District of North Dakota
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Grand Forks, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Stolen Firearms and Assaulting a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 21, 2024, Michael Allen Otto, age 45 from Grand Forks, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by three years supervised released, $175.00 in Special Assessments, and ordered to pay restitution for damaged vehicles totaling $2,713.72 for the offenses of Possession of Stolen Firearms and Assaulting a Federal Agent.
On September 15, 2023, Michael Otto was stopped by law enforcement for a routine traffic stop, he then led officers on a high-speed chase. Officers eventually stopped Otto, at which time they found two stolen firearms in Otto’s vehicle. In July of 2024, a warrant was issued for Otto for violating terms of his pretrial release. While Grand Forks Police Officers and FBI Agents attempted to take Otto into custody, Otto rammed his vehicle into a Grand Forks Police Department vehicle and an FBI vehicle occupied by two FBI agents.
“This defendant endangered the safety of federal and local law enforcement officers all while violating the court-imposed terms of his pretrial release,” Schneider said. “Today’s strong sentence is therefore a fair one. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping our communities safe, and that means aggressively prosecuting assaults on agents and officers in every instance where we have jurisdiction.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand Forks Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Richard Lee.
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Fort Yates, ND Woman Indicted for Arson and Destruction of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 17, 2024, Melody Walker-White Twin, age 33 from Fort Yates, ND, made her 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 Walker-White Twin for Arson and Destruction of Government Property, arising from a October 9, 2024 incident in Bismarck.
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.
The Indictment alleges that on or about September 15, 2024, Walker-White Twin damaged or attempted to damage the United States Post Office located in Selfridge, North Dakota. Specifically, Walker-White Twin used rocks to break windows out of the Post Office. It also alleges that between September 15 and 16, 2024, Walker-White Twin damaged or attempted to damage the United States Post Office located in Selfridge, North Dakota by means of fire. The Post Office was a total loss with only the vault remaining.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Investigative Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell.
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Tokio, ND Woman Indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Neglect in Indian countryRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 16, 2024, Tierra Lynn Scott, age 30 from Tokio, ND, made her 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 Scott for Involuntary Manslaughter and three counts of Child Neglect in Indian country. Scott was detained and trial has been scheduled 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.
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. The indictment alleges Scott 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.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy.
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Fargo, ND Man Indicted for Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon and by a Drug User or Addict, and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on October 15, 2024, Amire J. Logan, 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 Logan on two counts of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, two counts of Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Drug User or Addict, and one count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, arising from a June 24, 2024 incident in Fargo, and a September 24, 2024 incident in West Fargo.
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, the West Fargo Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker.
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St. Michael Man Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse in Death of One-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Collin Ray Delorme, also known as Collin Ray Delorme Sr., age 29, from St. Michael, North Dakota, appeared in federal court on October 9, 2024, in Fargo and pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Peter Welte to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian country.
As noted in court documents, on February 18, 2023, Delorme’s co-defendant Kenzie Rose Baker called 911 from a home in St. Michael on the Spirit Lake Reservation and reported a 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, given rise to infection and sepsis.
Baker admitted she observed swelling present for two weeks but failed to seek medical care. After the child’s death, Delorme claimed an external injury to the child’s back, which was above a spinal fracture, occurred when he misjudged a step and his boot slipped and a flashlight hit the child.
Two of the charges that Delorme pleaded guilty to are related to his abuse and the resulting death of the one-year-old child. The third charge is the result of Delorme’s abuse of a second child, who was three years old, by hitting the child on the arms and throwing him on the bed.
Delorme is scheduled for sentencing on February 18, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of forty years in prison.
On August 16, 2024, Baker pled 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 January 22, 2025.
Baker and Delorme are detained pending sentencing.
“Today’s guilty plea is a step towards accountability for the heartrending death of a young child,” Schneider said. “The way this toddler was treated was horrific and shameful. Whether it is at multi-disciplinary team meetings throughout the District of North Dakota or by holding child abusers accountable in federal court, our career prosecutors and partners in law enforcement are committed to protecting kids and preventing tragic cases like this one.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lori H. Conroy and SheraLynn Ternes.
Previous Press release for co-defendant Kenzie Rose Baker can be seen HERE:
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U.s. Attorney’s Office to Partner with Grand Forks Law Enforcement to Reduce Domestic Violence Under Violence Against Women Act DesignationRead the Press Release
U.S. Department of Justice Designates Grand Forks in the District of North Dakota Under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act, Prioritizing Firearms Prosecutions of Domestic Violence Offenders
Fargo – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities, including Grand Forks, North Dakota, for designation as a jurisdiction of focus to address intimate partner gun violence under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with Grand Forks and 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. The plans can include appointment of Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) to prosecute those offenders in federal court.
“Our law enforcement partners in Grand Forks have made reducing domestic violence a priority for decades,” said Mac Schneider, United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. “This designation by the Department of Justice is a recognition of that strong record and seeks to build on it. By targeting domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms for prosecution in federal court, we can save lives and protect families. I am grateful for the partnership of the Grand Forks State’s Attorney’s Office, the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, and the Grand Forks Police Department and look forward to continuing our work with them on this important effort.”
“We look forward to working together with federal authorities to combat intimate partner violence in our county,” said Grand Forks County States Attorney Haley L. Wamstad. “This additional tool in our tool chest will help us to hold accountable the most lethal offenders of intimate partner violence and ensure justice for the victims of these crimes.”
“We are proud to stand alongside our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this focused initiative,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “A firearm in the hands of domestic abuser is a very real threat to those trapped in these unfortunate situations. We highly encourage those who may find themselves, or may know of a person, affected by domestic violence where a firearm is involved to reach out to authorities. No one should have to live their life in constant fear, and we’re here to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate these cases.”
Communities have been designated by the Department of Justice after coordination with community stakeholders. Nationally, they include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions across the country to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
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U.S. Attorney’s Offices Announces Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Destruction of an Energy Facility for Acts in both North Dakota and South DakotaRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – District of North Dakota United States Attorney Mac Schneider and District of South Dakota United States Attorney Alison Ramsdell announced that Cameron Monte Smith, a citizen of Canada appeared in Federal court on September 11, 2024, in Bismarck and pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor to one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of North Dakota and one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of South Dakota.
Smith is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment on each count.
Smith 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 defendant deliberately and very violently attacked our nation’s energy infrastructure,” Schneider said. “Our law enforcement partners put an end to those attacks, and this guilty plea provides a measure of accountability for the defendant’s actions and extensive damage he caused. Our career prosecutors and colleagues in the District of South Dakota deserve credit for working cooperatively to ensure this defendant faced justice in federal court.”
“Cameron Smith orchestrated and executed attacks on critical energy infrastructure in North and South Dakota using a high-powered rifle,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “Thanks to our partners in the District of North Dakota, the FBI, ATF, and the National Security Division, this defendant has been held to account for his criminal activity, and he will now be subject to serious time in federal prison.”
This case is being 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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Nigerian Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money Laundering and Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on September 11, 2024, United States District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Nigerian citizen Christopher Agbaje to serve 142 months’ imprisonment, and to pay $188,935.74 in restitution to a North Dakota law firm, on charges of 1) Money Laundering; 2) Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud; and 3) Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud. On May 16, 2024, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Agbaje guilty on these charges while also finding him not guilty on charges of 1) Wire Fraud; and 2) Mail Fraud. In February 2024, Agbaje was extradited from the United Kingdom to North Dakota to face these charges.
As demonstrated by evidence introduced at trial, between November and December 2020, Agbaje participated with others in a sophisticated scheme to defraud a North Dakota law firm out of $198,336.68. As part of this fraud scheme, individuals falsely purported to be a business owner in a legal dispute with a Bismarck, North Dakota, company and entered into a fictious attorney-client relationship with this law firm. Through email communications, these individuals made false statements and promises, upon which the law firm relied to their determinant. Thereafter, the law firm received a parcel containing a fraudulent Citibank check payable to the law firm in the amount of $198,850.00 and deposited this check in the law firm’s bank account. Subsequently, at the purported business owner’s request, the law firm sent a $198,336.68 wire transfer to Agbaje’s business partner.
A short time later, Agbaje directed his business partner to fraudulently initiate a $180,000.00 international wire transfer with the intent to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the law firm’s money. When Agbaje became aware that law enforcement was conducting a fraud investigation in connection with the wire transfer he and his business partner had received, Agbaje instructed his business partner to “press on,” gain “leverage,” and claim “naivety.”
“This strong sentence shows that international fraudsters cannot hide from justice,” Schneider said. “When North Dakotans are the victims of fraud, our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will work internationally to hold defendants accountable in a federal courtroom in Bismarck or Fargo.”
"Today's sentencing demonstrates that no fraud scheme is beyond the reach of justice, no matter its complexity or scope," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Those who engage in fraudulent schemes will be met with swift and decisive action. The FBI will continue to work with partners across the globe to protect the financial security of the American people from those who seek to exploit it."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Nick Baker. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Agbaje.
If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of cybercrime, please consider filing a report at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/
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Canadian Man Pleads Guilty to Destruction of an Energy FacilityRead the Press Release
Cameron Monte Smith, a citizen of Canada, pleaded guilty to one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of North Dakota and one count of destruction of an energy facility charged in the District of South Dakota.
Smith 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.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota, U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota and Special Agent in Charge Travis S. Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division made the announcement.
