Eastern District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Treasure map leads officers to buried fentanylRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two men pled guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl after law enforcement followed a treasure map to buried drugs.
According to court documents, on Dec. 7, 2021, Ronald Devon Matthews, 39, was arrested at his home in Isle of Wight County and has remained in custody since the day of his arrest. Following his arrest, Matthews authorized Demetris Alexander Daniels, 34, of Hampton, to live in the residence.
On Aug. 11, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Matthews on three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Sept. 29, 2022, Matthews pled guilty to all three counts, and on Feb. 24, 2023, he was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
Prior to his arrest, however, Matthews buried 383.02 grams of fentanyl in the ground outside his home for future distribution. On May 2, 2023, while incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Petersburg, Matthews drew a map of his property indicating the location of the buried fentanyl. Matthews drew the map on the reverse side of a sales invoice issued in his name at Petersburg FCC. Matthews transferred the map to Daniels, so that the fentanyl could be retrieved and sold. Matthews also contacted a witness and solicited the witness’ assistance in helping Daniels locate the buried fentanyl.
In May or June 2023, Daniels unsuccessfully tried to find the fentanyl by digging in the yard. On June 15, 2023, the witness contacted Daniels by phone and agreed to meet on June 18, 2023, to look for the fentanyl.
On June 16, 2023, law enforcement officers with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant on the residence with Daniels present. Investigators located the map in the bedroom used by Daniels. Following the map, the officers discovered the spot where the drugs were buried and recovered a container with the fentanyl inside.
On Sept. 30, Matthews pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
Daniels pled guilty today to being an accessory after the fact to maintaining a drug-involved premises. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and James R. Clarke Jr., Isle of Wight County Sheriff, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-69.
Richmond man sentenced to prison after brandishing a machinegun in social media livestreamRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, on April 7, 2023, during a livestream on social media, Perry Ike Mason, 29, entered a vehicle and removed from his jacket a .40 caliber handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), a weapon-mounted laser, and an extended magazine.
Detectives with the Richmond Police Department (RPD) viewed the video and learned that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Mason from Chesterfield County for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in August 2022. Mason later posted another video brandishing the same firearm.
Detectives identified Mason’s location at a restaurant in the Chesterfield Towne Center. After arriving at the location, they observed Mason entering a vehicle in the parking lot and followed him to a residence on Kimrod Road in Richmond. Mason exited the vehicle and proceeded to a shed behind the residence, where officers arrested him on the outstanding warrant.
The detectives searched the shed and discovered the firearm, which still was equipped with the extended magazine, laser, and MCD. The firearm was loaded with 31 rounds in the magazine and another in the chamber. The MCD rendered the semi-automatic firearm capable of fully automatic fire.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-131.
Licensed firearms dealer in King William pleads guilty to falsifying form for missing shotgunRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federally licensed firearms dealer in King William, Virginia, pled guilty today to making false material statements regarding a missing firearm.
According to court documents, Thomas Christian Berberich owned and operated Pamunkey River Guns, LLC, (PRG). On March 14, 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began an inspection of PRG. After reconciling the firearms at PRG against the open entries in PRG’s acquisition and disposition book, investigators determined that a .410 caliber shotgun had no disposition in PRG’s records and was not present in the store. On March 22, 2023, an ATF investigator instructed Berberich to report the shotgun as lost or stolen and complete an ATF Loss/Theft Form.
On April 5, 2023, Berberich directed a co-conspirator to come to PRG to complete paperwork for the sale of the missing shotgun, which they did on April 7, 2023. Berberich signed the ATF Form 4473, certifying that the information on the form was true, correct, and complete. Neither the shotgun nor any money was exchanged. Berberich sent an email that day to the ATF investigator reporting that the missing shotgun was found on April 6, 2023, in a box in a closet at PRG, and that the shotgun was then sold to a customer on April 7, 2023.
When the investigator returned to PRG on April 12, 2023, Berberich provided him with a copy of the false Form 4473. After the investigation, Berberich forfeited his federal firearms license.
Berberich is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2025. The maximum penalty for making false statements is five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Wright and Peter S. Duffey are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-131.
Jury convicts Maryland woman of taking her child to Côte d'Ivoire and leaving the child in violation of a court’s custody ordersRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a national of Côte d'Ivoire on Oct. 1 of taking her child out of the United States and leaving the child there to obstruct a court’s orders granting custody rights to her estranged husband.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in August 2023, Adjoh Dorcas Manou Epse Assoko, 46, and John Franklin Assoko, who were then legally married and living in Potomac, Maryland, gave birth to a child in Washington. Adjoh filed for divorce from John in December 2023.
On December 19, 2024, Adjoh obtained a protective order against John from the Montgomery County District Court on unsubstantiated grounds of domestic violence. The protective order, which has since been rescinded, awarded primary custody of the child to Adjoh and weekend visitation to John.
On April 30, 2024, Adjoh and the child flew from Dulles International Airport (Dulles) in Virginia to France and then to Côte d'Ivoire. Adjoh did not inform John that she was leaving the country with their child and did not contact him after they departed. On May 3, 2024, at the time John’s next scheduled visitation window was to take place, Adjoh and the child had not returned to the United States, violating the custody arrangement outlined in the protective order.
On May 7, 2024, John filed an emergency motion for temporary sole custody of the child. On May 9, 2024, the Montgomery County Circuit Court held a hearing on that motion, which Adjoh attended via Zoom from Côte d'Ivoire. After Adjoh refused the court’s opportunity to bring the child back so that John could effectuate his visitation rights, the court entered an order granting John temporary primary physical custody of the child.
On June 19, 2024, Adjoh flew from Côte d'Ivoire to France and then to Dulles but left the child in Cote D'Ivoire in the care of family members. The FBI learned that Adjoh had booked a flight out of Dulles for June 26, 2024. Agents arrested Adjoh at Dulles before she could board the flight. Adjoh refused to tell the agents the child’s location within Côte d'Ivoire or the names of the relatives in whose care the child had been left.
Adjoh faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Cristina C. Stam are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-172.
Former contract Air Force cryptologist pleads guilty to distributing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pled guilty today to distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Lawson Heath Wright, 51, was employed at Langley Air Force Base as a contracted cryptologist in 2023 when he distributed CSAM images depicting young children engaged in sexual conduct. Wright posed as an 18-year-old Ukrainian refugee named Lara Urbaszewski and claimed to be having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old male. On multiple occasions, posing as Urbaszewski, Wright used an email account to send CSAM to users.
On Jan. 24, 2024, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) executed a state search warrant for the e-mail account, and on April 2, 2024, VBPD, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, executed a state search warrant on Wright’s vehicle and residence. Investigators seized several electronic devices including a cellphone, an external hard drive, laptops, and a micro-SD. CSAM was found on each of these devices. Some of the CSAM on Wright’s devices depicts sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence or sexually explicit images involving an infant or toddler.
Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-86.
Siemens Energy, Inc. pleads guilty to stealing confidential competitor information in $104M resolution after former corporate executive and others were sentencedRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens), pleaded guilty today and has agreed to pay $104 million to resolve the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into violations related to the misappropriation of confidential competitor information. Additionally, Siemens has agreed to a three-year term of organizational probation.
Siemens is a U.S.-based subsidiary of a Germany-based global manufacturing conglomerate, Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY), whose technology is responsible for one sixth of electricity production worldwide.
“Corporate accountability remains a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The actions of these defendants undermined the integrity of the competitive marketplace, harming both competitors and consumers. The Department has established whistleblower programs to encourage corporations and individuals to come forward with timely information regarding misconduct and criminal behavior. Failing to do so invites prosecution and serious consequences.”
“The FBI will work to hold those accountable who steal confidential information to obtain a competitive advantage, whether they be agents, employees, executives, or corporations themselves,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “We will rigorously investigate those who criminally conspire to defraud companies for their personal gain.”
“Corporate fraud schemes ultimately end up hurting the consumers they serve,” said Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division. "Protecting the U.S. Mail from these schemes will always be a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring this case to a successful conclusion.”
According to court documents, in 2019, Dominion Energy, Inc. (Dominion), a utility company based in Richmond that provides electricity to four million customers in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, sought to build a “Peaker” combustion turbine power plant in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. Peaker power plants are specifically designed to add electricity generation capacity to alleviate high grid load and improve electric grid resiliency. The electricity infrastructure project had projected cost of upwards of $500 million.
To build the power plant, Dominion opened a competitive, closed bid process soliciting requests for proposals from qualified companies. Three companies bid for the work: General Electric Company (GE), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and Siemens. All companies executed non-disclosure agreements restricting the disclosure of confidential information provided to Dominion during the bid.
After GE and MHI submitted their closed bids to Dominion in May 2019, Account Manager, Michael P. Hillen of Siemens coordinated with a Dominion insider, Director of Generation System Planning Theodore S. Fasca, who used his sensitive position to improperly obtain GE and MHI confidential information. Hillen and Fasca funneled the pilfered GE and MHI bid information through private email accounts, including Hillen’s wife’s Hotmail email address, before sending the confidential information to Hillen’s Siemens email address. Hillen then disseminated the confidential information to Siemens Account Manager Mehran Sharifi, who analyzed the confidential bid information with other employees. Realizing that Siemens had a less competitive bid than GE by some metrics, Sharifi recommended to Siemens Executive Vice President and Head of Sales for North America, John Gibson, that Siemens resubmit a lowered bid to undercut GE’s bid price. Gibson, Sharifi, Hillen, and Fasca all knew the GE and MHI bid information was improperly obtained and that Siemens should not have had access to this information.
Gibson strategically disseminated the confidential information to other Siemens senior executives, to leaders within Siemens’ business intelligence unit, and to representatives of Siemens’ then-parent company in Germany. Gibson’s dissemination of the information was calculated to provide Siemens with a competitive advantage in the bid for the Dominion project, improve Siemens’ business intelligence, and provide Siemens with a competitive advantage in future bids, all to the detriment of GE and MHI.
After learning of GE’s and MHI’s bids for the Dominion project, Gibson authorized and obtained approvals within Siemens, including from the Chief Executive Officer for Power Generation and representatives of Siemens’ then-parent company in Germany, to resubmit a lower bid for the Dominion project, undercutting GE’s bid. Siemens won the bid with Dominion. Even after submitting the lowered bid, Siemens continued misappropriating GE and MHI confidential information on numerous occasions throughout June 2019.
