District of North Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Democratic Republic of Congo Man Indicted for Wire Fraud and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that Nicolas Mondani Oleko, age 32, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, appeared in federal court today in the District of North Dakota for an arraignment on an Indictment returned by a grand jury. The Indictment charges one count of Wire Fraud and one count of Bank Fraud and alleges that, while residing in the District of North Dakota, Oleko participated in, and aided and abetted, a business email compromise scheme that defrauded an auction business of $113,050.
The charges and allegations contained in the charging documents are merely accusations. The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The United States Attorney’s Office urges all public and private entities to exercise vigilance to prevent business email compromise fraud. Entities are encouraged to establish strict payment protocols for large transactions and verify changes to vendor bank and routing information with trusted sources outside the chain of email communication.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Greenley.
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Former BIA Officer Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
Murrell Deela, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison for sexual abuse involving a minor and to lying to federal investigators.
According to records filed in the case, on Aug. 7, 2024, Deela, then 29 years old, was on duty and acting in his official capacity as a BIA officer in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, when he encountered the minor victim. Deela apprehended the victim and placed her in the back of his patrol vehicle. Instead of driving the teenager to her family’s house, Deela drove the minor to an alternate location. Deela then engaged in sexual acts with the minor victim without the victim’s consent. The minor victim disclosed the victimization the following day, and the FBI’s analysis of the evidence provided additional facts that corroborated the minor’s outcry.
“The vast majority of federal law enforcement officers carry out their duties and responsibilities with exceptional skill and courage,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But when those tasked with enforcing the law violate their duty by sexually assaulting individuals in their care and custody, especially minor victims, the Department of Justice will hold them fully accountable. Today’s sentence reflects the principle that those who abuse their power by targeting children for sexual gratification will be met with the full force of the law.”
“The victim showed a tremendous amount of courage coming forward to help ensure Mr. Deela was held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “Sexual abuse of a minor is a devastating crime, only compounded by an offender’s attempt to deceive investigators. No badge or title places anyone above the law and we are committed to pursuing justice for victims.”
Several days after the incident, Deela was instructed to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. Hours prior to the scheduled report time, Deela reported that his patrol vehicle was on fire. The patrol vehicle and its video system were severely burned. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the patrol vehicle was set on fire intentionally.
Following the incident, Deela wrote a false report omitting that he had driven the minor victim to the alternate location. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deela falsely told agents that he drove the minor directly to her family’s home and had not made any other stops. When confronted with evidence, Deela later admitted that he had driven the minor to an alternate location.
The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota, Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and former Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison prosecuted the case.
Fort Totten, ND, Man Sentenced to Serve 15 Years for Assaults and Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced today that Kolby Jae McKay, also known as Kolby Woods, age 34, from Fort Totten, North Dakota, was sentenced in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, to serve 15 years in federal prison. McKay previously pleaded guilty to charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation, and Voluntary Manslaughter.
McKay’s guilty pleas were entered on April 2, 2026, in two separate cases. McKay pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation related to an incident on March 13, 2024. McKay became upset with a woman, identified in the case as “Jane Doe,” with whom he was in a dating relationship. McKay grabbed a knife and held it to Jane Doe’s neck. Jane Doe pushed the knife away and McKay strangled Jane Doe by placing his hands tightly around Jane Doe’s neck until she almost lost consciousness.
McKay also pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter as a result of an incident a few weeks after the domestic assault. McKay killed Monte Ray Herman Sr. on April 3, 2024, following a physical fight during which McKay placed his forearm around the neck of Herman.
Both incidents occurred on the Spirit Lake Reservation. According to court documents, McKay fled after killing Herman and was at large for several days, prompting the Spirit Lake Tribal Council to issue a community curfew and offer a reward for information leading to McKay’s whereabouts.
“The Department of Justice is always committed to ensuring violent crimes in Indian country are investigated thoroughly and prosecuted aggressively,” said United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase. “The career prosecutors in this office have worked with our law enforcement partners to increase prosecution of domestic violence involving nonfatal strangulation. This is because strangulation is an undeniable predictor of future lethal violence. Statistical evidence shows attackers who strangle are 75 percent more likely to kill. The more times an attacker strangles, the more likely the attacker is to kill the victim. Our office remains committed to working with our Tribal, federal, and local law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable, protect victims, and make Tribal communities safer.”
“The scope of this defendant's violent conduct is appalling,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “After engaging in an extremely serious episode of domestic violence, Kolby McKay killed a man in response to an argument. Today's significant sentence is a reflection of the FBI's continuing commitment to enhancing public safety on tribal lands. The people of Spirit Lake are safer today because of the work done by this investigative team. It is this team's hope that today's sentence offers a sense of justice and closure to the surviving victim and the families of both victims.”
This case was investigated the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Benson, Eddy, Ramsey and Nelson County Sheriff’s Departments, North Dakota Highway Patrol, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Schmidt Dahl and Lori Conroy.
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Three Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Money from Accounts Managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Trust Funds AdministrationRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Nichoas W. Chase announced that on June 16, 2026, Ranita Lynn Freeman, Age 32, Minot, North Dakota (and a member of the MHA Nation), appeared in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Judge Daniel L. Hovland to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $51,500 in restitution, for the offenses of Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft.
Between 2020 and 2023, Freeman stole $51,500 from two MHA Nation tribal members’ Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) manages the financial assets of American Indians held in trust by the Department of the Interior and an IIM account is an interest-bearing account managed by the BTFA on behalf of an individual who has money or other assets held in trust for them by the Federal government. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Freeman stole $42,000 from one tribal member’s IIM account and, again between January and April 2023, she stole $9,500 from a second tribal member’s IIM account. Throughout these two separate schemes, Freeman placed multiple calls to the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, where she fraudulently pretended to be these tribal members. During these calls, Freeman provided the BTFA with the names, dates of birth, and other identifying information of the tribal members to access, and obtain money from, their respective IIM accounts. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General special agents identified Freeman as the caller when she called into the BTFA posing as one of these tribal members and they compared the caller’s voice to Freeman’s voice.
Additional Individuals Sentenced in a Separate BTFA IIM Fraud Scheme:
Between November and December 2022, Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin and Samantha Lynn Rebold stole $11,695.92 from an MHA Nation tribal members’ IIM account. To accomplish this theft, Rebold took photographs of the tribal member’s personal identifying information, including his social security card and tribal identification card. Thereafter, Rebold provided these photographs to co-defendant Martin who then called the BTFA, Fort Berthold Agency, pretended to be the MHA Nation tribal member and fraudulently requested that the BTFA send two monetary disbursements from this individual’s IIM account—in the amounts of $1,510.40 and $10,185.52—to a bank account that he controlled. Thereafter, Martin and Rebold spent the money that they fraudulently obtained from this tribal member’s IIM account. When Martin called the BTFA, he falsely used the MHA Nation tribal member’s name, date of birth, social security number, and tribal identification number to obtain money from this IIM account.
Wareagle Rollingthunder Martin: Age: 39. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on October 21, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to 24 months’ imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Aggravated Identity Theft.
Samantha Lynn Rebold: Age: 38. From: Fargo, North Dakota. Sentenced on June 18, 2025, before Judge Daniel M. Traynor, to time served (7 days), three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution of $11,695.92 on a charge of Wire Fraud.
“Fraud is especially sinister because it hurts victims in many ways”, said US Attorney Nicholas W. Case. “As this case shows, when criminals steal money through fraud schemes, they often steal something even more personal, the identities of innocent people whose names, financial accounts, and personal information are exploited for criminal gain. Prosecuting fraud and identity theft offenses remains one of the highest priorities of this office because these crimes can cause lasting financial and emotional harm to victims. Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to holding fraudsters accountable and protecting the public from those who seek to profit through deception and the misuse of others’ personal information.”
“These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to exploit vulnerable account holders by stealing funds that are intended to support thousands of Native Americans and their communities. These funds, held in trust, are vital to the many individuals who rely on them as their sole source of income,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie DePaepe. “We will continue working with the BTFA and our prosecutorial partners to protect account holders and hold those responsible fully accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Department of the Interior – Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek, District of North Dakota.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Man Sentenced for Kidnapping Victim at Gunpoint and Seeking Ransom for Drug DebtRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A North Dakota man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his role in a kidnapping for ransom resulting in the beating of the victim, holding him at gunpoint, and transporting him across states lines to Minnesota to collect an unpaid drug debt.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 5, 2024, Kyle Kahalehili Maez-Schaack, 33, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the orders of the co-defendant and an unindicted co-conspirator, kidnapped the victim. The co-defendant sent Maez-Schaack a screen shot of the victim’s social media profile and his address and ordered Maez-Schaack to pick up the victim to collect a drug debt. The victim owed the co-defendant $6,000 for 500 grams of methamphetamine. Maez-Schaack and others took the victim at gunpoint from Fargo, North Dakota, to Moorhead, Minnesota. There, the victim was held for ransom and ordered to call his friends and family to ask for money. Despite several calls to family and friends, the victim was unable to raise the funds to pay the ransom. At one point, the victim was left unattended in the Moorhead residence and was able to escape. Maez-Schaack and others kept the victim’s vehicle after the kidnapping.
According to statements made in court, Maez-Schaack was a drug distributor for the co-defendant and was often used as the muscle for the drug trafficking organization that primarily distributed methamphetamine in the Red River Valley and Devils Lake area of North Dakota.
“The drug business is a scourge that often leads to kidnappings and demands for ransoms related to drug debts,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This collateral violence threatens the safety of communities. The lengthy sentence captures the seriousness of the drug related conduct in this case and speaks to the collateral ills of the drug trade that ruins the lives of so many Americans.”
“Too often drug trafficking is perpetuated by violent crime, as shown by Maez-Schaack,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase for the District of North Dakota. “Our office, working alongside our federal and state partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those committing violent acts and trafficking illegal drugs in our community.”
“Maez-Schaack is a brazen, violent offender who made our communities less safe, and today he receives the consequences for his actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persails of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “ATF remains committed to identifying and targeting the most violent offenders, and we will continue to do that work every single day. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration on this case, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their successful prosecution.”
