Western District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $3M for Taxpayers and Victims in 2023Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee collected $2,959,254.54 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $2,846,173.69 was collected in criminal actions and $113,080.85 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, Tennessee’s Western District worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $70,742.42 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $28,492.42 was collected in criminal actions and $42,250 was collected in civil actions.
“Protection of taxpayer resources in the United States Treasury is a core value and critical mission for this office and the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz. “Equally important is the federal government’s responsibility to collect restitution for victims of crime so that offenders are held accountable, and victims can receive justice. I commend our Criminal Division, Civil Division, and Financial Litigation Unit for outstanding work in pursuing and collecting these funds on behalf of victims of crime and the United States.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tennessee’s Western District, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $1,689,156 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Several cases generated significant collection efforts in fiscal year 2023:
- For example, a $10 million international fraud conspiracy case generated significant collection efforts this past fiscal year. The case involved eleven people who used compromised email accounts to steal from businesses and conduct romance scams on the internet. In U.S. v. Babatunde Martins, the defendant owed restitution and agreed to pay $300,000 as part of the judgment. However, the funds were frozen in a bank in West Africa pending legal process. After working with the U.S. Department of Justice civil division of foreign litigation, our office secured $299,972 in criminal fines related to this case in fiscal year 2023. A related case, U.S. v. Marie Theresa Zamora and Allianz, generated $72,653 in June 2023.
- Another case involving several former federal employees who defrauded COVID-19 relief programs, yielded $68,817 for taxpayers and crime victims. In U.S. v. Tina Rochelle Hume, the defendant pled guilty to submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. Within two months of her guilty plea, our office filed a criminal restitution order and obtained a garnishment that resulted in a large, fast collection of taxpayer dollars.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Patriot Bank to Resolve Lending Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that Patriot Bank (Patriot) has agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve allegations that the bank engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis, Tennessee. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in, or seeking to live in, communities of color because of the race, color or national origin of the residents in those communities.
“This settlement embodies Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to promoting economic justice and ensuring that Black Americans and all communities of color are able to achieve the American dream, and equally access credit to purchase a home.,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is dedicated to stamping out discriminatory lending practices across this country and we are vigorously committed to holding lenders accountable, no matter their size. This settlement will provide many Memphis families with access to credit that will improve the quality of their lives while opening up opportunities to build intergenerational wealth.”
“For too long, practices like redlining and discriminatory lending have been used to undermine the promises of our economic system,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to enforcing fair lending laws and ensuring that banks and lenders are providing communities of color equal access to credit and lending opportunities. This agreement with Patriot Bank signifies an important step toward preserving economic justice and for communities of color in Memphis as they buy homes, start businesses, and take part in the American Dream.”
The department’s complaint alleges, from 2015 through at least 2020, Patriot avoided providing mortgage services to majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis and discouraged people seeking credit in those communities from obtaining home loans. Patriot’s home mortgage lending was focused disproportionately on white areas around the City of Memphis. Over the same six-year period, other banks received nearly 3.5 times as many loan applications compared to Patriot in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis. Even when Patriot generated loan applications from majority-Black and Hispanic areas, the applicants themselves were disproportionately white.
Under the proposed consent order, which is subject to court approval, Patriot will invest $1.9 million to increase credit opportunities for communities of color in Memphis. Specifically, Patriot will:
- Invest at least $1.3 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase access to home mortgage, home improvement, and home refinance for residents of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods;
- Spend $375,000 for advertising, outreach, consumer financial education and credit counseling focused on majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods;
- Spend $225,000 on community partnerships to provide services that increase residential mortgage credit access for residents of those neighborhoods;
- Ensure at least two mortgage loan officers are dedicated to serving majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Bank’s service area;
- Employ a Director of Community Lending who will oversee the continued development of lending in communities of color; and
- Continuously assess the communities’ credit needs throughout the term of the consent order.
The department opened its investigation into Patriot’s lending practices after receiving a referral from the bank’s regulator, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Patriot cooperated with the department’s investigation and worked with the department to resolve the redlining allegations.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Clarke launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. Since 2021, the department has announced 11 redlining cases and secured over $109 million in relief for communities of color that have been the victims of lending discrimination across the country.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/fair-lending-program-0. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
View the complaint here.
View the consent order here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Patriot Bank to Resolve Lending Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Patriot Bank (Patriot) has agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve allegations that the bank engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis, Tennessee. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in, or seeking to live in, communities of color because of the race, color or national origin of the residents in those communities.
“This settlement embodies Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to promoting economic justice and ensuring that Black Americans and all communities of color are able to achieve the American dream, and equally access credit to purchase a home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is dedicated to stamping out discriminatory lending practices across this country and we are vigorously committed to holding lenders accountable, no matter their size. This settlement will provide many Memphis families with access to credit that will improve the quality of their lives while opening up opportunities to build intergenerational wealth.”
“For too long, practices like redlining and discriminatory lending have been used to undermine the promises of our economic system,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to enforcing fair lending laws and ensuring that banks and lenders are providing communities of color equal access to credit and lending opportunities. This agreement with Patriot Bank signifies an important step toward preserving economic justice and for communities of color in Memphis as they buy homes, start businesses and take part in the American Dream.”
The department’s complaint alleges, from 2015 through at least 2020, Patriot avoided providing mortgage services to majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis and discouraged people seeking credit in those communities from obtaining home loans. Patriot’s home mortgage lending was focused disproportionately on white areas around the City of Memphis. Over the same six-year period, other banks received nearly 3.5 times as many loan applications compared to Patriot in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis. Even when Patriot generated loan applications from majority-Black and Hispanic areas, the applicants themselves were disproportionately white.
Under the proposed consent order, which is subject to court approval, Patriot will invest $1.9 million to increase credit opportunities for communities of color in Memphis. Specifically, Patriot will:
-
Invest at least $1.3 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase access to home mortgage, home improvement and home refinance for residents of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods;
-
Spend $375,000 for advertising, outreach, consumer financial education and credit counseling focused on majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods;
-
Spend $225,000 on community partnerships to provide services that increase residential mortgage credit access for residents of those neighborhoods;
-
Ensure at least two mortgage loan officers are dedicated to serving majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Bank’s service area;
-
Employ a Director of Community Lending who will oversee the continued development of lending in communities of color; and
-
Continuously assess the communities’ credit needs throughout the term of the consent order.
The department opened its investigation into Patriot’s lending practices after receiving a referral from the bank’s regulator, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Patriot cooperated with the department’s investigation and worked with the department to resolve the redlining allegations.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Clarke launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. Since 2021, the department has announced 11 redlining cases and secured over $109 million in relief for communities of color that have been the victims of lending discrimination across the country.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/fair-lending-program-0. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
us_v._patriot_bank_-_complaint_w_exhibits.pdf consent_order_-_patriot_final.pdf-
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con Patriot Bank para resolver quejas de discriminación crediticiaRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que Patriot Bank (Patriot) ha acordado pagar $1.9 millones para resolver las alegaciones de que incurrió en un patrón o una práctica de discriminación crediticia al practicar la exclusión financiera en barrios de mayoría negra e hispana en Memphis, Tennessee. La exclusión financiera es una práctica ilícita en la que los prestamistas evitan la provisión de servicios crediticios a individuos que viven o desean vivir en comunidades de color por motivos de la raza, el color de piel o el origen nacional de los residentes de esas comunidades.
“Este acuerdo encarna el compromiso del Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. de promover la justicia económica y garantizar que los estadounidenses negros y todas las comunidades de color puedan lograr el sueño americano y disponer de la igualdad de acceso al crédito para comprar una casa”, afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “El Departamento de Justicia se dedica a erradicar las prácticas crediticias discriminatorias en todo este país y nos comprometemos con firmeza a hacer responsables a los prestamistas, independientemente de su tamaño. Este acuerdo proporcionará a muchas familias de Memphis acceso al crédito que mejorará la calidad de sus vidas a la vez que creará oportunidades para construir riqueza intergeneracional”.
“Durante demasiado tiempo, se han utilizado prácticas como la exclusión financiera y préstamos discriminatorios para socavar las promesas de nuestro sistema económico», dijo Kevin G. Ritz, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Oeste de Tennessee. “Nuestra oficina se compromete a hacer cumplir las leyes de préstamos justos y a garantizar que los bancos y prestamistas proporcionen a las comunidades de color la igualdad de acceso al crédito y oportunidades crediticias. Este acuerdo con Patriot Bank representa un paso importante hacia la preservación de la justicia económica y para las comunidades de color en Memphis a medida que compran casas, establecen negocios y participan en el sueño americano”.
La queja del Departamento alega que, desde el 2015 hasta al menos el 2020, Patriot evitó la provisión de servicios hipotecarios a barrios de mayoría negra e hispana en Memphis y desalentó a las personas que buscaban un préstamo en esas comunidades de obtener préstamos hipotecarios. Los préstamos hipotecarios residenciales de Patriot se centraron desproporcionadamente en áreas blancas por la zona metropolitana de Memphis. Durante el mismo período de seis años, otros bancos recibieron casi 3.5 veces más solicitudes de préstamos en comparación con Patriot en barrios de mayoría negra e hispana en Memphis. La queja también alega que, incluso cuando Patriot generó solicitudes de préstamos de áreas de mayoría negra e hispana, los propios solicitantes eran desproporcionadamente blancos.
En virtud de la orden de consentimiento propuesta, que queda sujeta a la aprobación del tribunal, Patriot invertirá $1.9 millones para aumentar las oportunidades crediticias para las comunidades de color en Memphis. En concreto, Patriot:
- Invertirá al menos $1.3 millones en un fondo de subsidios para préstamos para aumentar el acceso a préstamos hipotecarios, mejoras en la vivienda y refinanciamiento residencial para residentes de barrios de mayoría negra e hispana;
- Gastará $375,000 en publicidad, proyección comunitaria, educación financiera al consumidor y asesoramiento de crédito centrado en barrios de mayoría negra e hispana;
- Gastará $225,000 en asociaciones comunitarias para proporcionar servicios que aumenten el acceso al crédito hipotecario residencial para residentes de esos barrios;
- Asegurará que al menos dos agentes de crédito hipotecario estén dedicados a servir a barrios de mayoría negra e hispana en el área de servicio del Banco;
- Empleará a un Director de Préstamos Comunitarios que supervisará el desarrollo continuo de préstamos en comunidades de color y
- Evaluará continuamente las necesidades crediticias de las comunidades mientras sigan en vigor la orden de consentimiento.
El Departamento inició su investigación sobre las prácticas de préstamo de Patriot después de recibir una recomendación del regulador del banco, la Junta de Gobernadores del Sistema de la Reserva Federal. Patriot cooperó con la investigación del Departamento y trabajó con el Departamento para resolver las alegaciones de exclusión financiera.
En octubre del 2021, el Fiscal General Merrick B. Garland y la Fiscal General Auxiliar Kristen Clarke lanzaron la Iniciativa contra la Exclusión Financiera del Departamento de Justicia, un esfuerzo coordinado de aplicación de la ley para abordar esta forma persistente de discriminación contra las comunidades de color. Desde el año 2021, el Departamento ha anunciado once casos de exclusión financiera y ha obtenido $109 millones por concepto de compensación para comunidades de color que han sido víctimas de discriminación crediticia por todo el país.
Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la aplicación de las leyes de préstamos justos del Departamento en www.justice.gov/crt/fair-lending-program-0. Para informarnos de incidentes de discriminación en el ámbito crediticio, llame a la línea informativa del Departamento de Justicia para discriminación en la vivienda al 1-833-591-0291 o entregue un informe en línea.
us_v._patriot_bank_-_complaint_w_exhibits.pdf consent_order_-_patriot_final.pdfHighlights from United Against Hate Community Event at St. Joseph’s Catholic ChurchRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee participated in a United Against Hate outreach event bringing DOJ officials and FBI partners to community members to elevate effective strategies to prevent, report, and respond to hate crimes and incidents.
United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to inform communities about hate crimes and reporting hate-related incidents. The Department launched the initiative in 2022 with the goal of building trust, opening lines of communication, and strengthening coordination between relevant partners and the community to help combat a growing number of hate and bias-related incidents since 2021.