Siemens Energy Inc. is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5. The company’s plea today comes after Gibson, Hillen, Fasca, and Sharifi entered guilty pleas for their roles in the criminal misconduct.
Gibson pled guilty to conspiracy to convert trade secrets and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.
Hillen and Fasca each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were sentenced to three years and one month in prison.
Sharifi pled guilty to conspiracy to convert trade secrets and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 11. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth, Kenneth R. Simon, Jr., and Brian J. Samuels are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Gill assisted the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:24-cr-141 (Siemens Energy, Inc.), 3:23-cr-137 (John Gibson), 3:23-cr-83 (Theodore S. Fasca), 3:24-cr-20 (Mehran Sharifi), and 3:23-cr-120 (Michael P. Hillen).
U.S. Attorney honors law enforcement for exceptional service in the Eastern District of VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber recognized officers and agents from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies from across the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) with Public Service Awards.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office typically holds annual awards ceremonies to recognize the law enforcement officials for their service and contribution to various criminal and civil cases investigated and prosecuted in EDVA. Award ceremonies took place Sept. 4 in Alexandria, Sept. 16 in Richmond, Sept. 25 in Newport News, and Sept. 26 in Norfolk.
“This annual recognition of our law enforcement partners is truly one of my favorite events each year,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This event allows us to share with these dedicated public servants our appreciation for their efforts. The gratitude we express here and now is the gratitude we hold each day.”
The awards highlighted federal cases, operations, and initiatives from 2023. The federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies listed below had officers and/or agents who were recognized for their bravery, outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement, investigative excellence, and victim assistance. Members of the following agencies were recognized at each of the ceremonies:
AlexandriaRichmondNewport NewsNorfolkArlington County Police DepartmentArmy CIDATF Washington Field DivisionATF Washington Field DivisionArmy CIDATF Washington Field DivisionDepartment of Labor OIGChesapeake Police DepartmentArmy Criminal Investigative ServiceChesterfield County Police DepartmentDiplomatic Security ServiceDrug Enforcement AdministrationATF Washington Field DivisionCity of Richmond OIGDrug Enforcement AdministrationFBI - Norfolk Field OfficeBaltimore City Police DepartmentDepartment of Labor OIGFBI - Norfolk Field OfficeFranklin Police DepartmentD.C. Metropolitan Police DepartmentDepartment of Labor OIGHomeland Security InvestigationsGreensboro Police DepartmentDefense Criminal Investigative ServiceDrug Enforcement AdministrationInternal Revenue Service - Criminal InvestigationsHomeland Security InvestigationsDOJ - Child Exploitation and Obscenity SectionFBI - Richmond Field OfficeNewport News Police DepartmentNaval Criminal Investigative ServiceDrug Enforcement AdministrationHenrico County Police DepartmentU.S. Marshals ServiceNorfolk Police DepartmentFairfax County Police DepartmentHomeland Security InvestigationsU.S. Postal Inspection ServiceNorfolk Sheriff's OfficeFBI - Washington Field OfficeICEVirginia State PolicePortsmouth Police DepartmentFederal Reserve Board of Governors and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau OIGInternal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations Portsmouth Police DepartmentGeneral Services Administration OIGOffice of the Va. Attorney General - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Suffolk Police DepartmentHHS OIGPetersburg Bureau of Police U.S. Postal Inspection ServiceHomeland Security InvestigationsPrince George County Police Department U.S. Postal Service OIGHyattsville Police DepartmentRichmond Police Department Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney's OfficeICESmall Business Administration OIG Virginia Beach Police DepartmentInternal Revenue Service - Criminal InvestigationsU.S. Marshals Service Virginia State PoliceLabor OIGU.S. Postal Inspection Service Office of Naval Research, U.S. NavyU.S. Secret Service Office of the Va. Attorney General - Medicaid Fraud Control UnitVeterans Affairs OIG Prince William County Police DepartmentVirginia State Police Treasury OIG U.S. Air Force U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Marshals Service U.S. Postal Inspection Service U.S. Postal Service OIG Virginia Conservation PoliceA copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Previously convicted felon sentenced to 14 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and illegally possessing firearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute para-fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, from January 2021 to May 2021, Richmond Police (RPD) detectives observed Tycota Rich Slater, 37, engaged in what appeared to be drug trafficking activities and made two controlled purchases of narcotics from Slater.
On Aug. 31, 2021, detectives searched Slater’s residence in Chesterfield County. Detectives recovered two firearms, ammunition, and 743 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, as well as a press, a scale, and other items used for packaging illegal narcotics for distribution. In Slater's car, which was parked at the residence, agents recovered a firearm with an extended magazine along with federal court paperwork and $9,700 in drug-trafficking proceeds.
On Oct. 26, 2023, RPD narcotics detectives with the assistance of agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, searched Slater's residence in Richmond. The detectives and agents recovered a firearm, two press machines, three cellphones, and $71,144 in drug-trafficking proceeds, as well as a money counting machine, a vacuum sealer and bags, digital scales, and ammunition. Two of Slater’s vehicles were also searched, leading to the recovery of 500 grams of fentanyl, three kilograms of cocaine, and two more firearms.
Detectives searched Slater's storage unit in Henrico County and recovered additional cocaine and four more firearms.
Slater was convicted previously of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, domestic violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and other crimes. As a convicted felon, Slater cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-162.
Minnesota man pleads guilty in conspiracy to create and share animal torture videosRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Minnesota man pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to create and distribute animal crushing videos.
According to court documents, from at least June 11, 2021, to July 8, 2022, Jeffrey Radtke, 61, of Bloomington, Minnesota, received over 20 electronic payments ranging from $1 to $300 from his coconspirators, to fund, among other things, payments to videographers outside of the United States, including Indonesia, to create videos depicting the torture and deaths of juvenile macaque monkeys.
Radtke and others had direct communications with Coconspirator 11 (CC11) in Indonesia. Radtke and others routinely communicated with CC11 for the creation of animal crush videos and would direct the videographers how to torture the animals. Between June 7, 2021, and Aug. 5, 2022, Radtke sent over 40 payments ranging from $25 to $295 to CC11 to create new animal crush videos to send to the coconspirators.
On April 24, 2023, law enforcement seized Radtke’s electronic devices. Radtke’s computer contained over 2,600 videos and 2,700 images depicting animal crushing.
Radtke is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025, and faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-88.
Two men sentenced to prison for armed robbery of a check-cashing businessRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two men have been sentenced to prison for the armed robbery of a check-cashing business in Chantilly.
According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2023, Antonio Chester Lewis, 49, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, and Al Gibran Taylor, 42, of Reston, entered the store intending to rob it of its cash. Lewis had entered the store previously to survey it. Lewis was armed with a .223/5.56 mm caliber semi-automatic rifle, which he pointed at customers and ordered them to put their hands in the air. Taylor attempted to open a cashier booth, which contained the store’s register and safe. When Taylor found the booth locked, Lewis identified the store’s cashier, grabbed her by the neck, and brought her to the cashier booth. The cashier opened the booth, and Taylor removed a large amount of cash from the store’s safe.
Lewis was arrested on March 26. That day, law enforcement conducted a search of Lewis’ residence and recovered the rifle used during the robbery as well as a privately made firearm with no serial number, a shotgun, and ammunition. On April 4, law enforcement also searched Lewis’ vehicle and recovered a handgun and additional ammunition.
On June 13, Lewis pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Lewis was sentenced on Sept. 3 to 15 years and eight months in prison.
On June 21, Taylor pled guilty to use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Taylor was sentenced today to 25 years in prison.
Both Lewis and Taylor have multiple prior convictions. On Aug. 9, 1994, Lewis was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On May 30, 1997, he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine while armed. On Oct. 20, 2005, Lewis was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base. As a previously convicted felon, Lewis cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Taylor previously was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on Dec. 21, 2006, of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence during which the firearm was discharged. On June 30, 2006, Taylor was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia of possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after Taylor was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel K. Amzallag prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Cases No. 1:24-cr-139 and 1:24-cr-130.
Attorney pleads guilty in drug-trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Matthew Taylor Morris, 38, a local attorney and resident of Virginia Beach, pled guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of marijuana.
According to court documents, beginning in at least January 2021, Donald Thomas Rogers, 35, of Portsmouth, the owner of a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL), allegedly became involved in the interstate trafficking of bulk quantities of marijuana. Working with Nicholas Cameron Capehart, 30, of Norfolk, and Jeffrey Donald Sines, 39, of Portsmouth, the Rogers Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) stored approximately 1,000 pounds of marijuana and cash proceeds at Morris’s Top Tier Law firm located on South Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach. At the time, the street value of the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products stored at Morris’s law office ranged in value between $800,000 and $1.6 million.
Rogers was the owner of VA Premier Pawn, an FFL authorized to sell firearms. Rogers allegedly purchased wholesale quantities of THC products, including marijuana, THC vape pens, THC wax, and THC edible products, from sources outside Virginia. Rogers allegedly transferred the products in smaller quantities to his co-conspirators, including Capehart, Sines, and Morris, for retail sale.
Morris introduced Capehart to Rogers, initially believing that Capehart could supply Rogers with THC products. Rogers allegedly bought and sold marijuana products in larger quantities than Capehart, so Rogers began to supply Capehart, as well as others, including Morris, with THC products. After Morris first met Rogers in 2021, Morris referred customers, including his legal clients, to Rogers for the illegal purchase of THC products. Eventually, Morris offered Rogers the use of a room in his law office to store Rogers’ THC products.
In exchange for his use of the law office, Rogers allegedly paid the law office’s monthly rent for several months, and Morris gave Rogers a key to the law office to facilitate access. Additionally, Rogers allegedly agreed to supply Morris with 15 pounds of THC products per month for a total of approximately 70 pounds so that he could sell marijuana to his own retail customers. Morris also allegedly received a 9mm handgun from Rogers, despite Morris being an unlawful user of Adderall, cocaine, opiates, and THC.
On April 20, 2021, Capehart, who was vacationing in Las Vegas, allegedly sought advice from Morris on sending marijuana products back to the Tidewater region because Capehart knew that Morris was an attorney. In text messages, Morris told Capehart to commingle the marijuana products among “some type of souvenirs and buy some Saran Wrap and wrap whatever you put it in well.” Morris also advised Capehart to address the package to Morris’ law firm and to “[w]rite legal mail on there somewhere too,” reasoning that this would “make it privileged and the cops would have a hell of a time getting a warrant to get around that privilege.”