“Stopping violent offenders like Kyle Maez-Schaack is one of the FBI's top priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “This defendant, a previously convicted felon, kidnapped a victim at gunpoint, demanded ransom of the victim’s friends and family, and trafficked methamphetamine into our community. Now, he will rightly spend the next 30 years of his life in federal prison. The entire Red River Valley and Devil’s Lake communities are safer for that fact. The FBI will not stop in our mission to make our communities safe by bringing violent criminals like Maez-Schaack and his accomplices to justice.”
Maez-Schaack pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 to kidnapping, drug trafficking conspiracy, brandishing a firearm during the kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Pegah Vakili of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Rodenbiker and Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota prosecuted the case.
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Man Sentenced for Kidnapping Victim at Gunpoint and Seeking Ransom for Drug DebtRead the Press Release
A North Dakota man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his role in a kidnapping for ransom resulting in the beating of the victim, holding him at gunpoint, and transporting him across states lines to Minnesota to collect an unpaid drug debt.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 5, 2024, Kyle Kahalehili Maez-Schaack, 33, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the orders of the co-defendant and an unindicted co-conspirator, kidnapped the victim. The co-defendant sent Maez-Schaack a screen shot of the victim’s social media profile and his address and ordered Maez-Schaack to pick up the victim to collect a drug debt. The victim owed the co-defendant $6,000 for 500 grams of methamphetamine. Maez-Schaack and others took the victim at gunpoint from Fargo, North Dakota, to Moorhead, Minnesota. There, the victim was held for ransom and ordered to call his friends and family to ask for money. Despite several calls to family and friends, the victim was unable to raise the funds to pay the ransom. At one point, the victim was left unattended in the Moorhead residence and was able to escape. Maez-Schaack and others kept the victim’s vehicle after the kidnapping.
According to statements made in court, Maez-Schaack was a drug distributor for the co-defendant and was often used as the muscle for the drug trafficking organization that primarily distributed methamphetamine in the Red River Valley and Devils Lake area of North Dakota.
“The drug business is a scourge that often leads to kidnappings and demands for ransoms related to drug debts,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This collateral violence threatens the safety of communities. The lengthy sentence captures the seriousness of the drug related conduct in this case and speaks to the collateral ills of the drug trade that ruins the lives of so many Americans.”
“Too often drug trafficking is perpetuated by violent crime, as shown by Maez-Schaack,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase for the District of North Dakota. “Our office, working alongside our federal and state partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those committing violent acts and trafficking illegal drugs in our community.”
“Maez-Schaack is a brazen, violent offender who made our communities less safe, and today he receives the consequences for his actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persails of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “ATF remains committed to identifying and targeting the most violent offenders, and we will continue to do that work every single day. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration on this case, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their successful prosecution.”
“Stopping violent offenders like Kyle Maez-Schaack is one of the FBI’s top priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “This defendant, a previously convicted felon, kidnapped a victim at gunpoint, demanded ransom of the victim’s friends and family, and trafficked methamphetamine into our community. Now, he will rightly spend the next 30 years of his life in federal prison. The entire Red River Valley and Devil’s Lake communities are safer for that fact. The FBI will not stop in our mission to make our communities safe by bringing violent criminals like Maez-Schaack and his accomplices to justice.”
Maez-Schaack pleaded guilty on Feb. 26 to kidnapping, drug trafficking conspiracy, brandishing a firearm during the kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Pegah Vakili of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Rodenbiker and Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota prosecuted the case.
Fort Yates Man Indicted for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that a federal grand jury has returned an Indictment charging Brutus Claymore, 36, Fort Yates, ND, an enrolled member of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, with First Degree Murder, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1153 and 1111.
As alleged, after years long investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Missing and Murdered Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on November 22, 2014, Claymore forcibly entered an occupied residence on Fort Yates, ND, at nighttime, and attempted to rob the residents therein. When one of the residents attempted to resist, Claymore stabbed the resident with a knife that resulted in death.
An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. The defendant is presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty.
Claymore’s trial has been scheduled for June 23, 2026, before the Honorable Daniel L. Hovland, District Judge of the United States District Court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) and being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme, US Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota and Troy R. Morley, MMIP Assistant United States Attorney - Great Plains Region Tribal Liaison, District of South Dakota.
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North Dakota FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office Recover $4.8 Million Dollars Scammed from Dickinson Public SchoolsRead the Press Release
Bismarck – On April 30, 2026, U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced, pursuant to a civil warrant, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, working in conjunction with the FBI, seized $4,856,578.51 in money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools during a business email compromise scheme.
As stated in the filings in civil case number 1:26-cv-008, the FBI and United States Attorney’s Office traced money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools to a Citibank account. Thereafter, on March 27, 2026, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint and obtained a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem to seize the money located in this account. On April 22, 2026, pursuant to this seizure warrant, Citibank produced a check to the United States Marshals Service in the amount of $4,856,578.5, which represented money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools.
The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the goal of obtaining a final judgment for the seized $4,856,578.51 and then, pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 9, will request that the Department of Justice Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) remit the forfeited funds back to Dickinson Public Schools.
The timeline for final adjudication of these proceedings is unspecified; however, the United States Attorney’s Office is working diligently to pursue the speedy resolution of this matter.
This seizure occurred as part of civil case number 1:26-cv-088, which is still an ongoing case. The seized funds will be held by the United States Marshals Service until the District Court enters a final order of disposition.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the ultimate goal of remitting the seized $4,856,578.51 to victims in accordance with Department of Justice policy,” said US Attorney Nick Chase.
“The FBI remains committed to protecting Americans from scams of all kinds, including business email compromises,” said Special Agent In Charge Christopher Dotson. “We are proud of the work with our law enforcement partners and will continue to investigate and prosecute unscrupulous scam artists. We will also continue to educate the public on ways to avoid becoming a victim."
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Matthew D. Greenley, white collar fraud prosecutors located in Bismarck and Fargo, are familiar with how these schemes operate and caution North Dakotans to pause before responding to emails. They offer the following advice, “Scammers are successful by relying on time and distance. They attempt to make you act quickly by presenting false or frightening consequences and they can effectively impersonate others by the distance of the internet. When you receive an email asking you: 1) to change how you are making payments; 2) to alter wiring instructions; or 3) for information about your company, stop and contact the party with whom you are doing business. A quick phone call to a supervisor, client, or banker can verify whether you received a legitimate email. Do not allow scammers to use time and distance to make you act quickly. Instead, take a moment to review the email, look for irregularities, and check that the email address is from the person with whom you previously worked. If an email looks suspicious, it most likely is.”
To learn more about how to spot an attempted scam, and what to do if you fall victim, visit the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center webpage and review their public service announcements, including the December 19, 2025 alert “Senior U.S. Officials Continue to be Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Dickinson Police Department. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the criminal elements of this offense. As a result, no additional comments will be made on the ongoing criminal investigation. AUSA Jonathan J. O’Konek and AUSA Matthew D. Greenley are representing the United States in this case.
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Fort Totten, ND, Man Pleads Guilty to Assaults and Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced today that, Kolby Jae McKay, also known as Kolby Woods, age 33, from Fort Totten, North Dakota, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. and pled guilty before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte to charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation, and Voluntary Manslaughter. McKay is detained pending sentencing, set for July 22, 2026.
McKay’s guilty pleas were entered in two separate cases. McKay pled guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation related to an incident on March 13, 2024. McKay became upset with a woman, identified in the case as “Jane Doe,” with whom he was in a dating relationship. McKay grabbed a knife and held it to Jane Doe’s neck. Jane Doe pushed the knife away and McKay strangled Jane Doe by placing his hands tightly around Jane Doe’s neck until she almost lost consciousness.
McKay also pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter as a result of an incident a few weeks later. McKay killed Monte Ray Herman Sr. on April 3, 2024.
Both incidents occurred on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
McKay fled after killing Herman and was at large for several days, prompting the Spirit Lake Tribal Council to issue a community curfew and offer a reward for information leading to McKay’s whereabouts.
This case was investigated the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Benson and Eddy County Sheriff’s Department, North Dakota Highway Patrol, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Lake Region Narcotics Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Schmidt and Lori Conroy.
# # # # # #Former BIA Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Lying to InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
Murrell Deela, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer, pleaded guilty today to sexual abuse involving a minor and to lying to federal investigators.
“Rather than serve and protect those within the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, the defendant used his position of power to sexually assault a minor entrusted to his care, and then he lied and attempted to conceal his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The minor victim suffered harm that cannot be quantified, but this Justice Department will hold accountable those who violate positions of public trust and prey on the citizens they have sworn to protect.”
“The outcome reflects the victim’s courage in coming forward,” said Special Agent in Charge Jutin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “Any abuse of authority, especially against a minor, causes lasting harm and is a betrayal of everything law enforcement stands for. The FBI will continue working to ensure accountability for those who exploit positions of trust to harm others.”
According to records filed in the case, on Aug. 7, 2024, Deela, then 29 years old, was on duty and acting in his official capacity as a BIA officer in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, when he encountered the minor. The minor victim was apprehended and placed in the back of Deela’s patrol vehicle. Instead of driving the teenager to her family’s house, Deela drove the minor to an alternate location. Deela then proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the minor victim without the victim’s consent. The minor victim disclosed the victimization the following day, and the FBI’s analysis of the evidence provided additional facts that corroborated the minor’s outcry.
Several days after the incident, Deela was instructed to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. Hours prior to the scheduled report time, Deela reported that his patrol vehicle was on fire. The patrol vehicle and its video system were severely burned. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the patrol vehicle was set on fire intentionally.
Following the incident, Deela wrote a false report omitting that he had driven the minor victim to the alternate location. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deela falsely told agents that he drove the minor directly to her family’s home and had not made any other stops. When confronted with evidence, Deela later admitted that he had driven the minor to an alternate location.