This recent event took place on January 7 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in partnership with CasaLuz, a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and resources to Hispanic/Latinx domestic violence victims in the Memphis area. The program featured U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Smith, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Cornejo, and FBI Special Agent Jeremy Baker.
Below are photos from the event along with a video of U.S. Attorney Ritz’s opening remarks.
Remarks in Spanish
Remarks in English.The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to host presentations throughout the Western District of Tennessee to help communities understand what hate crimes are, how federal agencies respond to hate crimes, and what people can do to help victims. Community organizations or leaders that wish to partner with the United States Attorney’s office to explore holding such an event in their community should contact the District at 901-544-4231.
Anyone who feels they have been the victim of a hate crime or may have witnessed a hate crime should immediately report the crime to state or local police by dialing 9-1-1, then quickly report the incident to the FBI at tips.FBI.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Next, please report the incident to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov or by contacting the Civil Rights Coordinator in the Civil Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 901-544-4231.
Collierville Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A local commodity trader pled guilty in federal court yesterday to one count of wire fraud as part of a fraudulent commodities investment scheme. Donald Wray Rodgers, 55, operated an unregistered trading pool under the name Three Bridges Trading Fund. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty plea today.
According to information provided in court, Rodgers lied to investors about the money earned in the pool, providing them false fund performance statements and inflated investment returns. In fact, Rodgers’ trades were causing the fund to lose value each month. After less than one year in operation, Three Bridges Trading Fund was worthless, according to court documents. Rodgers’ criminal misrepresentations to his approximately fifty investors from around the United States led them to lose over $ 2,000,000 in the fund.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Rodgers is set to appear before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker for sentencing on March 21, 2024 at 1:30 pm. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III is prosecuting this case on behalf of the federal government.
Counterfeit Prescription Drug Distributor Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Texas man to more than 17 years in prison for his involvement in a counterfeit prescription drug distribution operation. Kevin Olando Ombisi, 34, of Katy, Texas, has been sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and related offenses. U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris also ordered Ombisi to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz of the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement today along with Acting Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Argentieri of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead of the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation (FDA-OCI) Kansas City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Division; and Inspector in Charge Scott Fix of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Houston Division.
According to information presented in court, Ombisi used a marketplace on the Darknet and an encrypted messaging service called Wickr to sell pills made to resemble Adderall in exchange for bitcoin cryptocurrency. The pills that Ombisi distributed were not Adderall; instead, they contained methamphetamine. He mailed the methamphetamine pills through the U.S. Postal Service.
In July 2023, Ombisi pled guilty to charges filed in a ten-count superseding indictment, including one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, three counts of unlawful distribution, one count of attempted distribution, one count of selling counterfeit drugs, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and three counts of mail fraud.
This case was investigated by the federal partners with assistance from police departments in Katy, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Missouri City, Texas.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant Chief Jillian Willis of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
Alleged Member of ‘Memphis Mob’ Street Gang Sentenced to 18 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Memphis man to more than 18 years in federal prison for his involvement in an armed drug trafficking operation. Jacquez “Mob Kilo” Reverand, 25, of Memphis was sentenced to 217 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and discharging a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris also ordered Reverand to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.
According to information presented at trial, while looking into drug trafficking activity by members of the Memphis Mob, investigators identified a North Memphis home from which narcotics were being sold. On March 4, 2019, someone allegedly stole narcotics from the house which led to shots being fired. A Memphis police officer responded and witnessed someone with a gunshot wound to the head running away from the house. Surveillance video from the house showed the defendant and another person firing into a vehicle occupied by five people including a minor child. One person was injured from the shooting but survived. Reverand fled prior to police arrival.
In addition, the surveillance video showed Memphis Mob members distributing narcotics from the North Memphis house daily until the shooting, after which the group relocated operations.
In July 2022, Reverand was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to use or carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and discharge of a firearm during an in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Memphis Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations and organized criminal enterprises, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Allen and Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
21 People Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Other Drugs in Western TennesseeRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Twenty-one people in western Tennessee are facing federal charges for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme, according to recently unsealed indictments. U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee announced the unsealing of the indictments today.
The charges are the culmination of a yearlong investigation by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives—in conjunction with the Selmer Police Department, Bolivar Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office.
“Western Tennessee will not be a haven for traffickers, organized criminal enterprises, and others who would bring illegal drugs and firearms into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “We plan to use every tool at our disposal – including our close partnerships with local law enforcement – to root out traffickers and restore safety. I commend the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners in bringing this important and impactful case.”
"This collaborative effort reflects the commitment of law enforcement agencies to safeguard our communities from the adverse effects of drug trafficking,” said Bolivar Police Department Chief Mike Jones. “We stand united in our dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of Bolivar and Western Tennessee.”
“Fentanyl is a major priority for law enforcement across the country,” said Selmer Police Department Chief Kim Holley. “We are thankful to have a partnership with our federal counterparts who help stop these dangerous drugs from getting into our community and hold those accountable who are responsible for distributing these dangerous drugs.”
According to court documents, between June 2021 and February 2023, the defendants are alleged to have worked together and with others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout several counties. During the investigation, agents seized 16 firearms, $17,000 in cash, approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills, 15 pounds of methamphetamine, and approximately four pounds of marijuana.
The charges announced today span two criminal indictments. On February 13, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 15 defendants with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana:
- Caricus Hendrix, 37 of Bolivar
- Shannon Wilder, 26 of Jackson
- Eula Evette Morris, 55 of Bolivar
- Jarrett Wilson, 26 of Henderson
- Joshua Fields, 28 of Lexington
- Sheneka Waller, 36 of Bolivar
- Myreon Woods, 40 of Bolivar
- Montrez Brown, 27 of Bolivar
- Carmaine Beauregard, 30 of Jackson
- Cordarvin McNeal, 34 of Bolivar
- Antonio Parham, Jr., 27 of Whiteville
- Danielle Boyd, 35 of Bolivar
- Jaylen Sain, 27 of Bolivar
- Shumarcus Cross, 39 of Bolivar
- Cameron Mickens, 25 of Henderson
That same indictment charged Jarrett Wilson, Cordarvin McNeal, and Joshua Fields with possession of firearms in connection with the drug trafficking charges.
On August 14, 2023, a federal grand jury returned another indictment charging six additional defendants with similar drug trafficking and firearms offences:
- Alfredia Atkins, 52 of Bolivar
- Tavaras Atkins, 45 of Bethel Springs
- Shalonda Bills, 35 of Bolivar
- Correy Brown, 42 of Bolivar
- Curtis “CJ” Brown, 32 of Selmer
- Michael Douglas, 31 of Lexington
If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana face up to 5 years imprisonment. The defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years imprisonment up to life. Cordarvin McNeal, the individual charged with possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, faces a sentence of 5 years to life imprisonment. Joshua Fields faces a penalty of 25 years to life in prison because of enhanced sentencing for the distribution of fentanyl.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Each charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Former IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal stimulus program authorized to provide loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, Brian Saulsberry, 47, of Memphis, was employed by the IRS as a Program Evaluation and Risk Analyst in the Human Capital Office. Saulsberry submitted false EIDL applications and obtained $171,400 in loan funds. After obtaining the fraudulent loan funds, Saulsberry transferred the funds to his personal checking account. He then used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EDIL program, but instead transferred $100,000 to an investment account, knowing that the property involved in the transaction was derived from unlawful activity.
Saulsberry pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George, and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) made the announcement.
TIGTA and SBA-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Thomas D. Campbell and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of an interagency effort to combat and prevent CARES Act fraud by federal employees. In October 2022, the Justice Department announced charges against five former IRS employees for defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs. All five defendants have been convicted.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty in Railroad Car BurglaryRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On Thursday, November 30, 2023, a federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to five years in federal prison for firearms charges as well as his role in a railroad car burglary. Lawrence Anthony, 35, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting a railroad car burglary, possessing a machine gun, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Anthony to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on March 4, 2022, agents with CSX Transportation observed several people breaking into railroad cars containing retail merchandise destined for California. Agents apprehended one of the suspects, Anthony, who was also found to be in possession of a Glock .40 caliber pistol. The firearm had been modified with a small switch mechanism on the rear of the slide, allowing the weapon to fire fully automatically. The other suspects fled the scene after stealing merchandise worth more than $7,500 from the railroad cars.
On August 18, 2022, Memphis Police Department officers responded to a complaint that liquor was being sold from a local residence. Upon entering the home, the officers found Anthony and discovered several boxes of liquor that had been taken during a business burglary a few hours before. Officers searched the residence and found a Taurus 9mm pistol, which Anthony admitted belonged to him. Anthony was arrested by the Memphis Police Department.
Anthony pled guilty to a four-count indictment on July 20, which charged him with aiding and abetting burglary along with firearms offenses stemming from his March and August arrests. Anthony is a convicted felon with a criminal history of committing robbery, theft, and burglary.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with valuable assistance from the Memphis Police Department and CSX Transportation. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
Justice Department Announces New Surge of Resources to Fight Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Justice Department, together with numerous law enforcement partners, met today at the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) Real Time Crime Center to announce a new initiative to surge law enforcement tools and resources to target gangs and other violent groups who are threatening and upending the safety and security of communities in Memphis.
“Violent crime deprives communities of a fundamental sense of security in their own homes and neighborhoods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This violent crime initiative will bring additional tools and resources used to investigate and prosecute violent crime and apply those tools to gangs and groups who are harming and disrupting communities here in Memphis.”
The new initiative includes federal prosecutors from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, the nation’s foremost experts in charging federal racketeering (RICO) crimes, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys already working in Memphis and dedicated investigative agents, analysts, and forensic experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the MPD.
“Through data-driven, targeted, and focused enforcement against the worst-of-the-worst violent criminals and organized groups, coupled with a strong focus on crime prevention, intervention, and reentry, I believe all of us, working together, can make an incredible difference and secure a safer future for all of Memphis,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri.
“As U.S. Attorney and a lifelong Memphian, I know the citizens of this city are sick and tired of gun violence and violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “I am too. The threat from organized criminal enterprises requires that we bring significant resources to bear. These additional prosecutors, working hand-in-hand our office’s experienced Assistant U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement partners, will build cases against gang members, trigger-pullers, and shot-callers.”
The initiative will also include efforts to invest in prevention and intervention, and the department will work with the Western District of Tennessee’s innovative Reentry Court Program and community organizations to assist offenders in reentering and reintegrating into their communities. As part of the announcement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Ritz met with community members to hear directly from them about the violence and gang activity in their neighborhoods.
“Initiatives like this are not about one takedown – they’re about working in partnership to build a long term and sustainable plan to fight gun crime. ATF Memphis does that every day,” said ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach. “This summer, with the MPD and other state, local, and federal partners, we focused efforts here, using crime gun intelligence to help protect the people of this great city. Now we are here with additional partners both locally and nationally to continue that work -- that impact. By combining traditional investigative techniques with advancements in technology, ATF is creating data-driven investigations that turn into evidence-driven prosecutions of the most dangerous offenders.
“This violent crime initiative serves as a force multiplier to empower law enforcement, our partners, and communities to proactively fight against violent crime in big cities and small towns across our nation,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “The FBI, in close collaboration with the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners, is committed to tackling violent crime threats in a methodical and effective approach to dismantle the roots of crime and reclaim our communities, for a promising future for our neighborhoods.”
“FBI Memphis, our dedicated special agents, task force officers, intelligence analysts, and professional staff are ready to join our partners in supporting this new initiative to disrupt and dismantle the criminal enterprises that are threatening our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “Together we not only investigate and enforce the law, but we also live in, and are a part of the communities affected by the violent crime that is overwhelmingly the result of violent gangs. It is only together that we will be able to target and bring to prosecution the gang members and others who are driving violence in Memphis and throughout the area.”
“I am excited about the announcement by our U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz regarding an increased focus on violent crime in the city of Memphis,” said MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis. “This new initiative is a positive step in the right direction, which fosters a since of renewed hope for improved quality of life for our citizens and visitors.”
Joining Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Ritz in the press conference today were ATF Director Dettelbach, MPD Assistant Chief Shawn Jones, and FBI Special Agent in Charge DePodesta.
Justice Department Announces New Surge of Resources to Fight Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, together with numerous law enforcement partners, met today at the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) Real Time Crime Center to announce a new initiative to surge law enforcement tools and resources to target gangs and other violent groups who are threatening and upending the safety and security of communities in Memphis.