On Oct. 17, 2022, law enforcement allegedly observed Capehart in the parking lot of the FFL retrieve a large black bag from the back seat of Rogers’ car, place it in the back seat of Capehart’s truck, and leave. Capehart allegedly drove to his residence and brought the bag inside the residence. Law enforcement identified vehicles belonging to Sines and Capehart at a storage unit in Suffolk. On Oct. 27, 2022, law enforcement legally observed several duffel bags in the storage unit consistent with the type that Rogers and Capehart allegedly possessed on Oct. 17, 2022, each of which contained between seven and 18 pounds of marijuana. They also found boxes containing marijuana, THC vape pens, THC wax, THC edible products, and marijuana seeds. In all, the storage unit contained 193 pounds of marijuana, 1,410 THC vape pens, 136 jars of THC wax, 228 bottles of THC syrup, and 514 THC edible products.
On Nov. 3, 2022, Rogers and another individual allegedly entered the storage unit with Sines, and Sines exited with a duffel bag and the other individual allegedly carried a cardboard box. Sines transported the duffel bag to his residence, which was next to Rogers’ residence.
On Nov. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the storage unit and recovered a total of 141 pounds of marijuana, 400 THC Vape cartridges, 196 containers of “Hi-Cubes” THC edibles, 82 containers of “Dangerously Delicious Nerds” THC edibles, 116 containers of “Dangerously Delicious Gummy Worms” THC edibles, 16,684 grams of THC Wax, and 196 bottles THC Cough Syrup. On Nov. 10, 2022, agents executed ten additional search warrants on the suspected locations, vehicles, and members of the Rogers DTO.
At Rogers’ residence agents recovered four firearms, one silencer, $23,980, 1,899 grams of marijuana products, and three cellphones. At the FFL, agents recovered 145 firearms, $181,000, and $80,879 in gold and silver.
At Sines’ residence, agents recovered 10 firearms, 36,676 grams of marijuana, 529 grams of mushrooms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and $7,686.
At Capehart’s residence, agents recovered 13,042 grams of marijuana, $14,036, 16 firearms, and three black bags consistent with the bags in the storage unit.
Morris and Sines pled guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Morris is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2025, and faces up to ten years in prison. Sines is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. Rogers is scheduled to plead guilty on Sept. 30 and Capehart is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 3. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Anthony C. Marek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:24-cr-94 (Rogers), 2:24-cr-95 (Capehart), 2:24-cr-96 (Sines) and 2:24-cr-97 (Morris).
Petersburg man pleads guilty to armed robbery of two businesses while wearing an ankle monitorRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man pled guilty to three counts relating to two armed robberies in Petersburg within one week.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2023, Demario Fisher, 36, entered a Metro PCS store in Petersburg wearing a bright work vest and an ankle monitor. He examined the store and left, but returned about a half-hour later. He approached the store employee, escorted her to the cash register at gunpoint, and stole cash from the register. Fisher then fled from the store in a blue SUV registered to his girlfriend.
On July 17, 2023, Fisher entered the Miller Mart BP store in Hopewell wearing a t-shirt with a teddy bear image and, again, an ankle monitor. Fisher made a purchase and left. He later re-entered the store, this time wearing a bright work vest over the teddy bear t-shirt. Fisher approached the store employee at the counter armed with a firearm and demanded money from the cash register. After taking the money, Fisher again fled from the store in the blue SUV.
Fisher also admitted to robbing a BP Gas Station in Petersburg on July 12, 2023. In that robbery, Fisher, armed with a firearm and wearing a safety vest, entered, brandished the firearm toward the store clerk and demanded that the clerk “empty the register.” The store clerk complied and Fisher fled the store on foot.
Fisher pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11, 2025. For the Hobbs Act Robbery, Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison. For each count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, Fisher faces a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum term of life in prison to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-45.
Maryland woman pleads guilty to taking bribes to steer government contractsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland woman who formerly worked as a federal government contracting specialist pled guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud.
According to court documents, Kyana C. Washington, 44, worked for a company that contracted with the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to provide support for the Acquisition Services Business Unit. Washington’s title at GPO was senior contract specialist, and her duties included assisting contract officers with acquisition planning and solicitation, source selection, the preparation and issuance of contracts, delivery orders, and the modifications and management of various contractual vehicles.
In August 2021, Washington met an individual identified in court records as Person A at a social gathering. Person A’s business provides consulting services that include finding opportunities for his affiliate companies to secure government contracts. At the social gathering, Washington told Person A that she worked in contracting at GPO, and while she did not have direct approval authority over GPO’s contracts, her supervisor did, and Washington’s supervisor followed Washington’s recommendations.
On Aug. 13, 2021, Washington and Person A met at a restaurant in Maryland. Washington told Person A that she could help him get contracts with GPO, but she wanted to be paid 20% of the value of the contracts she steered to Person A. Person A told Washington that he could not pay her directly, so the two agreed that Person A would pay Washington through Washington’s daughter to disguise the bribe payments. Washington brought her government laptop to the meeting and showed Person A confidential information about then-available GPO contracts on which Person A and his business associates could bid. Washington and Person A identified an IT/cloud services contract (Contract-1) which Washington could plausibly steer to Person A’s affiliated businesses.
In September 2021, as GPO’s fiscal year was coming to a close, Washington provided Person A screenshots of her GPO computer that contained nonpublic information about GPO contracting opportunities. Person A later texted Washington the names of three of the companies he was working with, including a Fairfax County business identified in court documents as “Contractor A.” Washington prepared a memorandum for GPO, dated Sept. 29, 2021, indicating that quotes were received from only three companies (those named by Person A) and recommending that Contract-1 be awarded to Contractor A.
Originally, Contract-1 was valued at approximately $1,000,000, to be paid out over five years, which would have required a higher level of approval. Instead, Washington restructured the contract so that it was valued at just under $200,000, to be paid out in one year, and subject to renewal under the same terms for a total of five years, which required only the approval of Washington’s supervisor, who approved the award to Contractor A based on Washington’s recommendation.
Contractor A agreed to pay Person A a percentage of the profits from the contract, and Person A agreed to pay Washington a percentage of the money that he received. Person A and Washington set up a sham “marketing agreement” between Person A’s company and Washington’s daughter’s company to funnel the bribe payments. From the beginning to the conspiracy until the date the government disrupted the scheme, Washington received a total of $7,098.37 in bribe payments from Person A.
GPO has paid a total of $487,887.50 for work performed on Contract-1. During the conspiracy, Person A received approximately $2,362 per quarter for bringing Contract-1 to Contractor A, or a total of approximately $23,362.
Washington is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025, and faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; Stephen Ravas, Acting Inspector General for AmeriCorps; and John Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG); and Nathan J. Deahl, Inspector General for the Government Publishing Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Heidi B. Gesch are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-186.
Postal carrier pleads guilty after discarding mail in a dumpsterRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man pled guilty today to improperly destroying mail.
According to court documents, on Dec. 9, 2023, Michael Thirkield, 31, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier, dumped several boxes of mail into a dumpster in the Forest Lake Court area in Newport News. Thirkield did not report to work after that day and left his USPS satchel on his porch with a handwritten note stating, “For the mail carrier.”
On Dec. 11, 2023, a USPS customer service supervisor retrieved 1,296 pieces of first-class and pre-sorted mail from the dumpster. The mail was destined for addresses along routes assigned to Thirkield for delivery.
Thirkield is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, 2025, and faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the Mid Atlantic Area Field Office for the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Therese O'Brien and Mack Coleman are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-25.
Norfolk drug dealer sentenced for his role in Tidewater drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison for distribution of cocaine.
According to court documents, Deton Dodson, 46, was a street level drug dealer in a larger drug trafficking organization centered in the Tidewater area of Virginia. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Virginia Beach Police Department, and Norfolk Police Department initiated an investigation of the organization in 2020. Multiple sources, including some in California, were supplying the organization with kilogram-level quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin.
On Nov. 5, 2021, Dodson met co-defendant Edward Fonville for a hand-to-hand drug transaction. Afterward, law enforcement approached Dodson, who was in possession of a handgun. Dodson admitted that he traded cocaine to Fonville for the firearm. After his arrest, Dodson informed Fonville that law enforcement was investigating him. Fonville remains a fugitive.
Thirteen other defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case.
Milton Artis, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 23, 2023, Artis was sentenced to one year in prison.
Levell Batts Sr., 60, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 12, 2023, Batts was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison.
Emerson Brodie, 32, pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On May 30, 2023, Brodie was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.
Charlie Chapman, 46, pleaded guilty on June 29, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Oct. 30, 2023, Chapman was sentenced to seven years in prison.
James Ford, 40, pleaded guilty on April 12, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Aug. 15, 2023, Ford was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.
Donald Gray, 48, pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On Oct. 4, 2023, Gray was sentenced to twelve years in prison.
James Hill, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 13, 2023, Hill was sentenced to five years in prison.
Michael Robinson, 41, pleaded guilty on Oct. 6, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 7, 2023, Robinson was sentenced to seven years and 11 months in prison.
Michael Seay, 40, pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 23, 2023, Seay was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Rondell Spain, 33, pleaded guilty on Jan. 24, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On May 30, 2023, Spain was sentenced to five years in prison.
Mervin Walton, 39, pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Jan. 30, 2023, Walton was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison.
Lavon Williams, 33, pleaded guilty on Oct. 6, 2022, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On Feb. 8, 2023, Williams was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Terrell Williams, 37, pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. On June 27, 2023, Williams was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA’s Washington Division; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C.; Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Hurt prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:22-cr-18.
Richmond man sentenced to four years in prison for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl 19 days after leaving prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents, on Sept. 24, 2023, a Virginia State Police (VSP) trooper observed Jayquan Jermaine Harris, 30, run a red light and attempted a traffic stop. Harris accelerated, driving approximately 65 miles per hour in a residential area in the rain. Harris continued to flee for over 13 miles, driving more than double the speed limit, running stop signs, backing into the police car, and traveling on the wrong side of the road.
Harris eventually entered I-95 northbound, traveling at over 100 miles per hour before running into the median and striking a wall. After the vehicle came to a stop, the trooper approached the car and observed a plastic bag containing suspected narcotics between the cupholders and the right passenger seat. The suspected drugs were tested and confirmed to be 5.59 grams of a solid containing cocaine, 7.73 grams of powder containing cocaine, and 9.31 grams of powder containing fentanyl.
