported to the Hickory Police station. George was previously sentenced to a term of probation by a different U.S. District Court judge following the trial, but the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case for resentencing.
The evidence at trial established that on Nov. 11, 2013, George assaulted a woman following her arrest. George forcibly pulled the handcuffed woman out from his police car and slammed her face-down onto the ground in the driveway just outside of the police station’s sally port. The forceful impact with the pavement caused the woman to suffer serious injuries that included a broken nose, severe dental trauma that required multiple surgeries and facial lacerations. Following the assault, George locked the woman in a cell and placed a spit-hood over her head because she was bleeding severely. The assault was captured by the police station’s security camera.
“Police officers who violently and unlawfully assault people in their custody, causing severe physical injuries and trauma, are not above the law and will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentencing sends a strong message that the Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute officers who abuse their power by using unlawful force on people in their custody.”
“A person’s constitutional rights do not cease to exist during or after an arrest,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina. “A federal jury rightfully decided that former police sergeant George used excessive force against an individual in his custody, and today’s resentencing reflects the seriousness of his unlawful conduct. As federal prosecutors, we have a duty to protect everyone’s civil rights and to investigate and prosecute federal law violations involving police misconduct. We owe it to the people living in the Western District and to the thousands of law enforcement officers who serve and protect the public with honor and dedication.”
“The security video of George's actions that day in 2013, is sickening,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells of the FBI Charlotte Division. “We are grateful to our partners at the Hickory Police Department who immediately began an internal investigation and requested state and federal assistance. We hope today's resentencing sends a message that no one is above the law, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Civil Rights Division Criminal Section Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
Felons in Possession of Firearms Are Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced today a Hickory, N.C. man to 77 months in prison for a federal firearms violation, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chaetez Sean Clayton, 31, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
According to filed court documents and statements made in court, on May 6, 2020, Clayton sold a loaded Springfield .40 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine and a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol for $1,000 in cash. A jury found Clayton guilty in June 2021 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Clayton was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his 2015 federal conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
In a separate case, earlier this week Judge Bell handed down a 78-month prison sentence to Davion Lee Drayton, 25, of Charlotte, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court documents filed in this case show that on February 25, 2021, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle Drayton was driving. Drayton was able to evade the officers after he stopped his vehicle and fled the scene. A CMPD officer inspected Drayton’s vehicle and observed in plain view a Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a high capacity magazine. According to court records, the firearm had a round in the chamber and at least 20 rounds in the magazine. Drayton was arrested by law enforcement on the federal indictment on May 19, 2021. At the time he was arrested, Drayton illegally possessed another firearm. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon in September 2021.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their investigation of Clayton’s case, and thanked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Hickory Police Department, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance. ATF and CMPD handled the investigation into Drayton.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hess and Lambert Guinn were in charge of Clayton’s prosecution, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly prosecuted the case against Drayton.
Two Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud the North Carolina Medicaid Program and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has indicted two individuals on federal charges in connection with a scheme to obtain more than $15 million from the North Carolina Medicaid program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement are Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division (MID).
The indictment charges Donald Booker, 56, of Charlotte, and Delores Jordan, 53, of Louisville, Kentucky, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, Booker owned United Diagnostic Laboratories (UDL), a urine toxicology testing laboratory, and United Youth Care Services (UYCS), a company that provided mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Jordan owned Legacy Housing, a subsidized housing provider. The indictment alleges that from January 2016 to December 2020, Booker and his co-conspirators executed a conspiracy to defraud the North Carolina Medicaid program by paying illegal kickbacks to Jordan and other co-conspirators in exchange for urine samples from Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries.
The indictment alleges that Jordan and other co-conspirators recruited housing-vulnerable individuals and other Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries for housing and other programs and services. Once enrolled, the beneficiaries were required to submit urine specimens for drug testing as a condition of their participation in the program. The specimens were allegedly provided to UDL and UYCS for medically unnecessary urine drug testing. The indictment further alleges that Booker and his co-conspirators paid the recruiters a kickback from UYCS’s NC Medicaid reimbursement on the drug testing. It is also alleged that Booker and Jordan executed a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the kickback and health care fraud conspiracy in order to conceal and disguise the nature and source of UYCS’s illegal kickback payments for drug testing referrals.