The FBI and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Hagler, Jonathan J. O’Konek and Jeremy Jehangiri are prosecuting the case with the assistance from Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Indianapolis, IN, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on September 5, 2024, United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Anthony Lee Davis, age 32, of Indianapolis, IN, to serve 110 months in federal prison and serve three years supervised release for the offense of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
On April 16, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to Count One of an Indictment charging him with the offense of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Evidence introduced during a July 23, 2024, evidentiary hearing established that, on October 23, 2021, Davis possessed a 9mm pistol and discharged this firearm at people and property while driving a vehicle erratically around Minot, ND. Additionally, unprovoked, Davis fired this pistol at an individual who was driving in a nearby vehicle, with two bullets from Davis’s firearm hitting the driver’s side door of the vehicle and one bullet striking the individual who was driving the vehicle in the left elbow. After Davis shot this individual, he crashed the vehicle that he was driving, fled the vehicle on foot, and continued possessing the firearm until he was arrested by members of the Minot Police Department. When law enforcement searched the crashed vehicle, they located multiple spent shell casings and at least one live round of ammunition.
“This strong sentence is a fair one considering the defendant’s reckless violence and actions putting the public in harm’s way,” Schneider said. “We are grateful to our partners at the Minot Police Department and in federal law enforcement for bringing this defendant to justice. As this case shows, the United States Attorney’s Office will be absolutely unsparing when it comes to making federal defendants out of felons who illegally possess firearms.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service and the Minot Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek.
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United States Attorney’s Office Issues Statement on the Passing of Lynn CrooksRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota Mac Schneider today issued the following statement on the passing of Lynn Crooks, a former long-time federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office:
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is mourning the loss of Lynn Crooks, a beloved colleague to many of our attorneys and staff and arguably the greatest prosecutor in the history of North Dakota.
During more than three decades of service to the Department of Justice and the District of North Dakota, Lynn served as Criminal Chief, Civil Chief, First Assistant United States Attorney, and Acting United States Attorney. He was a jack of all trades and a master at it all, twice receiving the prestigious Director’s Award for Superior Achievement.
While North Dakota will remember Lynn for prosecuting challenging and consequential federal cases of national prominence, his colleagues will remember him as a kind and generous man who was never too busy to help a friend or mentor a young attorney. Personally, my family and I will never forget his comforting words at the memorial service for United States Attorney John Schneider after he passed away following a cancer diagnosis over 20 years ago.
Relatively few attorneys have had the privilege of representing the United States in federal court. Virtually none of them did it better than Lynn Crooks. He will be missed dearly.
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St. Michael Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse and Related Charges in Death of One-Year-OldRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Kenzie Rose Baker, age 27, from St. Michael, North Dakota, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2025, for her role in the death of a one-year-old child on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Baker appeared in federal court on August 16, 2024, in Fargo and pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Peter Welte to accessory after the fact, child abuse in Indian country, and child neglect in Indian country.
“The abuse and death of this young child was senseless, wasteful, and utterly cruel,” Schneider said. “There is no undoing the disregard for life shown in this case, but by holding child abusers accountable in federal court we hope that future tragedies can be prevented. Our partners in federal law enforcement and career prosecutors will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect kids.”
As noted in court documents, Baker called 911 on February 18, 2023, from a home in St. Michael on the Spirit Lake Reservation and reported a 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 which were evident upon external and internal examination. The child’s internal injuries were untreated, giving rise to infection and sepsis.
Baker admitted she observed swelling present for two weeks but failed to seek medical care. After the child’s death, Baker’s co-defendant, Collin Ray Delorme, claimed an external injury to the child’s back, which was above a spinal fracture, occurred when he misjudged a step and his boot slipped and a flashlight hit the child. Law enforcement attempted to locate and seize the flashlight and Baker said she would provide it, but she did not.
Delorme, the co-defendant, is charged with four offenses including felony murder in Indian country, child abuse in Indian country, and child neglect in Indian country. Delorme is scheduled for jury trial on November 19, 2024. Baker and Delorme are detained in custody pending Baker’s sentencing and Delorme’s trial. The Indictment in this case pertaining to Delorme is not evidence of guilt, Delorme is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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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Dunn County, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on August 14, 2024, United States District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Jason Lathe Hutchinson, Age 54 of Dunn County, ND, to serve 450 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for the charges of three counts of producing and eight counts of attempting to produce images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
In 2023, a report was made to law enforcement that Hutchinson was placing hidden cameras in bathrooms on his properties to capture images of minors in various states of nudity while going to the bathroom or entering/exiting the shower. A search warrant was obtained, and it was determined that Hutchinson had been engaging in this practice since 1992 and had captured images of at least eleven different minors, ranging from 5 to 17 years of age, in various states of nudity during that time. Hutchinson admitted to this conduct to both law enforcement and during an earlier change of plea hearing before the court.
“This long sentence is a fair one considering the shocking and predatory crimes at issue in this case, “The United States Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement are committed to protecting North Dakota kids. We will continue to vigorously pursue child predators online and, in the community, and bring them to justice in federal court.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents play a very important role in protecting the public from exploitation in all its forms, especially the sexual exploitation of children,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “The sentence handed down to Hutchinson sends a clear message to predators that they will be held accountable, and they are subject to significant punishments for preying on the most vulnerable in our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Delorme.
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Fargo, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbery of a Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on August 14, 2024, DeShaun Holmes, age 22 from Fargo, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 114 months in federal prison, followed by five years supervised released and an order of forfeiture of a Glock 9mm pistol for the offenses of Robbery of a Mail Carrier (18 USC 2114(a)) and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
On July 17, 2023, DeShaun Holmes robbed a postal carrier at gun point in Frontier, ND, and stole a key from the carrier to gain access to numerous post office boxes and mail receptacles with the intent to commit further crimes of bank fraud and mail fraud. Thanks to a collaborative investigation between federal and local law enforcement, Holmes was identified, arrested, and charged four days after the offense.
“This defendant targeted a mail carrier in our community because of his job,” Schneider said. “That job is an important and often difficult one, but it should never be dangerous. As this strong sentence shows, the United States Attorney’s Office will forcefully prosecute anyone who threatens the men and women of the United States Postal Service with violence. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for working with our career prosecutors to make sure this defendant faced justice in federal court.”
"The safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers are core to the mission of the United States Postal Inspection Service, and this violent incident is a tremendous example of how local, state, and federal partners can join together to quickly and safely resolve situations like this," said Denver Division Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove “I would like to thank all the emergency responders along with our law enforcement partners at Cass & Clay County Sheriffs as well as Fargo PD for their efforts that led to a successful investigation, arrest and prosecution of DeShaun Holmes. “
“As Sheriff, I know the importance of partnering with our local, state, and federal partners to reduce criminal activity in our communities. This is a prime example of those partnerships. The United States Postal Service was quick to respond when asked to assist with this case. Through that partnership, they worked collaboratively with our agency to identify and arrest Deshawn Holmes for his actions in an armed robbery of one of our local mail carriers in the Frontier neighborhood. The partnership, quick investigative action, and follow-through with the US Attorney’s Office assured that Holmes will be held accountable for his actions and will look to bring justice to the victim in this case. I want to thank all of those who were involved in investigating this case and the US Attorney's Office for their roles and assistance in bringing this situation to a safe successful conclusion.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fargo Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Greenley.
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Former North Dakota State Senator Pleads Guilty to Traveling to Prague to Have Commercial Sex with ChildrenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former North Dakota State Senator pleaded guilty today to traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, to have commercial sex with minor boys.
According to court documents and facts established in public proceedings, Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, took approximately 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021 to engage in commercial sex acts with minor boys. During some of these trips, Holmberg used the alias “Sean Evans” while staying at a brothel where young boys provided commercial sexual services. Holmberg also went to a public park in front of the main train station in Prague to procure sex from minor boys.
Holmberg also used the “Sean Evans” alias to communicate with friends about the trips. In those communications, Holmberg discussed “his twink,” and commented that “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.” He emailed another friend a link to a known brothel in Prague named the “Villa Mansland,” and wrote “[l]et’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra).” Later in the communications, Holmberg wrote “it will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.” In other emails, he requested at least one of the employees at the brothel to find him a “kid.”
Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota; and Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul made the announcement.
HSI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Puhl for the District of North Dakota 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 Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
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Former North Dakota State Senator Pleads Guilty to Traveling to Prague to Have Commercial Sex with ChildrenRead the Press Release
A former North Dakota State Senator pleaded guilty today to traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, to have commercial sex with minor boys.
According to court documents and facts established in public proceedings, Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, took approximately 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021 to engage in commercial sex acts with minor boys. During some of these trips, Holmberg used the alias “Sean Evans” while staying at a brothel where young boys provided commercial sexual services. Holmberg also went to a public park in front of the main train station in Prague to procure sex from minor boys.
Holmberg also used the “Sean Evans” alias to communicate with friends about the trips. In those communications, Holmberg discussed “his twink,” and commented that “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.” He emailed another friend a link to a known brothel in Prague named the “Villa Mansland,” and wrote “[l]et’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra).” Later in the communications, Holmberg wrote “it will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.” In other emails, he requested at least one of the employees at the brothel to find him a “kid.”
Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota; and Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul made the announcement.
HSI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Puhl for the District of North Dakota 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 Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
Fargo, ND Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on August 1, 2024, Kadar Udai Pearson, appeared in federal court at an initial appearance and arraignment hearing. The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota unsealed an Indictment revealing that a federal grand jury indicted Pearson on the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Specifically, on June 5, 2024, the Fargo Police Department identified and arrested Kadar Pearson near the Arbors apartment complex. Pearson was in possession of a loaded pistol. At the time, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jake 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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Jamestown, ND, Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Firearms Trafficking and Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on July 17, 2024, April Elizabeth Bergman, Jamestown, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised released and a $100.00 special assessment for the offenses of firearm trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm.