In 2021, as law enforcement performed a traffic stop of a vehicle, Harris and another passenger exited the vehicle and fled. Officers found a bag in the backseat of the car with 10 grams of crack cocaine, 17 grams of heroin, 20 grams of marijuana, and Harris’ identification card. Harris was convicted in February 2023 of two counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances. Harris was in custody until Sept. 5, 2023, less than three weeks before he committed the offense for which he was sentenced today.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Wright and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-54.
Former Fairfax County deputy sentenced to over six years in prison for conspiring with inmate to traffic drugs in jail and sex traffickingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputy was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for conspiring to distribute drugs and other contraband to an inmate at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (Fairfax ADC) in exchange for bribe payments, as well as to women whom the defendant sexually trafficked out of an apartment he rented for his own financial gain and sexual gratification.
According to court documents, from May 2021 to June 21, 2023, Robert Theodore Sanford Jr., 37, was a correctional officer at Fairfax ADC, which holds detainees being held both pre- and post-trial in Fairfax County, Virginia. From December. 2022 through May 2023, Sanford smuggled contraband into Fairfax ADC and provided the contraband and confidential, law-enforcement-sensitive information to an inmate. The contraband included a cell phone and distribution quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and Suboxone. Sanford also supplied latex gloves and glue to the inmate to help conceal the contraband. The inmate then trafficked the drugs to other inmates.
Outside Fairfax ADC, Sanford procured drugs from the inmate’s associates. In addition to the drugs Sanford smuggled into Fairfax ADC, Sanford distributed drugs to women who lived in and prostituted themselves out of an apartment that Sanford leased.
“Robert Sanford preyed on the vulnerabilities of people in his care,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His corruption didn’t stop with profiting from feeding the addictions of inmates in his charge. Rather than assisting homeless and addicted members of his community, Sanford used drugs to entrap them in a life of prostitution for his own gain.”
Sanford provided the inmate with information such as advance warning of cell searches by deputies, cell blocks to which deputies were proceeding in those searches, whether deputies would be conducting strip searches, and where drug-sniffing dogs were being utilized. Sanford also provided the inmate with information regarding other inmates, including which inmates might be providing information to law enforcement, which assisted Sanford’s co-conspirator in intimidating potential witnesses.
"Robert Sanford violated his oath as a sworn law enforcement officer by distributing contraband, drugs, and confidential information to inmates, who then trafficked the drugs into the detention center,” said David Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. “Additionally, he placed the lives of inmates and his law enforcement peers in danger. Sanford threatened the security of the community and abused the public trust."
“I am incredibly grateful for the diligent efforts of our F.C.S.O. investigators and their federal colleagues that uncovered corruption that put deputies and inmates at extreme risk,” said Stacey A. Kincaid, Fairfax County Sheriff. “This criminal conduct within the A.D.C. is unacceptable and we will relentlessly pursue those who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain. We express our thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their collaboration and partnership in bringing this criminal to justice.”
On May 4, 2023, FCSO deputies at Fairfax ADC conducted a strip search of Sanford’s co-conspirator, and in the inmate’s long underwear deputies found a cellphone, two charging cables, one portable cellular phone charger, one USB charging brick, 92 counterfeit oxycodone pills, 174 strips of Suboxone, and over three grams of cocaine. The following day, Sanford was informed of the seizure during roll call. Sanford removed his cash tag name and personal email address from the CashApp account he used to receive bribe payments for smuggling contraband into Fairfax ADC. He also stopped sending messages and making calls to the inmate and other conspirators and deleted related messages. Within two weeks of FCSO discovering the contraband, Sanford began the process of resigning from his job, falsely telling FCSO that childcare challenges were the reason for his resignation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Call prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-110.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis host Safe Housing SummitRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted a Safe Housing Summit in Richmond on Sept. 16 focused on combatting sexual misconduct, promoting environmental justice, and protecting the civil rights of residents in HUD-assisted housing.
The summit was attended by representatives from a number of organizations, including the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority, Virginia Organizing, Community Climate Collaborative, Legal Aid Justice Center, Richmond Tenants Union, Storefront for Community Design, Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia, Virginia Poverty Law Center, Discoverself Fellowship, United Communities Against Crime, and the University of Richmond.
“The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office play an important role in fulfilling the promise of HUD-assisted housing,” said U.S. Attorney Aber. “We are very pleased to be joined by community groups and residents, providing an opportunity both to listen to their concerns and to share with them information regarding resources and recourse. Our message today is that the law is on your side and assistance is available to you.”
“Along with the strong commitment from U.S. Attorney Aber, community outreach events like we hosted today in Richmond allow HUD OIG to amplify for HUD tenants and applicants seeking housing that they have a right to housing that is void of sexual misconduct, and safe from lead and environmental hazards,” said Inspector General Oliver Davis. “We remain committed to investigating those who risk the health and safety of HUD-assisted families or who victimize vulnerable people receiving HUD assistance with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Participants discussed the Justice Department’s environmental justice enforcement strategy. In particular, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes cases that will reduce harm to public health and the environment for overburdened and underserved communities, and lead paint is a matter of priority for HUD OIG. Participants discussed the Environmental Protection Agency’s mapping of environmental justice indicators like lead paint across the Eastern District of Virginia.
The event also featured a presentation on combatting sexual harassment in housing through civil and criminal enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. Participants discussed how to identify sexual harassment affecting or impairing housing rights, from quid pro quo demands to a hostile housing environment, and covered various options for enforcing those rights, either privately, through administrative remedies within HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, or via criminal charges. Participants learned about the case of Joseph Centanni, a New Jersey Section 8 landlord who agreed to pay $4.5 million in a civil enforcement action relating to numerous accusations of demands for sexual acts from tenants.
The summit also addressed the enforcement of civil rights laws in housing. The discussion centered on criminal enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits violence or threats of violence on the basis of race or other protected categories to deny a resident’s enjoyment of a housing right, such as leasing or occupying a dwelling. One recent example from the Eastern District of Virginia is the prosecution of David L. Merryman, a landlord in Hampton and Newport News, for fraud, identity theft, and multiple civil rights offenses. In his guilty plea, Merryman admitted to acts of violence and numerous threats to tenants on account of their race. The presentation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that race-based interference with fair housing is the most frequently charged hate crime statute in the United States.
If you have or someone you know has information about environmental hazards and unsafe unit conditions in HUD-assisted housing or you have or someone you know has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation—even if the events occurred years ago—report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline. You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.
You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-844-380-6178 or visit www.civilrights.justice.gov. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of environmental injustices or housing discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (804) 819-5400 or by email at [email protected].
Previously convicted child sexual offender pleads guilty to transportation of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man with multiple previous convictions for child sexual offenses pled guilty today to transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, on April 11, 12, and 27, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received Cybertipline reports of files containing CSAM uploaded to a Google account. The files were uploaded by Justus Clay Pease, 51, a registered sex offender who was convicted in Hampton Circuit Court in 2005 of two counts of indecent liberties with a child by a custodian and in 2007 of one count of indecent liberties with children.
In addition to the CSAM identified in the reports to NCMEC that was uploaded to Pease’s Google account, Pease’s Google Photos account included more files containing CSAM.
Pease is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 16, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Heath is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-28.
New Whistleblower Pilot Program encourages early voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conductRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) has created the EDVA Whistleblower Non-Prosecution Pilot Program (Whistleblower Program), designed to encourage early voluntary self-disclosure of criminal conduct by participants in certain non-violent offenses.
“Our new Whistleblower Program emphasizes our continued focus on fraud and public corruption cases,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “We encourage people to come forward, report these crimes, and cooperate with us. In exchange for this information and ongoing cooperation, we promise that eligible whistleblowers will not be prosecuted. And if you choose not to come forward, someone else might.”
In exchange for such self-disclosure and cooperation, EDVA will enter into a non-prosecution agreement where certain specified conditions are met, including that the criminal conduct was neither previously made public nor known to the government. Eligible disclosure must relate to the actions of individuals who are equally or more culpable than the whistleblower, cannot be made in response to an inquiry or investigation, and must be complete. Non-prosecution agreements under the program are not available to elected federal or foreign officials, officials or agents of federal law enforcement agencies, or officers who exercise primary control over the operations of the public or private organization where the misconduct occurred. By providing clarity on the requirements and the benefits of such self-disclosure, this published policy – and others across the Department of Justice – incentivize individuals and their counsel to provide timely, actionable information. That, in turn, will help bring more misconduct to light and better protect communities within EDVA.
Reporting individuals must also forfeit any benefit or profit they received through their participation in the criminal conduct and make restitution commensurate with their role in the offense.
The EDVA Whistleblower Program is different and separate from the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program (Whistleblower Awards Program) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. EDVA’s pilot program is for individuals who participated in criminal activity and face criminal liability. The Whistleblower Awards Program is for those who did not meaningfully participate in criminal activity that falls within specific subject areas.
Information for the Whistleblower Non-Prosecution Pilot Program is available on the EDVA website, including links for the full policy and access to our intake form for voluntary self-disclosure. Completed forms may be submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at [email protected].
U.S. Attorney’s Office to work with local partners to reduce domestic violenceRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
In the Eastern District of Virginia, the South Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach) jurisdiction has been designated.
The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.
Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
Stafford man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for selling lethal counterfeit pillsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, from at least February 2023 through January 2024, Thomas Lee Smith Jr., 35, obtained thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills, which were imprinted with “M30” but contained fentanyl, and provided them to redistributors, including co-defendant Shane Darontae Anderson, 37, to sell. Smith’s co-conspirators obtained these drugs from a cartel-connected source in Arizona.
Anderson sold or agreed to sell over 17,500 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a cooperating source (CS). The total weight of these pills was approximately 1,500 net grams. Smith supplied Anderson with all the counterfeit pills provided to the CS and drove Anderson to multiple controlled buys. Smith’s vehicle, which Anderson drove to a controlled buy, contained a trap compartment for concealed storage. Anderson also offered to sell cocaine to the CS, as Smith was able to obtain cocaine as well.
On Jan. 24, Smith and Anderson planned to sell 4,500 counterfeit pills to the CS for $8,000. When Smith and Anderson arrived at the meeting location in Stafford, law enforcement arrested them after the Smith and Anderson attempted to flee. Law enforcement searched Smith’s vehicle and located the trap compartment, which contained 4,999 counterfeit pills, as well as a loaded handgun.