The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Two Illegal Alien Men from Mexico Indicted for Multiple Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that a federal grand jury has returned Indictments charging Lidio Santiz Julian, 26, and Hugo Lopez Diaz, 21, both Mexican nationals, with multiple child exploitation offenses related to the attempted production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
As alleged, on February 6, 2026, following a months-long child exploitation investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, federal and state agents executed a search warrant on a residence in Stanley, North Dakota. That day, Santiz Julian was arrested in connection with CSAM. Multiple electronic devices were seized during the search of the residence. Forensic analysis of these devices by HSI revealed that another person living at the residence, Lopez Diaz, was also connected with CSAM. Lopez Diaz was arrested by federal agents on February 10, 2026.
As a result of this investigation, Lidio Santiz Julian is charged with Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, and Hugo Lopez Diaz is charged with Attempted Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child Pornography.
An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. The defendants are presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Rappenecker.
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St. Michael, North Dakota, Man Indicted for Murder and ManslaughterRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury returned a true bill of indictment charging D’Angelo James Hunt, age 26, of St. Michael, North Dakota, with ten federal felonies including murder and manslaughter.
On November 17, 2025, Hunt was charged by criminal complaint with Second Degree Murder of I.H. He waived a detention hearing following his initial appearance and remains in custody.
The Grand Jury then returned a true bill of indictment charging Hunt with nine additional counts. Hunt’s charges are as follows: Three Counts of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner; Two Counts of Assault of a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner by Strangulation; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; Voluntary Manslaughter; Second Degree Murder within Indian country; Tampering with Evidence; and Use of Fire to Commit a Felony.
The indictment includes six counts of assaults committed by Hunt against J.M.P. as well as one count of voluntary manslaughter against J.M.P. In addition to the second-degree murder of I.H., the indictment charges Hunt with tampering with evidence and use of a fire to commit felony as it relates to the murder.
The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. The Defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.“Today’s unsealing of this Indictment marks an important step toward justice in a case that has weighed heavily on the victims’ families and the Spirit Lake community for more than two years, said United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase. “No indictment can undo their loss, but it affirms our commitment to pursuing accountability with care, diligence, and resolve. Of course, an Indictment is not proof of guilt, and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Violent crime remains one of the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to devote the resources necessary to hold violent offenders accountable. I want to commend our law-enforcement partners, who have worked tirelessly and followed every lead to move this case forward. The investigation in this case is ongoing, with the goal of bringing a family some measure of closure through the recovery of J.M.P.”
“The charges alleged in this indictment are one more brutal example of violence against indigenous women. Too many women and men face fear and violence on tribal lands,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Through exhaustive investigation and strong collaboration with our tribal, state, and federal partners, the FBI is fully committed to holding violent criminals accountable and protecting safe communities. The indictment of Hunt is the first step in securing much-deserved justice for two victims, their families, and the community.”
“President Trump and Secretary Burgum are committed to bringing forth all available resources to protect tribal communities and deliver justice on behalf of the victims and their families," said Billy Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. "I appreciate the close collaboration with our law enforcement partners that led to this arrest and prosecution. Together, we may bring closure and peace to families impacted by violence and hold those responsible to account for their actions.”
This case is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Lori H. Conroy and Samantha L. Schmidt, and First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl assigned.
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North Dakota Company Sentenced on Clean Air Act ViolationRead the Press Release
BISMARCK –United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced today, pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Targa Badlands LLC, a company which does business in North Dakota, to: 1) three years of probation; 2) 500 hours of community services to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation; 3) payment of a $500,000 fine on a National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”) Clean Air Act violation; and 4) $400.00 in special assessments. Targa Badlands LLC pleaded guilty to this offense on February 18, 2025.
As stated in the criminal information and plea agreement, Targa Badlands LLC operates six natural gas compressor stations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Between 2018 and 2022, Targa Badlands LLC operated the Johnson Compressor Station, located in Dunn County, North Dakota, but failed to timely install continuous parameter monitoring systems on two Johnson Compressor Station engines when required to do so under NESHAP. Continuous parameter monitoring systems monitor and collect data on temperature and pressure for engine operations to ensure the catalyst is being utilized properly, thus ensuring the engine not producing excess emissions. Failure to timely install a required continuous parameter monitoring system can lead to increased hazardous air pollutants being released into the environment.
Additionally, as described in the plea agreement, on two prior occasions, in 2019 and 2021, Targa Badlands LLC had previously agreed to pay civil penalties to the United States—and entered into Consent Agreement and Final Order’s with the EPA—for separate NESHAP violations pertaining to natural gas compressor stations it operates on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
Finally, as noted in the plea agreement, Targa Badlands LLC self-identified, self-reported, and corrected the failure to timely install continuous parameter monitoring systems at the Johnson Compressor Station and has since adopted an implemented policy and procedural best practices to improve its environmental permit review and implementation requirements.
“Today’s sentence underscores the importance of enforcing our environmental laws, which protect the land, water, and communities,” said US Attorney Chase. “At the same time, we recognize that Targa Badlands LLC took responsibility for its actions and self-reported the violation. Natural gas production is vital to our state’s economy, and it must be done responsibly. This case demonstrates that we can support strong energy production while holding companies accountable when they fall short of their legal obligations.”
This case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.
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Warwick, ND, Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
FARGO – On October 7, 2025, Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, sentenced Jordain Jaden Smith, age 26 of Warwick, ND, to 20 years in prison for Sexual Abuse of an Incapacitated Victim and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Smith is also known by the following aliases: Jordain Jaden Smith, Jourdian Smith, Jordain Thompson, and Jordan Thompson.
Smith’s prison sentence will be followed by 25 years of supervised release following his prison sentence which will include many conditions. As part of the plea agreement in this case, Smith was also advised of the requirement that he must comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
In 2023, Smith was charged by Indictment with five counts alleging Smith sexually abused two minor females and possessed materials involving the sexual exploitation of one of the minors. Smith pled guilty to two of the charged offenses involving two minor females. The sexual abuse alleged in the Indictment occurred within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and reaffirms our office’s commitment to protecting children,” said United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase. “We will continue to pursue justice for victims of exploitation and hold offenders fully accountable.”
"Today's sentence of is one more step forward in the pursuit of justice for the two minor females who were viciously abused by Jordain Jaden Smith," said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. "Those who sexually exploit children will meet the full force of the law. The FBI has no higher calling than to protect innocent children from sexual predators like Smith. We are proud of our work with our Federal, State and Local partners on this investigation."
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation, Project Safe Childhood, in conjunction with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), helps federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces engaging in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. Project Safe Childhood also helps to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from: Grand Forks Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy assigned.
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Education for Just Peace in the Middle East d/b/a US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Settles PPP Loan Case for $353,000Read the Press Release
FARGO: United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced the United States entered into a settlement agreement with Education for Just Peace in the Middle East doing business as US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (“EfJP”), a Washington, DC non-profit participating in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). EfJP paid the United States $353,000 to settle the case.
In March 2020, Congress created the CARES Act to provide emergency financial support to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable PPP loans—known as First Draw and Second Draw loans—to small businesses, including certain non-profit organizations, struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. EfJP applied for, received, and obtained forgiveness for First Draw and Second Draw loans with a value of $308,905.28.
To receive a First Draw loan, an applicant had to certify eligibility for a loan under the rules in effect at the time. Among the rules in effect at the time of EfJP’s First Draw application was 13 CFR § 120.110(r) which provides that, “Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities” are ineligible for SBA loans. To apply for a Second Draw loan, an applicant had to certify eligibility, including that it was not “primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, including any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public documents.” 15 U.S.C. § 636(a)(37)(A)(iv)(III)(bb).
Under the settlement agreement, EfJP paid $353,000 to the United States to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit brought against EfJP by TZAC, Inc., a New York non-profit, pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. TZAC’s allegations included the claim that EfJP was ineligible to participate in the Second Draw loan. As a result of the investigation conducted by the United States, the parties reached a settlement whereby EfJP paid the United States an amount sufficient to (1) fully reimburse SBA for the principal, interest, and lender processing fees associated with the First Draw and Second Draw loans; (2) pay TZAC, Inc. its share of the recovery consistent with the False Claims Act; and, (3) cover certain expenses associated with the resolution of the case. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil case and EfJP denies any wrongdoing.
The case is United States of America ex rel. TZAC, Inc. v. Education for Just Peace in [the] Middle East a/k/a United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights, U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota Case No. 1:22-cv-00137-DLH-CRH. The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys James Patrick Thomas and Michael D. Schoepf of the District of North Dakota. US Attorney Chase commended SBA Office of Inspector General Special Agent Sandra E. Mazzoni and SBA Office of General Counsel Trial Attorney Kandace Zelaya for their assistance in the investigation and settlement of the matter. “Investigations like this one reflect collaboration of the Small Business Administration, including SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. When whistleblowers uncover potentially fraudulent conduct, we work to recover SBA funds improperly obtained,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis.
For more information about the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Fargo Man Arrested for Threating the President of the United States and the Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced that Andrew Walter Sandvik, Age 47 from West Fargo, ND, made an initial appearance today in federal court to face federal threat charges. A Federal Complaint charges Sandvik with Influencing a Federal Official by Threat, 18 USC 115(a)(1)(B). The complaint alleges that Andrew Sandvik made several on-line social media posts containing threats towards the President of the United States. Sandvik also made several concerning posts directed toward the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
“This investigation is an incredible federal, state, and local law enforcement partnership, working together to investigate and safely arrest someone who allegedly expressed a willingness to commit extreme violence,” said United States Attorney Chase. “I appreciate greatly that we have skilled and professional law enforcement working with us on this case and the many others in the District of North Dakota.”
“Thursday morning, the FBI, along with our Federal, State and Local partners, arrested Andrew Walter Sandvik on charges related to threats made against Federal Officials,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “As alleged in the complaint, Sandvik made threats against President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, local law enforcement officers and the U.S. military. Death threats and violent, inflammatory rhetoric have no place in our society. Threats against Federal Officials, whether they are made online or in person, will result in a swift response by the FBI.”
“The Fargo Police Department also recognizes the inherent dangers associated with the conduct alleged in the complaint and worked in partnership with the FBI to ensure public safety during this operation,” said Police Chief David Zibolski, Fargo Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, North Dakota Bureau of Investigations, and the Fargo Police Department and being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee.