“Violent crime deprives communities of a fundamental sense of security in their own homes and neighborhoods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This violent crime initiative will bring additional tools and resources used to investigate and prosecute violent crime and apply those tools to gangs and groups who are harming and disrupting communities here in Memphis.”
The new initiative includes federal prosecutors from the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, the nation’s foremost experts in charging federal racketeering (RICO) crimes, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys already working in Memphis and dedicated investigative agents, analysts, and forensic experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and MPD.
“Through data-driven, targeted, and focused enforcement against the worst-of-the-worst violent criminals and organized groups, coupled with a strong focus on crime prevention, intervention, and reentry, I believe all of us, working together, can make an incredible difference and secure a safer future for all of Memphis,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri.
“As U.S. Attorney and a lifelong Memphian, I know the citizens of this city are sick and tired of gun violence and violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “I am too. The threat from organized criminal enterprises requires that we bring significant resources to bear. These additional prosecutors, working hand-in-hand with our office’s experienced Assistant U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement partners, will build cases against gang members, trigger-pullers, and shot-callers.”
The initiative will also include efforts to invest in prevention and intervention, and the department will work with the Western District of Tennessee’s innovative Reentry Court Program and community organizations to assist offenders in reentering and reintegrating into their communities. As part of the announcement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Ritz met with community members to hear directly from them about the violence and gang activity in their neighborhoods.
“Initiatives like this are not about one takedown – they’re about working in partnership to build a long term and sustainable plan to fight gun crime. ATF Memphis does that every day,” said ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach. “This summer, with the MPD and other state, local, and federal partners, we focused efforts here, using crime gun intelligence to help protect the people of this great city. Now we are here with additional partners both locally and nationally to continue that work – that impact. By combining traditional investigative techniques with advancements in technology, ATF is creating data-driven investigations that turn into evidence-driven prosecutions of the most dangerous offenders.
“This violent crime initiative serves as a force multiplier to empower law enforcement, our partners, and communities to proactively fight against violent crime in big cities and small towns across our nation,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “The FBI, in close collaboration with the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners, is committed to tackling violent crime threats in a methodical and effective approach to dismantle the roots of crime and reclaim our communities, for a promising future for our neighborhoods.”
“FBI Memphis, our dedicated special agents, task force officers, intelligence analysts, and professional staff are ready to join our partners in supporting this new initiative to disrupt and dismantle the criminal enterprises that are threatening our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “Together we not only investigate and enforce the law, but we also live in, and are a part of the communities affected by the violent crime that is overwhelmingly the result of violent gangs. It is only together that we will be able to target and bring to prosecution the gang members and others who are driving violence in Memphis and throughout the area.”
“I am excited about the announcement by our U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz regarding an increased focus on violent crime in the city of Memphis,” said MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis. “This new initiative is a positive step in the right direction, which fosters a since of renewed hope for improved quality of life for our citizens and visitors.”
Joining Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Ritz in the press conference today were ATF Director Dettelbach, MPD Assistant Chief Shawn Jones, and FBI Special Agent in Charge DePodesta.
Memphis Woman Facing Federal Charges for Assault on United States Secret Service Agents and EmployeesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Memphis woman with assault on a government officer or employee and for discharging a firearm during that offense. Raven Jones, 41, is facing federal charges alleging that she assaulted federal officers during an altercation at the United States Secret Service field office in Memphis.
According to a previously sealed complaint, on October 19, 2023, Jones is alleged to have approached the entrance door of the field office while using her cell phone to livestream on Facebook. The door was clearly marked as entry to the United States Secret Service offices and Jones arrived during normal business hours on a workday; the office was staffed with agents, task force officers, administrative staff, and visitors.
Jones allegedly then produced a 9mm handgun and fired a single shot into the wall next to the doorway, placed the weapon on the floor, and raised her hands above her head. Federal officers entered the hallway and detained Jones.
The case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow of the National Security and Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment along with a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider several variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former Shelby County Jailer Sentenced over Plan to Smuggle Narcotics into FacilityRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, a federal judge sentenced a former deputy jailer for possession of narcotics knowing that they would be distributed inside the county jail. Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
Kimberly Price, 31, of Memphis was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for her role in arranging delivery of cocaine and fentanyl to inmates at the Shelby County Correctional Center. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Price to serve two years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, in September 2020, the FBI Tarnished Badge Task Force initiated an investigation into allegations that Price, a deputy jailer at the Shelby County Correctional Center, was smuggling narcotics into the facility to be distributed to inmates. An inmate cooperating with the investigators made contact with Price to request that Price purchase narcotics that would ultimately be smuggled into the jail by a third party and delivered to the inmate. Price agreed, and on October 16, 2020, delivered a bag of cocaine to a cooperating source in exchange for $1000. On November 4, 2020, Price met with the cooperator again and provided fentanyl pills in exchange for $1300.
On May 4, 2023, Price pled guilty to a two-count criminal information alleging possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
Former Memphis Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Conspiracy Charges in Connection with Death of Tyre NicholsRead the Press Release
MEMPHIS – One of five former Memphis Police Department officers facing federal charges in the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pled guilty in federal court today.
Desmond Mills, Jr., 33, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris today and pled guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the January 7 incident.
On September 12, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Mills and co-defendants Emmitt Martin III, 31; Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; and Justin Smith, 28. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct.
The remaining four defendants still face a federal trial scheduled for May 6, 2024.
In today’s court appearance, Mills pled guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Mills with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Mills with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others.
Mills admitted to additional facts that were presented in court in connection with his plea agreement:
- Mills admitted to repeatedly and unjustifiably striking Nichols with a baton and to failing to intervene in other officers’ use of force against Nichols. Mills said he watched another officer repeatedly punch Nichols in the head while two other officers restrained Nichols.
- Mills admitted that he did not provide any medical aid to Nichols after the beating, though he knew that Nichols had a serious medical need. He did not alert MPD or Memphis Fire Department EMTs that Nichols had been struck in the head and body.
- In addition, Mills participated in conversations with other officers in which they discussed, using force against Nichols, hitting Nichols to make him fall, and believing they were on the verge of killing Nichols when they saw that Nichols did not fall from the blows.
- Mills admitted to making false statements in connection with the arrest of Nichols, including telling his supervisor that they had done “everything by the book” and providing false information in his statements to an MPD detective tasked with writing the incident report.
- Finally, Mills submitted an MPD report that provided a false account of the force used on Nichols, including a claim that Mills saw Nichols “aggressively resisting” officers. Instead of admitting that he had seen an officer repeatedly punch Nichols in the head while Nichols was restrained by two other officers, Mills reported only that “Nichols was eventually put into custody.”
Pursuant to the terms of Mills’s plea agreement, the government will recommend a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.
The four remaining defendants face federal charges as set forth in the indictment, which is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers, Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Marketing Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A former account manager at a Memphis marketing firm has been sentenced to federal prison in connection with a scheme to defraud her employer of more than $1,000,000. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
On October 18, 2023, United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Karen Winkles Crutchfield, 55, of Southaven, Miss. to 75 months incarceration followed by five years of supervised release. In addition, Fowlkes ordered Crutchfield to pay $1,058,266 in restitution to her former employer and other victims. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service.
"Financial fraud can happen anywhere, and can be devastating to local businesses,” said United States Attorney Ritz. “The defendant used her position of trust and authority to defraud a small business for her own personal benefit. Thanks to our investigative partners, her callous dishonesty has been exposed. Wherever fraud occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable.”
“Small business owners sacrifice every day to help build the United States economy,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Switzer, US Secret Service, Memphis Field Office. “When a trusted employee steals from their employer, it undermines all the work and opportunity those employers give to their community. The Secret Service appreciates the opportunity to work with our investigative partners to assist in bringing justice to this business in Western Tennessee.”
“Financial fraud undermines the integrity of the U.S. tax system and breaks down consumer confidence," said Donald "Trey" Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office Special Agent in Charge. "We, along with our federal partners, will continue to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions."
According to the indictment and information presented in court, between 2013 and 2019, Crutchfield was employed as an account manager at Good Advertising in Memphis. In that capacity, she handled company payroll, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Crutchfield used her access to create false invoices, duplicate or fictitious vendors, and more than 620 fraudulent checks, totaling approximately $662,000. In addition, she stole more than $168,740 from the owners’ profit-sharing account and used company credit cards to pay nearly $59,000 in personal expenses and withdraw $82,000 in cash advances. She inflated her wages, telling the company’s payroll processer that her annual salary was $95,000 – more than double the $45,000 she legitimately earned. Crutchfield used her access to the company owners’ personal identifying information to apply for a business loan without permission, in an apparent effort to cover the shortfall caused by her theft. Finally, Crutchfield filed false tax returns with the IRS, failing to declare the income she obtained from her fraud schemes.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Crutchfield in April 2022. Crutchfield appeared before Judge Fowlkes and entered a guilty plea to the charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and filing a false tax return.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark Erskine prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government.
Convicted Felon and Grape Street Crips Gang Member Sentenced to 25 Years for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Grape Street Crips gang member and convicted felon to 25 years in federal prison for selling and conspiring to sell methamphetamine. Timothy Lurry, 36, of Memphis was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession with intent to distribute; and distribution of meth. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Lurry to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, Homeland Security initiated an investigation of Lurry during which Lurry supplied and sold over 300 grams of pure methamphetamine. At the time, he was on state probation for aggravated assault. After he was arrested, Lurry also directed Paris Bradford to sell cocaine on his behalf.
Paris Bradford and Ivan Guevara-Cortez were also indicted in this investigation. Bradford pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute; to aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; and to distribution of cocaine. On June 26, 2022, United States Senior District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. sentenced Bradford to four months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Guvera-Cortez pled guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and to aiding and abetting in the possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On January 10, Judge Fowlkes sentenced Guevara-Cortez to 35 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Gregory Allen and Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
Convicted Felon Who Pled Guilty to Identity Theft, Property Theft, and Firearms Charges Sentenced to More than 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently issued a sentence of more than ten years imprisonment in the case of a Shelby County man who had pled guilty to firearms, identity theft, and mail fraud charges. Jeffery L. Ware, 40, of Memphis pled guilty in January to a four-count complaint of mail fraud, identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Ware to 121 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release following his prison term. Judge Lipman also ordered Ware to pay $376,191.78 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, between April 2016 and July 2021, Ware used the personal identifying information of at least 25 victims to conduct a series of mail fraud and identity theft schemes. In most instances, Ware either opened or took over victims’ bank accounts, used their information to obtain credit cards, or opened lines of credit in the victims’ names. In addition, Ware filed fraudulent quit claim deeds with the Shelby County Register’s Office to obtain 33 Memphis-area residential properties. He then sold some to innocent third-party purchasers and rented others to tenants, pocketing the rental income.
During the investigation, officers executed a search warrant of Ware’s apartment and found a 9 mm pistol. Due to his prior felony conviction, Ware was prohibited from possessing or using firearms.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Collierville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Murre Foster prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
21 People Facing Firearms, Illegal Drugs, and Conspiracy Charges Following Multi-Agency Violent Crime Reduction Effort in MemphisRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz, together with federal, county, and local law enforcement officials, today announced that 21 individuals were charged in federal court in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics, conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in Memphis. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department initiated this investigation after analyzing crime and gun recovery statistics. By examining more than 5,000 data points collected from the National Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), MPD’s Real Time Crime Center, and 911 calls referencing shots fired, analysts were able to identify areas of Memphis with the highest density of firearm-related crime. Based on that analysis and other information, ATF opened an investigation into illegal activity at several locations around Memphis and Shelby County, including the Save a Stop 2 store, located at 2757 Kimball Avenue in Memphis.
“The dozens of charges and arrests announced today represent what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we work hand-in-hand to take violent criminals and trigger-pullers off our streets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “When we harness the Justice Department’s resources and technology — especially crime-gun intelligence from ATF’s NIBIN network — we are able to identify and arrest the culprits of gun violence and safeguard our communities. Across the country, our towns and cities are safer because of the dedication and bravery of federal agents and their state and local partners, and the 21st-century crime-solving tools DOJ is able to provide.”