Anderson pled guilty on May 8 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Sept. 5, he was sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin S. Starr and Catherine Rosenberg prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:24-cr-106 (Smith) and 1: 24-CR-95 (Anderson).
Previously convicted Newport News man sentenced for federal firearm offenseRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Jan. 25, 2022, Antonio James Hill, 33, sold a .38 caliber handgun and five rounds of ammunition to a confidential informant (CI) for $200. During this controlled purchase, Hill was wearing a shoulder holster holding another firearm.
Hill was previously convicted of felonies, including malicious wounding and use or display of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He also was convicted of assaulting a corrections officer while incarcerated for the prior felony convictions. As a convicted felon, Hill cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. The Newport News Police Department and Hampton Police Department provided significant assistance in the investigation of this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-12.
Two men sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing 50 firearms from Virginia storeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man and a Washington man were sentenced for the burglary of a federal firearms licensee (FFL) from which they stole 50 firearms.
According to court documents, on April 29, 2023, Victor Jones, 22, of Washington, Cedric Minger, 22, of Brandywine, Maryland, and two other co-conspirators drove a stolen Acura ILX from Washington to an FFL in Springfield, Virginia, with the intention of breaking in and stealing firearms. After his initial attempts to gain entry, including shooting a round at the door with a firearm, were unsuccessful, Minger was able to wriggle his way through an opening at the top of the doorframe. Once inside, Minger quickly grabbed firearms from around the store and passed them through the door to Jones and the others, who then loaded them into the stolen Acura ILX.
Jones, Minger, and their co-conspirators then transported the stolen firearms to Washington and later offered them for sale. One of the stolen firearms was recovered from a student at an elementary school.
Jones and Minger pled guilty on June 20 to conspiracy to steal firearms from an FFL and stealing firearms from an FFL. On Sept. 4, Jones was sentenced to nine years in prison. Minger was sentenced today to nine years and six months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Steve T. Descano, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Cristina Stam prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-39.
Richmond man arrested after posting photo with machinegun sentenced to two years in prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2023, Latoye Octavius Cooper, 21, posted a picture of himself on social media with a .40 caliber pistol partially stuffed into the waistband of his pants.
Police immediately responded to the area where the photo was taken and observed Cooper entering a vehicle. Officers followed Cooper to a local convenience store and made contact with him inside the store. The officers seized the .40 caliber pistol, which was equipped with a machine gun conversion device (MCD), which rendered the pistol fully automatic. The pistol was loaded, with a large capacity ammunition magazine and had one bullet in the chamber, ready to fire.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-155.
Brothers sentenced to prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms convictionsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Hopewell man was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court documents, on Dec. 19, 2022, Virginia State Police (VSP) encountered Eric Michael Vaughan Jr., 32, in a Hopewell motel room when VSP executed a search warrant on the room. The room was rented by Vaughan’s brother, Quadir McKinnon, 34, of Hopewell, who previously sold 74.37 grams of cocaine, 4.43 grams of heroin, and 96.73 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential source. VSP recovered four firearms, 27.74 grams of cocaine, and 5.93 grams of a mixture containing heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl from the room.
On Jan. 18, 2023, VSP apprehended McKinnon during a traffic stop. Vaughan was in the vehicle with McKinnon. In plain view on the center console of the vehicle was a loaded 9mm handgun. When McKinnon stepped out of the vehicle, a backpack that had also been present in the motel room during the search warrant was tangled in his feet. Inside the backpack were 41.85 grams of cocaine and 6.99 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies, and marijuana.
Under the front passenger seat, where Vaughan was sitting, was a loaded 9mm handgun and on the seat was a loose 9mm hollow-point round. In Vaughan’s pockets were .35 grams of a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl and .76 grams of cocaine.
On July 16, 2012, Vaughan, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and a co-defendant robbed individuals in a home in Petersburg. Vaughan was convicted of eleven felonies, including robbery, burglary, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and abduction. Vaughan was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Less than two months after Vaughan was released from prison, Vaughan threw a firearm from the window of his vehicle as a VSP Trooper attempted to stop him for speeding. Vaughan was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon, reckless driving, eluding police, and driving without a license. Vaughan was sentenced to two years and 8 months in prison. Vaughan was on pre-trial release for those charges when he was encountered in the motel room on Dec. 19, 2022, and when he was arrested with his brother on Jan. 18, 2023. As a previously convicted felon, Vaughan cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
McKinnon pled guilty on Sept. 13, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On Jan. 31, McKinnon, a career offender, was sentenced to 14 years and seven months in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after Vaughan was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Wright prosecuted the cases. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, assisted in the prosecution of this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:23-cr-152 (Vaughan) and 3:23-cr-116 (McKinnon).
Newport News woman pleads guilty to laundering money taken from a pandemic relief loan programRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News woman pled guilty today to laundering proceeds of a pandemic-benefit fraud scheme.
According to court documents, on March 17, 2021, Shenita R. Banks, 50, applied for a loan for her company, Wireless Queen, Inc., through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a COVID-19 relief program intended to provide loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to certain businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to help them retain their employees or stay afloat during the pandemic. Banks incorporated Wireless Queen, Inc., on July 27, 2015, but it had no business operations, employees, or sales in 2020.
In her PPP application, Banks fraudulently claimed that the purpose of the loan was for payroll costs, rent/mortgage interest, utilities, and covered supplier costs. Banks falsely stated that her average monthly payroll costs were $58,900.00. As part of the application, Banks submitted copies of tax returns (IRS Forms 940, 941, and 1120) for tax year 2020, in which she reported payments to employees totaling $705,941.44. However, the IRS has no record of Banks filing these forms for tax years 2018 through 2022 or of Banks filing an individual Form 1040 tax return for those tax years.
On March 24, 2021, Banks’ PPP loan application was approved, and on March 25, 2021, Banks electronically signed the PPP application attesting that the information provided was true and accurate and that she understood the criminal penalties associated with providing false statements to the SBA. Banks specifically certified that she was eligible to receive a loan under the rules issued by the SBA and that all loan proceeds would be used only for business-related purposes.
On March 31, 2021, Banks received $145,833 for the awarded PPP funding to her business account held in the name of Wireless Queen Inc., which Banks opened the day before submitting the initial PPP application. On April 5, 2021, Banks laundered $33,030 of the PPP loan funds by withdrawing them from the Wireless Queen bank account.
Banks is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2025, and faces a up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Therese O'Brien and Mack Coleman are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-41.
Tenacious task force investigation results in 17 convictions in drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Seventeen members of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) have pled guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs.
According to court documents, from at least February 2021 through October 2023, the conspirators, led by Corey Wright, 47, of Chesapeake, and Malik Dillard, aka “Mayo,” 48, of Virginia Beach, procured methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia for further distribution. They supplied a number of mid-level distributors including: Akime Russell Porter, 41, of Norfolk; Darryl Deangelo Bond, 40, of Chesapeake; Clyde Byrd Jr., 31, of Norfolk; Jared Wayne Haddock, 46, of Virginia Beach; Holly Elizabeth Triplett, 37, of Portsmouth; Christopher Eanes, 38, of Chesapeake; Leo Charles Frueh, 43, of Virginia Beach; Bryan Austin Ruscoe, 27, of South Mills, North Carolina; Julius Justin Freeze, 34, of Virginia Beach; Jesse Ryan Martin, 34, of Norfolk; Richard Olsak-Finn, 44, of Chesapeake; Sebastien Balthazar, 25, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and Jessica Brunelle, 40, of Norfolk. Aimee Brooke Yanez, 45, of Suffolk, and Lisa Michelle Clark, 46, of Norfolk, were also involved in the DTO and agreed to use their residences to receive, store, and process the drugs.
This investigation spanned over two years, and involved Special Agents, Task Force Officers, detectives, investigators, officers and other personnel, who reviewed thousands of phone calls and text communications and worked with confidential informants to identify and dismantle this large network of narcotics distributors.
Wright pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. As part of the conspiracy Wright distributed fentanyl in the form of pressed imitation prescription pills purporting to be Roxicodone. California suppliers shipped packages of narcotics hidden in stuffed animals to Wright, who was previously convicted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine (Case No. 1:05-cr-183). Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1 and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Porter pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Porter is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2025.
Eanes and Haddock pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. On May 17, U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. sentenced Haddock to 15 years and six months in prison. Eanes, who faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 18.
Byrd and Frueh pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. They face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Byrd is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3, 2025; Frueh is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2025.
Bond pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute cocaine and faces up to 20 years in prison. Bond is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 6.
Triplett pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. She faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. Triplett is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2025.
Brunelle pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute cocaine and fentanyl. She faces up to 20 years in prison. Brunelle is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2025.
Clark and Yanez pled guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises. They face up to 20 years in prison. Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1; Yanez is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 6.
Dillard pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. On Feb. 2, Dillard was sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. Dillard, working with Wright, supplied Martin, Olsak-Finn, and Balthazar. Martin was sentenced to 12 years in prison; Balthazar was sentenced to three years in prison; and Olsak-Finn is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 4.
Ruscoe pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ruscoe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct 3.
Freeze pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Freeze faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.
A federal district court judge will determine any remaining sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler, Anthony C. Mozzi, Darryl J. Mitchell, and Luke J. Bresnahan are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is also 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos.: 2:23-cr-127; 2:23-cr-65; 2:24-cr-37; 2:24-cr-39; and 2:22-cr-102.
Norfolk man sentenced for latest drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man with multiple previous convictions for drug trafficking crimes was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, between May 2022 and October 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Norfolk Police Department (NPD) conducted six controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine from Lashawn D. Pullie, aka Bam, 50, and a co-conspirator utilizing a confidential informant (CI).
On Sept. 20, 2022, the CI contacted Pullie to purchase cocaine and methamphetamine. Pullie met the CI in Norfolk to exchange the narcotics, but Pullie had only the cocaine with him. Pullie exchanged the cocaine with the CI, and the CI paid Pullie. They arranged to meet at a second location in Norfolk to exchange the methamphetamine. Pullie returned to his residence, switched vehicles, and proceeded to the second location. Pullie handed the methamphetamine to the CI. During the transaction, Pullie sold 107 grams of methamphetamine and 87 grams of cocaine to the CI. During the investigation Pullie sold the CI over 300 grams of methamphetamine and over 400 grams of cocaine.