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Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms the Use of Deadly Force by a Bureau of Indian Affairs Officer was ReasonableRead the Press Release
FARGO: Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with U.S. District Judge Daniel M. Traynor, finding that law enforcement officers acted reasonably under the circumstances and the United States is not liable for the shooting death of George “Ryan” Gipp, Jr. (“Gipp”) during a confrontation with Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”) officers in October 2017 on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
BIA officers responded to a report that Gipp discharged a firearm at a gas station in Ft. Yates. Gipp and family members left the scene but were pulled over by law enforcement on a rural highway a few miles outside of town. The Eighth Circuit said, “[Gipp], who was under the influence of multiple substances, refused to follow their instructions. When one tried to arrest him, he backed away, balled his fists, and moved into a ‘bladed stance.’ After losing sight of [Gipp’s] hands, the officer fired his taser twice. Tasing [Gipp] just caused him to run and hide behind the other officer’s truck. After a few ‘quick peeks’ at the officers, [Gipp] fumbled with something in his hoodie pocket and pulled out a shiny black object.” Fearing the object was a firearm, one of the officers fired his service weapon, fatally wounding Gipp.
The Eighth Circuit continued, “The record … shows that the use of deadly force was reasonable. By that point, [Gipp] had already resisted arrest, shaken off two taser shots, crouched behind a truck, and pulled what looked like a gun from his hoodie pocket. … The situation had gone from dangerous to potentially deadly as [Gipp’s] actions became increasingly erratic and aggressive.”
The firearm discharged by Gipp at the gas station, and thrown out the window of the vehicle prior to being stopped by the police, was later found in a ditch. The weapon was a shotgun loaded with 7 slug rounds of live ammunition typically used for large game or self-defense and had a 13-inch knife taped to it like a bayonet, along with a flashlight. Among the items found on or near Gipp were brass knuckles, additional shotgun ammunition, a 7.5-inch AR stock wrench, a handcuff key, and a folding knife.
“Every time a law enforcement officer goes on duty to protect and serve the public, he or she selflessly places themselves in harm’s way,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl. “The risk to police officers is all too real,” she continued, “and these rulings recognize the dangerous, difficult, and rapidly evolving conditions officers must operate in.”
The case is Gipp, et al. v. United States of America, U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota, Case No. 1:19-cv-00213, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Case No. 24-1379. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys James Patrick Thomas and Sarah E. Wall of the District of North Dakota, and Senior Trial Attorney Siegmund F. Fuchs and Trial Attorney Joseph A. Gonzalez of the Torts Branch, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice.
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El Salvador Arrested for Assaulting Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that on August 28, 2025, Carlos Jose Guzman-Pineda, age 27, a citizen of El Salvador, was charged by complaint with assaulting Border Patrol Agents. The complaint alleges that on August 25, 2025, a vehicle occupied by Guzman-Pineda was stopped by law enforcement. During the traffic stop, Border Patrol Agents determined that Guzman-Pineda was an illegal alien from El Salvador. Guzman-Pineda attempted to evade his arrest by violently assaulting Border Patrol Agents. He faces charges with penalties of up to 8 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Border Patrol, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee.
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Tokio, ND, Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Child Neglect in the Death of a Three-Year Old ChildRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that on August 5, 2025, Austin Ray Lester, age 29 of Tokio, ND, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte to serve 33 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release including conditions. Lester had previously pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Child Neglect in Indian country, as well as Assault of a Child with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian country.
A co-defendant, Krissy Louise Hinsley was also charged in the case and pled guilty to two counts of Child Neglect in Indian country and was previously sentenced by Chief Judge Welte to a total term of 10 years in prison followed by a term of three years of supervised release including conditions.
The charges are related to their abuse and neglect of a three-year-old child the, in 2022, within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. The neglect resulted in the child’s death.
Both defendants were also ordered to pay restitution, jointly and severally, $62,553.39 to the North Dakota Department of Human Services for amounts paid to cover the costs of medical care of the child prior to the child’s death.
"Today, Austin Ray Lester was sentenced for his role in the horrifying abuse and neglect that resulted in the death of a three-year-old child," said FBI Minneapolis SAC Alivn M. Winston Sr. " This sentence represents a step towards justice for the life lost, and a warning to those who endanger our most vulnerable community members. The FBI will work tirelessly with its partners to ensure that the precious children of the Spirit Lake Reservation have the opportunity to grow in a safe and secure environment."
“This is a tragic child abuse case. This three-year-old child was the victim of fatal abuse and neglect at the hands of her caregivers, Lester and Hinsley. They left her alone at home, where she was exposed to dangerous conditions while Lester and Hinsley used narcotics. This is shameful, deliberate, and horrific conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Puhl. “This case should serve as a reminder that we at the United States Attorney’s Office will seek lengthy sentences for those whose willful and neglectful conduct leads to the death of children.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Tokio, ND Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter and Child NeglectRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Tierra Lynn Scott, age 31 from Tokio, ND, was sentenced before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, to 168 months in federal prison – the statutory maximum of 96 months for Involuntary Manslaughter and 24 months consecutive on each of the three Child Neglect counts in Indian country. Judge Welte also sentenced Scott to serve three years of supervised release following her incarceration and to pay restitution for funeral-related expenses.
On August 17, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residence in Fort Totten, North Dakota, where an adult male was later pronounced dead. The investigation revealed the man had been struck and run over by a motor vehicle driven by Scott. Scott had no driver’s license and was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and Scott was backing and otherwise driving recklessly, and without due care for the rights and safety of others. The investigation further revealed Scott had three minor children in the vehicle with her at the time.
“In August 2024, a man lost his life due to the negligence of Tierra Scott,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “She also placed three minor children at risk, driving with them while under the influence of alcohol and in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The FBI will work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure our community is safe for all, especially for children.”
“This was an entirely preventable death which was tragically witnessed by others, including children who were in and outside the defendant’s vehicle, all who have no doubt been traumatized,” said Acting US Attorney Jennifer Puhl. “Sadly, in recent years law enforcement has responded to increased incidents of alcohol-impaired driving deaths on the Spirit Lake Reservation. I hope this sentence serves as a reminder of the severe legal consequences for individuals who choose to drive under the influence and will deter that behavior.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Fargo Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for a Large Dangerous Drug Distribution Enterprise and Distribution of Drugs Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
FARGO: Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Karmen Charles Fox, age 34 of Fargo, ND, appeared in United States District Court today, and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 480 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release for the offenses of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute 400 grams or more of Fentanyl (Count 1); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count 2); Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) (Count 3); Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting In Death (Count 4); Distribution of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl) (Count 5); Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) (Count 7); and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon (Count 9). Fox was also ordered to pay a $700 Special Assessment.
As reflected in court documents, federal law enforcement responded to an overdose death on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation, North Dakota. A subsequent investigation revealed that Karmen Fox was the primary source of the pills that were ingested by the victim. Fox sold fentanyl pills to individuals throughout North Dakota, including on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation and Fort Berthold Indian Reservation for further distribution, including codefendants Scott Roberts (Roberts), Kristin Carrington (Carrington), Chasity Lynn Feather (Feather), Aiana Richotte (Richotte), among other coconspirators. Throughout the conspiracy, Fox and his codefendants used CashApp and other money transfer services to transfer the drug proceeds.
In December 2022, Fox distributed more than 100 fentanyl pills to Feather and Richotte who in turn drove the pills from Fargo to Devils Lake for further distribution. While in Devils Lake, Richotte and the overdose victim smoked a pill. Thereafter, the victim returned to her residence on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation where she later died. After the victim was found unresponsive by her significant other, he called emergency medical personnel who unsuccessfully performed life-saving measures.
Law enforcement later obtained search warrants for Richotte and Feather’s hotel room in Devils Lake as well as Feather’s person. Law enforcement seized $1,293 from Feather’s purse and approximately 175 fentanyl pills from Feather’s person.Further investigation of the coconspirators’ social media accounts revealed that Scott Roberts and Fox discussed having previously distributed “thousands” of pills. They also discussed the arrests of Feather and Richotte in Devils Lake on December 13, 2022. On November 21, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Fox’s residence in Fargo. Law enforcement seized approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of heroin, three firearms, and 34 boxes of various ammunition. Fox was prohibited from possessing firearms because of two prior felony convictions, including Attempted Delivery of Controlled Substance-Heroin.
Following a jury trial, Fox was found guilty of the above-mentioned offenses on March 19, 2025. Fox’s coconspirators plead guilty and were sentenced to federal prison for the following terms of incarceration:- Roberts was sentenced to 120 months
- Carrington was sentenced to 42 months
- Richotte was sentenced to 28 months
- Feather is awaiting sentencing.
“Today’s action reflects the significant prison sentence that awaits those who choose to infect our community with fentanyl, methamphetamines and illegal firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Drug dealers can’t hide from law enforcement in North Dakota, or anywhere in this country. The FBI is proud of our role in this joint effort with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners.”
“The defendant prioritized financial gain over human life and it’s my hope that his sentence will serve as a stark warning to others who are engaging in the same conduct,” said Acting US Attorney Puhl. “If you distribute dangerous narcotics that result in overdose deaths, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; BIA, Lake Region Narcotics Task Force; North Dakota Crime Lab, BCI; Cass County Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota.
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National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with over $14.6 Billion in Alleged FraudRead the Press Release
Largest DOJ Health Care Fraud Takedown in History More than Doubles Prior Record of $6 Billion
Fargo: Today, Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced criminal charges against Isaac Osei Afoakwa, 55, of Bismarck, North Dakota in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.
Afoakwa was charged by indictment with false statements relating to a health care benefit program, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent tax return. As alleged in the indictment, Afoakwa, as owner and principal of Bismarck Transportation Services, allegedly submitted $100,000 of false and fraudulent claims to North Dakota Medicaid on behalf of Bismarck Transportation Services for non-medical emergency transport services. Afoakwa also fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan, as well as eight Economic Injury Disaster Loans, to which he was not entitled, in the total amount of $1,615,944.
“Today’s record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown sends a crystal-clear message to criminal actors, both foreign and domestic, intent on preying upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
The charges announced today by Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15.6 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. In connection with the Takedown, the Government seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets.
