Eastern District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Manager of Mexican Methamphetamine Trafficking Cartel SentencedRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while living in Mexico and acting as a manager for a Sinaloa, Mexico, drug trafficking organization (DTO).
According to court documents, between approximately 2016 and 2018, Victor Hugo Hinojosa-Elizondo, 55, was involved in and a manager of an international DTO responsible for distributing over 40 pounds of highly pure Mexican-made methamphetamine to cities throughout the United States, including Los Angeles, California; Providence, Rhode Island; and Norfolk.
The Sinaloa-based organization is responsible for manufacturing, importing, and distributing large amounts of highly pure methamphetamine using couriers, while running international meth operations in the United States from Mexico. Two conspirators, Hinojosa-Elizondo and Luis Enrique Soto-Ferro, 47, were extradited from Mexico to the United States last year after a lengthy international extradition process.
Soto-Ferro was sentenced in Norfolk last month to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine while living in Mexico and acting as a leader for the organization. The District Court in Norfolk also sentenced two couriers for the organization, Irana Carmago-Lugue, 38, to 10 years in prison, and Jorge Alberto Perez-Miramontes, 41, to 11 years in prison.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk’s Commonwealth’s Attorney; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the government of Mexico to secure the arrests and extraditions in this 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Stolle 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. 2:18-cr-85.
Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Coercing a MinorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, in April 2023, James Wentworth, 31, engaged in multiple sex acts with a minor. Law enforcement additionally discovered an email address Wentworth used to exchange sexually explicit messages with the minor. The emails included discussions regarding Wentworth’s intentions to use sex toys, bondage rope, and bondage tape to restrain the minor during sex acts. The emails further included directions for the minor to delete emails they had previously exchanged.
Wentworth is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account 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 Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. Elizabeth Wilson 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. 2:23-cr-98.
Two Darknet Vendors Plead Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Other Illegal DrugsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Phoenix, Arizona, couple pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute multiple controlled substances including heroin, methamphetamine, and para-fluorofentanyl over the darknet.
According to court documents, from approximately January 2021 through May 2023, Cheerish Noel Taylor, 36, and Robert James Fischer, 35, ran the darknet monikers “SafeServe,” “Sky_HIGH,” and others across multiple darknet markets. On these markets, the co-conspirators advertised and sold various controlled substances, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, Xanax, Adderall, suboxone, and counterfeit pills that the conspirators advertised as oxycodone but that instead were laced with para-fluorofentanyl, a dangerous fentanyl analogue. During the course of the conspiracy, the conspirators made over 1,100 sales of controlled substances over the darknet using these accounts.
The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets, or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products, as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods.
Fischer and Taylor sold counterfeit oxycodone pills, which they marketed as “pressed m30s” and “blues,” knowing that they did not contain oxycodone, and instead contained fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue. Within the product description for the purported “blues,” the defendant’s darknet vendor page on the site ASAP Market stated that “These are not reg M30s they are PRESSED and are very strong…seasoned users only please.” In another listing for the purported “blues,” the defendants advertised “small fine print: these are NOT from a pharmacy they are PRESSED from Mexico. Seasoned users Only because these are strong AF not for those who are freshly using.”
Fischer and Taylor sold other drugs on the darknet that they advertised as being legitimate, pharmaceutically, produced drugs. For example, the two sold what they described as “pharmaceutical Adderall’ for over $13 per pill.
The two shipped controlled substances nationwide through the United States Postal Service, and attempted to disguise the controlled substances within packages amidst dollar-store goods, such as children’s stickers, beads, birthday cards, and seasonal gift items. At times, the controlled substances were hidden inside of toy packaging.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8. She faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. Fischer is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2024. He also faces a mandatory minimum 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Call 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. 1:23-cr-112.
Former Federal Employee Sentenced for Leading $3.5 M Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Concord, California, woman was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for her leading role in a conspiracy to defraud at least five states of more than $3.5 million in pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits.
“Huffman organized a massive VEC fraud conspiracy and abused her position as a federal employee to steal funds meant for those struggling with employment security and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “To add insult to injury, when her time came to be held accountable at her initial sentencing hearing, she fled from the law. I am grateful today for the efforts of our law enforcement and prosecutorial team in ensuring Huffman and her co-defendants face the consequences of their selfish actions.”
“While employed with the federal government, Heather Ann Huffman led a criminal conspiracy to steal more than $2 million in pandemic-related unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, betraying the public trust and depriving benefits to those who desperately needed assistance during an unprecedented time of financial hardship,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). “As the primary law enforcement agency charged with investigating fraud against the UI program, DOL-OIG is committed to working relentlessly to protect the integrity of these vital benefits from those seeking to unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of American workers affected by the pandemic. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – OIG, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Virginia Employment Commission, for their strong partnership and collaboration in this investigation.”
According to court documents, from April 2020 through at least March 2021, Heather Huffman, 52, lead and organized several others, including family members and close friends, in a conspiracy to defraud at least five state workforce agencies, including the Virginia Employment Commission, the Washington State Employment Security Department, and the California Employment Development Department, of more than $3.5 million in unemployment insurance benefits. Huffman’s conspiracy specifically targeted benefits that had been expanded to offset the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain these benefits, Huffman and others filed false and misleading applications in the names of identity theft victims, witting co-conspirators, and inmates of state and federal prisons. Among other information, Huffman and her conspirators included in these applications materially false wage and employment histories and false contact information, such as physical and mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers, that did not, in fact, belong to the purported applicants.