“We have a serious gun violence problem in Memphis and strong law enforcement partnership is one of our most effective tools for addressing it,” said United States Attorney Kevin Ritz. “This was an extensive, well-coordinated, and sustained effort to identify and take down some of our community’s most dangerous repeat offenders, serial shooters, and firearms trafficking rings so that we protect citizens and ensure our city’s safety. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work and reiterate this office’s commitment to working with them to make our streets safer.”
“For months, ATF agents and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners have been investigating violent criminals who have terrorized Memphis,” said ATF Director Steve Dettelbach. “The results are now clear: more than 20 arrests; nearly 100 seized firearms, including guns outfitted with machine gun conversion devices; and large quantities of narcotics – including fentanyl. All done better than ever using crime gun intelligence to catch the worst of the worst. ATF commits to continue using and sharing its intelligence with partners around the country to further drive down violent crime."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, United States Marshal Tyreece Miller, Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clint Cannon, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner provided additional details relating to the initiative, as well as on larger firearms enforcement and violence-prevention efforts.
“ATF is committed to reducing the impact of firearm related violent crime in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “Using technology helps us to identify the high crime areas and those who criminally possess firearms. We employ every technique available to law enforcement to dismantle criminal organizations and disrupt the illegal use of firearms for criminal activity. Working with our law enforcement partners, this enforcement initiative did just that.”
Additionally, District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced that his office obtained a court order under Tennessee law to shut down the Save a Stop 2 store as a nuisance and danger to the community. The order was based on the excessive illegal firearm and drug crimes being committed on and around the property.
“This is an excellent example of effective partnerships among agencies,” said District Attorney Mulroy. “Thanks to the great work of the ATF and our local law enforcement, we were able to file a nuisance action to shut down a breeding ground of crime in the community which had long degraded neighborhood residents' safety and quality of life. Because of that and the work by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, residents can now look forward to a safer community.”
Indictments and complaints were recently unsealed in federal court. They detail a lengthy investigation, led by ATF, that focused on reducing firearms-related crime in several areas of Memphis by studying data about areas with a high density of gun-crime violence, then identifying illegal firearms sellers to disrupt their trafficking.
Between 2022 and 2023, law enforcement officials investigated illegal firearm and drug crimes happening in Memphis and Shelby County. Information from 911 calls involving the Save a Stop 2 property showed repeated reports of armed persons, drug overdoses, shots fired, both aggravated and simple assaults, auto thefts, fights, drug sales, and other disturbances. Many of these activities took place in the store’s public parking lot during business hours while nearby uninvolved, law-abiding citizens were engaged in their shopping or day-to-day errands.
The joint investigation has led to nine indictments or complaints and 21 defendants facing federal charges. Federal agents purchased or seized 91 firearms, six of which were outfitted with machine gun conversion devices or “switches” designed to convert a firearm to a fully automatic weapon. Additionally, law enforcement purchased or seized almost 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 332 grams of powder cocaine, 210 grams of powder fentanyl, almost 65 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and 767 MDMA/Meth pills.
Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Marvis Harris, 49, Christopher Butts, 41, and Antoinette Ozier, 41, were indicted together on drug distribution charges. In the same indictment:
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- Harris and Butts were charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs as well as distribution of drugs.
- Butts and Ozier were charged as felons in possessions of firearms and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Harris was also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of machine guns, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Ozier was charged with using a premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing drugs.
- Ernell Paige, 45, was charged in an indictment with possessing drugs with intent to distribute and with distribution of drugs.
- Indicted together were Ulandus Mayes, 34, and Christopher Watts, 39, for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license and for being felons in possession of a firearm. Mayes was additionally charged with distribution of drugs and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Enrique Cardenas-Otra, 41, was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license.
- Xavier Ashford, 30, and Marquez Glover, 21, were both charged with distribution of drugs.
- Indicted together were Leedell Otis, 46, Ricky Brooks, 41, and Jeremiah Otis, 34. In the same indictment:
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- Leedell Otis and Ricky Brooks were also charged with being felons in possession of firearms.
- In addition, Leedell Otis and Jeremiah Otis were charged with distribution of narcotics, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Justin Bankhead, 33, was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Indicted together were Jamar Anderson, 27, Tijerol Crawford, 33, Raymond Greenwood, 39, Broderick Harper, 26, Benjamin Jones, 28, Octavius McMullen, 32, and Larry Raiford, 58. In the same indictment:
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- Anderson, Jones, Crawford, Greenwood, and McMullen were also charged with being felons in possession of firearms.
- Anderson, Jones, Raiford, and Crawford were charged with distribution of narcotics.
- Harper and Jones were charged with possession of a machine gun conversion device.
- Crawford was charged with carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Adrian Seymour, 37, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, distribution of narcotics, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
An indictment or complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigation preceding the indictments was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Memphis Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
These indictments are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of AUSAs in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by AUSA Marques Young and AUSA Michelle Parks.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors.
Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence can have long-lasting impacts and consequences. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes. Rates are disproportionately higher for historically underserved populations, including LGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
“Domestic violence affects us all personally in some way,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “We who serve as federal prosecutors for the Western District of Tennessee have a duty to use all the tools at our disposal — and to leverage our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors — to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice.”
Purple Thursday, observed on October 19, 2023, is a National Day of Action during DVAM. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and to show commitment to promoting safe communities. Please join us on October 19 by wearing purple and starting a conversation about domestic violence.
Two Former Tennessee Department of Corrections Officers Plead Guilty for Their Roles in the Assault of an InmateRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Two former tactical officers for the Tennessee Department of Corrections Strike Force pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault of an inmate and the cover up that followed at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
Javian Griffin, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty yesterday to using unlawful force on an inmate and to providing false information in his official report for the incident. His co-defendant, Sebron Hollands, 33, of Clarksville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty last week to providing false information in his official report regarding the same incident.
“These two defendants used their power as correctional officers to engage in criminal conduct that victimized a person in state custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to hold accountable correctional officers who assault inmates and then try to cover up their criminal conduct.”
"We look to corrections officers to keep prisons safe and secure and to carry out their duties with the utmost integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Instead of upholding and enforcing the oath he took, these officers used their position of authority to violate an inmate’s rights and then conceal the harm they caused. No correctional officer is above the law. This office’s National Security and Civil Rights Unit will continue to prioritize the prosecution of public employees who violate the civil rights of others."
“Correctional officers who abuse their authority and harm or cover up harm to inmates whose safety they are charged with undermine the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI is committed to protecting the civil rights of all people and will aggressively investigate and bring to justice any officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
According to court documents, Griffin admitted that he punched an inmate, identified as K.W., in the head without justification, breaking his jaw. Griffin admitted that at the time he punched K.W., the inmate did not resist or pose a threat justifying his use of force. Griffin and Hollands each admitted that they provided false information in their official reports to obstruct the investigation of the incident.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, the parties agreed to jointly recommend that Griffin serve a 48-month prison sentence. Hollands faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for his false report. A sentencing hearing will take place for Griffin on March 5, 2024. A sentencing hearing for Hollands will take place on Jan. 19, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Andrew Manns and Matthew Tannenbaum for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Secures Agreement in Tennessee School Desegregation CaseRead the Press Release
Note: View the agreement here.
Memphis, TN – The Justice Department announced yesterday that it has secured an agreement to improve and expand educational opportunities for students in the Fayette County School District in Tennessee. The consent order was approved by U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson for the Western District of Tennessee as part of a longstanding school desegregation case.
Under the consent decree, the school district will improve its practices for identifying and serving students in its gifted programs and in dual enrollment classes, which give high school students access to college-level coursework; bolster efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty; and revise student discipline policies to prevent racial discrimination and support a positive climate, including by ending the use of corporal punishment.
“School desegregation and equal access to a quality education was critically important nearly 70 years ago when the Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board, and it is critically important today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in our commitment to making real the promise of Brown and dismantling the legacy of discrimination in our schools. This consent decree is a giant step forward for students deserving of racially just and equitable outcomes in Fayette County Schools. These reforms will expand access to enriched academic opportunities and give students the positive, inclusive learning environment they need to thrive.”
As part of the consent decree, the court declared the district had met its desegregation obligations in several areas of operations, including staff assignment, facilities, transportation and extracurricular activities. The consent decree also provides that the district will, among other requirements:
- Work with the Justice Department and private plaintiffs represented by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to develop an effective and sustainable student assignment policy to further desegregation in its schools;
- Adopt a plan to ensure that all students, including Black students, are properly identified for enrollment in its gifted program and that the district delivers gifted services to properly designated students in a nondiscriminatory manner;
- Review its enrollment in advanced and dual enrollment courses in secondary schools to identify any racial disparities and implement practicable responses designed to reduce barriers that limit the participation of Black students;
- Work with a consultant to implement changes to its student discipline policies designed to reduce racial disparities in discipline, and instill positive reinforcement techniques;
- Eliminate the use of corporal punishment, a practice that undermines effective implementation of positive behavioral interventions; and
- Conduct a comprehensive review of the district’s hiring policies and procedures to identify racial disparities in the recruitment, hiring, promotion and retention of Black faculty and implement appropriate remedial measures.
Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize enforcement of desegregation orders in school districts formerly segregated by law, to ensure that all children can access the building blocks of educational success. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report.
Ten Individuals Charged for $950,000 COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned an indictment yesterday charging 10 individuals for their roles in schemes to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), federal stimulus programs authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly obtained funds under the EIDL program and PPP by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications that collectively sought over $950,000. The defendants are alleged to have submitted applications on behalf of businesses and entities they purportedly owned, knowing that the applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, costs of goods sold, average monthly payroll, and the date on which the entities were established. The defendants then allegedly used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EIDL program or PPP, including for personal expenses.
Below are the 10 defendants and their charges:
- Rodrick Flowers, 47, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud. Flowers was the owner of Ezential Consulting & Management Firm LLC and Rodrick Flowers. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Ezential Consulting & Management Firm LLC, for which he obtained approximately $37,000 in EIDL proceeds and approximately $74,450 in PPP loan proceeds. Flowers also submitted or caused to be submitted eight fraudulent EIDL applications and two fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of entities owned by each of his co-defendants.
- Stephen Brown, 44, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Brown was the owner and pastor of Light of Glory International Church and Stephen Brown Ministries. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Light of Glory International Church and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Stephen Brown Ministries, for which he obtained approximately $149,900 in EIDL proceeds.
- LaTonya Herman, 44, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Herman was the owner of LaTonya Herman. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of her business, for which she obtained approximately $93,800 in EIDL proceeds.
- Jarvys Jones, 38, of West Memphis, Arkansas, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Jones was the owner and pastor of The Temple of Refuge, also referred to as Temple of Refuge Inc, and Refuge. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Refuge and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Temple of Refuge Inc, for which he obtained approximately $20,000 in EIDL proceeds.
- Brian Mays, 40, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Mays was the owner of A-Mays-in-Trucking. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of his business, for which he obtained approximately $107,400 in EIDL proceeds.
- Diane Moss, 60, of Blytheville, Arkansas, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Moss was the owner of The Station, Diane’s Boutique, and Diane Moss. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of The Station and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Diane Moss, for which she obtained approximately $99,300 in EIDL proceeds and approximately $28,420 in PPP loan proceeds.
- Mary Payne, 61, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Payne was the owner of Right Now Staffing LLC. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of her business, for which she obtained approximately $4,000 in an EIDL advance.
- Krystal Sherrod, 34, of Memphis, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Sherrod was the owner of Krystal Sherrod. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of her business for which she obtained approximately $83,300 in EIDL proceeds.
- Frederick Smith, 54, of Cordova, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Smith was the owner and pastor of New Life Holiness Church. He also owned Fred Smith Ministries and Frederick Smith, and was the owner and trustee in bankruptcy for New Life Holiness BK. Smith allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Fred Smith Ministries and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of New Life Holiness BK, for which he obtained approximately $150,275 in PPP loan proceeds.
- Cleveland Wells, 65, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Wells was the owner and pastor of Glory to God Ministries. He also owned Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions, aka Cleveland Wells Jr. dba Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions. Wells allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Glory to God Ministries and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Cleveland Wells Jr. dba Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions, for which he obtained approximately $149,900 in EIDL proceeds.
If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Morini Jr. of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Special Agent in Charge Edwin Bonano of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Anand Ramlall of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement.