The District of North Dakota in particular, worked with the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the North Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Greenley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota.
The following materials related to today’s announcement are available on the Health Care Fraud Unit’s website through these links:
• Graphics and Resources
• Case Descriptions
• Court Documents
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St. Michael Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Ryan Cody Guy, age 46, from St. Michael, North Dakota, was sentenced before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to 63 months in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter. Judge Welte also sentenced Guy to serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000. Guy pleaded guilty on March 10, 2025.
On February 26, 2022, Ryan Guy was driving a vehicle on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation while intoxicated when he rolled it. A passenger in the vehicle died as a result of injuries sustained in the rollover. Guy’s blood alcohol content was 0.164, over twice the legal limit under North Dakota state law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the North Dakota Highway Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lee.
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Nine Defendants Arrested for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
FARGO – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that beginning on May 15, 2025, a multi-state law enforcement operation resulted in the arrests of nine defendants following their indictment by a federal grand jury in the District of North Dakota for roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy with ties to the Almighty Latin King Nation criminal street gang.
The defendants arrested are:
Ricardo Jaquez, 46, Oakes, North Dakota
Israel David Flores, a/k/a Izzy, 45, Audubon, Minnesota
Michelle Lee Fuller, 38, Audubon, Minnesota
Jose Manuel Jaquez, a/k/a Cash, 36, Oakes, North Dakota
Jacob Edward Lambert, 37, Oakes, North Dakota
Ashley Marie Bleecker, 40, Belcourt, North Dakota
Alfredo Hernandez Jaquez, a/k/a Freddy, 47, Wells, Minnesota
Wesley Wayne Tolleson, 37, Wells, Minnesota
Jason Leonard Gulden, 44, Aberdeen, South Dakota
All defendants have made appearances in federal court in North Dakota and face up to life in prison with a 10-year minimum mandatory if convicted.
This case is part of Operation Crown Down, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in North Dakota and other states. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Drug Enforcement; Homeland Security Investigations; the Oakes Police Department; the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Cass County Drug Task Force; the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force; the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force; the CEE-VI Drug Task Force; the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Brown County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew P. Kopp.
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Fargo, ND Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Kadar Udai Pearson, age 21, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in federal court and was sentenced before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to 51 months in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, and 3 years of supervised release. Pearson pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024.
As noted in court documents, in the afternoon of June 5, 2024, Fargo Police Department officers were in the area of the Arbors apartment complex after an earlier shots-fired report. They observed a person, later identified as Pearson, wearing a sweatshirt and pulling up a ski mask over his face, though the temperature was in the mid-70s. The sweatshirt pocket appeared to have something heavier than a cell phone in it. Officers further observed Pearson enter into a backyard in the neighborhood, where a resident of the home said Pearson did not have permission to be.
Officers directed Pearson to halt, but he fled on foot. As officers gave chase, one officer observed Pearson throw what appeared to be a firearm beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured the toss. On the ground beneath the vehicle, officers found a SIG Sauer 9mm pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, which was previously reported stolen in Fargo.
At the time of the offense, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a state sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein in the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice.
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Fargo, ND Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Dustin Ray Fredrickson, age 37 of Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to serve 32 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime supervised release for the offenses of Receipt of Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors in violation of 18 USC § 2252(a)(2). Fredrickson was also ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims that were identified in the videos and images recovered from his cellphone. Fredrickson pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024.
As noted in court documents, Dustin Ray Fredrickson’s criminal activity was discovered after the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving a Snapchat account that contained images depicting nude children. Further investigation revealed that the account was associated Fredrickson. A search warrant for Fredrickson’s residence resulted in the seizure of a Samsung cellphone that belonged to Fredrickson. A search of the phone revealed approximately 373 videos and 773 images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to include children as young as infants.
At the time Fredrickson committed this offense, he had three prior convictions for having sexual contact with minors as an adult.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and North Dakota Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme.
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Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Cole Jeanotte age 41, formerly from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on April 17, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for the offenses of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age. In addition, Judge Welte ordered Jeanotte to pay $100 in special assessment fees.
As reflected in court documents, Jane Doe disclosed to her mother in May 2020 that Jeanotte had sexually abused her. Jane Doe reported that Jeanotte began sexually abusing her in 2012 continuing until 2013 when Jane Doe was approximately 7 years of age. Following the incidents, Jeanotte threatened to hurt Jane Doe’s mother if Jane Doe told her mother about him sexually abusing her.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who sexually abuse children, regardless of when the disclosure is made,” Puhl said. “This sentence reflects the egregious nature of Jeanotte’s conduct, and it will ensure the protection of other children.”
“Jeanotte committed a heinous crime against a defenseless child, and today’s sentence reflect the gravity of that offense,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our society — especially children — is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with our partners to bring predators to justice and protect children from harm.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota.
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Tokio, ND, Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Child Neglect in the Death of a Three-Year Old ChildRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that on April 14, 2025, Austin Ray Lester, age 29 of Tokio, ND, appeared in United States District Court and pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Peter Welte to Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Child Neglect in Indian country, as well as Assault of a Child with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian country. Lester’s sentencing date is scheduled for August 5, 2025.
The charges are related to the August 2022 neglect and death of three-year-old child within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. A co-defendant, Krissy Louise Hinsley was also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Neglect in Indian country and is scheduled for a change of plea and sentencing hearing on July 28, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Fargo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Lucas Tavares, Age 34 of Fargo, ND, appeared in United States District Court today and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the offense of Hobbs Act Robbery. Tavares was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
As reflected in court documents, on March 5, 2024, Tavares robbed the Loaf ‘N Jug located at 1201 N. University Ave, Fargo, ND. An employee told responding officers that Tavares held a knife to his neck during the robbery. Fargo Police Department detectives quickly identified Tavares as the robber and took him into custody on the same day as the robbery. A federal grand jury indicted Tavares for one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. Tavares pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee.
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Former Fargo Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Leading a Large-Scale Cocaine Distribution EnterpriseRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Barrett Clair Prody, Age 52 of Fort Lauderdale, FL, appeared in United States District Court today and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 190 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release for the offenses of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Money Laundering Conspiracy, and Obstruction of Justice. Prody was also ordered to pay a $300 special assessment fee.
As reflected in court documents, for nearly four years, former businessman Barrett Prody led a cocaine distribution enterprise in the Fargo-Moorhead area. In total, Prody’s organization distributed as much as 25 kilograms of cocaine. A financial investigation showed Prody reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds, which he then laundered through ostensibly legitimate business accounts. Prody used drug proceeds to pay for a condominium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to rent an apartment in Medellin, Colombia, and to stash more than $100,000 in an investment account. After his arrest in April 2024, Prody attempted to obstruct justice by directing a third party to transfer his condominium and investment account ownership to avoid forfeiture.
“Barrett Prody pushed a substantial amount of cocaine into Fargo and Moorhead, with little concern for the lives impacted and families destroyed by this poisonous product,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafael Mattei said. “Traffickers like Prody see only personal gain, not individual human lives or the life-altering consequences that can come from drug use.”
“Barrett Prody’s greed fueled a yearslong cocaine enterprise that profited off addiction and human suffering,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Kopp. “Today’s sentence ensures accountability for his crimes.”
This case is part of Operation Winter Weather, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation targeting cocaine trafficking in North Dakota. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Internal Revenue Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Cass County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Kopp and Christopher C. Myers.
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Rolla, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that Jace Fox, age 25, from Rolla, ND, appeared in United States District Court on April 4, 2025, and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 51 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Fox was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
As reflected in court documents, in or about February 2022, Jane Doe submitted to a forensic interview during which time she disclosed that Fox sexually abused her when she was 13 years of age. At the time of the conduct, Fox was 20 years of age. During a subsequent investigation, other minors made similar disclosures about having been sexually abused by Fox.
Fox was later interviewed by the FBI in January 2023, during which he initially denied knowing Jane Doe. Eventually, Fox admitted to knowing the victim, but he denied having sexually abused her. Despite his denial, Fox plead guilty to the sexual abuse of Jane Doe on November 19, 2024.
"This was a despicable crime committed against one of the most vulnerable members of our community," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "The FBI and our partners are fully committed to protecting children from abuse and ensuring those who exploit or harm them face justice swiftly."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota.
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Former North Dakota State Senator Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Traveling to Prague to Engage in Commercial Sex with ChildrenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former North Dakota state legislator for 45 years was sentenced on March 26, 2025, to 10 years in prison for traveling to Prague in the Czech Republic, where he paid to sexually exploit children.
According to court documents, Raymon (Ray) Everett Holmberg, 81, of Grand Forks, traveled to Prague approximately 14 times between 2011 and 2021. During these trips, while staying at a brothel that catered to men looking to engage in commercial sex with adolescent boys, Holmberg paid for sex acts with boys. During some of the trips, Holmberg used the alias “Sean Evans.” Witnesses told law enforcement that Holmberg did not want his name on the brothel’s registry because he was a North Dakota state legislator. Witnesses also told law enforcement that Holmberg would also visit a public park in front of the main train station in Prague to procure sex from underage boys.
Holmberg also used the “Evans” alias to tell friends about his trips and encourage them to travel to Prague. In these communications, Holmberg shared an image of an adolescent boy that he called “his twink,” and said that “no one is ever to [sic] young . . . remember Prague.” He emailed a different friend a link to a brothel in Prague and suggested that they go that summer, writing: “The boys rent at around $60 . . . (sex is extra).” Holmberg also wrote: “It will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.” Back in the United States, Holmberg boasted about having engaged in sexual activity with boys as young as 12- and 15-years old during his travels.
According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Holmberg’s sexual exploitation of minors was not limited to his trips to Prague. Holmberg established an online relationship with a 16-year-old Canadian boy, posing as a boy of a similar age in order to manipulate the Canadian teen into taking images of himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct and sending them to Holmberg.