To further their conspiracy, Huffman and others obtained and shared among themselves the personal identifying information (PII) of others, created and maintained email accounts purportedly belonging to those individuals, and falsified and forged various documents—including state and federal wage and tax forms—to substantiate the information they had included in the false benefit applications. Conspirators also identified nominee addresses in each of the targeted states at which they falsely claimed the purported applicants lived and worked. Conspirators then directed the targeted states to send benefit payments to prepaid debit cards mailed to various addresses in Virginia, including Huffman’s former residential addresses. As the conspiracy progressed, Huffman also opened a P.O. Box in the name of a fictitious non-profit, “Heather’s Homeless Services,” to which she thereafter directed the targeted states to mail the prepaid debit cards. Huffman, who was then employed as a registered nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center in Richmond, used her work computer to research available benefits, file and access claims, and falsify documents in furtherance of the conspiracy.
In total, Huffman and her conspirators submitted more than 220 applications in the names of more than 120 individuals to at least five different states through which they sought to receive more than $3.5 million and actually obtained more than $2 million.
Huffman’s sentencing was originally scheduled for November 29, 2022, but she failed to appear that day without notice or explanation. Prior to her disappearance, Huffman took measures to flee prosecution and conceal her whereabouts, including depleting her bank accounts, selling her vehicle, and turning her phone off. Through means unknown, Huffman obtained the PII of a real person, assumed that person’s identity, and procured counterfeit government identification and credit cards in the name of her false alias. Following Huffman’s disappearance, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) opened a fugitive investigation. This extensive, months-long investigation uncovered evidence that the defendant, under a false identity, was living and working as a registered nurse in Kansas. On March 4, 2023, approximately 95 days after Huffman’s flight from prosecution, she was apprehended by the USMS in Kansas at an Extended Stay hotel.
Huffman is the last of the defendants to be sentenced in this case. See the table below for additional information on the sentences imposed in this case.
Name
Age
Residence
Convictions
Total Sentence
Heather A. Huffman
54
Concord, California
Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft
216 months
Sheldon L. Huffman
31
Richmond, Virginia
Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft
60 months
Dorothea Rosado
54
Kennesaw, Georgia
Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft
36 months
Anthowan Daniels
35
Richmond, Virginia
Conspiracy to Commit Mail & Wire Fraud; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
42 months
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Kim. R. Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge, Mid-Atlantic Field Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. imposed the sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the USMS for their assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke, Kashan Pathan, and Mike C. Moore 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. 3:22-cr-8.
Former FBI Contractor Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment today charging a former FBI contractor with sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Brett Janes, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, allegedly contacted roughly a dozen minor boys over Discord and Snapchat. He allegedly groomed the minors by telling them he worked for a U.S. intelligence agency before repeatedly threatening suicide if the minors did not continue to communicate with him. Janes allegedly enticed one victim, a 13-year-old boy whom he met through the first-person shooter game Valorant, to strip and masturbate over a live video Discord call by threatening to kill himself and by paying him money over CashApp. He allegedly enticed a 12-year-old boy to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over Discord through flattery and repeated begging.
Janes allegedly received child sexual abuse material from these two minors, as well as two separate minor victims, and attempted to meet up with a minor. He also allegedly purchased hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse material from Telegram.
Janes is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and production of CSAM, one count of attempted coercion and enticement, and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Arlington County Chief of Police, Charles “Andy” Penn, made the announcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney McKenzie Hightower is prosecuting the case.
Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Janes are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the child exploitation and human trafficking task force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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-140.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Former FBI Contractor Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment today charging a former FBI contractor with sexual exploitation of children.
According to court documents, Brett Janes, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, allegedly contacted roughly a dozen minor boys over Discord and Snapchat. He allegedly groomed the minors by telling them he worked for a U.S. intelligence agency before repeatedly threatening suicide if the minors did not continue to communicate with him. Janes allegedly enticed one victim, a 13-year-old boy whom he met through the first-person shooter game Valorant, to strip and masturbate over a live video Discord call by threatening to kill himself and by paying him money over CashApp. He allegedly enticed a 12-year-old boy to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over Discord through flattery and repeated begging. Janes allegedly received child sexual abuse material from these two minors, as well as two separate minor victims, and attempted to meet up with a minor. He also allegedly purchased hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse material from Telegram.
Janes is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and production of CSAM, one count of attempted coercion and enticement, and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Arlington County Chief of Police Charles “Andy” Penn made the announcement.
The FBI and Arlington County Police are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section is prosecuting the case.
Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Janes are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Charged with Defrauding Elderly Homeowners and COVID-19 Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Freeman man had his initial appearance today on charges of wire fraud, filing a false tax return, tax evasion, and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to the indictment, Howard Lee Stith Jr., 41, allegedly perpetrated a scheme to defraud elderly homeowners in the Richmond Metro area by appearing at their homes and claiming that their slate roofs needed extensive repairs, which Stith offered to provide on a price-per-foot or price-per-material basis. Thereafter, Stith purported to provide the promised services, but, in truth, Stith performed minimal work of poor quality while charging homeowners exorbitant fees. Allegedly, Stith targeted the same homeowners over months and years, returning unsolicited and claiming the homeowners’ roofs needed further repairs. To substantiate the excessive amounts he charged, Stith allegedly created false invoices and misleading receipts, which he provided to various homeowners. From at least 2015 through the present time, Stith is alleged to have fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million from elderly homeowners in connection with this scheme.