This case began with the burglary and theft of 35 firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensed business in Jamestown, ND. Three of the firearms stolen in that burglary ended up in the possession of April Bergman when she engaged in trading methamphetamine for the firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about June 25, 2023 to July 9, 2023, Bergman received a Sig Sauer Model P365 9mm pistol, a Beretta Model PX4 Storm .40 caliber pistol, and a Smith and Wesson Model M&P 40 Shield .40 caliber pistol from another person in and otherwise affecting interstate and foreign commerce while knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that receipt of these firearms would constitute a felony in violation of a federal firearms trafficking statute, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 933(a)(2). Bergman pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in March of 2024.
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gave our prosecutors valuable tools to confront firearms trafficking,” Schneider said. “As this strong sentence shows, we will aggressively use those tools to keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons and those who commit violent crimes. I am grateful for the dogged determination of our law enforcement partners not only for ensuring justice in this case, but also for making sure these firearms were removed from the illicit market.”
“ATF treats burglaries of our federal firearms licensees with the utmost seriousness,” says ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the St. Paul Field Division. “It’s integral that we move swiftly in these cases as the firearms obtained during FFL burglaries often and quickly fall into the hands of dangerous criminals who cannot legally purchase firearms on their own. I’m very proud of the special agent who worked this case, and very grateful for the work of our investigative partners, the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, Jamestown Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, leading to the successful conclusion of this case.”
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office and the Jamestown Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lee prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
Previous press release can be seen here.
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Nine Defendants Indicted in North Dakota for Roles in International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy with Ties to a Federal Prison in Florence, ColoradoRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that nine defendants have been indicted in the District of North Dakota for drug trafficking and money laundering crimes after a year-long, multi-agency, transnational investigation. The following defendants have been indicted in the case:
Jesus Amurahaby Celestin-Ortega, 26, Florence, Colorado
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Trinidad Torres Meraz, 58, Riverside, California
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Edgar Hernandez, a/k/a Ivan Edgar Hernandez Vasquez, 43
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Maria De La Cruz Estrada Moreno, 40, El Paso, Texas
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances; Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Jesse Rocha, 25, Denver, Colorado
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Rafael Bueno-Nava, 49, Fridley, Minnesota
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, Money Laundering Conspiracy
Ryan James Stevens, 41, Arvada, Colorado
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances
Christan Ivan Gonzalez, 31, Phoenix, Arizona
Charge: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances
Martina Lucia Mendez, 26, Gilbert, Arizona
Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances
According to court documents, since January 2022, Jesus Amurahaby Celestin-Ortega, also known as Flaco, 26, allegedly engaged in drug-related and money laundering conspiracies, and a continuing criminal enterprise, while incarcerated at a federal prison on unrelated drug and firearm charges. Celestin-Ortega allegedly operated a criminal network using a contraband cellphone from inside the federal prison to import and distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than one kilogram of heroin, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Celestin-Ortega allegedly directed and coordinated the importation of the substances into the United States and their distribution within North Dakota, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and elsewhere. Celestin-Ortega also allegedly conspired to launder drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
Celestin-Ortega and six of the co-conspirators have been arrested on the indictment and have made their initial appearances in court. Hernandez and Mendez remain fugitives.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy counts and the importation conspiracy counts, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy counts.
This case is part of Operation Wedding Day Blues, with support from the multi-agency Special Operations Division (S.O.D.) near Washington, DC, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin into North Dakota and other states. OCDETF investigations identify, disrupt, and dismantle 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 Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service-CID, Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Grand Forks Police Department. The Federal Bureau of Prisons National Gang Unit provided critical investigative support from the outset and was an integral part of the investigative team.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Matthew P. Kopp, District of North Dakota, and Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Tara Arndt, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Criminal Division, Washington, D.C.
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Federal Inmate and Eight Co-Conspirators Indicted for International Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed in the District of North Dakota today charging a federal inmate and eight co-conspirators with international methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl trafficking.
According to court documents, since January 2022, Jesus Amurahaby Celestin-Ortega, also known as Flaco, 26, allegedly engaged in drug-related and money laundering conspiracies, and a continuing criminal enterprise, while incarcerated at a federal prison on unrelated drug and firearm charges. Celestin-Ortega allegedly operated a criminal network using a contraband cellphone from inside the federal prison to import and distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than one kilogram of heroin, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Celestin-Ortega allegedly directed and coordinated the importation of the substances into the United States and their distribution within North Dakota, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and elsewhere. Celestin-Ortega also allegedly conspired to launder drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico.
Celestin-Ortega’s eight co-conspirators—Trinidad Torres Meraz, 58, of Riverside, California; Edgar Hernandez, also known as Ivan Edgar Hernandez Vasquez, 43; Maria De La Cruz Estrada Moreno, 40, of El Paso, Texas; Jesse Rocha, 25, of Denver; Rafael Bueno-Nava, 49, of Fridley, Minnesota; Ryan James Stevens, 41, of Arvada, Colorado; Christian Ivan Gonzalez, 31, of Phoenix; and Martina Lucia Mendez, 26, of Gilbert, Arizona—are charged with participating in the distribution conspiracy. Five of the co-conspirators—Torres Meraz, Estrada Moreno, Bueno-Nava, Stevens, and Mendez—also allegedly conspired to import methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl from Mexico into the United States. Three of the conspirators—Torres Meraz, Estrada Moreno, and Bueno-Nava—are charged with additional money laundering conspiracy charges. Celestin-Ortega and six of the co-conspirators have been arrested on the indictment and have made their initial appearances in court. Hernandez and Mendez remain fugitives.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy counts and the importation conspiracy counts, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy counts.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota; Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Field Division; Inspector in Charge Bryan S. Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
This case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation.
HSI, DEA, USPIS, IRS-CI, Grand Forks Narcotics Task Force, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Grand Forks Police Department are investigating the case, with critical support from the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ National Gang Unit. The Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Special Operations Unit and the Office of Enforcement Operations also provided essential support and coordination.
Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Tara Arndt of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Matthew P. Kopp for the District of North Dakota are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Williston, ND, Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Several Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Nicholas Anfin Nesdahl, age 29, from Williston, ND, appeared in Federal court before District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor for sentencing on seven counts of producing or attempting to produce images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors charged in the District of North Dakota and two counts related to producing or attempting to produce and receiving images and videos of minors that were charged out of the Western District of Pennsylvania. Nesdahl was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the North Dakota charges and 20 years for the Pennsylvania charges, to run consecutive, with a lifetime supervised release.
Nesdahl’s conduct consisted of himself friending minors using various social networking platforms on the internet. Once his friend request was granted, Nesdahl would begin to groom the minors to produce images and videos of themselves nude or engaging in sexual activity. The activity was first discovered and reported to law enforcement by a parent of two victims located in Pennsylvania, which then resulted in a search of Nesdahl’s residence in Williston, North Dakota. As a result of that search, it was discovered that Nesdahl had victimized at least seven other victims that were located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Maryland, Texas, and New Jersey. The victims ages ranged from 6
to 15 years of age.“This 50-year sentence is a fitting one considering this defendant’s abhorrent and virtually unspeakable treatment of children,” Schneider said. “Protecting kids is a fundamental priority, and our state, federal, and local law enforcement partners will use cutting edge technology and old-fashioned investigative work to bring child predators offline and into a federal courtroom to face justice.”
“Nesdahl’s conduct online, while reprehensible, is similar to many predators who exploit minors through social networking platforms,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “This is a significant threat to our communities. Parents, guardians, and educators should understand that online apps providing messaging, photo, or video sharing capabilities could lead their children into a world where they may be at risk. It’s very important that adults have conversations with kids and provide oversight to ensure they aren’t exposed to environments where they could potentially be vulnerable to predators.Well done to our special agents and law enforcement partners for bringing Nesdahl to justice.”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), help 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.For additional resources for survivors or victims, help is available at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and CyberTipline URL https://report.cybertip.org.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Delorme, District of North Dakota.
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St. Michael, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharges of Firearms in a Crime of Violence, and Brandishing of a Firearm in a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on June 17, 2024, Nathaniel Patrick Azure, age 21 of St. Michael, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to a total of 32 years in federal prison for his role in a non-fatal shooting in Fort Totten, ND, on January 6, 2021; an assault while brandishing a firearm in St. Michael, ND, on May 21, 2022; and a second non-fatal shooting in St. Michael, ND, on May 22, 2022.
Azure was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, running concurrently; 10 years for each of the two counts of Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, running consecutively to each other and the other counts; and 7 years for one count of Brandishing of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, running consecutively to the other accounts. Azure will be on five years of supervised release following his term of federal imprisonment and must pay $600.00 in special assessments, as well as $104.795.28 in restitution.
Azure is the last of four federal defendants to be sentenced in relation to these crimes. Michael Al-Jerome Denne, the 25-year-old brother of Azure, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the January 6, 2021, shooting and has been sentenced. Dantae Jerome Whitetail, age 21 of Minnewaukan, ND, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the May 21, 2022, assault while brandishing a firearm, and has been sentenced. Skyla Kay Cavanaugh, age 23 of St. Michael, ND, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the May 22, 2022, shooting and has been sentenced.