On August 8, 2024, Holmberg pled guilty to traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, Grand Forks, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and Acting U.S. Attorney Puhl are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announce Canadian Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Destruction of Energy Facilities in Both North Dakota and South DakotaRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – District of North Dakota Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl, and District of South Dakota United States Attorney Alison Ramsdell announced that on March 10, 2025, United States District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Cameron Monte Smith, age 50, a citizen of Canada, to serve 150 months in federal prison for two counts of destruction of an energy facility, one act in the District of North Dakota and one act in the District of South Dakota, to be served consecutively, totaling 25 years, and to serve three years supervised release. Smith was also ordered to pay $2,124,974.38 in restitution to the victims.
On September 11, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to the two offenses where he admitted to damaging the Wheelock Substation, located near Ray, N.D., in an amount exceeding $100,000, in May of 2023. The Wheelock substation is operated by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Smith also admitted to damaging a transformer and pumpstation of the Keystone Pipeline located near Carpenter, South Dakota, in an amount exceeding $100,000, in July of 2022. Smith damaged the Wheelock substation and the Keystone Pipeline equipment by firing multiple rounds from a high-power rifle into the equipment resulting in disruption of electric services to the North Dakota customers and resulting in disruption of the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota.
“This sentence serves as a reminder that the Department of Justice will use all its resources to investigate and aggressively prosecute any attack on our critical civilian infrastructures,” said Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl, Acting US Attorney for the District of North Dakota. “Our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors in the Districts of North and South Dakota deserve recognition for working shoulder to shoulder to bring this defendant to justice, thereby protecting our citizens’ access to essential energy services.”
"This substantial sentence reflects the commitment of the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney's Offices for North Dakota and South Dakota, and our numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to relentlessly investigate, prosecute, and hold to account persons, wherever they are from, who intentionally seek to disrupt or destroy our nation's critical energy infrastructure,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “This sentence should stand as a stark warning to anyone seeking to interfere with our critical infrastructure—law enforcement will stop at nothing to track you down and bring you to justice."
“As a Canadian, Mr. Smith was barred from possessing firearms and ammunition in the United States,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “There are, of course, exceptions to the prohibition of non-U.S. citizens possessing firearms for things like hunting or other shooting sports, but Mr. Smith chose to illegally possess a firearm and ammunition to attack U.S. infrastructure, which simply cannot be tolerated. We are satisfied with the sentencing in relation to his guilty plea. And, as always, we are appreciative of our partners and prosecutors who helped to bring this case to a successful conclusion.”
“Smith orchestrated and carried out targeted attacks on critical energy infrastructure in North and South Dakota using a high-powered rifle, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and leaving homes and businesses without power," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Attacks on our critical infrastructure threaten the security and daily lives of all Americans. The FBI remains laser-focused on protecting the essential infrastructure our communities rely on, and will continue to work with our partners to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Williams County (ND) Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Clark County (SD) Sheriff’s Department, and the Beadle County (SD) Sheriff’s Department, and is being prosecuted by North Dakota Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Hagler and Jonathan J. O’Konek, and District of South Dakota Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri, with the assistance of Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
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St. Michael, ND Man Arrested for Murder on Sprit Lake Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Fargo – Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced that on March 10, 2025, JOHNNIE JAY GAKING, Age 27 of St. Michael, ND, made his initial court appearance to face federal murder charges. A Federal Complaint charges Gaking with two counts of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Attempted Murder on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. Court documents alleged that on March 4, 2025, Johnnie Gaking shot and killed an adult victim and a child victim at a residence on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. These court documents also allege that Gaking shot another adult victim who was later transported to the hospital for treatment. Gaking departed the residence and was apprehended by law enforcement that same day and transported to the hospital for apparent self-inflected injuries.
A Complaint in this case is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s office, with Assistant United States Attorney Samantha L. Schmidt assigned to the case.
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Canadian Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Destruction of Energy Facilities in North and South DakotaRead the Press Release
Cameron Monte Smith, 50, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced today to 150 months in prison per count, to be served consecutively, for two counts of destroying an energy facility — one incident in the District of North Dakota and another in the District of South Dakota.Smith was also ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to the two offenses where he admitted to damaging the Wheelock Substation, located near Ray, North Dakota, in an amount exceeding $100,000, in May 2023. The Wheelock substation is operated by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Smith also admitted to damaging a transformer and pumpstation of the Keystone Pipeline located near Carpenter, South Dakota, in an amount exceeding $100,000, in July 2022. Smith damaged the Wheelock substation and the Keystone Pipeline equipment by firing multiple rounds from a high-power rifle into the equipment resulting in disruption of electric services to the North Dakota customers and resulting in disruption of the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota.
Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl for the District of North Dakota; U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota; and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Williams County (North Dakota) Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Clark County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Department, and the Beadle County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Hagler and Jonathan J. O’Konek for the District of South Dakota, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri for the District of North Dakota, and Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
St. Michael Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child AbuseRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Collin Ray Delorme, also known as Collin Ray Delorme Sr., age 30, from St. Michael, North Dakota, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota in Fargo today and was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter Welte to serve 40 years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release during which time he will be required to follow a number of conditions. Delorme was also ordered to pay restitution, joint and severally with his codefendant, for medical and funeral expenses.
On February 18, 2023, Baker called 911 from a home in St. Michael, North Dakota within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. Delorme’s co-Defendant, Kenzie Rose Baker, reported her one-year-old child was not breathing. The child was transported to CHI St. Alexius in Devils Lake, North Dakota and was pronounced dead. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was “battered child” due to multiple, repeated injuries of various ages, evident upon external and internal examination. The child’s internal injuries were untreated which created infection and sepsis.
Two of the charges to which Delorme pled are related to his abuse of the deceased one-year-old child. The third charge is the result of his abuse of a three-year-old child that included hitting the child on the arms and throwing him on a bed.
On August 16, 2024, Baker pleaded guilty to charges of Accessory after the Fact; Child Abuse in Indian country; Child Neglect in Indian country. Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2025.
“This sentence provides a measure of accountability for the horrendous abuse and tragic death of a toddler,” Schneider said. “Through their work on multi-disciplinary teams on each reservation with tribal social services, law enforcement, tribal court prosecutors, and behavioral health partners, our Indian country prosecutors are committed to preventing child abuse. They also will not hesitate to bring forceful prosecutions against child abusers in federal court. Our hope is that today’s sentence serves as a deterrence in our efforts to keep children safe.”
"The abuse and neglect that these children experienced is truly horrific. No child should ever endure such suffering," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Today's sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners' commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities and ensuring that those who harm children are brought to justice."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lori H. Conroy and SheraLynn Ternes.
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Spirit Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Austin Cody Littlewind, a/k/a Austin Cody Littlewind Jr., age 22, from Spirit Lake, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota in Fargo today and Chief Judge Peter D. Welte sentenced him to serve 192 months (16 years) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release during which time Littlewind will be required to abide by a number of conditions. Littlewind had previously pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder within Indian country. In November of 2023, Littlewind stabbed another man to death in Fort Totten, North Dakota, after Littlewind confronted the man over $40. As part of sentence, Littlewind was also ordered to pay restitution for funeral and related expenses.
“This crime was both extremely violent and totally pointless,” Schneider said. “While there is no undoing the tragic loss of life that occurred, we hope this sentence provides a measure of justice and reassures the community that violent criminals will be pursued, prosecuted, and sent to federal prison for their crimes. Our career prosecutors and partners at the FBI deserve credit for their successful efforts on this case and their dedication to public safety in Indian country.”
“Senseless acts of violence have no place in our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Today’s sentencing reaffirms that committing a violent crime carries serious consequences. The FBI, alongside our tribal and law enforcement partners, will continue to seek justice for victims and hold offenders accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Belcourt Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse and Domestic Assault by StrangulationRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Justin Lee Baker, age 44, from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on January 28, 2025, before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to life in federal prison, and $400 in special assessment fees for the offenses of sexual abuse by threat of death or serious bodily injury (two counts) and assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangulation (two counts).
As noted in court documents, in or about August 2020, law enforcement in Belcourt, ND, was dispatched to a residence for a report of a domestic disturbance. Jane Doe 1 reported she had been severely beaten by her boyfriend, identified as Baker. Law enforcement observed extensive bruising throughout Jane Doe 1’s face, neck, chest, arms, and legs, as well as a laceration on top of her head. In or about August 2023, Jane Doe 1 was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the incident. In addition to describing the physical assault she previously reported, Jane Doe 1 described being sexually assaulted by Baker including him using objects causing excruciating pain. Jane Doe 1 believed Baker was going to kill her. Jane Doe 1 indicated Baker had strangled her and she had lost consciousness during the course of the assault.
Through the course of the investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigations identified several other women physically and sexually assaulted by Baker, including Jane Doe 2. Jane Doe 2 was interviewed in August 2023. She described being held captive in Baker’s camper and being physically and sexually assaulted. Jane Doe 2 described Baker “wailing” on her, strangling her, and sexually assaulting her with his penis. Jane Doe 2 stated the assault caused her to lose consciousness and extreme pain. Jane Doe 2 stated Baker threatened she would be “six feet under” and Jane Doe 2 feared Baker would kill her.
“This sentence is a fitting one considering the brutality and depravity of the defendant’s crimes against his domestic partners and women in the community,” Schneider said. “Domestic violence and sexual abuse are serious crimes, and as this case shows we will not hesitate to bring abusers to federal court to face justice where our office has jurisdiction. I give credit to our career prosecutors and partners in the FBI for obtaining this result and removing this individual from the community.”
“The horrendous sexual abuse committed by Justin Lee Baker is cruel and reprehensible,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This sentencing sends a clear message: the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who prey on others, especially the innocent and defenseless, and ensure they are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Ivory Coast Man Charged with Participating in a Sextortion Scheme that Caused the Death of a North Dakota TeenagerRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that a federal grand jury has returned an Indictment charging Aly Cherif, a/k/a Australien Choco, a/k/a Australien Ch’co, a/k/a Michael Jhonson, a/k/a Ali Aly, age 23, from the Ivory Coast, with 1) Cyberstalking Resulting in Death; 2) Wire Fraud; 3) Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 4) Extortion; and 5) Distribution of Child Pornography, which resulted in the death of a North Dakota teenager.