According to allegations in the indictment, Stith failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the income he obtained from this scheme by filing a false tax return in 2018; failing to file tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021; and taking affirmative acts to evade the assessment of income tax between 2019 and 2021. Specifically, Stith allegedly directed homeowners to pay him by personal check and then conducted a series of transactions to convert the check into cash without making deposit records. Having thereby concealed the nature and source of his income, Stith thereafter dealt heavily in cash. After learning he was under federal investigation, Stith allegedly began directing homeowners to write personal checks to others to further conceal his receipt of such payments. Through this conduct, Stith evaded the assessment of income tax in the alleged amount of at least $575,000 for tax years 2018 through 2021.
According to further allegations in the indictment, Stith also used cash from his roofing scheme to make large payments on high end cars. When applying to finance some of these vehicles with a local credit union, Stith is alleged to have prepared and provided false tax returns that reported significantly more income than he had claimed in the returns filed with the IRS for those same years. As a result, the credit union approved and funded multiple loans totaling at least $130,000.
Finally, according to the allegations, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stith applied for and received relief funds to which he was not actually entitled. First, Stith applied for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on behalf of various businesses, including a roofing business. These applications included materially false statements about each business’s gross income and number of employees. Based on these material misrepresentations, Stith obtained at least $112,000 in EIDL funds to which he was allegedly not entitled. Stith also applied for and received at least $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits (UI), allegedly falsely claiming that he was not working, not self-employed, and not receiving money from any source. It is alleged that Stith received tens of thousands of dollars from elderly homeowners during the period in which he falsely claimed entitlement to unemployment.
Stith is charged with wire fraud, filing a false tax return, evading the assessment of income tax, failing to file income tax returns, and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kyo Dolan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
Anyone who believes they have been harmed by Stith’s criminal actions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Coordinator by calling 804-819-7429.
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-110.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Management Company for 48 Skilled Nursing Facilities Agrees to Settle Americans with Disabilities Act ComplaintRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Consulate Management Company, III, LLC (CMC), which manages 48 skilled nursing facilities.
The settlement agreement resolves allegations that a nursing facility managed by CMC had denied admission to an individual who is deaf because she would need sign language interpreting services. The ADA prohibits covered entities from excluding individuals with disabilities from their services because they require auxiliary aids or services, such as a sign language interpreter. The remedial terms of the settlement agreement apply to each of the nursing facilities managed by CMC.
To resolve this complaint, CMC agreed to pay $40,000 to the individual that was denied admission and a $50,000 civil penalty. CMC also agreed to make significant changes to the policies and procedures at the nursing facilities it manages. CMC will adopt new ADA policies at all 48 of the nursing facilities it manages. These policies will make the nursing facilities’ services accessible to individuals with communication disabilities, including those who require the services of a sign language interpreter. CMC will also designate an ADA Administrator, who will be responsible for ensuring each facility’s compliance with the ADA; enter into agreements with sign language interpreting service providers to provide services to individuals who need them; and provide training for its personnel on the ADA’s effective communication requirements.
Nursing facilities are an essential component of the healthcare system, as they provide sub-acute healthcare services, including post-hospitalization and long-term care. This settlement agreement ensures that several thousand additional nursing facility beds are accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Gordon, who is the Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The civil claims settled by this ADA agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
This office recently circulated a Dear Colleagues Letter reminding healthcare providers of the ADA’s effective communication requirements, identifying common issues that arise in these cases, and providing practical steps that healthcare providers can take to comply with the ADA. Additionally, the Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA, including Effective Communication, and a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings. For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Leesburg Man Sentenced for the Unlicensed Sale of FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Leesburg man was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for selling at least nine firearms, for a profit and without a license, that he originally purchased from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents from approximately June 17, 2021, through June 25, 2022, in Loudoun County, James Banville, 33, willfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. During this period, the defendant purchased 18 firearms from FFLs and illegally sold at least nine of those firearms. To date, law enforcement has recovered three firearms originally purchased by Banville from crime scenes. Of those three, one firearm was recovered by D.C. Metro Police and was loaded with an extended magazine. Another firearm was recovered in New York City following a foot pursuit of a suspect by officers of the New York Police Department.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, 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 T. S. Ellis, III.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Patterson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jacques Singer-Emery 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. 1:23-cr-54.
Glen Allen Man Pleads Guilty to $870,000 Sneaker FraudRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Glen Allen man pleaded guilty today to a wire fraud charge arising from his operation of an online retail business.
According to court documents, from approximately August 2020 through July 2021, Justin Lee Godsey, 26, ran "Sneak Foot," an online retailer that primarily sold athletic shoes through a website. When customers purchased shoes from Sneak Foot, the sales were managed by two credit card processing companies who had entered into agreements with Sneak Foot. The processors were obligated to refund the money sent to Sneak Foot through them if Godsey failed to deliver shoes ordered. Godsey consistently pocketed funds paid to him by customers without sending them the shoes, and used the funds for various personal expenditures, including the purchase of a Lamborghini. The losses incurred by the two credit card processors exceed $870,000.