“This is a firm and fair sentence that will benefit public safety on Spirit Lake,” Schneider said. “Defendants who use firearms to commit violence in tribal communities can count on becoming federal defendants in the District of North Dakota. Our office is committed to working with our tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute and deter violent crime in Indian country.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Benson County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl, District of North Dakota.
Previous press releases for this case can be seen HERE and HERE:
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North Dakota US Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Information and vigilance remain key elements to preventing elder abuse.
BISMARCK: – Mac Schneider, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Schneider emphasizes the importance of awareness and education. The District of North Dakota partners with North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services, and with our local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to proactively identify possible victims of abuse, fraudulent financial scams, or other family and/or non-family financial exploitation of someone who might be a vulnerable adult.
“Criminals who target seniors aren’t just taking money, they’re often stealing the fruits of a lifetime of hard work,” Schneider said. “Whether it is a family member engaged in elder abuse or an overseas schemer, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to prosecuting those who prey on senior citizens. Outside of the courtroom, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to educate North Dakotans on how to avoid being caught in a scam and protect their assets.”
“North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services (APS) is dedicated to addressing the safety of vulnerable adults who are at-risk of harm due to the presence or threat of abuse, neglect or exploitation,” HHS Adult and Aging Services Assistant Director Michelle Gayette said. “We are grateful for our partners in law enforcement and multidisciplinary teams who help us address reported concerns. Information on how to file a report can be found at hhs.nd.gov/reporting. If someone is in immediate danger, contact law enforcement first before making a report to Adult Protective Services.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The District of North Dakota continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, and North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. A recent prosecution of a Woman who was Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $134,000 from Her Elderly Mother-in-law and Father-in-law can be seen here.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces S.A.F.F.E.R. Initiative to Confront Violent Crime in the Fargo AreaRead the Press Release
FARGO – Joined by federal and local law enforcement partners, United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced an office initiative, Strategic Assistance for Fargo through Federal Enforcement and Resources (S.A.F.F.E.R.), aimed at aggressively confronting violent crime in the Fargo area through the application of federal resources and prosecutions.
“This initiative is all about using new federal resources as a force multiplier to assist our local law enforcement partners in targeting the relatively few individuals who drive violent crime in Fargo and Cass County,” Schneider said. “With a forceful prosecution strategy that is focused on felons in possession of firearms and dismantling gangs and other criminal organizations before they take root in the community, we can help keep the Fargo area safe as it continues to grow. Being a safe community is special, and it should not be taken for granted.”
The announcement of the initiative, which is already underway, comes on the heels of statistics showing an approximate 45% increase in violent crime in Fargo since 2019. To assist local law enforcement as they work on the front lines of public safety to address violent crime in the Fargo area, the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative has a three-part focus:
1) Using local intelligence information and federal resources to identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals responsible for violent crime:
The placement of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) equipment in Fargo, together with ongoing intelligence-led policing and information sharing by local law enforcement, will allow the United States Attorney’s Office and its partners to precisely target the drivers of violent crime in the community.
As first announced during a visit to Fargo last year by Steven Dettelbach, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fargo Police Department will soon receive NIBIN equipment that will allow for the analysis of spent shell casings recovered from shooting incidents. NIBIN is a database of digital images that law enforcement agencies use to compare ballistic evidence from crime scenes and firearms to find investigative leads on an interstate basis. The ATF oversees the program, provides the equipment, and maintains the network of interconnected computer systems and terminals.
When utilizing NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the system, allowing law enforcement to search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. As noted by Director Dettelbach in his 2023 visit to Fargo, the network was used several years ago to help solve a drive-by shooting in the community.
In-house access to NIBIN equipment will dovetail with the efforts of the Metro Street Crimes Unit and FPD’s Intelligence and Analysis Unit, which identify and interdict individuals committing violent crimes in the Fargo area, as well as the Cass County Sheriff’s Office’s Threat Assessment Threat Management Team, which aims to divert individuals before violent acts occur.
2) Relentlessly prosecuting felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons:
As a key part of the effort to assist local partners in addressing violent crime in the Fargo area, the United States Attorney’s Office will utilize new prosecutorial resources and recently-enacted federal statutes to forcefully prosecute felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons like machinegun conversion devices.
Last year, the United States Attorney’s Office was successful in securing an additional Assistant United States Attorney for the purpose of prosecuting violent crime cases in eastern North Dakota. That position, which was filled by AUSA Jake Rodenbiker, is in addition to several career prosecutors who routinely prosecute violent crime cases in the Fargo area and beyond. Those additional prosecutorial resources provide the office with the capacity to vigorously bring prosecutions under the felon in possession statute as well as federal laws enacted as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, including 18 U.S.C. § 932, which prohibits the straw purchasing of firearms.
The office will also continue to prioritize prosecutions of those who possess illegal firearms. Schneider highlighted a recent case, United States v. Opdahl, in which a Fargo man was found guilty of possession of a machinegun and an unregistered silencer after a three-day trial in April. The defendant, Patrick Opdahl, was previously involved in a standoff with the Fargo Police Department and Red River Valley Regional SWAT team in February of 2023.
3) Confronting gangs and organized criminals before they take hold in the community:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also utilizing new prosecutorial resources from the Department of Justice to disrupt gangs and criminal groups before they put down roots in the Fargo area. Earlier this year, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Fargo Police Department began working with the Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), which has assigned a trial attorney to work with the United States Attorney’s Office in Fargo and its local partners to bring cases against organized criminal groups operating in the community. Kim Dammers, the Principal Deputy of VCRS, also recently provided in-person training to the office’s career AUSAs and their law enforcement partners on the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Rody, who oversees VCRS, joined the office in the announcement, discussing VCRS’ role in the initiative.
“Today’s launch of the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative is a pivotal moment for Fargo,” Fargo Chief of Police Dave Zibolski said. “With the additional federal resources and support, we are better equipped to target and reduce violent crime in our community. This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Fargo residents. By combining local efforts with federal expertise and technology, we can create a safer environment for everyone and proactively address the challenges we face.”
“The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is excited to collaborate with the US Attorney’s Office and other federal partners to reduce criminal activity and, more importantly, violent activity in our communities,” said Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner. “Taking a multifaceted approach, utilizing available resources, and concentrating those efforts on local, state, and federal levels will have a profound impact. The launch of the SAFFER Initiative will provide the necessary tools and partnerships needed to bring justice to our citizens and victims while holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”
“Our office looks forward to continued partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Fargo-area law enforcement on this initiative,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the St. Paul Field Division. “These federal tools have helped advance federal firearms cases across the country and will help make an impact in the violent crime experienced here locally. We appreciate U.S. Attorney Schneider’s forward-leaning approach to violent crime with this initiative, and we look forward to working collectively to ensure the area’s violent offenders remain accountable for their actions.”
“The DEA stands ready to assist our fellow law enforcement partners in Fargo,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “History has shown that drug trafficking and violent crime work in tandem and we are committed to joining forces and utilizing our arsenal of resources to push back against those looking to cause harm in our communities.”
“The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Together with our local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of North Dakota, we are dedicated to fostering environments where residents can live, work, and play without fear. Our joint efforts aim to build stronger, more secure communities.”
Schneider also highlighted several recent cases as examples of the office’s efforts to aggressively utilize new federal resources to bring prosecutions aimed at reducing violent crime in the Fargo area:
United States v. Berry: An indictment unsealed on June 3, 2024, alleges that Marvin Berry, Jr. possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol despite having been previously convicted of seven drug-related felonies in North Dakota state court from 2016 to 2023. The indictment also charges Berry with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
United States v. Gray et al.: An indictment unsealed last month alleges that defendants Markell Gray, Janelle Jackson, and Robert Leake knowingly possessed firearms as convicted felons. The indictment also charges possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. As noted in court filings, Gray was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance in state court in Cass County in July of 2023.
United States v. Jellah, et al.: As noted in court documents, Leo Jellah, a.k.a. “Chapo,” was charged via indictment with alleged conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and money laundering. Public records indicate that in 2023, Jellah pled guilty to robbery in North Dakota state court under section 12.1-22-01(1) of the North Dakota Century Code, which makes it a felony to menace or inflict serious bodily injury in the course of committing a theft.An indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
###North Dakota Man Sentenced to 40 Years Imprisonment for Receiving Videos of Toddlers Being Sexually AbusedRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on May 30, 2024, Nicholas Morgan-Derosier, age 36 of Grand Forks, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison; lifetime supervised release; $700.00 in special assessments; and ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution to the 13 victims for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography.
Morgan-Derosier pled guilty to one count of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, and six counts of Possession of Child Pornography on September 29, 2023. The charges stemmed from videos and images that Grand Forks Police and HSI found during a search warrant at Morgan-Derosier’s residence. The search warrant was based on Morgan-Derosier’s fraudulent lawn service business activity. Officers located more than 6,000 images and videos of graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent minors on at least six devices. Morgan-Derosier also possessed nude images of prepubescent family members, along with explicit chats about raping them. The evidence at sentencing showed that Morgan-Derosier raped or sexually assaulted several other individuals when those individuals were minors. Morgan-Derosier’s total offense level was 42 and he fell into a criminal history category II, yielding a recommended guideline range of 360 months – 120 years in prison. The Receipt of Child Pornography Count carried a minimum-minimum sentence of five years.