The Indictment unsealed today alleges that Cherif, and other individuals located in the Ivory Coast, participated in a well-organized sextortion group that targeted victims throughout the world. “Sextortion” is a term used to describe a scheme to defraud where individuals use the threat of releasing photographs or videos which depict people’s private, intimate, or sexual acts to fraudulently coerce those people to send money based upon falsehoods, blackmail, and threats, in exchange for the sextortioners’ promise to not release these photographs or videos. Specifically, sextortioners perpetrating sextortion schemes utilize false claims to induce victims to send photographs or videos of themselves—or to engage in video chats where the sextortioners record victims—nude or engaged in private, intimate, or sexual acts, and then the sextortioners threaten to release these photographs or videos to friends, family, work colleagues, or threaten to post these photographs or videos on the internet, unless the victim pays money to the sextortioners.
Additionally, as alleged in the Indictment, Cherif and others in the sextortion group targeted a North Dakota teenager by obtaining publicly available photographs of an attractive woman from the internet and then fraudulently used these photographs to create or modify a Facebook account to falsely pose as a woman named “Emily Thompson.” Thereafter, the sextortion group contacted the minor victim through Facebook chat and falsely stated that they were “Emily Thompson,” and that “Emily Thompson” was twenty (20) years old and lived in Montana, when in fact, Cherif and the sextortion group were operating this Facebook account, not a woman named “Emily Thompson.” Next, the sextortion group obtained a video recording and photographs of the minor victim engaging in a private, intimate, or sexual act, and used extortion tactics to attempt to force the minor victim to pay money so that “Emily Thompson” would not release videos and photographs of the minor victim engaging in these acts. When the minor victim informed “Emily Thompson,” that the minor victim did not have any money, the sextortion group distributed images of the minor victim’s genitalia on Facebook. Shortly thereafter, the minor victim committed suicide.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement are committed to obtaining a measure of justice for this family,” Schneider said. “The indictment alleges greed, deception, and child exploitation that led to a heartrending tragedy. As we pursue justice in this case, we want to deter similar conduct and remind kids and families that help is available if they become victims of sextortion.”
"This case is a stark reminder of the dangers children face online, where predators use deception and technology to exploit the most vulnerable among us," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr." The FBI and our partners will continue working tirelessly to protect children and bring those who seek to harm them to justice."
An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. The defendant is presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty.
To report a sextortion scam, contact your local FBI field office at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
To learn more about identifying and preventing sextortion scams, please visit the FBI’s website: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/sextortion
Further, please visit the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Resource for Sextortion Victims: https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/resources-sextortion-victims
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches ADA Settlement with Mandan Parks and Recreation Regarding the Starion Sports ComplexRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota completed its investigation and entered into a settlement agreement with Mandan Parks and Recreation to resolve allegations that elements of the Starion Sports Complex (“Starion”) violate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). The Starion opened in 2017 and is an 84,000 square foot facility with two ice rinks, a gymnastics center, parks maintenance shop, rubberized track and jumping facilities, practice field and track and field throwing facilities, and a synthetic turf football and soccer field. Tenants of the Starion include the University of Mary, Mandan School District, Mandan Hockey Club, and Dakota Star Gymnastics.
The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint alleging that the Starion was not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. During its investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office found that the Starion did not provide an accessible path to visitor seating in the football field, and that the accessible seating provided in the competition ice rink was not an integrated part of the seating plan. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also found that the Starion lacked adequate accessible seating in other areas of the complex, and that elements of the toilet rooms, concourse, skate rental counter, outdoor picnic area, and assistive listening systems did not comply with the ADA’s requirements. Under the settlement agreement, Mandan Parks and Recreation will provide adequate and integrated wheelchair and companion seating and cure all other noted violations of the ADA.
Under federal law, discrimination on the basis of a disability in the services, programs, or activities of a public entity such as Mandan Parks and Recreation is prohibited. Newly constructed buildings, like the Starion, are required to comply with the ADA’s program accessibility requirements and be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs.
“Protecting access for individuals with disabilities is a priority for the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Schneider “Mandan Parks and Recreation cooperated throughout this investigation, and I commend its commitment to quickly address the ADA violations when these barriers to accessibility were brought to its attention. The Starion is a great venue, and this settlement will help ensure everyone is able to access it.”
This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa H. Burkland and Tara Vavrosky Iversen and Paralegal Specialist Michelle Erdmann of the District of North Dakota.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in North Dakota is not accessible to persons with disabilities may file a complaint online at www.ada.gov or contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 701-297-7400.
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United States Attorney’s Office releases 2024 Community ReportRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced the release of the 2024 Community Report of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota (USAO-ND). The report summarizes the office’s efforts over the course of fiscal year 2024 in the courtroom and in communities throughout the district.
“I could not be prouder of the career prosecutors, civil litigators, and talented staff of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota,” Schneider said. “They exhibit not just excellence in the courtroom, but also a commitment to our communities and law enforcement partners that makes North Dakota a safer place. Upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights is not just a mission statement, it’s the daily work of the office.”
According to Department of Justice statistics, USAO-ND was number one among the 10 districts in the Eighth Circuit in defendants per Assistant United States Attorney and number six out of 94 districts nationally in this category. Even with this significant caseload, the office secured a conviction rate of over 95% in 2024. Additionally, over 95% of criminal appeals decided on the merits were resolved in USAO-ND’s favor last year.
The report discusses office initiatives to target the drivers of violent crime, new resources to increase public safety in Indian country, and prosecutions to protect children, combat dangerous drugs, fight fraud, and keep people safe along the northern border. The important work of the office’s Civil Division, which includes protecting taxpayers by representing the United States in complex litigation and enforcing federal civil rights statutes, is also highlighted.
The full report is available here:
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Two Maryland Men Sentenced to Imprisonment for Participating in a Romance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on December 17, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Chinedu Ikenna Nwafor, age 42, from Bowie, Maryland, to serve 25 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and payment of $180,000.00 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud for participating in a romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly women.
Additionally, on August 8, 2024, Judge Traynor sentenced Nwafor’s codefendant, Vitus Uzoma Uzowuru, age 56, from Glendale, Maryland, to time served imprisonment, which amounted to approximately 10 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and payment of $50,000.00 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud for participating in a romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly women.
Finally, on April 12, 2023, a federal grand jury located within the District of North Dakota returned an Indictment charging Juliet Chinyere Molenda with Wire Fraud related to her participation in a romance fraud scheme. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota has scheduled her trial date for July 24, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland. An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges. Juliet Molenda is presumed innocent under the law unless and until proven guilty.
As noted in court documents filed by the United States Attorney’s Office—which documents the nature and extent of this romance fraud scheme—foreign actors falsely and fraudulently posed as high-ranking United States military members, stated they were deployed to a foreign country, and created fake social media or internet profiles, which advanced these falsehoods. Thereafter, the foreign actors, while falsely pretending to be military members, targeted elderly females by contacting them through social media or internet profiles and entered into what the romance fraud victims believed were legitimate romantic relationships. Over time, the foreign actors cultivated the romance fraud victims trust and fraudulently induced them to send money at their request to United States based coconspirators, including Nwafor, Uzowuru, and Molenda, normally by concocting elaborate and false stories that convinced the victims to send money to these coconspirators—such as requesting that the victims pay for a sudden legal issue or customs dispute that prevented the purported military officer or his property from traveling to the United States.
Nwafor served as a United States based middleman to the foreign actors by obtaining money from romance fraud victims and then sent a large portion of these funds to the international actors. As noted in court documents, Nwafor admitted that he received a package from a New Town, North Dakota, victim that contained a $150,000.00 cashier’s check, which foreign actors fraudulently obtained from this New Town victim as part of a romance fraud scheme by posing as either a “General Joseph Martins” or a “Diplomat David Jones.” Uzowuru also served as a United States based middleman to both Nwafor and the foreign actors. As noted in court documents, Uzowuru admitted that he also received a package from the New Town, North Dakota, victim that contained $50,000.00, which foreign actors fraudulently obtained from this New Town, North Dakota, victim.
“This sentence shows that romance scammers will face justice in United States District Court when they target the hard-earned savings of North Dakotans,” Schneider said. “It’s also a reminder to be vigilant about protecting yourself and your loved ones against schemes like this one. Fraudsters will be pursued by law enforcement and prosecuted federally for their crimes, but the best course is to prevent fraud before it occurs.”
"These individuals preyed on the trust and emotions of vulnerable victims, exploiting their desire for connection," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. "Today's sentencing serves as a reminder that the FBI will continue to investigate and dismantle these scams, working to safeguard the American people from such exploitation."
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page HERE.
Further, please visit the US Attorney’s Office’s press release on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day for awareness and increased understanding of the many forms of elder abuse, as well as resources available to those at-risk HERE.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.
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Fargo Man Convicted by Jury for Witness Tampering Conspiracy in MurderRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Shaquiel Anthony Mendez, age 31, was convicted at trial of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness after a four-day jury trial held before Chief District Court Judge Peter D. Welte in Fargo. Mendez is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2025.
Mendez was convicted for his role in conspiring to tamper with a federal witness after the witness was assaulted and stabbed with a pencil in the Cass County jail. This witness tampering case is related to the investigation into the murder of Santino Marial which occurred on August 28, 2020, in Fargo.
“An attack on a witness is an attack on the rule of law,” Schneider said. “This case is a reminder that anyone who conspires to use violence against a federal witness in the District of North Dakota will make themselves a federal defendant. I want to thank our career prosecutors, the trial team, and our partners in federal and local law enforcement for their work to secure a conviction and ensure justice was done in this case.”
Daniel Saydee Cisse, age 20, is currently serving an eleven-year sentence for his role in the witness tampering conspiracy. Ahmed Abdi Hassan, age 21, has pled guilty for his role in the witness tampering conspiracy and is currently scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2025.
Jesse James Burnett, age 31, has been indicted for Murder in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime and Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness and is scheduled for trial on April 1, 2025.
This case is being investigated by Fargo Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATFE).
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers, Matthew Kopp, and Jacob Rodenbiker.