Booker and Jordan have been arrested by the FBI.
The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and NC Medicaid Investigations Division are in charge of the investigation.
The prosecution for the government is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Federal Jury Convicts Mint Hill Man of Sexual Exploitation of A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has convicted Brandon Grunwaldt, 46, of Mint Hill, N.C., of sexual exploitation of a minor, 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, and Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents, trial evidence and witness testimony, between February 16 and October 31, 2020, Grunwaldt secretly recorded a minor on five different occasions while the minor was undressing and showering. A forensic analysis of electronic devices seized from Grunwaldt revealed that the defendant possessed five videos that depicted the minor using the shower and changing clothes. The jury convicted Grunwaldt of five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Grunwaldt is currently in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set. Each count of production of child pornography charge carries a minimum statutory sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of no more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI and the Mint Hill Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cortney Randall and Stephanie Spaugh, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are 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.
Wilkes Co. Moonshiner Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Clifton Ray Anderson, Jr., 47, of Boomer, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer today and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States of excise taxes on distilled liquor and to violate the laws of the United States, including the interstate transportation of untaxed liquor and possession of an unregistered still, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Anderson’s co-conspirators, Roger Nance, 76, of Wilkesboro, N.C., Huie Kenneth Nicholson, 75, of Hamptonville, N.C., and Gary Matthew Ray, 53, of Roaring River, N.C., previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge as Anderson. James Patterson, 71, of Dinwiddie, VA, previously pled guilty in a separately filed case in the Western District of North Carolina to distributing untaxed moonshine distilled by Anderson.
According to filed plea documents and today’s plea hearing, from April 2018 to September 2020, Anderson conspired with Nance, Nicholson, and Ray to operate and maintain an illegal still at a barn owned by Ray in Wilkes County. Anderson leased the barn from Ray for $500 per month and used it to illegally produce more than 9,000 gallons of untaxed liquor, commonly known as moonshine. Court records show that, during the relevant time period, Nance, Nicholson and Ray transported the moonshine across state lines to Patterson in Virginia for sale and distribution, which resulted in a total federal and state excise and sales tax loss of over $100,000.
Anderson was released on bond following his guilty plea. The conspiracy charge and the charge of possession of an unregistered still each carry a maximum prison sentence of five years and $250,000 fine.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the work of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Triad Municipal ABC Board for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Savage, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.
Minnesota Fugitive Living in Rutherford County Is Sentenced to 15 Years for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – John Wayne Drysdale, 69, of Minneapolis, M.N., has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for transportation of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Drysdale to serve a lifetime of supervised release and 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 Chris Edge, Acting United States Marshal of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) for the Western District of North Carolina, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and statements made in court during yesterday’s hearing, on December 11, 2020, the USMS in Minneapolis contacted USMS in Asheville regarding Drysdale, who they believed to be in Forest City in Rutherford County. Drysdale had been convicted of possession and receipt of child pornography in Minnesota and was on supervised release after serving his federal sentence. Court records show that, while on supervised release, Drysdale removed his electronic monitoring device and travelled to North Carolina. The Asheville USMS and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate Drysdale at a residence in Forest City and Drysdale was taken into custody.
According to court records, the day law enforcement arrested Drysdale HSI special agents seized his electronic devices. HSI computer forensic analysts conducted an analysis of the seized devices and located images containing child pornography, URL links to websites hosting child pornography, and websites known to serve as chat forums for pedophiles and recovered evidence that Drysdale had begun to access the dark web.
On August 30, 2021, Drysdale pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography. He is currently in federal prison 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 HSI and the U.S. Marshals Service for their investigation of the case and thanked the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Probation Office for the District of Minnesota for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Solheim, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case, 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.
Four Indicted for Burglary of Asheville Firearms DealerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A grand jury in Asheville has indicted four individuals on federal charges in connection with the burglary of an Asheville firearms dealer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief David Zack of the Asheville Police Department (APD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The indictment charges Jesse Lynn Williams, 33, Lyron Deshawn Greenlee, 34, and Alexa Rae Bassillo, 29, all of Asheville, with conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), and theft of multiple firearms from an FFL and aiding and abetting. Williams, Greenlee, and Bernard Eugene Carson, Jr. 33, of Morganton, N.C., are also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Williams and Bassillo are also facing charges of possession of a firearm by a user of a controlled substance.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, on January 7, 2022, Williams, Greenlee and Bassillo conspired to break into and steal firearms from Carolina Guns and Gear West, LLC (Carolina Guns and Gear) an FFL located at 3106 Sweeten Creek Road, in Asheville. The indictment alleges that Williams broke into the gun store and stole 33 firearms, while Bassillo and Greenlee served as lookouts or drivers during the burglary. The indictment further alleges that between January 7 and January 12, 2022, Carson was found to be in possession of one of the stolen firearms.