“The monstrous conduct of this defendant towards children makes this strong sentence an appropriate one,” said Mac Schneider, United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. “This defendant preyed on kids online and in real life, and the public is safer now that he is in the long-term custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I commend our office’s First Assistant United States Attorney, Jenifer Puhl, our colleagues at Main Justice, and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement for ensuring this defendant faced justice.”
“Morgan-Derosier was a significant threat to the community, and his conviction and sentencing highlights the fact that predators like him will face significant penalties for their crimes that leave victims and families traumatized,” said Jamie Holt, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “HSI special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Morgan-Derosier. We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the special agents and law enforcement community partners for bringing him to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Grand Forks Police Department investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Federal Jury Finds Nigerian Man Guilty of Money Laundering and Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on May 16, 2024, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Nigerian citizen Christopher Agbaje guilty on charges of 1) Money Laundering; 2) Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud; and 3) Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud. The jury found Agbaje not guilty on charges of 1) Wire Fraud; and 2) Mail Fraud. United States District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor presided over Agbaje’s jury trial in Bismarck, North Dakota, after Agbaje was extradited to North Dakota from the United Kingdom.
As demonstrated at trial, between November and December 2020, the defendant participated with others in a sophisticated scheme to defraud a North Dakota law firm out of $198,336.68. As part of this scheme, individuals falsely purported to be a business owner in a legal dispute with a Bismarck, North Dakota, company and entered into a fictious attorney-client relationship with this law firm. Through email communications, these individuals made false statements and promises, upon which the law firm relied to their detriment. Thereafter, the law firm received a parcel containing a fraudulent Citibank check payable to the law firm in the amount of $198,850.00 and deposited this check in the law firm’s bank account. Subsequently, at the purported business owner’s request, the law firm sent a $198,336.68 wire transfer to Agbaje’s business partner. A short time later, Agbaje directed his business partner to fraudulently initiate a $180,000.00 international wire transfer with the intent to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the law firm’s money.
“Our determined career prosecutors and their law enforcement partners will cross oceans to bring international fraudsters to justice when they target North Dakota,” Schneider said. “I commend our trial team for the hard work and skill that went into this result. Combatting fraud — whether it’s homegrown or from overseas — will continue to be a high priority for the United States Attorney’s Office.”
"The FBI will aggressively investigate individuals, like Christopher Agbaje, who engage in fraudulent schemes at the expense of the American public," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "The guilty verdict today underscores the FBI, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and the North Dakota U.S. Attorney's Office's dedication to collaborating with global partners in tackling fraud on an international scale to protect the American people."
The District Court will schedule Agbaje’s sentencing hearing for a date and time to be determined.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Nick Baker. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Agbaje.
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U.s. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
FARGO— In recognition of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota joined with Department of Justice colleagues from across the country in honoring the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
Schneider, who attended the North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Service at the North Dakota Capitol last Thursday in the leadup to National Police Week, echoed the Attorney General’s comments.
“Every day, our law enforcement partners put their lives on the line to keep people safe, uphold the rule of law, and ensure justice for victims,” Schneider said. “Last year was an especially difficult one for the law enforcement community in the District of North Dakota. As we recognize National Police Week, we hold the families and colleagues of Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin and Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Paul Martin in our hearts. We will never forget them or what they did to protect our communities, and we will honor their legacy of service by supporting our partners as they work on the front lines of public safety.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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Mandan Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on May 3, 2024, Kyle William Johnson, age 35, from Mandan, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and was sentenced to serve 16 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), and one count of Possession and Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
On November 1, 2022, a Burleigh County Deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of 52nd Street Southeast and Fettig Drive in Bismarck. The driver was identified as Kyle William Johnson. He was placed under arrest for having a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding arrest warrant. After a Bismarck Police Department K9 gave a positive indication on the vehicle, it was searched and law enforcement officers located methamphetamine and a handgun. The firearm was located under the driver’s seat of the vehicle and was loaded with a round of ammunition in the chamber and a thirteen [13] round magazine. Johnson was charged with various offenses in Burleigh County District Court and was released on bond. He subsequently failed to appear for a hearing and an arrest warrant was issued.
On April 22, 2023, Johnson was identified driving a vehicle eastbound on I-94 just east of Bismarck. When law enforcement attempted to stop Johnson to arrest him on outstanding warrants, he fled – starting on the interstate (upwards of 120 mph) and eventually into Bismarck. While within Bismarck city limits, Johnson fired multiple rounds from his vehicle. Law enforcement engaged spike strips and the vehicle became disabled on South Washington Street near the Bismarck Expressway intersection. After Johnson was arrested, officers located methamphetamine and a handgun in the vehicle.
Johnson was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple felony convictions from 2012 – 2023.
“This is a fitting sentence for someone who violently put the lives of law enforcement officers and Bismarck residents at risk,” Schneider said. “Our partners at the Bismarck Police Department and Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office deserve the credit for bringing this individual to justice before he hurt anyone. Violent felons like Mr. Johnson who use illegally possessed firearms to threaten public safety can count on becoming defendants in federal court in the District of North Dakota.”
“Kyle Johnson, through his actions displayed a deliberate and violent disregard for the law,” said Sheriff Kelly Leben, Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office. “I commend the law enforcement officers involved for their actions in ending this violent and dangerous situation and truly appreciate the efforts of the US Attorney’s Office for holding Johnson accountable to the citizens of our county”.
Bismarck, ND Police Chief Dave Draovitch said, “Kyle Johnson is being held accountable for aimlessly shooting out of a moving vehicle, which could have had significant consequences to innocent bystanders in the city that my department protects and serves. We are grateful for the outcome, and this shows how you can’t outrun the collaboration of local, county, state and federal law enforcement when they work together.”
This case was investigated by the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Bismarck Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case.
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Justice Department, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota Strengthen Efforts and Build Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous PersonsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota joins the broader Justice Department, its partners across the federal government, and people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.
In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities.
“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”
Attorney General Garland’s remarks recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day can be viewed here.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota eagerly embraces its role in preventing and responding to MMIP cases,” Schneider said. “As we continue to work with our partners to carry out Savanna’s Act and address this crisis, we know that one missing person case is too many. Those who are missing from their communities and their families are top of mind on MMIP Awareness Day and every day as we work together to increase public safety in Indian country.”
Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases
Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions.
The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.
In the District of North Dakota, the United States Attorney’s Office is planning its third annual Savanna’s Act meetings with state, local, and tribal officials to reinforce partnerships in responses to recently reported missing and murdered indigenous persons. These meetings will occur in June on each of the four major reservations in North Dakota.
As part of the partnerships set up at previous Savanna’s Act meetings, the office’s Law Enforcement Coordinator has worked closely with tribal, state and local law enforcement to request resources such as air support from the United States Air Force and other air, maritime and land-based resources to aid and assist in searches for missing persons. In 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota provided resource assistance in 46 missing person cases, 45 of which were resolved.
The office has also partnered on efforts with its regional MMIP coordinator, Assistant United States Attorney Troy Morley of the District of South Dakota. Additional outreach on the development of Tribal Community Response Plans is anticipated in the coming months.
Not Invisible Act Commission Response
The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States.
Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country
As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons.
Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate.
Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. In February, for instance, a Detroit, Michigan native was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for his leadership role in a drug trafficking organization targeting the Fort Berthold and Spirit Lake reservations in North Dakota. Combating organized criminal groups who traffic dangerous drugs onto North Dakota’s reservations continues to be a top priority for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota.
Accessing Department of Justice Resources
Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.
For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.
Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.
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Williston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on May 2, 2024, Eric Obregon, Jr., age 32, from Williston, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and was sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
On December 9, 2022, a Williston Police Officer approached the driver of a vehicle that was parked at the intersection of 2nd Avenue West and 42nd Street West in Williston, ND, because the vehicle was partially blocking the intersection. A second officer arrived on scene and recognized the driver of the vehicle to be Eric Obregon and knew Obregon to have warrants for his arrest.
When Obregon was asked to step out of the vehicle, he pushed one of the officers and fled on foot. As the officers pursued Obregon, they repeatedly advised him to get his hands out of his pants. Obregon presented a firearm and discharged the firearm toward the officers while running. The officers returned fire and Obregon again fired at the officers and continued to flee around the east side of a building. One of the officers fired and struck Obregon in the leg. After additional officers arrived on scene and Obregon was secured, a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 9mm handgun was located on the ground next to Obregon, and one firearm magazine containing two rounds of ammunition was recovered from his pocket.
The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a previous conviction for Prohibited Possession of a Firearm, on or about September 24, 2020, in Williams County (ND) District Court. The defendant was on state probation for this conviction when he committed the instant offense.
“This is a just sentence for someone who violently put law enforcement lives at risk,” Schneider said. “Thanks to the courage and skill of the Williston Police Department, this individual was neutralized and brought to federal court to face justice. I want to thank our law enforcement partners in Williston as well as the Williams County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in obtaining this result. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively use the felon in possession statute to take violent offenders out of our communities and fairly put them in federal prison.”
“I would like to express sincere appreciation for the relationship between the Williston Police Department, the Williams County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Federal Prosecutors,” said Chief of Police David A. Peterson of the Williston Police Department. “The Williston Police Department believes in the partnerships we have created with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The work completed by the men and women of the WPD, BCI, FBI and other agencies. Their work brought resolution to the Obregon case, holding the Defendant responsible for his actions. Ultimately, I am extremely thankful our Officers were able to go home to their families on the night in question and have the ability to continue to serve the Williston Community.”