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Moorhead, Minnesota, Real Estate Company Sentenced for Failing to Provide Lead-Based Paint DisclosureRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on December 3, 2024, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal sentenced Valley Property Partners LLC, d/b/a “House Dudes,” a Moorhead, Minnesota, based real estate company, to: 1) pay $4,274.78. in restitution and $10,000 in fines; 2) serve one-year probation; and 3) perform 50 hours of community service for failing to provide a home purchaser with lead-based paint disclosures as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act. As part of the sentence in this case, Valley Property Partners LLC has agreed to include a notice on its website about the harmful effects of lead-based paint exposure and its required obligations to home buyers pertaining to lead-based paint disclosures.
As stated in the information and plea agreement, On October 16, 2019, Valley Property Partners LLC sold a pre-1978 built home, located in Hillsboro, North Dakota, to a purchaser but failed to provide this purchaser with required lead-based paint disclosures in violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act. In April 2022, medical personnel diagnosed two children, aged between one and two years old at the time, who were living at the residence, with elevated blood lead levels. In June 2022, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) conducted an inspection for the presence of lead-based paint at the home located in Hillsboro, North Dakota. During this inspection, NDDEQ obtained positive results for lead-based paint in multiple areas of the home, including in areas of the children’s playroom.
“The Toxic Substances Control Act protects kids and homebuyers, and while most sellers make the required disclosures in good faith, there can be serious health impacts on children when the law is violated,” Schneider said. “As this case shows, there are also legal consequences for the violators. I want to thank our career prosecutors and their federal and state partners for providing accountability and reaching a fair outcome in this case.”
“Childhood lead exposure remains a significant public health concern and the EPA is committed to reducing lead exposures among children, who are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) in North Dakota. “The actions of the defendant in this case resulted in two childhood lead exposures, which could have been prevented if the defendant had followed the law. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who violate our nation’s environmental laws and place children at risk will be held accountable for their actions.”
This case was investigated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek prosecuted this case.
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Fort Totten Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing ChildrenRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Wendell James Snell, age 42, from Fort Totten, ND, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison on November 21, 2024. Snell had previously pled guilty to five counts of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. At sentencing, the Honorable Peter D. Welte, Chief Judge United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, imposed six-year, statutory maximum sentences on each count, to run consecutively. Following his thirty-year sentence, Snell will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and a number of conditions, including not having contact with minors.
Snell’s guilty pleas and sentence relate to his sexual abuse of three children, each under the age of 12 years old, between the years of 2011 to 2014 on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
“This serious sentence is seriously appropriate considering the defendant’s unforgivable abuse of multiple children,” Schneider said. “We hope it will provide some space for the victims to heal and deter this kind of abhorrent behavior in the future. Our career prosecutors and FBI partners are committed to protecting kids in Indian country and wherever we have jurisdiction, and as this case shows we will firmly hold abusers to account in federal court.”
"The depravity of Snell's actions is reflected in today's sentencing," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children – are victimized, the FBI will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Fargo, ND Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on November 20, 2024, Kadar Udai Pearson, age 20, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pearson is detained pending sentencing, set for March 17, 2025.
As noted in court documents, in the afternoon of June 5, 2024, Fargo Police Department officers were in the area of the Arbors apartment complex after an earlier shots-fired report. They observed a person, later identified as Pearson, wearing a sweatshirt and pulling up a ski mask over his face, though the temperature was in the mid-70s. The sweatshirt pocket appeared to have something heavier than a cell phone in it. Officers further observed Pearson enter into a backyard in the neighborhood, where a resident of the home said Pearson did not have permission to be.
Officers directed Pearson to halt, but he fled on foot. As officers gave chase, one officer observed Pearson throw what appeared to be a firearm beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured the toss. On the ground beneath the vehicle, officers found a SIG Sauer 9mm pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, which was previously reported stolen in Fargo.
At the time of the offense, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a state sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm.
“Public safety in and around the Arbors is a high priority for this office, and when that safety is threatened we will literally make a federal case out of it,” Schneider said. “As this guilty plea shows, felons in possession of firearms who target the Arbors will be on the fast track to become defendants in United States District Court. The cooperation between our career prosecutors, Main Justice, federal law enforcement, and the Fargo Police Department was critical in this case, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership as we work to make Fargo safer.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein in the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice.
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Grand Forks County Assistant State’s Attorney sworn in as special federal prosecutor under Violence Against Women ActRead the Press Release
Appointment comes in the wake of U.S. Justice Department designation of Grand Forks as a jurisdiction of focus under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act, prioritizing firearms prosecutions of domestic violence offenders
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider and Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad today announced that Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad has been sworn in as a Special Assistant United States Attorney under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). As a VAWA SAUSA, Egstad will focus on reducing intimate partner firearm violence in the Grand Forks area by bringing prosecutions in federal district court under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) while continuing to work full-time as a state prosecutor.
“We are grateful to the Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office for their partnership and commitment to working across jurisdictional lines to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and hold offenders accountable,” Schneider said. “Having an experienced state prosecutor on the ground in Grand Forks working with law enforcement and community partners to develop cases and target dangerous individuals for federal prosecution will protect families and help keep the community safe.”
“Our office appreciates the opportunity to utilize and leverage federal resources in seeking justice for victims of intimate partner violence in our jurisdiction,” said Wamstad. “This multi-agency collaboration will be beneficial in identifying, investigating, and holding accountable the most lethal offenders of intimate partner gun violence in our communities.”
"We are committed to tackling the dangerous intersection of domestic violence and illegal firearms possession in partnership with our local, state, and federal counterparts," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the St. Paul Field Division. "As the primary federal agency responsible for investigating firearms crimes, ATF's expertise is vital in ensuring that violent offenders are barred from possessing weapons and that victims of domestic violence are safeguarded. We are also pleased to welcome Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to strengthen this important effort."
“We’re thrilled to partner with the US Attorney’s Office and Ms. Egstad, an experienced prosecutor, on this new appointment,” said Coiya Tompkins Inman, president/CEO of the Community Violence Intervention Center. “It provides powerful tools for our legal and law enforcement partners and enhances safety for survivors whose intimate partners may possess firearms illegally. We’re so fortunate to have strong, long-standing partnerships like this that make our holistic approach to ending interpersonal violence possible.”
Egstad’s appointment as VAWA SAUSA follows the United States Department of Justice’s recent designation of Grand Forks as a jurisdiction of focus to address intimate partner firearm violence pursuant to Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. Grand Forks was one of 78 communities nationwide to receive the designation.
The Justice Department, through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions, is partnering with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.
Following Grand Forks’ designation, the USAO, ATF, Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office, Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office, and Community Violence Intervention Center met to discuss implementation of this initiative. Egstad will work closely with those entities to guide investigations and ultimately bring prosecutions against domestic violence offenders who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
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Belcourt woman sentenced to federal prison for child abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious mischiefRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Rhawnie Marcellais, age 42, from Belcourt, ND, appeared in federal court on November 13, 2024 before District Court Judge Peter Welte and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $300 in special assessment fees, and ordered to pay restitution totaling $1302 for the offenses of child abuse in Indian country, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious mischief.
As noted in court documents, on or about January 1, 2021, law enforcement in Belcourt, ND was notified of a minor female at the police department requesting to speak with officers. The minor female stated she got into an argument with her mother, the defendant. The minor female departed the police department shortly thereafter after being picked up by her father. A few hours later, the same minor female went to the emergency room in Belcourt, ND indicating she had been assaulted by her mother including Defendant throwing an empty beer bottle at the minor female which struck the minor female in the neck and shoulder. Defendant then pushed a pillow into the minor female’s face. Injuries were noted on the minor female consistent with her description of the incident. In September 2022, a video emerged depicting the incident as described by the minor victim. The video was provided to Turtle Mountain Child Welfare who in turn provide the video to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During the course of the investigation of the child abuse, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was made aware of Defendant assaulting an adult female in January 2023. Defendant assaulted the adult female by kicking the adult female’s face, chest, ribs, and arms while the adult female was on the ground. Medical records indicated the adult female suffered fractured ribs and a concussion.
On June 28, 2024, after a four-day jury trial, Defendant Rhawnie Marcellais was convicted of child abuse in Indian Country, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious mischief. That same day, Defendant requested contact with the minor female victim, alleging that concerns of witness tampering were no longer present. District Court Judge Peter Welte denied the motion for contact. Despite, the Court’s order, Defendant contacted the minor female victim while incarcerated.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to public safety in Indian county, especially when it comes to protecting kids,” Schneider said. “As this sentence shows, child abuse is a serious crime. The career prosecutors who skillfully tried this case and our partners in the FBI and BIA who investigated it deserve credit for providing accountability and ensuring justice was served.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn M. Deitz and SheraLynn Ternes.
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Career Assistant United States Attorney to Lead DOJ Election Day Program in the District of North DakotaRead the Press Release
Fargo - United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Rick L. Volk will lead the efforts of the Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Volk has served as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of North Dakota for the past 20 years, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the Office’s handling of Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.
“Lawfully casting a vote without interference or discrimination and having that voted counted in a fair and free election is a fundamental right in North Dakota and across the country,” Schneider said. “There is a history in the District of North Dakota of election officials and staff serving their critical roles without being subject to unlawful threats or violence, and the Department of Justice will do its part to uphold that tradition and protect the integrity of the election process. With an experienced career federal prosecutor as a point of contact on Election Day, our Office stands ready to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns or election fraud in real time while the polls are open.”
Volk has led the Office’s Election Day efforts since 2004 and has served as DEO during five presidential elections. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Volk will be on duty while the polls are open in the District of North Dakota. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 701-530-2420 and/or 701-297-7400.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The relevant FBI field office for the District of North Dakota can be reached by the public at 763-569-8000.
Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
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Fargo, ND Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 23, 2024, Kyle Dameon Belgarde, made his initial appearance and was arraigned in federal court. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury indicted Belgarde for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
As alleged, Belgarde was required to register as a sex offender due to his 2016 federal conviction for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and failed to register and update his registration. Belgarde’s last registered address was an apartment in The Arbors at McCormick Park in Fargo, which does not necessarily mean he had a lease or had been permitted by management to reside there.
Belgarde’s trial has been set for December 10, 2024.
The Indictment in this case is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case is being investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker.
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