On Oct. 13, 2022, investigators executed search warrants on Pullie's residence, storage unit, and vehicle. Investigators recovered approximately 300 grams of marijuana, 1,446 grams of cocaine, 393 grams of methamphetamine, 184 pills of oxycodone, $7,674, and two loaded firearms.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, prosecuted 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-41.
Bealeton woman sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually exploiting two childrenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bealeton woman was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, in 2023 and 2024, Anna Grace Layher, 27, produced sexually explicit videos and images of two children, ages six and three, both of whom were family members. Layher sent the videos to her boyfriend, Davey Jonathan Sisk, 29, of Culpeper, Virginia.
Layher pled guilty on May 2 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Sisk pled guilty on July 9 to attempting to sexually exploit a child and receiving child pornography. Sisk is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alessandra Serano and Christina Schiciano prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-52.
Two foreign nationals sentenced for victimizing U.S. companies through business email compromise schemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Nigerian national was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution for participating in a computer hacking and business email compromise (BEC) scheme that caused over $5 million in losses to multiple victims in the United States and elsewhere. Franklin Ifeanyichukwu Okwonna, 34, pled guilty on May 20 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme.
Okwonna’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Ebuka Raphael Umeti, 35, was sentenced on Aug. 27 to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution. Umeti was convicted by a federal jury on June 13 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer, and intentional damage to a protected computer.
According to court documents and evidence presented at Umeti’s trial, between February 2016 and July 2021, Umeti, Okwonna, and their co-conspirators caused millions of dollars in unauthorized wire transfers by sending victim businesses phishing emails. These emails falsely appeared as though they originated from trusted sources, such as a bank or a vendor. After the victim opened an attachment, their computers would be infected with malicious software or “malware” that allowed the defendants and their co-conspirators to gain unauthorized access to the victim’s computer systems and email accounts. The defendants and their co-conspirators then exploited that access to obtain sensitive information, which they used to deceive individuals at the victim companies into executing wire transfers to accounts specified by the co-conspirators. As a result of this scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators caused or attempted to cause over $5 million in losses to the victim companies.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia and Senior Counsel Thomas S. Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case. CCIPS Senior Counsel Aarash Haghighat assisted in the investigation and indictment of the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigation to secure the extradition of Umeti and Okwonna.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-123.
Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Victimizing U.S. Companies Through Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
A Nigerian national was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Virginia to five years and three months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution for participating in a computer hacking and business email compromise scheme that caused over $5 million in losses to multiple victims in the United States and elsewhere. Franklin Ifeanyichukwu Okwonna, 34, pleaded guilty on May 20 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme.
Okwonna’s co-defendant, Nigerian national Ebuka Raphael Umeti, 35, was sentenced on Aug. 27 to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $5 million in restitution. Umeti was convicted by a federal jury on June 13 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer, and intentional damage to a protected computer.
According to court documents and evidence presented at Umeti’s trial, between February 2016 and July 2021, Umeti, Okwonna, and their co-conspirators caused millions of dollars in unauthorized wire transfers by sending victim businesses phishing emails. These emails falsely appeared as though they originated from trusted sources, such as a bank or a vendor. After the victim opened an attachment, their computers would be infected with malicious software, or “malware,” that allowed the defendants and their co-conspirators to gain unauthorized access to the victim’s computer systems and email accounts. The defendants and their co-conspirators then exploited that access to obtain sensitive information, which they used to deceive individuals at the victim companies into executing wire transfers to accounts specified by the co-conspirators. As a result of this scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators caused or attempted to cause over $5 million in losses to the victim companies.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Senior Counsel Thomas S. Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. CCIPS Senior Counsel Aarash Haghighat assisted in the investigation and indictment of the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigation to secure the extradition of Umeti and Okwonna.
Four defendants plead guilty to defrauding Virginia MedicaidRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – The final defendant pled guilty on Aug. 29 in a healthcare fraud scheme that resulted in nearly $1 million in loss.
The Virginia Medicaid Program provides medical assistance to indigent individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. Under its consumer directed care program, Medicaid authorizes the provision of personal and respite care services to eligible Medicaid recipients by a personal care attendant (PCA). Personal care services include a range of support services to enable Medicaid recipients to remain at or return home rather than enter a nursing facility and include assistance with activities of daily living, access to the community, self-administration of medication, or other medical needs, supervision, and the monitoring of health status and physical condition.
According to court documents, from May 2015 through at least November 2023, Jamahl Rennelle Burch, aka Jarod or Jerrod Burch, 43, of Hampton, identified and selected Medicaid recipients to sign up for Medicaid reimbursed personal care or respite care services. Burch and his co-conspirators executed agreements that designated numerous different individuals as PCAs for those recipients. The conspirators used the personal identifying information (PII) of the Medicaid recipients and purported PCAs to create accounts for the submission of timesheets for purported personal care and respite care services.
For over eight years, the conspirators submitted fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid showing thousands of hours of personal care and respite care services. Burch and his coconspirators approved these timesheets attesting that services were provided, when the conspirators knew that none of the PCAs provided any personal or respite care services to the Medicaid recipients.
In total, Burch and his co-conspirators knowingly caused Medicaid to pay at least $936,950.70 in fraudulent reimbursements for personal care and respite care services that never occurred.
Burch pled guilty Aug. 29 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison for the healthcare fraud counts and a minimum of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.
Tonisha Staton, 36, of Hampton, and William Carter Jr., 40, of Newport News, were Medicaid recipients and acquaintances of Burch.
In 2015, Carter signed up to receive personal care and respite care services, and purportedly hired seven PCAs. None of the seven PCAs provided any services to Carter. In total, the conspirators submitted $262,373.27 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Carter. Similarly, in 2016, Staton signed up to receive personal care and respite care services, and purportedly hired 10 different PCAs, none of whom ever provided any services to her. The conspirators submitted $228,972.44 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Staton.
In 2017, Jesse Jerome Hendren, 46, of Henrico, signed up his relative, a Medicaid recipient identified in court records as Recipient 1, to receive personal care and respite care services. Hendren and his co-conspirators purportedly hired two people as PCAs, neither of whom provided any services to Recipient 1. The conspirators submitted $150,425.99 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Recipient 1.
Staton, Carter, and Hendren pled guilty in February to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Each faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in 2025.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted Burch’s plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Jordan-Detamore and Brian R. Hood are prosecuting the case.
The Virginia Department of Medical Assistive Services Fraud and Abuse Referral Hotline is available for concerned citizens to report allegations related to inappropriate use of Medicaid benefits. Follow this link for more information.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:23-cr-151 (Burch), 3:24-CR-6 (Carter), 3:24-CR-7 (Hendren) and 3:24-cr-8 (Staton).
Five gang members plead guilty in murder near YorktownRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Five members of the Black P. Stone Nation gang pled guilty to federal charges relating to an abduction of the victim in Richmond and her ultimate murder in York County.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023, Hezekiah Carney, 25, of Norfolk, Jamica Langley, 25, of Richmond, Donnisha Goodman, 27, of Portsmouth, and Acacia Jackson, 19, of New York, traveled to the victim’s residence on Bethel Street in Richmond, Virginia, to conduct a physical beating of the victim for a gang infraction. The group left the apartment after beating the victim.
Around an hour later, Goodman, Jackson, Carney, and Langley returned to the victim’s apartment, this time with an additional co-conspirator and fellow gang member, Jayquan Jones, 21, of Richmond. Some of them were armed and wearing masks. The group attacked the victim again before taking her from her residence. The group drove the victim in a Hyundai Sonata approximately an hour east of Richmond to a remote area off Old Williamsburg Road in York County, where they removed her from the car and executed her. The Medical Examiner found eight gunshot wounds to the head, abdomen, back, buttocks, and legs.
Upon returning to Portsmouth after the murder, Carney instructed Goodman, Jackson, and Langley on ways to evade law enforcement, including burning their clothing, and told them to stay together and not to speak with law enforcement.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., deputies with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office found the victim’s body, along with numerous shell casings with an "S&B” headstamp. On May 7, 2023, the Norfolk Police Department located and stopped the Sonata. Jackson, Goodman, and Langley were in the vehicle at the time. Investigators recovered a 9mm cartridge from the vehicle with the same “S&B" headstamp from casings found at the scene of the murder.
Carney, Goodman, and Jones pled guilty to using a firearm causing death. Under the terms of their plea agreements, each faces a minimum of 35 years in prison and up to 45 years in prison. Carney and Jones are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Goodman is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025.
Jackson and Langley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and each faces up to life in prison. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 31. Langley is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Norfolk Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Ronald Montgomery, York County Sheriff, made the announcement.
The Richmond Area Violent Enterprise (RAVE) Task Force provided significant assistance in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa McKeel and Mack Coleman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance provided by the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-1.
Automated trading bots scheme results in millions of dollars, Teslas, Rolexes, and federal wire fraud convictionsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man pled guilty on July 23 to wire fraud and a Florida man was sentenced yesterday for his role in the wire fraud conspiracy.
According to court documents, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, defrauded customers who wanted to invest using Rahim’s automated trading bots, some of which traded forex, and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products under BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation.com, ProChartSignals.com, OptionCopier.com, CopyAndWin.com, SnipeAlgo.com, and QQQtrade.com. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee for access to Rahim’s bots, software, and copying his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” to which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, as well as his “in-office” trading days. Additionally, Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming that "We'll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often." Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months.
Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using video-centric, internet-based social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins.
Rahim also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. Despite claiming to regularly beat the market, however, he exaggerated his personal trading success, in part by not posting trades in which he lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022. He did not invest millions in the market during this time period as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles to post emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during the course of his schemes. After accepting the guilty plea, the court ordered that Rahim not give any financial investment advice to anyone for a fee.
Ian Taylor Higgins, 33, conspired with Rahim on one of Rahim’s bot offerings, TradeAutomation. Higgins owned and ran FXPrimary, an online trading platform that purportedly acted as a brokerage house and would manage investors’ cryptocurrency deposits for TradeAutomation. Higgins admitted that investors had little chance of making any profit despite being told they could. He also admitted that the investments were much higher risk than advertised by Rahim. Higgins profited by over $4 million, with which he purchased a Florida home for over $2 million, two Teslas for $70,000, Rolexes for $44,500, as well as other luxury goods. Higgins was sentenced to three years in prison and will be ordered to pay restitution.