"Obregon's choice to fire upon law enforcement officers was an egregious assault on their lives," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "With unwavering commitment, we support our partners, holding individuals like Obregon accountable for their actions, and upholding the rule of law."
This case was investigated by the Williston Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches ADA Settlement with Bennigan’s Restaurant of Mandan, North DakotaRead the Press Release
BISMARCK: 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 Bennigan’s restaurant of Mandan, North Dakota to resolve allegations that Bennigan’s violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Specifically, a complaint alleged that Bennigan’s refused to allow a veteran with a disability who uses a service animal to enter Bennigan’s with their service animal.
During its investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office found that the complainant attempted to enter Bennigan’s with their service animal. A Bennigan’s employee told the complainant they were not allowed to have the service animal in the restaurant and incorrectly told the complainant they needed documentation for the service animal.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals with disabilities who use service animals may enter places of public accommodations, such as restaurants, with their service animals. The service animal must be allowed in any part of the restaurant customers are normally allowed to be. There is no requirement that individuals with disabilities show any documentation, licensure, or certification, nor is there a requirement that the service animal be wearing any vest, harness, or collar that indicates it is a service animal. A service animal is simply any dog trained to work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. If a place of public accommodation is unsure whether an animal is a service animal, under the ADA they may only ask two questions:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Under the settlement agreement, Bennigan’s agreed to adopt a service animal non-discrimination policy for its restaurant, provide relevant training to its employees regarding the ADA, post signage indicating service animals are welcome, and pay $1,000 in damages to the complainant.
“People with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal are entitled to come and go freely in the community,” said United States Attorney Schneider. “Bennigan’s cooperated throughout this investigation, and I commend its commitment to take swift remedial action. The corrective measures agreed to by Bennigan’s will give individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy a great restaurant with legendary Irish hospitality in North Dakota, as is required by the ADA. We hope other proprietors will proactively comply with this important civil rights law. Service animals play an important role to ensure the independence of people with disabilities, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities will have full and equal access to places of public accommodation.”
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa H. Burkland 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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St. Michael, ND, Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Second-Degree Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Cody James Belgarde, age 37, from St. Michael, ND, was sentenced by Chief Judge Peter D. Welte to 327 months in prison following conviction at trial on charges of Second-Degree Murder and Arson.
In January of 2021, Belgarde shot and killed a boy who was two weeks past his seventeenth birthday. Belgarde then set fire to the house where the murder took place. In November of 2023, a jury found Belgarde guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Arson within Indian country. The jury acquitted Belgarde on a charge of First-Degree Murder.
“The violent murder of this young man was as utterly senseless as it was brutal,” Schneider said. “No amount of time in prison can undo the heart-rending and pointless loss of life in this case, but we hope this sentence provides a measure of justice for the victim’s family. The United States Attorney’s Office is deeply committed to increasing public safety in Indian country, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute perpetrators of violent crime in tribal communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy and U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota.
Previous Press Release for this case can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/st-michael-nd-man-convicted-second-degree-murder-and-arson
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Couple Charged with Child Neglect and Involuntary Manslaughter of a Three-Year Old ChildRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced Austin Ray Lester, 28, and Krissy Louise Hinsley, 25, both from Tokio, ND, made initial appearances on April 19, 2024, in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Child Neglect in Indian country. Lester is also charged with Assault of a Child with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian country.
At Lester and Hinsley’s initial appearance, before United States Magistrate Judge Clare R. Hochhalter, both were ordered detained pending further hearings. Trial is currently scheduled for June 25, 2024.
The charges against Lester and Hinsley are related to the August 2022 neglect and death of three-year-old child within the boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation. Lester and Hinsley pled not guilty to the charges.
An Indictment in this case 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy and AUSA Samantha Schmidt.
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Fargo Man Convicted of Possession of a Machinegun and an Unregistered SilencerRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced today that on April 11, 2024, Patrick Opdahl, age 24, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte and after three days of trial, a jury found Opdahl guilty of Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of an Unregistered Silencer. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
On February 1, 2023, law enforcement was called to the residence of Patrick Opdahl that he shared with his parents. Law enforcement learned that during an argument with his parents, Opdahl pulled out a firearm and shot it into the ceiling. While his parents were able to escape unharmed, Opdahl refused to surrender leading to a several hour standoff with officers from the Fargo Police Department and Red River Valley Regional SWAT team. Eventually, negotiators were able to talk Opdahl into peacefully surrendering to law enforcement. Upon further investigation, law enforcement learned that Opdahl possessed several ghost guns, including a machinegun and firearm silencer.
Privately made firearms – more commonly known as “ghost guns” – are especially attractive to dangerous and prohibited persons because of their untraceable nature. In 2022, the Department of Justice recovered 25,785 ghost guns in domestic seizures, as well as 2,453 through international operations.
“Illegal machinegun conversion devices are a threat to the public and to the safety of law enforcement officers in North Dakota,” Schneider said. “This is especially true when ‘ghost’ guns are involved. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the federal prosecution of those who possess illegal firearms and individuals who possess firearms illegally.”
“Firearms violence should not be the solution we use to solve disagreements,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “We are grateful for the great partnership with Fargo Police Department and for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, successfully prosecuting this case. Mr. Opdahl is rightfully going to be held accountable for his poor decisions.”
This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and ATF and prosecuted by AUSA Richard Lee and Trial Attorney Katherine Raut.
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Bismarck Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on April 1, 2024, Stacey Tyrone Fasthorse, age 33, from Bismarck, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and pleded guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised.
During the early morning hours of November 2, 2022, Fasthorse was a passenger in a motor vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation in Bismarck, North Dakota. When the traffic stop was initiated, Fasthorse brandished a firearm and told the driver to not stop. After the vehicle was stopped, one of the other passengers informed the officer that she had a firearm that Fasthorse asked her to secrete. In addition to the loaded handgun, Fasthorse possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl. Fasthorse is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm and ammunition due to multiple North Dakota felony convictions, including aggravated assault, burglary, and delivery of a controlled substance.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to turning felons in possession of firearms into federal defendants,” Schneider said. “Violent felons with guns are a threat to law enforcement and public safety in North Dakota communities. I give credit to our career prosecutors and our federal and local partners for the strong and fair sentence in this case.”
This case was investigated by the Bismarck Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case.
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Minot Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Large Amounts of Methamphetamines into North Dakota from Mexico, and Trafficking Firearms into MexicoRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on March 27, 2024, Joshua Paul Kranig, age 41, from Minot, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon. Kranig was sentenced to serve 10 years and 5 months in federal prison, followed by five years supervised release for the methamphetamine conspiracy conviction, and to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release for the illegal possession of firearms conviction. The sentences will run concurrent to one another.
Kranig was involved in trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico to North Dakota. Further, Kranig was unlawfully possessing and trafficking firearms into Mexico as payment for the drugs.
“This prosecution took dangerous drugs off the streets of our communities and firearms out of the hands of international cartels,” Schneider said. “Where organized drug trafficking occurs, illegal guns and violent crime all too often follow. Our career prosecutors and their law enforcement partners deserve credit for the results in this case, which will benefit public safety in the District of North Dakota and beyond.”
This case was investigated by the Minot Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant US Attorney Chris Myers and Assistant US Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case.
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Williston, ND, Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Several Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Nicholas Anfin Nesdahl, age 29, from Williston, ND, appeared in Federal court on March 27, 2024, in Bismarck and pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor to seven counts of producing or attempting to produce images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors charged in the District of North Dakota and two counts related to producing or attempting to produce and receiving images and videos of minors that were charged out of the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Nesdahl is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2024, is facing 360 to 3,240 months in Federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of 180 months.
Nesdahl’s conduct consisted of himself friending minors using various social networking platforms on the internet. Once his friend request was granted, Nesdahl would begin to groom the minors to produce images and videos of themselves nude or engaging in sexual activity. The activity was first discovered and reported to law enforcement by a parent of two victims located in Pennsylvania, which then resulted in a search of Nesdahl’s residence in Williston, North Dakota. As a result of that search, it was discovered that Nesdahl had victimized at least seven other victims that were located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Maryland, Texas, and New Jersey. The victims ages ranged from 6 to 15 years of age.
“Without the teamwork between our career prosecutors and their partners, this defendant would still be in the community preying on kids,” Schneider said. “While this guilty plea will increase public safety, it is also a reminder of the need to stay vigilant in the effort to protect children. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with state and federal law enforcement to aggressively pursue child predators.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Nesdahl,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents in North Dakota and our law enforcement community partners for bringing Nesdahl to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
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), help 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.
For additional resources for survivors or victims, help is available at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and CyberTipline URL https://report.cybertip.org.
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Delorme, District of North Dakota.
# # #Washburn Man Sentenced for Crop Insurance Fraud, Ordered to Pay $379,317.00 in Restitution, and Agrees to 5-Year Benefits DebarmentRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on March 26, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Kent Pfaff, age 60, from Washburn, North Dakota, to pay $379,317.00 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to serve a three-year period of supervised release on a charge of False Statement to Influence the United States Department of Agriculture – RMA, colloquially known as “crop insurance fraud.” On December 20, 2023, pursuant to a plea agreement, Pfaff pleaded guilty to this offense. As part of the plea agreement in this case, Pfaff voluntarily agreed, for a period of five years, to be excluded from receiving benefits from any federal procurement transaction authorized or funded by the USDA.