The defendants will be appearing in court on the charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf.
The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The ATF and APD are in charge of the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.
Cherokee, N.C. Man Is Sentenced to Four Years for Abusive Sexual Contact of A Minor in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Forrest Cole Stamper, 28, of Cherokee, N.C., and an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and 15 years of supervised release for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. also ordered Stamper to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement is Chief Josh Taylor of the Cherokee Indian Police Department.
Stamper pleaded guilty to the charge on December 1, 2021. According to plea documents and information presented in court, Stamper admitted that on September 6, 2020, he knowingly engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a minor victim who was under the age of 12 at the time of the offense. Stamper admitted to touching the minor, who is also an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, on the minor’s groin and inner thigh. At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Cogburn imposed on Stamper the statutory maximum penalty for the offense.
Stamper 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 Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.
Repeat Sex Offender on Supervised Release Is Sentenced to 24.5 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger has sentenced John Webb Powell, 51, of Burnsville, N.C., to 294 months in prison on child pornography charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Reidinger ordered Powell to serve a lifetime under court supervision upon completion of the prison term and to register as a sex offender.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Shane Hilliard of the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
“Powell will spend the next two decades where he belongs: behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Recidivist sex offenders who prey on vulnerable children pose a serious danger to the community and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I commend the investigative efforts of HSI and the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office. Their work on this case ensured that Powell was brought to justice and will no longer inflict harm upon his victim.”
“As a result of the collaborative work of HSI and its law enforcement partners, Powell’s days of victimizing children have come to an end,” said Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “As a repeat offender, today’s significance sentence will ensure Powell will no longer pose a threat to children and communities in the region.”
“The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office will always be diligent in our efforts to protect the children of our community from sexual predators,” said Sheriff Hilliard. “We would like to thank Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation and subsequent conviction of this repeat sex offender.”
According to filed court documents and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, in February 2020, Powell was communicating with a minor female via text messages. Over the course of their communications, Powell solicited and received from the minor, images depicting the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. According to information contained in court documents, Powell also committed repeated sexual assaults against the minor over an extended time period. A forensic analysis of Powell’s seized cell phone further revealed that Powell had conducted internet searches for images containing child pornography. At the time of the offense, Powell was registered as a sex offender and was on supervised release for a previous federal offense of possession of child pornography.
On October 18, 2021, Powell pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. 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 HSI and the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case 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.
Indian Trail Man Is Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefit ProgramRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad sentenced Joseph Ransome, 51, of Indian Trail, N.C., to 30 months in prison for wire fraud yesterday, for defrauding the COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Conrad also ordered Ransome to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $44,172 in restitution.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal lawenacted March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance, including expanded UI benefits, to millions of Americans suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to plea documents and statements made in court, from March 2020 through July 2020, Ransome received UI benefits to which he was not entitled. Court documents show that Ransome applied for fraudulent UI benefits in multiple states, including in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere. Ransome filed for the UI benefits based on fraudulent claims, including non-existent employment and false reason for termination. For example, Ransome falsely claimed to have been laid off from Walmart in North Carolina due to COVID-19, when in fact Ransome had been laid off due to misconduct. Ransome also falsely claimed prior employment at Target, BestBuy, Lowe’s, and Hobby Lobby, and falsely claimed that he had been laid off from some of these companies because he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 or due to lack of work because of the coronavirus when he had never in fact been employed by those companies. As a result of the fraudulent scheme, during the relevant time period, Ransome applied for more than $163,000 in fraudulent UI benefits provided under the expanded CARES Act.