On March 15, Rahim pled guilty to failing to pay over to the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income, resulting in a loss to the IRS of at least $1,844,489.
Rahim is scheduled to be sentenced for both the wire fraud scheme and his tax fraud on Dec. 20. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud scheme and five years in prison for his tax fraud conviction. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea for Rahim and after the sentencing of Higgins by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. are prosecuting Rahim for his wire fraud conduct and, with assistance from the Tax Division, his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar is prosecuting Higgins for his role in the investment fraud scheme.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case), 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case), and 1:24-cr-26 (Higgins’s Investment Fraud Case).
Suffolk services provider pleads guilty to healthcare fraudRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk woman pled guilty yesterday to one count of healthcare fraud and six counts of making false statements relating to healthcare matters.
According to court documents, from June 2016 through October 2018, Whitteney Guyton, 43, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), which administers Medicaid in the Commonwealth. Guyton owned and operated Synergy Health Systems LLC (Synergy), Which provided healthcare services to patients covered by Medicaid. Ms. Guyton billed Medicaid for the services she claimed Synergy provided to patients. However, the company’s records were falsified, incomplete, failed to comply with basic Medicaid requirements, and included inflated time.
Synergy offered two types of care: personal and respite care, and mental health skill building (MHSS). The services that Synergy offered required assessments by licensed professionals to comply with Medicaid regulations. To be paid for personal care, a registered nurse (RN) must complete the patient assessment. A licensed mental health professional (LMHP), such as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) is required to fill out assessments for, and periodically re-assess, patients receiving mental health services.
While Guyton had an LCSW contractor from 2016 to July 2017, she did not have another LMHP to do the assessments or reassessments until October 2018. Guyton instructed her staff to forge the original LCSW's signature on assessments and certifications. Guyton and Synergy submitted documents to DMAS for authorization for MHSS for over 35 patients that contained forged signatures and authorizations, fraudulently billing and receiving over $740,000 from DMAS.
Guyton and Synergy did the same for personal care and respite services. Guyton and Synergy forged signatures of an RN and fraudulently billed and received over $50,000 from DMAS. Synergy billed and received from DMAS an additional $480,000 for patients for whom there was no documentation that any assessment had ever been done or while they were in the hospital or at other care settings. Guyton and Synergy also inflated the time for billing for mental health services.
As a result of these schemes, Guyton illegally obtained approximately $1,320,088.
Guyton is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2025. She faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and Clayton D. LaForge are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-35.
Two high-seas mariners convicted for violation of Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act in the Eastern Pacific OceanRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted two Nicaraguan nationals on Aug. 23 for possession with intent to distribute over two tons of marijuana on the high seas, in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, on board a stateless vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 27, 2023, while on routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific, a maritime patrol aircraft located a go-fast vessel (GFV) in international waters 97 nautical miles southwest of Malpelo Island, Colombia. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) James (WSML 754), a National Security Cutter, was patrolling nearby and maneuvered to intercept the GFV.
After requesting and receiving authority, Cutter James launched a helicopter, which first attempted to contact the GFV on a maritime channel, then activated its blue warning lights, fired three warning shots across the bow, and, as the vessel failed to yield, engaged a precision gunner to disable the GFV’s engines.
A boarding team launched from the Cutter James and found three individuals onboard, including Maximo Zacarias, 43, Ismael Alexis Martinez, 29, and Bernacio Solares Ramon, 30. The boarding team determined the GFV, El Tanque, was without nationality. The team was authorized to recover 74 bales of marijuana, weighing of 4,610 pounds, and a five-gallon bucket containing electronics devices such as a GPS, SAT phone, ship-to-ship walkie-talkie, and other communication devices. Ramon was in possession of paperwork with GPS coordinates for the routes of travel to near a Pacific island off the coast of Costa Rica.
Zacarias and Ramon are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 19. They face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.
Martinez pled guilty on Aug. 8 to possession with intent to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana on board a vessel. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17, and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life in prison.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Rear Admiral Joseph R. Buzzella, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the verdict. The Maritime and Counternarcotics Unit within the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided substantial assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Comstock, Eric M. Hurt, and Joseph E. DePadilla are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-129.
Former Marine convicted of receiving and possessing thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted a former U.S. Marine today on charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in February 2021, Eman Goodwin, 33, attempted to obtain CSAM from a CSAM trafficker on Kik, who was later convicted of production of child pornography. Goodwin told the trafficker he was specifically looking for “younger than HS” and “12 and under.”
On March 24, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant and seized 21 electronic devices from Goodwin’s apartment, his pocket, and his car. Forensic examination of the devices revealed that Goodwin used two laptops to download CSAM from the Internet and stored the CSAM on an external hard drive. The hard drive contained nearly 5,000 images and videos depicting children, including prepubescent children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct and bestiality. Goodwin categorized the files into folders with explicit titles, including “CP FULL” and “under 18 nude girl vids.” The defendant also saved hundreds of CSAM files on three cell phones, including on the phones from his pocket and his car.
Goodwin faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison when sentenced on Dec 13. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Brian Platt, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton entered the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Seth Schlessinger are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-161.
Sixth Tri-Cities cocaine trafficker sentenced to 16 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Hopewell man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine throughout the Tri-Cities region of Central Virginia.
According to court documents, from at least May 2021 through October 2023, Cleveland Lamont Parson, 51, conspired with Aaron Larde Heath, 39, of Chester, and others to broker the purchase of kilogram quantities of cocaine from various sources in Virginia, North Carolina, Mexico, and elsewhere and to coordinate cocaine shipments. Parson used his residence in Hopewell as a stash house to distribute, store, and transfer the cocaine. Parson and Heath were held responsible for distributing between 50-150 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy.
On May 18, 2023, Jerrell Stanley Bugg, 46, of Chester, purchased three kilograms of cocaine from Parson. After Bugg left Parson’s residence with the cocaine, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, during which Bugg recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun to law enforcement. When a K-9 unit alerted to narcotics in the vehicle, Bugg attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the scene. Law enforcement then recovered the cocaine from the vehicle. On Dec. 8, 2023, Bugg pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and, on May 7, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
In August 2023, Parson and Heath received 18 kilograms of cocaine, but upon inspection, determined a portion of the cocaine was of poor quality and decided to return that portion. On Aug. 6, 2023, couriers Jose Misael Reyes, 33, of El Salvador, and Corina Chavez, 31, of Bailey, North Carolina, transported the low-quality cocaine to their residence in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. On Aug. 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered the cocaine. On Jan. 12, Reyes pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. On Jan. 19, Chavez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
On Aug. 20, 2023, Heath traveled from Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina, and acquired 20 kilograms of cocaine. Heath recruited Antonio Shaw, 61, of Hopewell, to serve as a courier for Heath and agreed to pay Shaw to transport the cocaine to Virginia. At a hotel in Charlotte, Heath provided the 20 kilograms of cocaine to Shaw. As Shaw traveled to Virginia, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Randolph County, North Carolina, and recovered the cocaine from the trunk of Shaw’s vehicle. On Jan. 16, Shaw pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on July 12, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
On Oct. 25, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Parson’s residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a .38 caliber revolver, a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended 30 round magazine, a .762 caliber AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, two shotgun magazines, a money counter, $37,261, and multiple cellphones.
On Dec. 5, 2023, Heath pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on May 3, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert, Shea M. Gibbons, Jessica Wright, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation Deep Dope Well. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-133.
Virginia Beach bookkeeper sentenced for wire fraud stemming from embezzlement and COVID-19 program schemesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach woman was sentenced today to four years in prison for two counts of wire fraud after perpetrating embezzlement and COVID-19 program schemes resulting in over a million dollars in losses.
According to court documents, Maria Gene Reich, 45, was President of ASOC. Inc. d/b/a On Call Accountants (OCA), a Virginia Beach-based business which offered bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll services to small business clients. Beginning in February 2012, Reich and On Call Accountants performed bookkeeping for a family-owned company, identified in court records as Company A, that manufactures condiments. Reich would prepare checks and schedule electronic payments on behalf of Company A to pay the company’s bills.
For most of the period during which she performed services for Company A, Reich did not have signature authority over any of the company’s financial accounts, but possessed a stamp bearing the signature of the owner of Company A, which she used to draft checks for Company A’s business expenses. Reich also had online access to Company A’s financial accounts, which enabled her to view account balances, transfer funds, and initiate electronic payments as needed.
Based on the agreement between Reich and Company A, the maximum total compensation she should have received for services rendered to the company between January 2015 and December 2018 was $98,400. A financial analysis of activity during that time period revealed that Reich’s OCA business account received 270 payments totaling $596,418 from Company A accounts, including 138 checks and 132 electronic payments. Reich also used Company A’s money to pay off her credit cards, which she used for numerous personal expenses. The financial analysis showed that Reich made 366 payments totaling approximately $629,265 to her Capital One personal and business credit card accounts using funds from Company A’s business bank accounts. Reich used Company A’s money to pay for personal expenses such as dining, travel, entertainment, and retail purchases.
In total, Reich stole approximately $1,132,693 from Company A.
In March 2020, Reich applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a $150,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) on behalf of OCA and requested a $150,000 loan. The purpose of the EIDL program was to enable small businesses to meet financial obligations and operating expenses in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In the EIDL application, Reich certified that none of the EIDL funds would be used for non-business expenses. In May 2020, the SBA funded the loan.
In April 2021, Reich applied for a modification of the EIDL loan to increase the amount to $500,000. In July 2021, the SBA approved the modification and funded the loan for an additional $350,000. On Aug. 3, 2021, a wire deposit from the SBA for $350,000 was made to OCA’s bank account, and Reich immediately transferred $150,000 to her personal banking accounts. On Sept. 27, 2021, Reich withdrew approximately $93,416 from her savings account and used the money for a downpayment on the purchase of a home in Virginia Beach, where Reich and her family continue to reside.
In addition to the downpayment for the residence, Reich used the EIDL funds from that transfer to put money into her minor children’s bank accounts and to make payments for her mortgages, credit cards, personal loan, and life insurance policy.
Of the remaining EIDL funds from the $350,000 EIDL loan, Reich used them to pay for: personal, household, and family expenses; payments to her credit card and PayPal accounts; home improvement costs and automobile expenses; and dining, grocery, and entertainment expenses.
In total, Reich illegally spent $249,102 of the EIDL funds she received.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-135.