TIGTA, FHFA-OIG, and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ariel Glasner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll Andre for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud concerning COVID-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ten Individuals Charged for $950,000 COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned an indictment yesterday charging ten individuals for their roles in schemes to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), federal stimulus programs authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly obtained funds under the EIDL program and PPP by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications that collectively sought over $950,000. The defendants are alleged to have submitted applications on behalf of businesses and entities they purportedly owned, knowing that the applications contained materially false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, costs of goods sold, average monthly payroll, and the date on which the entities were established. The defendants then allegedly used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EIDL program or PPP, including for personal expenses.
Below are the ten defendants and their charges:
- Rodrick Flowers, 47, of Memphis, Tennessee, is charged with 12 counts of wire fraud. Flowers was the owner of Ezential Consulting & Management Firm LLC and Rodrick Flowers. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Ezential Consulting & Management Firm LLC, for which he obtained approximately $37,000 in EIDL proceeds and approximately $74,450 in PPP loan proceeds. Flowers also submitted or caused to be submitted eight fraudulent EIDL applications and two fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of entities owned by each of his co-defendants.
- Stephen Brown, 44, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Brown was the owner and pastor of Light of Glory International Church and Stephen Brown Ministries. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Light of Glory International Church and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Stephen Brown Ministries, for which he obtained approximately $149,900 in EIDL proceeds.
- LaTonya Herman, 44, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Herman was the owner of LaTonya Herman. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of her business, for which she obtained approximately $93,800 in EIDL proceeds.
- Jarvys Jones, 38, of West Memphis, Arkansas, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Jones was the owner and pastor of The Temple of Refuge, also referred to as Temple of Refuge Inc and Refuge. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Refuge and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Temple of Refuge Inc, for which he obtained approximately $20,000 in EIDL proceeds.
- Brian Mays, 40, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Mays was the owner of A-Mays-in-Trucking. He allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of his business, for which he obtained approximately $107,400 in EIDL proceeds.
- Diane Moss, 60, of Blytheville, Arkansas, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Moss was the owner of The Station, Diane’s Boutique, and Diane Moss. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of The Station and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Diane Moss, for which she obtained approximately $99,300 in EIDL proceeds and approximately $28,420 in PPP loan proceeds.
- Mary Payne, 61, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Payne was the owner of Right Now Staffing LLC. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of her business, for which she obtained approximately $4,000 in an EIDL advance.
- Krystall Sherrod, 34, of Memphis, is charged with one count of wire fraud. Sherrod was the owner of Krystal Sherrod. She allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of her business for which she obtained approximately $83,300 in EIDL proceeds.
- Frederick Smith, 54, of Cordova, Tennessee, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Smith was the owner and pastor of New Life Holiness Church. He also owned Fred Smith Ministries and Frederick Smith, and was the owner and trustee in bankruptcy for New Life Holiness BK. Smith allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Fred Smith Ministries and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of New Life Holiness BK, for which he obtained approximately $150,275 in PPP loan proceeds.
- Cleveland Wells, 65, of Memphis, is charged with two counts of wire fraud. Wells was the owner and pastor of Glory to God Ministries. He also owned Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions, aka Cleveland Wells Jr. dba Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions. Wells allegedly submitted a fraudulent EIDL application on behalf of Glory to God Ministries and a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Cleveland Wells Jr. dba Don’t Worry About it Home Solutions, for which he obtained approximately $149,900 in EIDL proceeds.
If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Mark H. Morini Jr. of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Special Agent in Charge Edwin Bonano of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Anand Ramiall of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement.
TIGTA, FHFA-OIG, and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Ariel Glasner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll Andre for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud concerning COVID-19 is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Memphis man sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for series of robberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has issued a sentence of 16 years in federal prison to the second of two people involved in a series of armed robberies in October 2021. Memphis resident Marshall Marshall, 21, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for his role in a carjacking, an attempted carjacking, and robbery of a local business. U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered Marshall to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentencing today.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Marshall’s co-defendant, Khavah Levy, 19, was sentenced on June 29 to 96 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to aiding and abetting Marshall in the commission of the business robbery and attempted carjacking. Judge Lipman also ordered that Levy serve three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force.
According to information presented in court, Marshall and Levy engaged in a series of robberies in October 2021.
- On October 2, Marshall ordered a victim out of his vehicle and stole $145 in cash from him.
- Later that day, Marshall pointed a gun at a convenience store clerk and, with Levy’s help, stole $500 from the cash register.
- On October 3, the pair attempted to carjack another victim at gunpoint while that person was parked at a local grocery store.
Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case for the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney participates in United Against Hate community event at Temple IsraelRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee participated in a United Against Hate outreach event bringing DOJ officials and FBI partners to community members to elevate effective strategies to prevent, report, and respond to hate crimes and incidents.
United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to inform communities about hate crimes and reporting hate-related incidents. The Department launched the initiative in 2022 with the goal of building trust, opening lines of communication, and strengthening coordination between relevant partners and the community to help combat a growing number of hate and bias-related incidents since 2021.
“One of our biggest concerns is that people may not know what a hate crime looks like, or who to tell if they have concerns, so these serious violations may never come to our attention,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz. “We can’t fight what we can’t find. When hate crimes go unreported, it becomes more difficult for law enforcement agencies to allocate resources for the fight.”
This recent event took place on September 25 at Temple Israel, the oldest and largest Jewish congregation in Tennessee, and featured U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz, Rabbi Micah Greenstein, former U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton, and FBI Special Agent Taneka Blacknell.
The event also featured the story of Mickey Wright, the Shelby County code enforcement officer who was murdered in 2001 while on the job, after he wrote a citation to a business owner on Lamar Avenue. Dale Mardis was eventually convicted of civil rights violations for dismembering Wright’s body and disposing him. Wright’s remains were never located. Mardis, who is currently serving life in federal prison, admitted to murdering Wright because of the ticket, but also because Wright was African American.
Wright’s wife and daughter were honored guests at the Temple Israel event.
The following is an excerpt from U.S. Attorney Ritz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
“As federal law enforcement, we have a fundamental obligation to protect the right of each person to dwell in their home, work at their job, jog down a street, shop at a store and engage in acts of daily living without fear of attack based on how they look, where they are from, how they worship or who they love.
From Charleston to Charlottesville to Pittsburgh to El Paso to Buffalo—the threat of hate-based and extremist violence is real. My oath commands me to protect our country from threats foreign and domestic. I’m going to do that.
But we can’t fight what we can’t find.
When hate crimes go unreported, it becomes more difficult for law enforcement agencies to allocate resources for the fight. If there aren’t enough officers to investigate, or prosecutors to try those cases, people may never see justice served.
That’s why we were so proud earlier this summer to announce our district’s new National Security and Civil Rights Unit. We now have a dedicated team of prosecutors within the Criminal Division focusing on prosecuting hate-based crimes, civil rights violations, violent extremism, and related crimes. This is a major part of our mission and deserves to always have a clear, formal home in our office.
But staying silent in the face of hate crimes and incidents also sends a chilling message to our neighbors of various races, religions, and genders: that what happens to them isn’t important. That they don’t matter.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, I want to urge you to take action. You can help us to prevent hate crimes from happening, hold people who commit acts of hate accountable for their actions, and support those who have been targeted.
Over the weekend, Rabbi Greenstein wrote in a local publication about the significance of Yom Kippur. He wrote that ‘the big idea is that what God cares about most is not that a person believes what is right, but that a person does what is right.’
We work hard every day in my office to do the right thing. As you listen to the presenters today, I want you remember that our work begins with raising awareness on attacks against people based on prejudice, bias, and hate.”
Community organizations or leaders that wish to partner with the United States Attorney’s office to explore holding such an event in their community should contact the District at 901-544-4231.
Anyone who feels they have been the victim of a hate crime or may have witnessed a hate crime should immediately report the crime to state or local police by dialing 9-1-1, then quickly report the incident to the FBI at tips.FBI.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Next, please report the incident to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov or by contacting the Civil Rights Coordinator in the Civil Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 901-544-4231.
Texas man charged in $400,000 shipping scam against FedExRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in Memphis has returned a nine-count indictment against a Texas man for operating a mail scheme aimed at defrauding FedEx, a Memphis-based commercial carrier, out of more than $400,000.
According to the indictment, Robert W. Clark, 58, of Travis County, Texas has been charged with nine counts of mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a maximum of three years of supervised release following incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system.
Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today.
According to the indictment, from December 2019 until September 2022, Clark used mail forwarding services and FedEx drop boxes to ship 67 packages, later claimed that the packages had been lost, and filed claims with FedEx seeking reimbursement for their contents. Using the physical address of the mail forwarding service and a fictional name for the sender, Clark created the appearance of sending packages from Arizona, California, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington state. The indictment indicates the packages were instead deposited in FedEx drop boxes located in Texas and shipped through the company’s hub in Memphis.
In support of his claims, Clark submitted bogus invoices to FedEx placing the value of each package at $8,000 or more. The claims checks were forwarded to Clark and deposited into a bank account he controlled. FedEx paid claims on 44 out of the 67 packages Clark generated in the scheme, according to court records.
Clark was initially arrested in Texas and had his initial appearance in the Western District of Tennessee on September 25, 2023. His next court appearance is scheduled before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 9:45 a.m. at the Federal Building in Memphis.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant States Attorney Joe Murphy is prosecuting the case on behalf of the federal government.
Hardeman County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge delivered sentencing in the case of a Hardeman County man convicted of firearm charges. Fabian Bills, 34, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson also ordered Bills to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
According to information presented in court, on May 6, 2022, a deputy in the Madison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Maxima. Upon approaching the passenger’s side of the vehicle, the officer noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the car. The officer asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle; the passenger identified himself as Fabian Bills. The officer discovered a loaded 9mm handgun tucked underneath the front passenger seat. Bills admitted ownership of the firearm and stated that he had prior felony convictions. Bills was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This firearm was later matched by a forensic firearms examiner to two prior shootings.
Based on this, a federal criminal complaint was issued against Bills and on May 27, 2022, a Federal Bureau of Investigations Task Force officer executed the resulting arrest warrant. Additional firearms were recovered from Bills’s vehicle when he was arrested, including an Omni 300 Blackout AR15 and a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm handgun.
In August 2023, Bills pled guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Because the Court found the defendant committed prior violent acts with one of these firearms, he was subject to enhanced punishment at sentencing. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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United States Attorney Ritz Celebrates Funding Awarded for Legal Services and Improved Court Responses to Domestic and Sexual ViolenceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee announced that the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $600,000 to a community-based organization to provide legal services and improve the effective coordination of justice systems impacting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
OVW awarded the grant under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program to West Tennessee Legal Services, Inc. Based in Jackson, Tennessee, West Tennessee Legal Services offers free civil legal services in 17 counties, focusing on issues that affect family safety and stability. The LAV Program addresses the legal needs of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
“The need for specialized legal services is both urgent and essential for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz. “These services provide interventions, such as securing restraining or protective orders, that are crucial for survivor safety. I am pleased that survivors of abuse in our district will benefit from this funding – and that the Justice Department and the Office on Violence Against Women continue to prioritize protecting victims and providing them equal access to justice.”
“The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant, in conjunction with the Justice for Families Program and the Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative, serve as a powerful multi-pronged strategy to transform the justice system's approach to supporting families affected by violence," stated OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo. "These grants enhance court-related programs, trauma-informed training, and resources, while also providing victims with specialized legal support. This includes assistance with securing protective orders and navigating complex family law matters. Collectively, these grants advance a more comprehensive approach, aimed at ensuring that survivors and their families don't merely navigate our legal system, but genuinely find a path to justice and safety.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges.
Read more about the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women at www.justice.gov/ovw.
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U.S. Attorney Ritz Announces $500,000 Grant to Memphis Nonprofit to Support Community Re-EntryRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, today announced that a Memphis nonprofit organization was awarded a Department of Justice grant for $500,000 to help reinforce community-based reentry programs and create more opportunities for formerly incarcerated community members to make successful transition back to society.
This grant, which comes through the Byrne Discretionary Grants Program, was awarded to Lifeline to Success, a local organization focused on helping men and women with serious felony convictions transition back to society. The funds will support the organization’s new rehabilitation center, Welch Home for Success, and a 12-month demonstration program offering peer support, therapeutic and mental health services, job training, and life coaching to reduce recidivism and support long-term success.