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In a separate case, Judge Conrad revoked Bryon Jones’s supervised release after the defendant violated its terms by engaging in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). According to court documents in this case, Jones, 66, of Charlotte, used false and fraudulent business information to apply for and receive through his business, Ramses Air Freight & Transport, Inc., $142,900 in COVID-19 relief funds disbursed by the SBA under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Jones, who was on a 10-year term of federal supervised release for a previous drug trafficking conviction, was ordered to serve 24 months in prison and five years of supervised release for the new violations.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the Atlanta Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, for their investigation of the Ransome case. Jones’s investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the SBA and the U.S. Probation Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley was in charge of the prosecution against Ransome. The Jones prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings.
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. Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator.
Amazon Employee Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud for Stealing More Than $273,000 in MerchandiseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Douglas Wright, Jr., 27, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to mail fraud, for stealing merchandise from Amazon worth over $273,000, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement are Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Charlotte, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte.
According to plea documents and today’s hearing, from June 2020 to September 2021, Wright executed a scheme to defraud Amazon by stealing merchandise worth over $273,000 from the company’s warehouse. Over the course of the scheme, Wright was employed as an Operation’s Manager at Amazon’s warehouse in Charlotte. Court records show that Wright misused his access to the company’s computers to target certain merchandise, particularly computer parts such as internal hard drives, processors, and graphic processing units, and shipped those items from the warehouse to his home address. As Wright admitted in court today, he then sold the stolen merchandise for profit to a computer wholesale company in California.
Wright pleaded guilty to mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
The FBI and USPIS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Sex Trafficker Is Sentenced to More Than 19 YearsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney has sentenced Simone Cherelle McIllwain, 30, of Charlotte, to 235 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte 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 statements made in court during yesterday’s hearing, on January 1, 2020, law enforcement were notified that a 13-year-old female was a suspected victim of sex trafficking. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that, from December 2 to December 25, 2019, McIllwain did in fact engage in the sex trafficking of the minor in the Charlotte area. Court documents show that 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 and she 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.
On April 19, 2021, McIllwain pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik Lindahl prosecuted the case.
If you believe you are the victim of a trafficking situation or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, call 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. You can also text NHTRC at 233733 or submit a tip online.
Greensboro Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the North Carolina Medicaid Program and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Richard Graves, 49, of Greensboro, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering conspiracy for his role in a scheme to obtain more than $14 million from the North Carolina Medicaid program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement are Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS- CI), and Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division (MID).
According to filed court documents and today’s guilty plea, Graves was an employee of United Diagnostic Laboratories (UDL), a urine toxicology testing laboratory, and United Youth Care Services (UYCS), a company that provided mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Court documents show that from January 2016 to July 2020, Graves and his co-conspirators executed a conspiracy to defraud the North Carolina Medicaid program by paying illegal kickbacks to co-conspirators in exchange for urine samples from Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries.
As Graves admitted in court today, he and his co-conspirators located recruiters to recruit at-risk youths and other Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries for after-school, youth mentoring, housing, or other programs and services. Once enrolled, the beneficiaries were required to submit urine specimens for drug testing, which were provided to UDL and UYCS for medically unnecessary urine drug testing. Graves and his co-conspirators paid the recruiters a kickback from UYCS’s NC Medicaid reimbursement on the drug testing.
In addition, Graves and his co-conspirators executed a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the kickback and health care fraud conspiracy through Everlasting Vitality, a company owned by one of the recruiters. According to plea documents, Everlasting Vitality sent fraudulent invoices to UYCS listing the hours that the co-conspirators purportedly worked for UYCS in the prior month. The fraudulent invoices listed fake services that had not actually been provided to UYCS, including program development and design, community engagement, motivational speaking, and college mentorship services. In truth and in fact, the purpose of these invoices was to conceal and disguise the nature and source of UYCS’s illegal kickback payments for drug testing referrals.
Graves pleaded guilty today to health care fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The health care fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $500,000 fine.
Graves was released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and NC Medicaid Investigations Division are in charge of the investigation.
The prosecution for the government is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Marion Man Is Sentenced to 55 Years for Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger has sentenced Jacob Daylen Ross, 47, of Marion, N.C., to 660 months in prison on child pornography charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Reidinger ordered Ross to serve a lifetime under court supervision upon completion of his prison term. A federal jury convicted Ross in March 2021 of five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
“Ross’s lengthy sentence reflects the depravity of his actions,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Perpetrators who rely on the anonymity of the internet to skirt our nation’s laws and engage in webcam sex tourism, or any other lewd conduct harmful to minors, ought to know that federal prosecutors and our law enforcement counterparts will do whatever it takes to protect all children – within our borders and beyond.”