As further stated in the indictment and plea agreement, during farm year 2019, Pfaff severely understated his soybean production yield numbers to his crop insurance providers to falsely increase his crop insurance indemnity payments. In early 2020, based upon an independent appraisal of unharvested portions of Pfaff’s soybean units, insurance adjusters discovered that the appraised soybean yield amounts were actually between four to five times higher than what Pfaff reported to his insurance company, the Risk Management Agency (RMA), and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Based upon this appraisal, and other information learned during a subsequent criminal investigation, agents from the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Special Investigations Staff of the Risk Management Agency uncovered evidence that Pfaff was “shifting production,” which is a fraud scheme where a person will overreport production from one or more fields and underreport production from one or more different fields to manufacture or inflate claims to which they are not entitled.
“This result protects the integrity of the federal crop insurance program,” Schneider said. “The United States Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement will aggressively pursue fraud to protect honest producers and American taxpayers. I credit our career prosecutors and their partners for seeing that justice was done in this case.”
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Special Investigations Staff of the Risk Management Agency – United States Department of Agriculture.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rappenecker prosecuted this case.
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Freeport, Minnesota Woman Apprehended in Mexico Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges in North DakotaRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Deanna Marie Gerads, age 33, appeared in Federal court on March 26, 2024, in Fargo and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances before Chief District Court Judge Peter D. Welte. Gerads is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
Gerads was apprehended in Mexico on August 1, 2023, by Mexican immigration authorities and deported from Mexico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was instrumental in providing information that led to the apprehension of Gerads, who had been a fugitive for over a year.
This case is part of “Operation Unfinished Business II,” an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into the international trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
This case is being investigated by the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force (CMVOTF), Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Cloud Police Department, Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Sartell Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service – CID, Fargo Police Department, West Fargo Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Alex Stock, District of North Dakota.
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Buxton Man Sentenced for Crop Insurance Violation, Ending Series of Four Cases Involving Potato Insurance ClaimsRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, United States District Court, District of North Dakota, sentenced Darren Wade Tronson, age 59, of Buxton, North Dakota, to one year of probation for concealing a material fact in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Government of the United States. Imposition of the sentence against Tronson resolves the final pending case related to him and his potato farming operation, which included three civil cases and one criminal case. As part of the resolution of the four cases, Tronson will forgo a $272,365 crop insurance indemnity payment for 2019, pay $10,000 restitution to the United States in connection with the settlement of his 2017 and 2018 potato claims, be barred from participation in all federal programs for ten years, and serve one year of supervised probation.
Investigation revealed that in 2017 through 2019, Tronson planted potatoes in Grand Forks and Traill Counties, North Dakota, and purchased yield-based multi-peril crop insurance policies for potatoes through his insurer. Tronson claimed significant losses in all three years due to alleged adverse weather events. In February 2019, after anomalous losses in 2017 and 2018, Tronson’s crop insurance provider met with him and stressed the need for Tronson to use agricultural experts and a soil fertility plan as part of general good farming practices to qualify for the payment for any losses under a federal crop insurance policy.
Tronson did not follow through with the recommendations and instead tried to conceal the actual cause of his potato crop loss in 2019, resulting in the criminal charge. Tronson suffered a loss for his 2019 potato crop, and Tronson made a claim under his crop insurance policy based on precipitation alone. However, Tronson willfully failed to notify his insurer that he did not follow the recommendations related to soil fertility for the 2019 crop year. Tronson’s insurer justifiably denied more than half of Tronson’s crop insurance claim in 2019 for failing to follow the recommended good farming practices.
The first civil case was also based on the 2019 crop year. In addition to criminally concealing the cause of his loss, Tronson sued the United States on behalf of his company, DL Farms, LLC, seeking to recover the 2019 indemnities that were withheld from him. In denying his claims and granting summary judgment in favor of the United States, Judge Welte wrote that RMA “analyzed the relevant factors and came to a rational decision, given DL Farms’ failure to conduct a soil test prior to the 2019 planting season and the evidence showing the fertilization practice was deficient in both in phosphorous and potassium.” Based on the Court’s decision, Tronson was required to forgo an additional $272,365 crop insurance indemnity payment for 2019.
The second civil case was based on Tronson’s failure to follow good farming practices in 2017 and 2018. In 2017 and 2018, Tronson’s insurer paid all of his potato claims, despite evidence the weather was not the actual cause of his losses. The United States alleged in a civil complaint that Tronson lied about the actual cause of his losses in those years, which was failure to use good farming practices as required by the applicable polices. After filing its Complaint, the United States reached an agreement with Tronson and his company to settle the 2017 and 2018 claims. The United States dismissed its lawsuit against Tronson in exchange for payment of $10,000 and his voluntary agreement to be excluded from all federal programs, including crop insurance and other farm programs, for ten years.
“Crop insurance fraud is a serious crime that hurts taxpayers and honest producers,” Schneider said. “This result is a reminder that fraud will be exposed, investigated, and dealt with criminally and civilly. The USDA Office of Inspector General and our office’s career prosecutors and civil litigators deserve credit for ensuring that justice was done.”
“The United States Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency (RMA), through its private partnerships serve a vital role in serving the needs of farmers following a disaster. Fraudulent activity and failure to follow good farming practices undermines this program and misdirects taxpayer funds from the purposes they were intended. It is the mission of the USDA-OIG to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in USDA programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Springer of USDA-OIG.
RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger said, “We will continue to uphold the public’s trust in the crop insurance program by working closely with the Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justice and other government agencies to ensure the successful investigation and prosecution of cases involving crop insurance fraud, waste, and abuse. The court’s determination in this case should serve as a strong deterrent to others who may contemplate similar actions.”
While the criminal charges were pending, Tronson received a Notice of Suspension From Participation in United States Government Programs. The fourth case—his challenge to the suspension—was dismissed shortly after it was filed. His ten-year program suspension is effective January 1, 2023, which was the first year of his interim suspension.
This matter was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Risk Management Agency. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Greenley, District of North Dakota. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Schoepf and Melissa Helen Burkland handled the civil cases.
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Minot, ND Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced today that April Bergman of Minot pleaded guilty today to firearms trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about June 25, 2023 to July 9, 2023, Bergman received a Sig Sauer Model P365 9mm pistol, a Beretta Model PX4 Storm .40 caliber pistol, and a Smith and Wesson Model M&P 40 Shield .40 caliber pistol from another person in and otherwise affecting interstate and foreign commerce while knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that receipt of these firearms would constitute a felony in violation of a federal firearms trafficking statute, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 933(a)(2). Bergman also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
Bergman is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. She faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for firearms trafficking, 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and a period of supervised release.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed using the tools Congress has provided to prosecute firearms trafficking,” Schneider said. “Aggressive prosecutions under these statutes will help keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons and those who seek to use firearms to commit violent crime. I want to credit our partners in law enforcement and our career prosecutors for their work to secure this plea.”
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Richard Lee, District of North Dakota.
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Minnewaukan, ND, Man Convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Brandishing of a Firearm in a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on March 6, 2024, Dantae Jerome Whitetail, age 21 of Minnewaukan, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 12 months for assault with a dangerous weapon, and a consecutive 48 months for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, for a total sentence of 60 months of imprisonment. He will be on three years of supervised release following his term of federal imprisonment and must pay $200 in special assessments. Whitetail pleaded guilty for his role in the May 21, 2022, assault while brandishing a firearm in St. Michael, ND.
For his part in the May 21, 2022, assault while brandishing a firearm, 21-year-old Nathaniel Azure was convicted in December 2023, after a 7-day jury trial of the same crimes, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Azure was also convicted at trial for his role in a non-fatal shooting in Fort Totten, ND, on January 6, 2021, and for his role in a second non-fatal shooting in St. Michael, ND, on May 22, 2022. Sentencing of Azure on the six counts of conviction is scheduled for June 17, 2024.
Michael Al-Jerome Denne, the 25-year-old brother of Azure, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the January 6, 2021, shooting and has been sentenced. Skyla Kay Cavanaugh, age 23 of St. Michael, ND, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the May 22, 2022, shooting for being an accessory after the fact, making false statements, and retaliating against a witness, and has been sentenced.
“This sentence is a just result that will benefit public safety in Indian country,” Schneider said. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime in tribal communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Benson County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemestrud Puhl, District of North Dakota.
Previous press releases for this case: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/st-michael-nd-woman-sentenced-three-years-federal-prison-accessory-after-fact-false
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/st-michael-nd-man-convicted-multiple-counts-assault-dangerous-weapon-discharge-firearm
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Detroit, MI, Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for His Leadership Role in a Drug Trafficking Organization Targeting two of North Dakota’s Native American ReservationsRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Romel Rambus, age 29, of Detroit, Michigan, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, for his leadership role in a drug trafficking organization targeting two of North Dakota’s Native American Reservations. Rambus pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering Conspiracy, and was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison, Five Years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment.
A multi-agency investigation led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement learned of a drug trafficking organization affiliated with the 5674 Reub Gang, a violent street gang operating out of Michigan, which was involved in transporting thousands of oxycodone/fentanyl pills to North Dakota for distribution, in Bismarck, ND, Minot, ND, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. As part of this organization, in approximately 2015, Romel Rambus, after the death of his brother, Reuben Rambus, took over the operation and worked with the Devonsha Dabney to distribute narcotics in North Dakota.
Co-Conspirator Jonathan B. Walker, a/k/a Jay, was sentenced on October 2, 2023, to 180 months incarceration, 5 years of supervised release, and $500 in special assessment fees.
