Eastern District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
New York Resident Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Transporting Ammo to New York Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.- On Jan. 8, 2013, Paul Douglas Prater, 51, of Niagra Falls, N.Y. was sentenced to serve 264 months in prison by the Honorable Leon Jordan, U.S. District Judge, as a result of his conviction on Jun. 13, 2012, of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
An investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) showed that Prater was transporting ammunition from Tennessee to a violent drug trafficking organization on the New York-Canadian border. Testimony at trial showed this drug trafficking organization was transporting large quantities of marijuana and cocaine across the Canadian border for distribution in the Niagara Falls area of New York. On Mar. 17, 2011, Prater was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Interdiction Unit (THP) in Sullivan County, based on information provided by HSI. He was found to be in possession of 500 rounds of pistol ammunition, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was contacted and joined the investigation.
Agencies involved in the investigation included HSI, THP, and ATF. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Reeves, Eastern District of Tennessee and Melissa Marangola, Western District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian praised the quick response and excellent work done by the various agencies. "This sentence sends a message to those possessing and using firearms and ammunition illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Killian.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.
Freddie Marshall Carson Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- On Jan. 8, 2013, Freddie Marshall Carson, 45, formerly of Powell Tenn., was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison by the Honorable Tomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge, as a result of his conviction on Aug. 1, 2012, of wire fraud and money laundering.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) showed that from 2005 through 2011 Carson held himself out as a well to do business man, owner of Masterworks. He conducted his sham business out of a $2 million home he claimed to own but was merely renting. He perpetrated the scheme by ingratiating himself into religious communities and using the religious affiliations to lull members of the communities into investing or making loans to his company. Some victims were told they were investing in securities of Masterworks to be used in business activities. Neither Masterworks nor Carson were registered to sell securities. Other victims were presented an investment scheme under the guise of a short term loan with guaranteed high rates of returns. However, once the victims wired their money into the Masterworks account the money was immediately diverted by Carson for his own personal use, such as a $55,000.00 new Infiniti SUV. The scheme spread over multiple states with multiple victims. The amount of loss totaled over $1 million.
Agencies involved in the investigation included FBI and IRS. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman.
Atlanta Resident Sentenced for Identity Theft and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Sabir Jaquail Grant, 23, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced on January 8, 2013, by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge, to serve a term of 12 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud. In addition, he was also ordered to serve a three-year period of supervised release upon release from prison. Grant’s pleaded guilty on Feb. 22, 2011, to conspiracy and identity theft charges.
Grant and his co-conspirator, Joshua Phillips, came to the attention of law enforcement when Wal-Mart Loss Prevention associates observed them attempting to purchase cellular telephone accounts with suspicious North Carolina driver’s licenses. Knoxville Police Department officers arrested both defendants on Apr. 8, 2010, at the Wal-Mart location on Clinton Highway. Grant and Phillips were found in the possession of numerous false identity documents, including counterfeit Social Security cards. Both defendants subsequently entered guilty pleas to federal charges. Phillips is presently serving a sentence of 24 months in prison.
This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Dale, Jr. and D. Gregory Weddle represented the United States.
Tamaral Guzman Convicted of Failure to Appear in Connection with Fleeing from Ongoing Drug and Financial Crimes TrialRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tamral Guzman, 42, of Blount County, Tenn., pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2013, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville, to failure to appear. Sentencing has been set for 10:00 a.m., Mar. 20, 2013, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, U.S. District Judge.
According documents on file with the U.S. District Court, Guzman was charged in a 57-count indictment for which she was on trial beginning on Sept. 24, 2012. She attended trial every day until Oct. 2, 2012, when she failed to appear. A warrant for Guzman’s arrest was issued by the District Court. The trial proceeded and she was convicted of all 57 counts on Oct. 4, 2012.
On Oct. 30, 2012, a vehicle believed to be driven by Guzman was located in Florida. Surveillance was set up on the vehicle and as a result Guzman was identified and arrested. Guzman admitted to living in a local hotel, paying for expenses with cash, and working in a local restaurant under an assumed name with her boyfriend and co-defendant Brian Paul Hatcher.
On Nov. 6, 2012, a three-count indictment, which included these charges, was returned against Hatcher and Guzman by a federal grand jury. Hatcher pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2012, and faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison for accessory after the fact and a maximum term of 20 years in prison for retaliating against a witness.
This indictment was the result of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Marshal Service. Jennifer Kolman Assistant U.S. Attorney represented the United States at trial.
“This conviction is notice to all that running from the custody of the U.S. Marshals is an additional offense which we will prosecute. The federal judicial system must be respected. I extend my sincere praise for the work of the Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Blount County Drug Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service for their diligent and successful work that resulted in these convictions,” said U. S. Attorney Bill Killian. “We are also very appreciative of the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman for her prosecution of these cases,” he added.