“Our reentry partners play a crucial role in keeping Memphis safe and strong,” said United States Attorney Ritz. “This grant demonstrates the federal government’s commitment helping state and local partners stand with us to decrease crime, advance opportunity for ex-offenders, and protect our entire community. Lifeline to Success has an impressive and long-standing track record for helping those whose past would put them most at risk for returning to crime. We applaud them for the work they’ve done and the work this grant will allow them to do in the future.”
“If someone is committed to leaving a life of crime, our goal is to help them transform and become productive members of the community,” said Executive Director Vinessa Brown. “Since we started this program in 2009, we’ve helped more than 1,947 men and women to create new lives for themselves, find jobs, set financial goals, and become successful. We’re excited to launch the Welch Home for Success and focus the tools and partnerships we’ve built over two decades toward creating a life skills curriculum that reduces recidivism and increases ex-offenders’ chances of thriving here at home.”
The Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program is administered by Congress and supports projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and assist crime victims.
Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at www.ojp.gov.
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Five Former Memphis Police Officers Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Conspiracy and Obstruction Violations in Connection with the Death of Tyre NicholsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an indictment today charging five former Memphis Police Department (MPD) detectives with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses resulting in the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7.
“The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed, and we all heard Mr. Nichols cry out for his mother and say ‘I’m just trying to go home,’” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Officers who violate the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect undermine public safety, which depends on the community’s trust in law enforcement. They dishonor their fellow officers who do their work with integrity every day. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable officers who betray their oath.”
“Tyre Nichols should be alive today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is tragic to see a life cut short at 29, with so many milestones unmet, so many words unsaid, so much potential unfulfilled. These federal charges reflect the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of every American and preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. We stand ready to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their misconduct because no one is above the law in our country.”
“When I announced this investigation back in January, I said I wanted this city to be a place where justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This indictment alleging civil rights violations is an important step in ensuring that justice is done for Tyre Nichols. I want to thank the dedicated team of prosecutors and law enforcement agents who are working on this case. I’m proud of our team and proud of their commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.”
According to the four-count indictment, all five defendants, Emmitt Martin III, 31; Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; Desmond Mills, Jr., 33; and Justin Smith, 28, while serving as members of an MPD SCORPION team, willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights. The first count of the indictment alleges that the defendants, aided and abetted by one another, violated Nichols’ right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer by assaulting him and by failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count one also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and the death of Nichols.
Count two of the indictment alleges that all five defendants violated Nichols’ right to be free from a law enforcement officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. Specifically, the indictment alleges that even though the defendants knew that Nichols had a serious medical need, the defendants willfully disregarded that medical need by failing to render medical aid and by failing to advise the MPD dispatcher and emergency medical personnel of the circumstances surrounding Nichols’ serious medical need. Count two also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and death of Nichols.
Count three of the indictment alleges that all five defendants conspired to cover up their use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to their supervisor and to others. Specifically, the indictment outlines overt acts the defendants committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, including, among others, failing to tell MPD and Memphis Fire Department personnel that the defendants had struck Nichols and that the defendants had discussed hitting Nichols with straight haymakers and taking turns hitting him. Further, the indictment alleges that the defendants provided false and misleading information to two MPD officers tasked with writing reports about Nichols’ arrest. Finally, it alleges that the defendants submitted Response to Resistance Reports that contained false and misleading information and omitted that the defendants had assaulted Nichols.
Count four of the indictment alleges that the defendants committed an obstruction offense by intentionally omitting material information, and providing false and misleading information, to two MPD officers tasked with writing MPD reports about the arrest of Nichols.
Counts one and two of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Counts three and four each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation into the MPD. The charges announced today are criminal, while the pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that will be conducted separately and independently from the criminal case and will be handled by a different team of career staff from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges announced today are also separate from, and in addition to, the charges the State of Tennessee has brought against these former officers related to the death of Nichols. The federal charges allege different criminal offenses. Specifically, and among other federal charges, today’s indictment alleges violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
View the Attorney General’s full video statement here.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Memphis Men Plead Guilty in Series of Carjackings, KidnappingsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – All three men responsible for a series of violent carjackings and kidnappings that occurred over last year’s holiday season have pled guilty to the charges against them. Adrian Pegues, 19, Malik Malone, 18, and Alan Key, 20, all of Memphis, have each pled guilty in federal court to a series of violent events that occurred in December 2022 in Memphis and Germantown. Pegues and Key also pled guilty to an additional carjacking that occurred in Memphis in July 2022. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the changes of plea today.
According to U.S. Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, on December 20, 2022, Pegues and Malone carjacked and kidnapped two individuals separately, and forced them at gunpoint to withdraw money from ATMs. The facts of those incidents are as follows:
- The two men kidnapped and carjacked the first victim from her driveway in East Memphis. They forced her to drive her vehicle to an ATM at First Citizens National Bank in Arlington, TN and withdraw money from her bank account. After they forced her to drive around looking for another ATM, they eventually returned to the same ATM and again forced her to withdraw money.
- Pegues and Malone then ordered the first victim to follow another vehicle into an apartment complex in Cordova, TN, where they kidnapped and carjacked a second victim, again at gunpoint.
- Pegues and Malone split up and attempted to force the victims to withdraw more money from ATMs. Eventually, both Pegues and Malone ordered the victims to drop them off in Memphis and they fled.
On December 30, 2022, Pegues, Malone, and Alan Key attempted to kidnap a person at the Saddle Creek shopping center in Germantown with the intent to commit another robbery.
- The trio parked next to the victim’s vehicle and waited as she exited a store and approached her vehicle.
- As the victim opened her door, Pegues and Malone bumped the victim with their car door, ordered her to get in the vehicle, and tried to get into her vehicle.
- The victim struggled with Pegues and Malone. An armed private citizen saw what was occurring and intervened. When confronted, the men got back into their vehicle and escaped.
Additionally, investigators determined that Pegues and Key committed another carjacking in Memphis on July 25, 2022. During this carjacking, Pegues was armed with a firearm. Both Pegues and Key also pled guilty to this carjacking and the use of a firearm in this incident as well.
On May 25, 2023, Malik Malone appeared before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman and pled guilty to all charges.
On September 5, 2023, Adrian Pegues appeared before Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton and pled guilty to 11 of the 12 charges against him. On September 6, 2023, Alan Key also appeared before Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton; he pled guilty to all charges against him.
Malone is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief Judge Lipman on October 20, 2023. Pegues and Key will be sentenced by Chief Judge Lipman on December 18, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Germantown Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner is handling the prosecution of this matter for the government.
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United States Attorney Kevin Ritz Inducted to Memphis-Shelby County Schools Alumni Hall of FameRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz was honored recently as one of several notable graduates to be named to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) Alumni Hall of Fame. At a gala and award ceremony on August 24, MSCS paid tribute to Memphians whose compelling stories and professional achievements provide inspiration to city students. In addition to U.S. Attorney Ritz, this year’s honorees included The Memphis State Eight, Velma Lois Jones, Dr. Derrick Payne, Dr. Quodarrius Toney, Pastor Tony Wade, Thaddeus Young, and Dr. Charlie Caswell, Jr.
Selected photos of the gala and a video highlighting Mr. Ritz’s accomplishments are available below.
A graduate of Ridgeway Elementary School, White Station Junior High, and White Station High School, Ritz credits his MSCS experience with providing the grounding for his lifelong dedication to public service.
“I’m very proud to be a public-school graduate; it’s something I talk about whenever I introduce myself to any community or law enforcement group,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “I had terrific teachers who taught me how to write and helped build the foundation for me to become a lawyer that specialized in writing. I attended schools that were extremely diverse and taught me to learn from and interact with people who are different from me. I value so highly what the Memphis-Shelby County Schools did for me. This is just a tremendous honor.”
After graduation, Ritz received his J.D. from the University of Virginia, his M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and his B.A. with High Distinction from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. Between college and law school, Mr. Ritz worked for the United States Department of State. He then returned to Memphis, where he clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Julia Gibbons before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ritz later became the Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section, President of the Federal Bar Association’s Memphis Chapter, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Past MSCS Hall of Fame inductees include Elvis Presley, Benjamin Hooks, Penny Hardaway, actress Kathy Bates, songwriter/producer David Porter, former Memphis Police Department director Toney Armstrong, and designer and CEO Brandice Daniel.
For more information about the 2023 MSCS Alumni Hall of Fame, visit scsk12.org/hof.
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United States Attorney Kevin Ritz among Memphis-Shelby County Schools 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees.
U.S. Attorney Ritz: “I value so highly what the Memphis-Shelby County Schools did for me. I'm extremely proud to be a graduate of our public school system.” U.S. Attorney Ritz with Dr. Charlie Caswell, who was also honored at the Hall of Fame Gala.Memphis Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On Friday, September 1, 2023, a federal judge sentenced the second of two men involved in an armed carjacking that occurred at a Memphis apartment complex in January 2022. Wesley Richardson, 21, of Memphis was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for his role, said Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla also ordered Richardson to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
On April 11, 2023, Richardson’s co-defendant, Memphis resident Derek Coach, 22, was also sentenced to 121 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to the carjacking. Judge McCalla also ordered that Coach serve three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, on January 18, 2022, at approximately 7:00pm, the victim parked her 2015 Hyundai Elantra in the parking lot of her apartment complex when two men approached her with a gun. One of the men pointed a gun at her stomach and said, “Give me the keys and everything you have.” The men took the victim’s keys, cell phone, money, and bank cards before speeding away in her car.
Approximately two hours later, Memphis police officers spotted the victim’s car near S. Mendenhall and Cottonwood streets. When officers pursued the vehicle, the driver sped off, eventually crashing into a drainage ditch. Five occupants jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers took three of the suspects into custody and recovered a black backpack with three loaded firearms from the scene.
Both Richardson and Coach admitted to participating in the carjacking. Richardson admitted that he pulled a loaded gun on the victim and stole her car. Coach admitted that he acted as the lookout.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Readout of United States Attorney Kevin Ritz’s Roundtable Discussions in Dyer CountyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – On Thursday, August 24, United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz traveled to Dyer County in the 29th Judicial District of West Tennessee to host a series of roundtable discussions with law enforcement, local prosecutors, and community stakeholders. Roundtable participants had an open dialogue with the U.S. Attorney, addressing their issues and concerns, and learned more about the Department’s priorities.
On Thursday morning, WTRO-101.7 FM host Bill Taylor interviewed U.S. Attorney Ritz about his goals for the roundtable discussions, Department priorities, and violent crime issues. As U.S. Attorney Ritz said during the interview, “Gun violence has many causes, and it needs to have many solutions. [Federal prosecutors are] part of the solution. With federal firearms laws, we have some aggressive tools. But we need everybody working together. We need prevention and intervention from community groups, faith leaders, and schools.”
Later that morning, U.S. Attorney Ritz met in Dyersburg with District Attorney Danny Goodman and local law enforcement leaders to discuss trends in violent crime, partner successes, and emerging concerns.
State Gazette reporter Dr. William Honeycutt interviewed U.S. Attorney Ritz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham just before lunch about crime and drug trends in Dyer County, Department priorities, and examples of sound collaboration between federal and local law enforcement.
Thursday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Ritz was the keynote speaker at the Rotary Club in Dyersburg.
The district-wide visit concluded late Thursday afternoon, when U.S. Attorney Ritz facilitated a roundtable discussion with the Dyer Baptist Association at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Below are photos from these events. U.S. Attorney Ritz will continue to schedule roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the Western District of Tennessee.
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United States Attorney Kevin Ritz interviewed by WTRO radio host Bill Taylor.