Co-Conspirator Devonsha Dabney a/k/a Kemell, was sentenced on October 10, 2023, to 180 months in federal prison, 4 years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment fees.
Over forty defendants were charged for their involvement in the drug trafficking organization and all defendants have enter pleas of guilty or signed plea agreements with the intent to plead guilty.
“This sentence is another reminder to those who target tribal communities in North Dakota for distribution of dangerous drugs,” Schneider said. “Instead of short-term profits, you’ll be facing a long-term stay in federal prison. Bringing this defendant and his co-conspirators to justice is the result of relentless efforts by our career prosecutors and their multi-agency law enforcement partners.”
The Previous Press Release for this investigation can be seen by clicking the following link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/detroit-mi-man-sentenced-15-years-federal-prison-his-leadership-role-drug-trafficking
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (Detroit), the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ward County Narcotics Task Force, Metro Area Narcotics Task Force, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Division of Drug Enforcement, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Crime Laboratory, and Minot Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn Deitz and Alex Stock assigned with the assistance of lead investigator Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement Special Agent Isaiah Soldier.
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Former Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
FARGO – A former tax return preparer who provided services to clients in North Dakota pleaded guilty today to five counts of preparing false tax returns for clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Joseph Korha, currently of Minneapolis, Minnesota, worked as a tax return preparer for a business located in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2019, Korha prepared and submitted more than 100 fraudulent returns for clients, many of whom resided in the Fargo area. Korha claimed false tax credits and fictitious business profits and losses on these returns, which inflated his clients’ tax refunds. In total, Korha caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $294,000.
Korha is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 10 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider for the District of North Dakota made the announcement.
“This guilty plea is a victory for honest taxpayers,” Schneider said. “Nobody likes taxes, but when a preparer willfully commits fraud, that’s a crime that hurts the millions of Americans who work with trusted professionals to follow the law. I want to thank our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation for ensuring justice was done in this case.”
“A guilty plea is a good first step in achieving justice for taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, IRS Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “CI is happy to work alongside our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to track down fraudulent tax preparers and hold them accountable for taking advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers.”
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Dominick Giovanniello of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Healy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota are prosecuting the case.
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Nigerian Man Extradited from the United Kingdom to Bismarck, North Dakota on Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on February 12, 2024, Nigerian citizen Christopher Agbaje made an initial appearance in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, on charges of 1) Wire Fraud; 2) Mail Fraud; and 3) Money Laundering.
Agbaje appeared at this hearing in Bismarck, North Dakota, after being extradited from the United Kingdom.
At Agbaje’s initial appearance, United States Magistrate Judge Clare R. Hochhalter, ordered that the defendant be detained pending trial, scheduled for April 9, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
As alleged in the Indictment, between November and December 2020, the defendant participated with others in a sophisticated scheme to defraud a North Dakota law firm out of $198,336.68. As part of this scheme, individuals falsely purported to be a business owner in a legal dispute with a Bismarck, North Dakota company and entered into a fictious attorney-client relationship with this law firm. Through email communications, these individuals made false statements and promises, upon which the law firm relied to their determinant. Thereafter, the law firm received a parcel containing a fraudulent Citibank check payable to the law firm in the amount of $198,850.00 and deposited this check in the law firm’s bank account. Subsequently, at the purported business owner’s request, the law firm sent a $198,336.68 wire transfer to Christopher Agbaje’s business partner. A short time later, Christopher Agbaje directed his business partner to fraudulently initiate a $180,000.00 international wire transfer with the intent to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the law firm’s money.
An 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 being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance with securing the arrest and extradition of Agbaje.
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United States Attorney’s Office releases 2023 Community ReportRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced the release of the 2023 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 2023 in the courtroom and in communities throughout the district.
“Whether it is protecting children, combatting dangerous drugs, or enforcing federal laws that ensure fair treatment of North Dakotans, the attorneys and staff of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota are committed to upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” Schneider said. “I could not be prouder of their efforts. As new challenges arise in the months ahead, we will continue to improve upon our work to better serve our law enforcement partners and communities.”
According to Department of Justice statistics, USAO-ND was number one among small districts in defendants per Assistant United States Attorney and number four out of 94 districts nationally in this category. Even with this robust caseload, the office secured a conviction rate of over 93% in 2023. Additionally, 96% of the office’s criminal appeals were decided in favor of the United States last year.
The report discusses key prosecutions to target the drivers of violent crime, promote public safety in Indian country, protect children, combat dangerous drugs, fight fraud, and keep people safe along the northern border. The critical 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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St. Michael, ND, Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Accessory After the Fact, False Statements and Retaliation Against a WitnessRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 29, 2024, Skyla Kay Cavanaugh, age 23 of St. Michael, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to three years in federal prison, three years supervised release and $300.00 in special assessments for one count of Accessory After the Fact, one count of False Statements, and one count of Retaliation Against a Witness. The federal prison term will run consecutive to an unrelated state sentence she has yet to complete. Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to the offenses on October 12, 2023.
As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to being an Accessory After the Fact in relation to the May 22, 2022, non-fatal shooting of a man in St. Michael, and for giving False Statements in the ensuing investigation. Cavanaugh also pleaded guilty to Retaliation Against a Witness for confronting and striking a witness to the May 22 shooting several months later.
For committing the May 22, 2022, shooting, 21-year-old Nathaniel Azure was convicted in December 2023, after a 7-day jury trial of two crimes for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Azure was also convicted at trial for his role in a non-fatal shooting in Fort Totten, ND, on January 6, 2021, and for assaulting another person while brandishing a firearm in St. Michael, ND, on May 21, 2022. Sentencing of Azure is scheduled for April 16, 2024.
Michael Al-Jerome Denne, the 25-year-old brother of Azure, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the January 6, 2021, shooting and has been sentenced. Dantae Jerome Whitetail, aged 23, Minnewaukan, ND, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the May 21, 2022, brandishing assault, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2024.
“This result is reflective of the office’s commitment to public safety in Indian country,” Schneider said. “Retaliation against people who witness crimes and tell the truth to law enforcement will not be tolerated. This sentence will serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who thinks they can use violence to evade justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Benson County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemestrud Puhl, District of North Dakota.
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Minnesota Man Sentenced for the Theft of the “Ruby Slippers” from the Classic 1939 Film “the Wizard of Oz”Read the Press Release
Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, sentenced Terry Jon Martin, age 76, of Grand Rapids, MN, to time served, one year supervised release and $23,500 Restitution to the Judy Garland Children’s Museum for theft of major artwork, an object of cultural heritage from the care, custody, or control of a museum.
Investigation revealed that in 2005, Martin stole an authentic pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz,” from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The ruby slippers, which were recovered by the FBI and Grand Rapids Police Department in July 2018, are widely viewed as among the most recognizable memorabilia in American film history.
“It took brains, heart, and courage to bring this case to a successful conclusion, and those are qualities our FBI partners have in spades,” Schneider said. “This result is the product of determined efforts by FBI investigators. They secured the safe return of an iconic piece of Americana and, working together with our career prosecutors, provided a measure of justice in this case.”
“The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, worked diligently to bring this case to a resolution," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Today's sentencing underscores our commitment to safeguarding iconic artifacts. The FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to exploit and unlawfully acquire pieces of historical memorabilia."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Art Crime Team, and the Grand Rapids, MN, Police Department, with support from FBI Salt Lake City and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Greenley, District of North Dakota.
This matter was assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 515(a).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota will have no additional comment or statements outside this press release.
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Fargo Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Tamper with a Federal WitnessRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 18, 2024, Daniel Saydee Cisse, age 19, Fargo, ND, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Peter Welte to 11 years in federal prison and five years supervised released for Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness.
On September 25, 2023, Cisse pleaded guilty for his role in assaulting a federal witness in the Cass County jail on January 14, 2023. As noted at the plea hearing, co-conspirators planned and arranged to assault the federal witness with the intent to influence, delay or prevent the witness from testifying in an official proceeding and to prevent him from providing information to law enforcement regarding the drug-related homicide of Santino Marial. Marial was shot to death in Fargo, ND. on August 28, 2020.
Co-defendants Jesse James Burnett and Shaquiel Anthony Mendez are currently set for trial on July 16, 2024.
This case was investigated by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fargo Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers and Jacob T. Rodenbiker.
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Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Abuse with a Child Under the Age of 12Read the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 5, 2024, Robert Houle, age 35 of Belcourt, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to Life in federal prison, for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. Houle pleaded guilty to this offense on July 7, 2023.
As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Houle sexually abused a Native American child under the age of 12, from the ages of 6 to 11, from about 2016 until approximately 2020.
Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement responded to a residence on Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, ND, for a physical altercation. Houle was arrested and a child at the residence reported feeling unsafe due to physical and sexual abuse.
The child was forensically interviewed by the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center and disclosed years of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse by Houle. The child was fearful to disclose the sexual and physical abuse sooner because the child feared being removed from the home if noncompliant with Houle’s demands.
“This is a strong sentence that protects children,” Schneider said. “It is also a real credit to our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors who worked hard to ensure this individual faced justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to play its part in keeping kids safe by vigorously prosecuting crimes against children.”
“Today’s sentencing of Robert Houle demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to protecting children from those who seek to exploit their innocence,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Minneapolis Alvin M. Winston Sr. “These types of crimes cause profound harm to both the child victims and their families, leaving behind a trail of destruction and brokenness. The FBI and our partners remain committed to pursuing justice for our most innocent victims and holding offenders accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dawn M. Deitz, District of North Dakota.
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