Godsey is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20. He faces a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account 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 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 Robert C. Young accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore 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. 3:23-cr-58.
EDVA Provides Updates on Grant Awards for Project Safe Neighborhood InitiativesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), today announced the awarding of over $250,000 in grant funding for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives.
“Violence in our community has many causes,” said Aber. “Criminal prosecution of violent offenders is only one solution. As a result, we emphasize violence prevention and intervention programs and support them with federal resources. The grants awarded through our PSN program will go directly to fostering local efforts that tackle those root causes.”
In May, EDVA announced the continued availability of grant funding for PSN initiatives. On June 22 the PSN Grant Committee selected three applicants to receive funds: the RVA League for Safer Streets; Project Safe, Alive, and Free (SAF); and Parents Against Bullying Virginia (PABVA).
RVA League for Safer Streets will receive $54,340 for their Midnight Basketball League program in Richmond where youth will be engaged in workshops on topics such as conflict resolution before playing basketball together.
Project SAF will receive $56,500 to support a Group Violence Intervention effort in Hopewell and the surrounding Tri-Cities area that pairs community violence intervention methods and intense life coaching with a trauma-based violence intervention program. This program also works collaboratively with Assistant United States Attorneys from EDVA’s Richmond Division.
PABVA will receive $160,333 to support anti-bullying programs in the Newport News public school system including “Girl & Gent Talk” group sessions with at-risk youth and the STAR Bright Kidz Puppet program.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
In addition to PSN efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in support of the Richmond Police Department’s Safe Summer initiative by collaborating on investigations and aggressively pursuing charges against defendants identified as meeting these criteria and pushing for appropriately accountable sentences.
These efforts are in line with the Department of Justice’s summer anti-violent crime strategy, which includes reinforcing the importance of identifying, investigating, and prioritizing the prosecution of those who are responsible for the greatest violence in our communities.
In the fall, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia anticipates that it will announce the availability of approximately $500,000 in PSN grant funding. The PSN Grant Committee is currently prioritizing three regions impacted most by violent crime—Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk—but will evaluate grant applications from across the Eastern District.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Darknet Vendor Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl-Laced Pills and Crystal MethRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Glendale, Arizona, man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for distributing fentanyl-laced pills and crystal meth on the darknet.
According to court documents, Justin Udvardi, 30, operated several darknet vendor pages using the moniker “TrapGod.” For a period of at least two years, he used the darknet to make hundreds of narcotics sales to people around the country, including crystal methamphetamine, MDMA, and counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. He also trafficked in stolen credit card information, and materials that assist fraudsters in creating fraudulent identification documents. Between September 2021 and September 2022, undercover law enforcement agents located in the Eastern District of Virginia conducted several controlled purchases of either crystal meth or fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills from Udvardi. Together, these orders contained more than 120 grams of pure methamphetamine and more than 250 pills containing fentanyl. Udvardi used USPS Priority Mail envelopes to ship the narcotics from Arizona to locations in the Eastern District of Virginia.
The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey 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. 1:22-cr-225.
Man Sentenced for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material of Approximately 72 VictimsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Anthony Benton, 21, initially came to the attention of law enforcement when he bought child sexual abuse material, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of children who appear to be as young as 5 years old, over Telegram. A residential search warrant was executed at his home and law enforcement discovered that Benton had used Omegle, a live video application, to consistently produce child pornography since 2020.
Benton engaged in sexual live video calls with approximately 1,000 girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. He screen-recorded and saved approximately 72 of those videos without the minor victims knowing. Within these videos, Benton can be seen texting a 10-year-old minor, deceiving her by saying he was 15 years old and then, when she revealed her age, promising their sexual conversation was, “[J]ust between us.”
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney McKenzie Hightower and Trial Attorney for the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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-87.
Man Sentenced for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material of Approximately 72 VictimsRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Anthony Benton, 21, formerly of Manassas, came to the attention of law enforcement when he bought child sexual abuse material, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of children who appear to be as young as 5 years old, over Telegram. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home and discovered that Benton had used Omegle, a live-streaming video application, to regularly produce child sexual abuse material for about three years beginning in 2020. Benton engaged in sexual conversations in live video calls with approximately 1,000 girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. In some of those calls, he enticed the girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He screen-recorded and saved approximately 72 videos without the minor victims’ knowledge. One of the videos shows Benton texting a 10-year-old minor to deceive her into believing that he was 15 years old. When she revealed her age, Benton promised their conversation was “just between us.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Chester Man Pleads Guilty to $1.9 Million Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Chester man pleaded guilty today to mail fraud for embezzling over $1.9 million from his employer.
According to court documents, between 2015 and 2023, Bahram Khosropanah, 65, devised and repeatedly executed a scheme to misappropriate technology assets from his employer for his own personal gain. Khosropanah held senior positions at a Richmond-based company that operates convenience stores across the country. His role focused on information technology, and he was responsible for purchasing computers and other electronics for the company. Upon receiving invoices for certain purchases, Khosropanah made unauthorized material modifications to the invoices before submitting them to his accounting department for approval.