Former executive of injured child benefit program charged with stealing over $4.8 millionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Providence Forge man was arrested today related to his alleged embezzlement of funds from his former employer, the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program (Birth-Injury Program).
John Hunter Raines, 38, the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director of the Birth-Injury Program, is charged in a criminal complaint with felony fraud.
The Birth-Injury program pays monetary compensation to families of infants who suffer from brain or spinal cord injuries resulting from the birth process that render the infant developmentally and/or cognitively disabled. According to Court documents, Raines’ role required that he oversee the finances of the Birth-Injury Program, including approximately $650 million in investments in 2023.
From at least January 2022 through at least October 2023, Raines allegedly stole over $4.8 million from the Birth-Injury Program, including by using his access to the Birth-Injury Program bank account to initiate at least 59 separate wire transactions, sending funds to bank accounts in Raines’ own name. Raines also allegedly used the Birth-Injury Program debit card for personal gain. According to the criminal complaint, Raines spent embezzled Birth-Injury Program money on various personal expenses. For example:
- Raines allegedly purchased numerous vehicles, including eight luxury golf carts for over $160,000 and a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban;
- Raines allegedly spent over $100,000 on gambling, including at Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, Virginia, Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, Virginia, and the Virginia Lottery;
- Raines allegedly spent over $9,000 to hire private limousines, including to chauffer Raines and his guests to Virginia-area vineyards;
- Raines allegedly made numerous purchases of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Dogecoin, and transferred funds to his brokerage accounts;
- Raines allegedly paid over $30,000 for private jet travel to take his wife and friends to Nashville, Tennessee, for three days;
- Raines allegedly paid over $60,000 to pay down his student loan debt, his mortgage, and other loans; and
- Raines allegedly spent over $19,000 to purchase eight separate 2022 1-oz American Gold Eagle Bullion coins and a 100-oz silver bar.
If convicted, Raines faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Michael C. Westfall, State Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-mj-75.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Vienna man pleads guilty to illegally possessing ricinRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Vienna man pled guilty today to possession of ricin by an unregistered person.
According to court documents, in December 2022, Russell Richardson Vane IV, 42, conducted a number of searches on his federal government workplace computer for instructions on how to isolate ricin toxin from castor beans. At some time in December 2022 or January 2023, Vane obtained castor beans and successfully separated ricin toxin from them in his residence in Vienna. Vane disposed of the byproducts of the production and stored a sample of the ricin in a test tube for further testing but was unable to readily obtain testing equipment. He kept the test tube in a storage box in his home.
On April 10, 2024, laboratory equipment that Vane used to isolate the ricin was recovered during a search of his residence. Vane does not have a registration as required by regulations under the Public Health Services Act to lawfully possess ricin, which is a deadly poison.
Vane is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7. He faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sanjay Virmani, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda St. Cyr and Danya E. Atiyeh are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-101.
Stafford fentanyl trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Oct. 2, 2023, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office recovered a parcel with 16,245 counterfeit blue oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and stamped with "M30." On Oct. 17, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Dwaine Tyrone Jones Jr., 27, which he shared with his girlfriend and his girlfriend's parents.
During the search of the residence, agents recovered approximately 20,240 blue M30 pills containing fentanyl, along with approximately 40.5 grams of cocaine, a scale, $47,770 in cash, a half-pound of marijuana, and a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun. The total weight of the fentanyl pills was 2,137.04 grams.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-27.
Scrap metal dealer pleads guilty in multi-state catalytic converter theft conspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A North Carolina scrap metal dealer pled guilty today to theft and tax charges related to his participation in a multi-state catalytic converter theft conspiracy.
According to court documents, Theodore Nicholas Papouloglou, 45, used his business, DG Auto South in Emporia, Virginia to purchase stolen catalytic converters from thieves. Papouloglou then transported the stolen catalytic converters to his co-conspirators in New Jersey for shipment of the catalytic metals to Japan. In 2020 and 2021, Papouloglou received over $12.2 million in wired payments from his co-conspirators in New Jersey, including for proceeds from his illicit sale of catalytic converters. Papouloglou spent the money he received from DG Auto South on personal expenses, such as purchasing real estate and a luxury motorcycle for his girlfriend and to gamble at casinos in Las Vegas. Despite realizing income from DG Auto South, Papouloglou paid no taxes in 2020 and 2021.
Papouloglou separately helped his co-conspirators in New Jersey to purchase stolen catalytic converters from other sellers, including sellers in Texas and Oklahoma, by facilitating bulk cash payments. The total value of the funds that Papouloglou illicitly transferred was at least $6.6 million.
Law enforcement seized and Papouloglou agreed to forfeit various vehicles associated with the offense:
(1) 2021 Ford F250 (Roush)
(2) 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport (Apocalypse)
(3) 2017 Lamborghini Huracan (Convertible)
(4) 2020 McLaren 720s (Convertible)
(5) 2021 Mercedes-AMG G63
(6) 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista
(7) 2021 McLaren 765LT
(8) 2021 Ford F450 (Super Duty)
Catalytic converters, which reduce toxic gas and pollutants from a vehicle’s exhaust system, use precious metals in their centers, or “cores,” and are regularly targeted for theft due to the high value of these metals, especially palladium, platinum, and rhodium. Some of these are more valuable per ounce than gold, and the black-market price for catalytic converters can be above $1,000. A catalytic converter can be stolen from an automobile undercarriage in less than a minute.
Papouloglou is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section assisted with the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-42.
Powhatan man convicted of federal healthcare fraudRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge convicted a Powhatan man today on two counts of healthcare fraud.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Richard Davis, 51, was the sole owner and CEO of Innovative Family Services LLC (IFS), which he enrolled as a Medicaid provider in Virginia in 2012. IFS provided Therapeutic Day Treatment (TDT), a mental health program for children and adolescents often offered as an after-school program, and Intensive In-Home services (IIH), interventions for children at risk of being removed from their homes. To be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, TDT and IIH services must be provided in person.
From December 2015 through July 2019, Davis directed IFS employees to bill the maximum allowable service units per day by billing two or more hours per day for group planning, case documentation, excessive coordination of care with adults in the children’s lives, and transportation, even though Medicaid disallows these services from payment. By doing so, Davis and his company routinely billed Medicaid for five hours of TDT when only two or three hours of actual care were provided. Davis’ company billed excessive hours for nearly every Medicaid recipient almost every day TDT was provided for the entire time IFS operated as a company.
Davis’ fraudulent billing scheme caused a loss to Medicaid of at least $218,392.
Davis faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 7, 2025. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. entered the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea Gibbons and Brian Hood are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-135.
Maryland felon pleads guilty to federal firearms offense in VirginiaRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Maryland man pled guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2023, Damontae James Garner, 24, of Silver Spring, was driving a stolen Cadillac when Virginia State Police observed him making erratic lane changes. When the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Garner accelerated. Garner drove the stolen vehicle over stop sticks that had been deployed by another trooper, puncturing the tires and stopping the car when it collided with the rear guard of a parked tractor trailer in a weigh station. Garner and a female passenger got out of the Cadillac and briefly fled on foot before troopers detained them.
While conducting an inventory search to tow the Cadillac, a trooper found a backpack containing a 7.62 caliber, semi-automatic firearm loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition. Garner admitted in today’s plea that he possessed the firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Garner cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Garner is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2025. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-49.
Virginia Beach man sentenced for distributing horrific images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
According to court documents, on Oct. 12, 2023, Dustin Roy Harrell, 39, distributed CSAM in a group on an end-to-end encryption messaging app that keeps communications private. Harrell shared a link to a Mega.nz account within the private channel that allowed users to download a video depicting the sexual abuse of a newborn baby.
Law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices, including three cellphones. Forensic examinations of the phones revealed 267 images, 32 computer-generated images, and five videos of CSAM. One device contained conversations in which Harrell discussed topics of child pornography and incest. Harrell engaged in online groups named “Cute Teens 16-19,” “Uncensored Teens,” Family Maza Incst,” and more.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Heck prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-19.
Man convicted for Springfield mail theft ringRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Springfield man yesterday on three charges of possessing and receiving stolen mail.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kenshaun Thompson, 26, participated in a conspiracy to steal mail on several occasions in October 2023. Thompson’s co-conspirator, Adam Bekele, 33, of Annandale, accessed several mailboxes including the mailbox at the West Springfield Post Office on Rolling Road and took the mail from the box into a vehicle. On multiple occasions, and specifically on Oct. 24, 25, and 26, 2023, Bekele transported the stolen mail to an apartment in Falls Church where he transferred it to Thompson, who knew when he received the mail that it had been stolen.
On Feb. 22, Bekele pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail theft. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 3.
Thompson faces a maximum of 15 years, five years for each count of receiving stolen mail in prison when sentenced on Dec. 5. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra Serano and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Antara Saikat Joardar are prosecuting the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hiller provided valuable assistance on this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-137.
Career criminal sentenced to 27 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms crimesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison for fentanyl distribution and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, from Feb. 10, 2022, to March 3, 2022, law enforcement in Richmond conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Jason Dominic Coley, 38.
On March 22, 2022, law enforcement executed search warrants for locations and vehicles associated with Coley. During a search of Coley’s residence, investigators recovered two semiautomatic handguns, a semiautomatic rifle, 13.8 ounces of fentanyl, and 4.3 ounces of cocaine. At another residence associated with Coley, investigators recovered $16,085, and a .45 caliber handgun. The same day, law enforcement detained and arrested Coley, whom they found in possession of a .40 caliber handgun. Coley admitted that for the past year, he had been purchasing approximately two kilograms of fentanyl from California for distribution.
Coley is a career criminal with previous felony convictions, including in federal court. As a convicted felon, he cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-126.
Richmond man with previous firearms convictions sentenced for possessing a handgunRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Oct. 3, 2023, Henrico County Police (HCPD) responded to a call for service regarding a fight at an apartment complex on Henrico Arms Place. A woman who was not involved in the fight approached the officers and reported that she had just been assaulted by Jamie Louis Cook, 39, who is the father of her child. When an HCPD officer attempted to place Cook into custody for domestic assault, Cook attempted to flee from the officers.
As Cook fled, he reached into his waistband, removed a loaded 9mm handgun, and dropped it on the ground. Cook eventually stopped running and was taken into custody. The officers recovered the firearm that Cook dropped, which had been stolen in November 2021.
Cook has previous felony convictions including for robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-26.