U.S. Attorney Ritz, along with AUSA Hillary Parham and District Attorney General Danny Goodman, facilitated roundtable discussion with Dyer County law enforcement
U.S. Attorney Ritz, along with AUSA Hillary Parham and District Attorney General Danny Goodman, facilitated roundtable discussion with Dyer County law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Ritz addressed the members of the Dyersburg Rotary Club.Shelby County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently delivered sentencing in the case of a Shelby County man convicted of drug and firearm charges. Devin Wiseman, 37, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris also ordered Wiseman to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on October 18, 2021, Memphis Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze bearing fraudulent temporary tags. Officers discovered that Wiseman, who was operating the vehicle, had a revoked driver’s license. Wiseman and a female passenger admitted they were smoking marijuana in the car. In addition, officers discovered a loaded black 9mm pistol tucked underneath the passenger seat and an extended magazine loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition in the driver’s side door pocket. Wiseman admitted ownership of the firearm and was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
In May 2023, a federal jury determined that Wiseman’s three prior violent felony convictions were committed on occasions different from one another. This led to an enhanced sentence for Wiseman under the Armed Career Criminal Act. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Raney Irwin and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Man Convicted of Submitting False Statements to COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Memphis convicted a Tennessee man yesterday for making false statements on an attestation to receive $107,568.03 from the Provider Relief Fund, a federal program that provided financial assistance to medical providers offering care to Americans suffering from COVID-19.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Raymond Earl Vallier, 52, of Fayette County, owned and operated North Delta Hospice and Palliative Services LLC in Southaven, Mississippi, from 2006 until June 2019, when he ceded ownership to Individual 1, who passed away in February 2020. By January 2020, North Delta Hospice had stopped billing Medicare and Medicaid and stopped paying employees. North Delta Hospice also did not file a 2020 federal income tax return. In April 2020, North Delta Hospice received a Provider Relief Fund payment of $107,568.03. When the payment was deposited into the company’s bank account, Vallier transferred some of the funds to accounts that he controlled. Then, he issued a $58,000 check to himself. To retain the Provider Relief Fund monies, Vallier submitted a false and fraudulent attestation on behalf of North Delta Hospice in the name of Individual 1, who at that time was deceased. In the attestation, Vallier accepted terms and conditions of payment, which involved certifying, among other things, that North Delta Hospice provided, after Jan. 31, 2020, diagnoses, testing, or care of individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19. Vallier also falsely certified that North Delta Hospice would only use the payment to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and only for health care related expenses and lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.
The jury convicted Vallier of two counts of making false statements. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 7. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of making false statements. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Sara E. Porter and Assistant Chief Justin Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the Provider Relief Fund, monies that were provided to medical providers that must be used for the medical providers’ coronavirus response.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Justice Department and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Twenty-One-Year-Old Memphis Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for String of Robberies Against Postal EmployeesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jonathan D. Holmes, 21, of Memphis, to 11 years in federal prison for a string of assaults and robberies of United States postal employees. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Holmes to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, on October 4, 2021, a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service was delivering mail near Kings Grant Cove in South Memphis when Jonathan Holmes parked his car in front of the postal vehicle and pointed a gun at the postal worker. The mail carrier fled in his postal vehicle. Approximately 15 minutes later, Holmes approached a second letter carrier near Silver Chalice Drive and again pointed a handgun at the worker. Holmes demanded packages off the truck and fled the scene after stealing multiple packages. About 15 minutes after that robbery, Holmes robbed a third letter carrier near Hallshire Cove and again fled the scene with several packages.
On April 6, 2023, Holmes pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault of a federal employee, two counts of robbery of a postal employee, and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. On August 8, 2023, U.S. District Judge Fowlkes sentenced Holmes to 132 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
"This office takes very seriously its duty to protect the safety of United States Postal Service employees and the security of the U.S. Mail,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “This sentence should stand as a message to anyone who would threaten or attempt to threaten government institutions, innocent citizens, and community safety. We will do all we can to see that acts of violence and greed are met with the full measure of consequences."
“The sentence imposed today exemplifies the unending dedication of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to protect the employees of the United States Postal Service. When our employees are victims of robberies and assaults, we do not stop until we identify those responsible,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “We are proud of the work done by the Postal Inspectors, and we are very pleased with the sentence, which we feel speaks to the gravity of the offense. We appreciate the work of the United States Attorney’s Office to bring Mr. Holmes to justice.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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U.S. Attorney Announces Civil Complaint Against Shelby County Property Owner for Environmental Cleanup CostsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States today announced the filing of a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee against Shelby County property owner Minor David Madison, Jr. Madison owns land tracts at 3517 and 3523 Southern Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee — properties that housed successive dry-cleaning businesses over the years, including the former Custom Cleaners.
According to the complaint, Madison leased the property to several dry-cleaning operators beginning in 1966. Those operators are alleged to have disposed of solvents, such as perchloroethylene and trichloroethene, at the site while Madison owned the property.
In June 2013, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) received complaints about chemical vapor smells and abandoned barrels of chemicals at the property. TDEC sampling detected high concentrations of hazardous substance vapors in the subsurface, migrating soil gasses that would pose a threat to neighboring properties, and a plume of contaminated groundwater threatening the aquifer that supplies drinking water to Memphis and other local municipalities.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz said: “Clean air and safe drinking water are basic building blocks for a healthy and just Memphis. More than 20 years after the last dry cleaners on this property shuttered, residents are still living with toxic gasses in the soil and water above the level considered safe by federal standards. This is the first step in making sure those same residents don’t have to foot the bill for bringing their community back to a healthy standard.”
The lawsuit seeks recovery of all costs incurred by the Environmental Protection Agency under Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), 42 U.S.C. § 9607. CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund, provides the United States with a way to recover the costs of responding to a release or threatened release of hazardous substances by imposing liability on property owners. In 2017, the EPA added Madison’s properties to the Superfund’s National Priorities List, a list of the most serious sites requiring response actions. For more about the Former Custom Cleaners Superfund site, see https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0402275.
EPA has been performing response actions since 2016 and will continue to conduct response actions in the future to abate hazards posed by the site.
This case is being handled for the government by Assistant United States Attorney Audrey Calkins and attorneys with the Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of unlawful conduct; the allegations must be proven in federal court.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 31 Years in Federal Prison for Series of Armed Robberies of Mid-South HotelsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Today a federal judge sentenced the last of three men involved in a series of robberies of hotels in Memphis. Reginald Rose, 30, of Memphis was sentenced to 382 months in federal prison for his role in five hotel robberies in the Memphis area, said Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris also ordered Rose to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Judge Norris previously sentenced both of Rose’s co-defendants: Memphis resident Gregory Moore, 24, was sentenced on May 18, 2023, and resident Randy Jack, 27, was sentenced on March 1, 2023. Judge Norris sentenced both Moore and Jack to 168 months and one day in prison after they pled guilty to four of the same robbery charges. Judge Norris also ordered that both Moore and Jack serve three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, between August 5 and 7, 2021, Rose, Moore, and Jack robbed four Memphis hotels at gunpoint. On August 8, 2021, Rose and Moore also robbed a fifth hotel at gunpoint. On August 5, 2021, Randy Jack and Reginald Rose entered the Quality Suites, 2575 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Memphis, and Jack pointed a firearm at the employee, demanding money. Rose stood in front of the counter to distract the other victims and employees. After taking money from the cash registers, the pair fled to a waiting getaway car driven by Moore.
Although they changed roles in some of the subsequent robberies, the trio went on to conduct similar robberies of the following hotels:
- August 7, 2021: Quality Inn, 3105 Millbranch Road, Memphis, Tennessee.
- August 7, 2021: Quality Inn and Suites, 1335 McRee Street, Memphis, Tennessee.
- August 7, 2021: Extended Stay America Suites, 2520 Horizon Lake Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.
- August 8, 2021: Microtel Inn and Suites, 2423 North Germantown Parkway, Memphis, Tennessee. (This robbery was committed by Rose and Moore alone.)
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz Delivers Remarks for DOJ Pattern or Practice Investigation of the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
Remarks as Delivered
Good morning.
I want to thank Assistant Attorney General Clarke for coming here to Memphis to continue what I believe is a crucial, community-wide conversation about civil rights in our city.
This morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and I met with the Mayor, the Chief of Police, and other City of Memphis officials to discuss what this pattern or practice investigation would entail. I want to say that our office will be a partner with the Civil Rights Division during this investigation.
As we proceed, we are committed to engaging in a conversation with people across the entire city to answer questions and let the community know what they can expect. This includes residents, community groups, police officers, city officials, and faith and civil rights leaders.
Here’s the thing: public safety requires public trust in law enforcement. The police officers who risk their lives every day in the line of duty need the public to trust them. Community trust makes policing more effective and less dangerous for both officers and the people they protect.
To build and maintain that trust, law enforcement must conduct themselves constitutionally and lawfully. Citizens, including the people of this great city, deserve constitutional and lawful policing.
In my 18 years as a federal prosecutor here in Memphis, I’ve had the opportunity to work with public servants and community leaders who are dedicated to addressing the root causes of crime in our city – people who understand that as government, our first responsibility is to protect our citizens. That means to protect them from crime, and it also means to protect their civil rights.
I want to be clear: while the pattern or practice investigation is underway, you can still expect our team of federal prosecutors to continue to take on tough cases – whether those involve violent crime, drug trafficking, illegal guns, national security, hate crimes, or holding people in authority accountable.
That work will continue, and we will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local level to vigorously enforce the criminal laws. That’s a core piece of the Department’s mission.
It is also a core piece of the Department’s mission to ensure that the constitutional and federal statutory rights of all people are protected. Pattern or practice investigations help us fulfill that responsibility. This civil pattern or practice investigation is and will remain separate from our office’s criminal investigations and prosecutions.
It is also separate from the technical assistance being provided by the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS Office. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta announced in March that the COPS Office, through its Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, would be providing technical assistance related to MPD’s use of force and de-escalation practices, as well as its use of specialized units. That work will continue in the immediate term while the separate pattern or practice investigation is ongoing.
As I’ve said often, in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, my colleagues and I uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and keep Americans safe. That work is predicated on the principle that there is only one rule of law. There can’t be one rule of law for the powerful and another for the powerless. There can’t be one rule of law for the rich and another for the poor. And there can’t be one rule of law for people who look like me and another for people of color.
And as much as I believe most of our partners in law enforcement work diligently and bravely under that same guiding principle, we as a community cannot afford to be silent if there are those who aren’t upholding that standard.
And so, I welcome this opportunity to let the facts lead in what I know will be an ongoing and important discussion about civil rights in our city. Together we can build a stronger Memphis—a Memphis that protects the safety and civil rights of all.
Justice Department Announces Pattern or Practice Investigation of the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department (MPD). The investigation will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by MPD. The investigation will focus on MPD’s use of force and its stops, searches and arrests, as well as whether it engages in discriminatory policing.
This civil investigation is separate and independent from the technical assistance being provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). While the investigation is ongoing, the COPS Office will continue to provide technical assistance to MPD through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), related to MPD’s use of force and de-escalation practices, as well as its use of specialized units. In addition, in the wake of Tyre Nichols’s death, the Associate Attorney General asked the COPS Office to develop a guide for police chiefs and mayors across the country to help them assess the appropriateness of the use of specialized units, like the former SCORPION unit in Memphis, as well as how to ensure necessary management, oversight, and accountability of such units. The COPS Office has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to inform the recommendations in that guide, which is forthcoming.
This civil investigation is also separate and independent from the federal criminal civil rights investigation of MPD officers related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
“The tragic death of Tyre Nichols created enormous pain in the Memphis community and across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is launching this investigation to examine serious allegations that the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department engage in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct and discriminatory policing based on race, including a dangerously aggressive approach to traffic enforcement. We are committed to working cooperatively with local officials, police, and community members to conduct the thorough and comprehensive review that the residents of Memphis deserve.”
“I know this community is still hurting after the tragic death of Tyre Nichols,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “At the Justice Department, we are committed to using all our tools to help ensure that Memphis residents have a safe community and can trust in the actions of law enforcement. In addition to our pattern or practice investigation, we will continue to deliver technical assistance resources through CRI-TAC and our COPS Office, to help the city and MPD address issues related to use of force, de-escalation, and specialized units in the more immediate term.”
“Every person is entitled to constitutional and non-discriminatory policing in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, there are grounds to open this investigation now. We have reviewed information that indicates that the Memphis Police Department may be using an approach to street enforcement that can result in violations of federal law, including racially discriminatory stops of Black people for minor violations. The Justice Department will conduct a thorough and objective investigation into allegations of unlawful discrimination and Fourth Amendment violations. Unlawful policing undermines community trust, which is essential to public safety.”