Through these modifications, Khosropanah was able to misappropriate computers and electronics and conceal his misappropriations. He then sold the misappropriated assets on eBay and to a third-party wholesaler without the knowledge or consent of his employer. The defendant sold approximately 850 laptops and other electronics, causing a loss of over $1.9 million to his employer. Khosropanah used the proceeds from the fraudulent sales to purchase luxury cars, including a Ferrari.
Khosropanah is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2. He faces a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account 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. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Day 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. 3:23-cr-95.
Venezuelan Men Plead Guilty to High Seas 1400kg Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Two Venezuelan citizens pleaded guilty today and yesterday to conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel in international waters.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2023, Juan Milano, 50, and Carlos Marcano, 31, were found with two others by a U.S. Navy ship and its Naval and Coast Guard personnel on board a go-fast boat in international waters while in possession of over 1400 kilograms of cocaine. The go-fast vessel was without nationality, and none of its crew declared their nationality, the flag nationality of the vessel, or claimed to be its master.
Milano is schedule to be sentenced on December 14 and Marcano, who pleaded yesterday, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13. They each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. 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.
Milano and Marcano were prosecuted as part of a joint interagency partnership between the U.S Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, the Department of Justice including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and select U.S. Attorney offices in the United States and its territories.
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; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; William P. Hicks II, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region, made the announcement after U.S. District Senior Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
The Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section of the Department of Justice assisted in this investigation. The Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), a United States multiservice, multiagency task force, also assisted in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Comstock is prosecuting the case.
Congress has declared drug trafficking on vessels in international waters a serious international problem universally condemned and one that presents a specific threat to the security and societal well-being of the United States.
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-85.
Government Contractor Supplying Explosive Detection Canines at U.S. Embassy Settles FCA Allegations Regarding Deficient TrainingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – SOC LLC, located in Chantilly, has agreed to pay $259,353.60 to settle False Claims Act (FCA) allegations that canine handlers, employed by SOC under a State Department contract, reported time training canines when, in actuality, training had not taken place or the training did not occur for the time reported to the government.
The settlement arises in connection with a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the FCA by a former SOC canine handler, United States ex rel. Morris v. SOC LLC, et al. Under the Worldwide Protective Service (WPS) II contract awarded to SOC by the U.S. Department of State, SOC supplied explosive sniffing canines and canine handlers at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. The WPS II contract required the canines to receive four hours of explosive proficiency training weekly with their handlers. The settlement resolves allegations that SOC handlers and trainers violated the FCA by falsely reporting the requisite four hours of weekly proficiency training regardless of whether training happened that week or fell short of the four-hour requirement.
A whistleblower suit, or qui tam action under the False Claims Act, is commenced by an individual, known as a “relator,” filing a complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court, and providing a copy of the complaint and evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States then has an opportunity to investigate the claims. The False Claims Act provides whistleblowers with a share of the government’s recovery. The relator here will receive a share of this settlement.
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Starr. The civil claims settled by this False Claims Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit can be accessed on PACER by searching for No. 1:21-cv-327.
German National Pleads Guilty to $4 M Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A German man pleaded guilty yesterday to a mail fraud scheme by which he embezzled more than $4 million from his employer.
According to court documents, between 2010 and 2017, Gerhard Bauer, 73, the CEO and President of a U.S. subsidiary company, embezzled more than $4 million by writing corporate checks to pay various personal expenses. He also created fake invoices to justify the expenses. Of note, he paid over $1,490,000 for the construction of his Virginia farm, winery, and horse ranch. He also paid over $146,000 for private school tuition for his relatives.
Bauer is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7. He faces a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew Stohler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
The Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Hanly and Ron Fiorillo 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. 1:20-cr-165.
Federal Inmate Convicted of Producing Obscene Images of ChildrenRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal judge convicted a federal inmate yesterday on charges of producing and possessing obscene images of children.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Jesse Fernando Perez, 36, is currently serving a 121-month federal sentence for possession of child pornography at the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, Virginia. While incarcerated, he copied images of children from books and magazines, and then drew on the images to create depictions of the children engaged in sexually explicit activity.
Perez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison when sentenced on December 11. 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.
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 announced his verdict.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons assisted in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore and Trial Attorney Angelica Carrasco from the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section 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-19.
Leading Crips Member Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for his leading role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.
According to court documents, from approximately fall 2018 through September 2019, Kevin Day, a/k/a “Prince Hauncho,” 34, was at the top of a multi-state, multi-kilogram methamphetamine conspiracy involving a distribution organization that moved over 11 kilograms of dangerous and highly addictive controlled substances from Crips gang sources in California to the Hampton Roads area, where it was distributed to local dealers and users.
Day, a California-based Grape Street Crips gang member, led the California side of the conspiracy in which he shipped high-purity methamphetamine through the United States mail with the help of a U.S. Postal Service worker, Laquisha McFrazier, he recruited Day and his co-conspirators also used couriers to smuggle fentanyl into Hampton Roads on commercial air flights. In attempts to conceal their drug proceeds, members of the conspiracy laundered thousands of dollars by electronically transferring money between themselves.
McFrazier pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 98 months’ imprisonment. Day’s co-conspirator Xavier Howell was convicted by a federal jury and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
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 Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Cheney and John F. Butler 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. 2:20-cr-11.
Foreign National Extradited to Face Charges of Immigration Fraud, Human Smuggling, and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Israeli national made his initial appearance in federal court today for charges stemming from smuggling, harboring and employing illegal workers.