“This sentence sends a strong message that HSI and our law enforcement partners are unified in our shared commitment to protect children here and abroad from predators such as Ross,” said Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “Thanks to the unique global investigative reach of HSI, coupled with the outstanding work of our special agents and the detectives with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office and federal prosecutors, we have ensured that Ross is being held fully accountable for his horrific actions.”
“I am very proud of the dedicated efforts from our investigators. These types of crimes that prey on our children sicken me. Our children depend on others to keep them safe and protect them, not hurt them. I appreciate our relationships with our federal partners, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and appreciate their attention to such heinous crimes,” said Sheriff Buchanan.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at Ross’s trial and yesterday’s sentencing hearing, in June 2020, law enforcement became aware that Ross was involved in the online sexual exploitation of children overseas. As trial evidence established, Ross paid individuals abroad in exchange for livestream videos depicting children being sexually abused. Specifically, the evidence showed that Ross communicated via the WhatsApp messenger application with a woman residing in the Philippines on multiple occasions and paid the woman to sexually abuse her young children while Ross watched a livestream video of the abuse. A forensic analysis of Ross’s seized cell phone revealed that he possessed 28 images of child pornography, which were screenshots taken during a livestream video chat. Furthermore, law enforcement located in Ross’s Google accounts additional screenshot images of the livestreamed sexual abuse of children.
Ross 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 HSI and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case and thanked the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case 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.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form.
Former Chief Executive Officer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $15 Million from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Donna Osowitt Steele, 52, of Taylorsville, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling more than $15 million from her former employer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed plea documents and admissions made by Steele in court, from at least 2013 to January 2020, the defendant executed an extensive scheme to defraud her employer, identified in court documents as Victim Company A, a privately held U.S. based subsidiary of a foreign company that manufactures carbide products. The owners of Victim Company A and its parent company reside overseas. Court records show that Steele embezzled over $15 million from Victim Company A and used the money to support a business run by her and her family and to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
As Steele admitted in court today, she was employed by Victim Company A from 1999 to January 2020. Initially, Steele worked in the shipping department and was promoted over the next 20 years to various positions within the company, including to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which she held until she was terminated in January 2020. While serving as Vice President and later as CEO, Steele used her positions to embezzle funds from Victim Company A in a number of ways, including through fraudulent company credit card purchases, company checks, Quickbooks transactions, and wire transfers. For example, filed court documents show that Steele used company credit cards to pay for $6 million in personal expenditures, including to make high-end retail store purchases, to pay for luxury hotel accommodations and event ticket purchases, to buy expensive jewelry, to pay for family weddings, and to make purchases related to Opulence by Steele, a luxury clothing and boutique company the defendant founded in 2013.
In addition to the credit card purchases, Steele admitted to issuing and causing to be issued to herself approximately 98 checks totaling more than $2.8 million from Victim Company A’s bank accounts, which Steele deposited into her personal bank account. Furthermore, Steele caused 127 fraudulent and unauthorized wire transfers to be executed as Quickbooks transactions, transferring more than $4.7 million from Victim Company A’s bank accounts to her personal bank account. During the same time period, Steele executed at least 117 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires, totaling more than $2.2 million, from Victim Company A’s bank accounts to the defendant’s personal bank account, which she then used for her personal benefit, including to fund a personal real estate closing.
According to filed documents, as a result of Steele’s embezzlement, Victim Company A experienced several difficulties, including vendors withholding products from the company for non-payment or late payments, customers complaining about being placed on credit holds, notwithstanding timely payments of their bills, employees having their company credit cards declined when they were trying to use them for legitimate business expenses, employees not being paid on time, and/or employees having their insurance cancelled without warning. Steele admitted that, in an effort to hide the fraudulent scheme, she limited communications and interactions between the employees and owners for Victim Company A and monitored communications that did occur, she convinced employees that company owners should be feared, and lied to employees about the true nature of Victim Company A’s financial trouble.