“The people of this great city deserve constitutional and lawful policing – and that begins with trust,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Community trust makes policing more effective and less dangerous for both officers and the people they protect. Pattern-or-practice investigations help build and maintain that trust by ensuring law enforcement agencies do their jobs lawfully. I welcome this opportunity to let the facts lead in what will be an ongoing and important discussion about civil rights in our city. I also want to assure the public that our team of federal prosecutors will continue to partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement to vigorously prosecute criminal activity and uphold the rule of law. Together we can build a stronger Memphis — a Memphis that protects the safety and civil rights of all.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. If the Justice Department has reasonable cause to believe that a state or local government has engaged in a prohibited pattern or practice, the Department is authorized to bring a lawsuit seeking court-ordered changes to remedy the violations. In this investigation, the Department will assess law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prior to the announcement, Department officials informed Mayor Jim Strickland, MPD Chief Cerelyn Davis, and Interim Chief Legal Officer Michael Fletcher. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department will reach out to community members to learn about their experiences with MPD.
The case is being investigated by career attorneys and staff from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. They will be assisted by experienced law enforcement experts. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Today’s announcement marks the ninth pattern or practice investigation into law enforcement misconduct opened by the Justice Department during this Administration. The Department has ongoing investigations into the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester (MA) Police Department; and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The Department recently completed investigations in Louisville and Minneapolis, and secured agreements in principle with both jurisdictions to negotiate consent decrees to address the violations found.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 135 Months for Transporting Narcotics on a Memphis-Bound AirplaneRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Michael Jefferson, 45, of Memphis has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute approximately 12 kilos of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on March 26, 2022, officers with the Memphis Airport Police, detectives with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Narcotics Division, and special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration were conducting routine drug searches at the Memphis International Airport when a drug detection dog gave a positive alert to the presence of narcotics inside luggage belonging to Jefferson. A search of the luggage revealed 12 kilos – or just over 26 pounds – of methamphetamine.
Jefferson pled guilty to the offense. On July 20, 2023, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Jefferson to 135 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Airport Police, the Shelby County Narcotics Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
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Federal Jury Finds Armed Career Criminal Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict recently in the case of a Hardin County man facing drug and firearm charges. Patrick Dillon Butler, 30, now faces a minimum of 20 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the conviction today.
After a 4-day jury trial in July 2023, Butler was convicted of possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or drug trafficking. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, on approximately December 11, 2021, deputies with the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department attempted to arrest Butler on an active arrest warrant. Butler refused to stop for the deputies and then led them on a high-speed chase that ended with him crashing into a deputy’s cruiser. Upon his capture, Butler was in possession of 2.26 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, 14 unused baggies, $353 in cash, and had a .38 pistol in the glove box of the car he was driving.
In 2017 and 2018, Butler was found guilty of felony charges of aggravated assault and possession of .5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and is prohibited from possessing firearms. As a result of his felony convictions, Butler will face sentencing as an Armed Career Criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Three Men Sentenced for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Three Tennessee men were each sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for committing an armed carjacking of two victims at a gas station in Bolivar, Tennessee.
According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2020, Delvion Beard, 22, Quadarius Greer, 21, and Bryson Townsley, 21, all of Jackson, stole an Audi A4 from two victims at gunpoint. Beard and Greer abruptly entered the back seat of the car and forced the victims to drive from the gas station at gunpoint. Townsley followed them in a second car. Along the way, Beard and Greer forced the driver into the back seat and Beard took control of the car, driving it to a residential complex. When they arrived, the three defendants used physical force and guns, including an AK-47 pistol, to take the victims out of the car, rob them, and drive away in the stolen vehicle. One victim suffered injuries during the attack. The defendants threatened to kill both victims if they reported the incident to the police.
“The choice of these armed carjackers to terrorize innocent victims for personal gain was cowardly and reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Justice Department’s commitment to vigorously prosecuting those who use weapons and violence to dominate our public spaces and deprive our citizens of safety in their own communities.”
“Individuals committing gun violence are causing havoc in West Tennessee. Armed carjackings, in particular, threaten basic notions of what it means to feel safe in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Citizens throughout our district can be assured that the Department of Justice, along with state and local law enforcement partners, tirelessly work together to protect the innocent and bring to justice those who commit violent acts.”
“Carjackings are a senseless but seriously violent crime that threaten the lives of innocent victims in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office, “Law enforcement refuses to tolerate this criminal behavior, and the FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to target, identify, and bring each and every violent offender to justice.”
The FBI and Bolivar Police Department investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Jackson Police Department.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
Three Men Sentenced for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Three Tennessee men were each sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for committing an armed carjacking of two victims at a gas station in Bolivar, Tennessee.
According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2020, Delvion Beard, 22, Quadarius Greer, 21, and Bryson Townsley, 21, all of Jackson, stole an Audi A4 from two victims at gunpoint. Beard and Greer abruptly entered the back seat of the car and forced the victims to drive from the gas station at gunpoint. Townsley followed them in a second car. Along the way, Beard and Greer forced the driver into the back seat and Beard took control of the car, driving it to a residential complex. When they arrived, the three defendants used physical force and guns, including an AK-47 pistol, to take the victims out of the car, rob them, and drive away in the stolen vehicle. One victim suffered injuries during the attack. The defendants threatened to kill both victims if they reported the incident to the police.
“The choice of these armed carjackers to terrorize innocent victims for personal gain was cowardly and reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Justice Department’s commitment to vigorously prosecuting those who use weapons and violence to dominate our public spaces and deprive our citizens of safety in their own communities.”
“Individuals committing gun violence are causing havoc in West Tennessee. Armed carjackings, in particular, threaten basic notions of what it means to feel safe in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Citizens throughout our district can be assured that the Department of Justice, along with state and local law enforcement partners, tirelessly work together to protect the innocent and bring to justice those who commit violent acts.”
“Carjackings are a senseless but seriously violent crime that threaten the lives of innocent victims in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office, “Law enforcement refuses to tolerate this criminal behavior, and the FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to target, identify, and bring each and every violent offender to justice.”
The FBI and Bolivar Police Department investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Jackson Police Department.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Ritz Launches National Security and Civil Rights UnitRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin Ritz today announced the creation of a National Security and Civil Rights Unit within the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. This move permanently positions a supervisory attorney and several prosecutors to respond to and prevent hate crimes and civil rights violations, as well as threats to national security.
“None of us can afford for federal investigators and prosecutors to take a passive role when it comes to protecting the rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “We have a responsibility to our communities to be active participants in seeing those rights endure. This new unit mobilizes every tool at our disposal to prosecuting hate-based crimes, civil rights violations, violent extremism, and related crimes. This is a major part of our mission and deserves to always have a clear, formal home in our office.”
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Hartridge was appointed by Ritz to lead the unit as Deputy Criminal Chief. For nearly nine years, Hartridge has represented the United States in the prosecution of violations of federal firearms, controlled substances, and robbery statutes. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hartridge served in the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she supervised a team of attorneys and support personnel. As Deputy Criminal Chief, Hartridge will oversee a team of federal prosecutors on cases involving bias-related incidents, official misconduct, domestic terrorism, interstate threats, cybercrime (including exploitation of children), and other related violations of federal law.
That team will expand almost immediately, according to U.S. Attorney Ritz, as he and Hartridge also announced plans to recruit multiple new Assistant United States Attorneys to work on these issues by the end of the summer. The Justice Department recently granted resources to the Western District to hire multiple additional Assistant United States Attorneys, including one to focus specifically on domestic terrorism and violent crime.
“Our first job is to send a strong message to the cities and counties we serve that we take these kinds of cases seriously and that we are focused on holding people accountable when there is a report of a violation of civil rights or threat to national security,” said Hartridge. “That requires us to build a team of passionate, victim-focused prosecutors who understand the responsibility of this work. The team we have in Memphis and Jackson has given us an incredible foundation; I’m excited to work with them and our new hires to grow and sustain the new unit.”
More information on the attorney vacancies, including qualifications and details on the process, can be found on USAJobs.gov. The deadline to apply is July 16, 2023.
The new unit in the Western District of Tennessee prioritizes cases consistent with Attorney General Garland’s May 27, 2021 directive to U.S. Attorneys to combat hate crimes and incidents, address them when they occur, support those victimized by them, and reduce the pernicious effects these incidents have on our society.
Data released in early 2023 shows an increase in hate crimes reported to the FBI by law enforcement agencies, rising from more than 8,000 in 2020 to nearly 11,000 the following year.
United States Attorney Ritz recently joined three subcommittees of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) as part of this effort. The AGAC was created in 1973 to serve as the voice of U.S. Attorneys and to advise the Attorney General. United States Attorney Ritz serves on the Violent and Organized Crime Subcommittee, the Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee, and the Civil Rights Subcommittee. As a member of these subcommittees, Ritz works with other U.S. Attorneys and Department leadership to advise on issues in these areas and address their impact across the Western District of Tennessee.
“We’re certainly going to continue to lean on our partnerships across local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute these cases wherever we can,” said Ritz. “But community members are also important partners in this fight. Part of our work is going to be talking to people in all 22 of the counties in our District about how domestic terrorism is evolving, what hate crimes look like in 2023, and how they can bring their concerns to our attention.”
To report a hate crime, human trafficking, civil rights violation, or other federal crime, dial 911 for immediate help from local authorities; submit a report to the Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov; or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
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Weakley County Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced a Weakley County woman to 96 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release following her guilty plea to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Kevin Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
“Methamphetamine trafficked in and through West Tennessee is approaching dangerous levels of purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz. “Drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence, and death caused by these dangerous substances deserve proper punishment. This defendant had a very brief criminal history, but the sheer volume of the drugs that she sold commanded the strong response reflected in the sentence imposed by the Court."
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, law enforcement officers became aware in July 2021 that Amy Marie Mitchell, 34, of Dresden, TN and her co-defendant, Robert Warren Gearin, were distributing crystal methamphetamine – any form of the drug that is 80 percent or higher in purity – in and around Weakley County. Investigators worked with a confidential informant on July 15, 2021 to purchase approximately 13 grams of crystal methamphetamine from someone who had obtained the drugs from Mitchell and Gearin’s home in Dresden.
On October 21, 2021, officers executed a search warrant at the defendants’ residence and seized close to 400 grams of methamphetamine, plastic baggies, three sets of digital scales, a Taurus TX .22 caliber pistol with matching ammunition, and a police scanner. The Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory later confirmed that the methamphetamine seized from the defendants’ home weighed 393.27 grams and was 97 percent pure. Officers learned through witnesses and additional investigation that over a four-month period Mitchell and Gearin sold approximately four pounds of methamphetamine in the Weakley County area.
On March 6, 2023, Mitchell pled guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Gearin entered a guilty plea to similar charges and is awaiting sentencing.
The Weakley Co. Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, as well as the law enforcement partners.
Second Man Sentenced in Series of Armed Robberies and Conspiracy to Commit Additional Robberies of Mid-South Retail StoresRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, a federal judge sentenced the second of two men involved in a series of robberies of mid-South Walmart and Kroger stores beginning Christmas Eve 2021. Randy Readus, 36, of Memphis was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for his role in multiple business robberies and conspiracy to commit robberies in the Memphis and surrounding areas, said Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Readus to serve two years of supervised release and pay restitution of more than $34,000 upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Readus’s co-defendant, Memphis resident Julius Black, 32, was sentenced on May 18, 2023, to 240 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to these and other robbery charges. Judge Fowlkes also ordered that Black serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, between December 2020 and January 2021, Readus and Black committed multiple business robberies in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. On the morning of December 24, 2020, Readus drove Black from Memphis to Marion, Arkansas. Black entered Walmart, robbed the Money Center at gunpoint, then fled with a large amount of cash in a vehicle driven by Readus, who was waiting outside.
Readus and Black went on to conduct similar robberies of the following businesses:
- December 26, 2020: Walmart, 512 Industrial Park Drive, Trumann, Arkansas.
- December 31, 2020: Kroger, at 6660 Poplar Avenue. Readus drove Black to the Kroger, and Black jumped the customer service desk, forced his way into the finance room, and forcibly stole money.
- January 6, 2021: Walmart, 950 Mackie Drive, Holly Springs, Mississippi.
- January 8, 2021: Kroger, 9025 Highway 64, Memphis, Tennessee.
- January 8, 2021: Kroger, Highway 70, Arlington, Tennessee. The pair attempted to rob the store but got away without any money.
- January 12, 2021: Walmart, New Albany, Mississippi. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force apprehended Readus and Black after the robbery, disabling the vehicle before the two could flee the scene.
After a six-day jury trial in February 2023, Readus was convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.