According to court documents, Shai Cohen, 39, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others to recruit and facilitate the illegal entry of Israeli citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Cohen and his co-conspirators allegedly assisted noncitizens in fraudulently obtaining B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor visas by misrepresenting the true purpose of their travel to the United States, which was illegal employment. Cohen and his co-conspirators are alleged to have then assisted the noncitizens with travel to the United States. Upon arrival, the noncitizens were employed at various kiosks owned and operated by Cohen in malls in Virginia and Maryland. The noncitizens who engaged in illegal employment were allegedly primarily compensated for their work by under-the-table cash payments or the transfer of money to stored value payment cards, rather than a legitimate payroll system. Cohen also allegedly provided housing and transportation for the noncitizens to and from work in the United States.
Cohen was arrested in Israel pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. In August 2023, he was extradited to the Eastern District of Virginia.
Cohen is charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses against the United States, bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain, encouraging and inducing aliens to unlawfully come to enter and reside in the United Sates for financial gain, harboring illegal aliens, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Cohen faces a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Washington Field Office, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza K. Ty and Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the government of Israel to secure the arrest and extradition of Cohen.
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. 1:16-cr-114.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Foreign National Charged for Visa Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
An indictment charging an Israeli national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry and employment of noncitizens in the United States was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents, Shai Cohen, 39, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others to recruit and facilitate the illegal entry of Israeli citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Cohen and his co-conspirators allegedly assisted noncitizens in fraudulently obtaining B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor visas by misrepresenting the true purpose of their travel to the United States, which was illegal employment. Cohen and his co-conspirators are alleged to have then assisted the noncitizens with travel to the United States. Upon arrival, the noncitizens were employed at various kiosks owned and operated by Cohen in malls in Virginia and Maryland. The noncitizens who engaged in illegal employment were allegedly primarily compensated for their work by under-the-table cash payments or the transfer of money to stored value payment cards, rather than through a legitimate payroll system. Cohen also allegedly provided housing and transportation for the noncitizens to and from work in the United States.
Cohen was arrested in Israel pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. In August, he was extradited to the Eastern District of Virginia.
Cohen is charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit offenses against the United States; bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain; encouraging and inducing aliens to unlawfully come to, enter, and reside in the United Sates for financial gain; harboring illegal aliens; and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), National Capital Region made the announcement.
The HSI Washington Field Office and DOL-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the government of Israel to secure the arrest and extradition of Cohen.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
High-Ranking Honduran Drug Cartel Member Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national pleaded guilty today to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States.
According to court documents, from approximately 2008 through June 2014, Mario Urbina, 41, conspired to import cocaine into the United States. Urbina was a lieutenant in the Los Valles international drug trafficking organization based in Honduras, which is a major transit country for South American cocaine. Urbina was personally responsible for coordinating the trafficking of ton quantities of cocaine and the collection of millions of dollars in cocaine proceeds. The Los Valles cartel maintained an arsenal of firearms to protect and further their operation and relied on violence, including kidnapping and murder, as a means of intimidation.
Urbina is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. He faces a mandatory minimum 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.
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 David Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bibeane Metsch is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the Virginia State Police, FBI Sacramento Field Office, the Sacramento OCDETF Strike Force, DEA and FBI Tegucigalpa Country Offices, and the Honduran National Police for their significant assistance in this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
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. 1:14-cr-135.
Bureau of Prisons Employee Charged with Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officer with violating the civil rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in his death.
The superseding indictment alleges that on January 10, 2021, BOP Senior Officer Specialist Yolanda Blackwell, 45, of Chester, was on duty and working in her official capacity at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Petersburg. The superseding indictment charges that Blackwell willfully failed to ensure that the inmate, a 47-year-old man identified as W.W., was provided with necessary medical care, even though she knew that W.W. had serious medical needs. W.W. died in federal custody that day.
Two other BOP officials, Lieutenant Shronda Covington and registered nurse Tonya Farley, were previously charged with civil rights and other offenses in connection with the inmate’s death in custody. Another BOP official, Lieutenant Michael Anderson, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the inmate’s death.
If convicted, Blackwell faces a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael E. Horwitz, Inspector General of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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. 23-cr-68.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Bureau of Prisons Employee Charged with Violating the Civil Rights of an Inmate Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging a federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officer with violating the civil rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in his death.
The superseding indictment alleges that on Jan. 10, 2021, BOP Senior Officer Specialist Yolanda Blackwell, 45, of Chester, Virginia, was on duty and working in her official capacity at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Petersburg, Virginia. The superseding indictment charges that Blackwell willfully failed to ensure that the inmate, a 47-year-old man identified as W.W., was provided with necessary medical care, even though she knew that W.W. had serious medical needs. W.W. died in federal custody that day.
Two other BOP officials, Lieutenant Shronda Covington and registered nurse Tonya Farley, were previously charged with civil rights and other offenses in connection with the inmate’s death in custody. Another BOP official, Lieutenant Michael Anderson, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the inmate’s death.
If convicted, Blackwell faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and Inspector General Michael E. Horwitz of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) made the announcement.
DOJ-OIG investigated the case.
Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Garnett for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Superseding IndictmentFederal Jury Convicts Charles City Man Falsely Applying for a PassportRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Charles City man yesterday of attempting to obtain a passport using false identifying information.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, O’Ryan Jones, 54, after having been denied a passport in his own name, applied for a passport in the name and using the identifying information of his brother. In preparation for the passport fraud, the defendant also obtained his brother’s birth certificate and a driver’s license in his brother’s name featuring the defendant’s own photograph.
Jones was convicted of false statement in application for a passport and aggravated identity theft, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison with a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison when sentenced on December 4, 2023. 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Karen Brown Cleveland, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Washington Field Office for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), made the announcement after U.S District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Podlesni and Brian Samuels 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. 4:22-cr-09.
EDVA to Participate in Community Events During National Night OutRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and members of the office will attend community events in Fairfax County, Alexandria City, Hampton Roads, and the greater Richmond area. One EDVA employee has even planned a NNO event for her neighborhood.
“National Night Out is a fantastic and fun opportunity both for citizens and law enforcement to meet, interact and build relationships.” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “EDVA cares deeply about helping to restore trust between communities and law enforcement, including the Department of Justice. These connections are critical for public safety, as well as the rule of law.”
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country.
National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization.
Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe.
To find a National Night Out event near you, contact your local police department. For more information on National Night Out, visit https://natw.org/.
Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Large-Scale Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 248 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2021, Christian Gage Puente, 29, and his co-conspirator, Carlos Santos-Navarro, 25, a Honduran national, distributed approximately 7.8 kilograms of methamphetamine to Candice Rountree, 43, of Virginia Beach, and Alidavid Williams, 42, of Virginia Beach, at a hotel on Crossways Boulevard in Chesapeake. Later that same day, Virginia Beach Police officers conducted a traffic stop of Rountree’s vehicle in which Williams and Rountree were traveling on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. During the stop, Williams attempted to flee, resulting in Roundtree’s vehicle rolling backward, pinning a Virginia Beach Police detective between Rountree’s Dodge Ram pickup truck and a police vehicle and seriously injuring his right leg. Detectives with the Virginia Beach Police Department and special agents and task force officers with Homeland Security Investigations discovered the distributed drugs during a search of Rountree’s vehicle following the traffic stop.
The following day, October 14, 2021, when Puente and Santos-Navarro arrived at a hotel in the 2900 block of Shore Drive in Virginia Beach to collect the proceeds from the sale of methamphetamine, they were detained by Virginia Beach Police detectives. Upon observing the approaching officers, Puente tossed a loaded caliber .38 Special revolver into a bush. Puente then fought with the officers while he was being detained. After he was placed in handcuffs, the police discovered approximately $4,725 in cash on Puente’s person. During a search of Santos-Navarro’s person, the police discovered a loaded 9mm pistol. During a search of Puente’s vehicle, the police discovered a shoebox containing approximately 890 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale.
Co-defendants Candice Rountree and Alidavid Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and were sentenced to 36 months and 200 months in prison respectively. Co-defendant Carlos Santos-Navarro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 180 months.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell 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. 2:22-cr-15.
Norfolk Man Sentenced for Kidnapping his Child’s Mother at GunpointRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for the violent kidnapping of his child’s mother.
According to court documents, on May 19, 2022, James Maloyd Hunter, II, 32, kidnapped the mother of his child outside of her residence. Hunter was upset because the victim allowed her new boyfriend to be around the child. At approximately 5:35 in the morning, Hunter, with two co-conspirators, went to the victim’s residence in Norfolk. As the victim was leaving for work, Hunter confronted her, placed a firearm against her head, and forced her into his vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, he strangled the victim to stop her from screaming. She was in pain and unable to breathe. Hunter and his co-conspirators fled the scene to a hotel on Military Highway. Before departing the hotel, he zip-tied the victim’s hands together and forced her onto the floor of the back seat so no one could see her as they left the area.
On May 20, 2022, Hunter was located in Hocking County, Ohio. Local police stopped his vehicle and freed the victim. Upon examining her, they found noticeable signs of injury, including marks around her neck consistent with strangulation. Detectives recovered from Hunter’s vehicle a package of zip ties, a roll of duct tape, a hunting style knife, a pair of scissors, and a receipt from Superior Pawn in Norfolk for the purchase one week before of a 9mm Ruger, semiautomatic handgun. A search of Hunter’s phone revealed that he conducted multiple web searches for topics such as “tranquilizer darts for humans,” “directions to Colorado,” “do you need a passport to cross into Canada,” “sleeping sedative,” “how to put oil filter silencer on handgun,” and “homemade suppressor for handheld pistol.”
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office for their significant assistance in this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Stolle 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-3.
American States Utility Services Settles Allegations of False Price Quotes at Federal Military InstallationsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – American States Utility Services, Inc. (ASUS), located in San Dimas, California, agreed to pay $600,000 to settle allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting inflated price estimates to the government.
Between April 2016 and May 2017, ASUS submitted price quotes for 19 water and sewer projects on U.S. military installations in North Carolina to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The United States alleged that each quote contained subcontractor costs that ASUS knew would not be expended, inflating the estimated cost of the project. DLA consequently evaluated the quotes for price reasonableness, which the United States alleged was based on the false premise that the projects would be performed with subcontractor costs. As a result, the government alleged that DLA overpaid more than $300,000 for these projects.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McIntosh.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The civil claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no admission of civil liability.