Steele pleaded guilty to wire fraud embezzlement scheme, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Following the entry of her guilty plea, Steele was released on bond. 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 United States Attorney Maria Vento, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina reaffirms its commitment to combating all forms of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking, which encompasses sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude, is a crime that impacts our society’s most vulnerable members,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. “The invisible nature of human trafficking poses a challenge for prosecutors and law enforcement, as perpetrators often commit this abhorrent crime in plain sight. Working with our law enforcement and community partners we will continue to raise awareness and shine a light on all forms of human trafficking, work together to identify and assist trafficking victims, and prosecute those who use fraud, force and coercion to profit from the exploitation of other human beings."
“Right now, there are more than 1,700 human trafficking cases being investigated by the FBI in field offices across the country. Our investigations are not only about taking traffickers off the streets, but about making sure we offer resources, care, and kindness to the victims to help them rebuild their lives. The FBI’s victim assistance specialists work with every trafficking victim to help end the cycle of violence and manipulation they experience,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert R. Wells.
“HSI special agents and officers in your communities and around the globe work tirelessly to uncover, dismantle and disrupt human trafficking every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a great reminder to us all, that ‘If you see something, say something.’”
Human Trafficking Prosecutions
In 2021, the Office’s anti-trafficking efforts have resulted in the following prosecutions:
U.S. v. McIllwain – On April 19, 2021, Simone Cherelle McIllwain, 30, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. As filed plea documents show, from December 2 to December 19, 2019, McIllwain did knowingly recruit, entice and transport a minor, recklessly disregarded that the minor was under the age of 18 years old, and that the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. A sentencing date for McIllwain has not been set.
U.S. v. Blair – On July 1, 2021, Dajuan Akeem Blair, 26, of Cornelius, N.C., pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. As Blair admitted in court, from December 26 to December 28, 2018, Blair recruited, enticed and transported a minor, having reasonable opportunity to observe the minor was under the age of 18 years old, and knowing that the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. A sentencing date for Blair has not been set.
U.S. v. Hasty – On October 13, 2021, Milton Antonio Hasty, 31, of Fayetteville, N.C., pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. According to court records, from January 22, 2019, through June 5, 2019, Hasty did knowingly recruit, entice and transport a minor, recklessly disregarded that the minor was under the age of 18 years old, and that the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. A sentencing date for Hasty has not been set.
U.S. v. Luong – On January 8, 2021, a federal jury in Charlotte convicted Thuy Tien Luong, 38, of Charlotte, of forced labor, after finding that the defendant compelled the labor of one of her nail technicians at a salon she owned and operated in Davidson, N.C. According to trial evidence, 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. Luong is currently awaiting sentencing.
U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI for their investigative efforts in the prosecutions against McIllwain, Blair and Hasty, and thanked HSI, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, and the Davidson Police Department for their excellent work in the case against Luong.
The statutory penalties for human trafficking offenses range from a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of life in prison.
“As we continue our fight against all forms of human trafficking, our recent courtroom successes should serve as stark warnings to anyone engaged in this type of repugnant criminal activity: We will find you and hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney King.
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If you believe you are the victim of a trafficking situation or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, call 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. You can also text NHTRC at 233733 or submit a tip online.
You can also contact Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or the Charlotte Office of the FBI at 704-672-6100.
Georgia Woman Is Sentenced to Five Years for Scheme That Defrauded Walmart of More Than $850,000Read the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Cyianna Ashley Woods, 38, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 60 months in prison yesterday on wire fraud and money laundering charges, for executing a scheme that defrauded more than 300 Walmart stores of over $850,000, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Bell also ordered Woods to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $923,915 in restitution.
Judge Bell previously sentenced Woods’s codefendant, Andre Marquese White, 35, of Norcross, Georgia, to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King said, “This criminal duo engaged in an extensive scheme that defrauded Walmart of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This type of financial crime impacts not only affected retailers but also consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services.”
“This individual’s long-running and widespread scheme has been thwarted and now she will be held accountable for her crimes.” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Martinez. “Unlawful activity like this hurts businesses and results in higher costs to consumers. This case should serve as a warning to others thinking they can get away with schemes like this that HSI and our law enforcement and private sector partners are watching.”
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, from 2013 to 2019, Woods and White organized and executed a counterfeit bank check and wire fraud scheme against 300 Walmart stores in 24 states, including stores located in Iredell, Catawba, Mecklenburg, Anson, Gaston, and Buncombe Counties in North Carolina. To perpetuate the fraud, the defendants made counterfeit checks, which appeared as legitimate bank checks, that they then cashed at various Walmart stores. In this manner, over the course of the scheme the defendants obtained more than $850,000 in pre-paid debit cards, gift cards, Walmart shopping cards, and other merchandise. Court records also show that, the defendants further laundered the illegal proceeds by purchasing pre-paid debit cards from other retail stores. Both Woods and White previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.
U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Huntersville, N.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Benjamin Padua Jr, 56, of Huntersville, N.C., appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer following the company owner’s death.
Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed plea documents and today’s plea hearing, from September 2019 to February 2021, Padua abused his senior finance position with his employer, identified in court documents as Trucking Company, and used falsified documents and improper accounting entries to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars. As part of the scheme, Padua admitted in court today that, following the Trucking Company owner’s death in October 2019, Padua forged the owner’s signature on a fake employment agreement Padua created and backdated to prior to the owner’s death. The fraudulent employment agreement purported to increase Padua’s compensation significantly through higher wages, bonuses, and life insurance benefits. As Padua admitted in court today, after he created the fake employment agreement, Padua received substantial compensation from the Trucking Company, to which he was not entitled.
Padua pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was released on bond. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date was not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI in Charlotte for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case.
Career Coach Is Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Stealing More Than $68,000 from Workforce Development ProgramRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jessica Anne Miller, 39, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced to 24 months in prison today on a wire fraud charge, for stealing more than $68,000 from a federally funded workforce development program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Miller to serve two years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making this announcement by Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Atlanta Region of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from July 2016 to November 2019, Miller was employed as a career coach by an entity contracted by a nonprofit association of local governments to provide training to job seekers, using federal funds made available by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WOIA was signed into law in 2014, and it is designed to provide qualified individuals with access to training, education, and support services, and assistance with obtaining employment. As part of WOIA, qualified individuals can also be reimbursed for certain eligible expenditures such as mileage, costs and fees, and tools of the trade, among others.
As a career coach, Miller was responsible for providing career guidance, case management and follow up to participants in the youth program. Miller previously admitted in court that, while serving as a career coach, she engaged in a scheme to divert government funds for her own benefit, by creating fraudulent documents, falsifying signatures, and making false and misleading statements to qualified individuals who were supposed to be the recipients of the WOIA funds.
In some instances, Miller created fraudulent documents for mileage reimbursement on behalf of students enrolled in the program, and then cashed the checks and kept the proceeds for herself. In other instances, Miller created fraudulent documents that falsely indicated that qualified individuals had made reimbursable purchases, such as tools of the trade, and were seeking reimbursement for those costs. Miller then submitted the fraudulent documents and cashed the reimbursement checks. Miller also created and submitted fraudulent documents, that included students’ forged signatures, indicating that students had successfully completed certain milestones that would have entitled them to gift cards. Instead of providing those gift cards to qualifying students, Miller kept them for herself.
To further perpetuate the scheme, court documents show that Miller opened bank accounts and American Express accounts in the names of students without their knowledge and consent and used those accounts to cash the fraudulent reimbursement checks. In total, Miller defrauded at least 40 individuals and diverted more than $68,000 in government funds for her own personal enrichment.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended DOL-OIG for their investigation of the case and thanked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Conover Police Department for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Maria Vento, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Asheville Jury Convicts Franklin, N.C. Man of Starting A Fire That Burned More Than 70 Acres of Federal LandRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that a federal jury sitting in Asheville found Casey Lee Evans, 42, of Franklin, N.C., guilty of starting a fire that burned more than 70 acres of federal land.
According to filed court documents, evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, on April 3, 2020, law enforcement in Franklin received a call concerning a fire that was actively burning in the area of Cals Cove Road. According to trial evidence, over the course of the investigation law enforcement determined that Evans willfully started the fire, which originated within the Nantahala National Forest. The fire burned for several days before it was successfully extinguished. In total, the fire burned approximalely 70 acres of federal land and 20 more acres of private property.
Evans was convicted of willfully setting a fire on federal land, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Following the guilty verdict, Evans was remanded into federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Forest Service, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the Otto Fire Department for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is in charge of the prosecution.