Hampton Man Sentenced for the Unlawful Sale of at Least 49 Firearms as a Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for selling at least 49 firearms unlawfully.
According to court documents, Anthony Gale Turner, 54, was a federally licensed dealer of firearms beginning in 2018. Turner owned and operated his firearms business, G7 Worldwide LLC, out of his residence on Pratt Street in Hampton. The investigation of Turner was launched when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) traced a handgun seized in Canada in 2020 back to the original purchaser. The original purchaser admitted to ATF agents that they completed the federal form required to purchase the firearm and provided Turner with their Virginia driver’s license for the transaction. However, the original purchaser told agents they never paid for the firearm nor ever took possession of it. Instead, Turner transferred the firearm to a prior convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. Through the course of the investigation, ATF interviewed five other straw purchasers of firearms from G7 Worldwide who independently stated Turner completed firearms transaction with their information by similar means between 2018 and 2021. Over the span of less than two years, 46 out of the 49 firearms that were subjects of charges in Turner’s case were transferred from Turner to two known, prior-convicted felons through the five straw purchasers. Three other firearms were directly purchased by prior convicted felons themselves after informing Turner of their prohibited status. The final firearm was unlawfully sold to a known out-of-state resident in violation of Turner’s duties as a licensed firearms dealer. Eight of the firearms are in law enforcement custody after being seized in connection with criminal activity in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf 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. 4:22-cr-83.
Final MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced for Role in Rival Gang Member’s MurderRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison for conspiring to participate in a murder in connection with his participation in La Mara Salvatrucha, a violent international gang commonly known as MS-13.
According to court documents, Jose Gimenez-Lobos, aka Terrible, 32, was a member and leader in an MS-13 clique in New Jersey. On the evening of Nov. 23, 2014, MS-13 members gathered at an apartment in Richmond, along with the victim, who was a member of the rival Sureño gang. Under MS-13 rules, members are not allowed to associate with rival gangs and are required to assault or murder rival gang members. When Gimenez-Lobos arrived at the apartment and realized a rival was present, Gimenez-Lobos encouraged the other MS-13 members to confront the victim based on his status as a Sureño gang member. The co-conspirators went into another room in the apartment, conferred, and decided to kill the victim. They assaulted the victim and took his knife, which Gimenez-Lobos used to stab the victim multiple times. Co-defendant Darwin Solorzano-Quintanilla then used a B-B gun to beat the victim brutally about the head. Co-defendant Francisco Lemus-Castillo used his own knife to stab the victim several more times, and the victim died from the stab wounds.
“This case is a clear example of the severe threat organized criminal gangs pose to our communities,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The normalization of petty violence—such as killing another person because of their perceived rival affiliation—is illustrative of how dangerous these organizations can be.”
“Because of the dedicated efforts of the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners, Gimenez-Lobos and his fellow MS-13 gang members will no longer be able to terrorize their communities using fear, violence, and intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to dismantling this violent criminal organization and pursuing justice for its victims.”
"Those who choose to commit violent acts will be investigated and held accountable,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate these cases as demonstrated by these sentences."
“Jose Gimenez-Lobos displayed his depravity by conspiring to stab a man to death in cold blood,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “The severity of his crime is reflected in the prison sentence he received today. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to relentlessly pursue individuals or groups who perpetrate violence against the residents of our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities.”
Solorzano-Quintanilla, age 29, of Chesterfield, Virginia, was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 23, 2021. Lemus-Castillo, age 31, of Chesterfield, Virginia, was sentence to life imprisonment on June 26, 2023.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
This case was investigated by FBI Richmond’s RAVE Task Force with significant assistance from the City of Richmond Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section 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. 3:22-cr-45.
Final MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced for Role in Rival Gang Member’s MurderRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in prison for conspiring to participate in a murder in connection with his involvement in La Mara Salvatrucha, a violent international gang commonly known as MS-13.
According to court documents, Jose Gimenez-Lobos, aka Terrible, 32, was a member and leader in an MS-13 clique in New Jersey. On the evening of Nov. 23, 2014, MS-13 members gathered at an apartment in Richmond, Virginia, along with the victim, who was a member of the rival Sureño gang. Under MS-13 rules, members are not allowed to associate with rival gangs and are required to assault or murder rival gang members. When Gimenez-Lobos arrived at the apartment and realized a rival was present, Gimenez-Lobos encouraged the other MS-13 members to confront the victim based on his status as a Sureño gang member. The co-conspirators went into another room in the apartment, conferred, and decided to kill the victim. They assaulted the victim and took his knife, which Gimenez-Lobos used to stab the victim multiple times. Co-defendant Darwin Solorzano-Quintanilla then used a B-B gun to beat the victim brutally about the head. Co-defendant Francisco Lemus-Castillo used his own knife to stab the victim several more times, and the victim died from the stab wounds.
“Because of the dedicated efforts of the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners, Gimenez-Lobos and his fellow MS-13 gang members will no longer be able to terrorize their communities using fear, violence, and intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to dismantling this violent criminal organization and pursuing justice for its victims.”
“This case is a clear example of the severe threat organized criminal gangs pose to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The normalization of petty violence – such as killing another person because of their perceived rival affiliation – is illustrative of how dangerous these organizations can be.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to ensuring violent crime investigations remain a priority,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to combat the violence these gangs cause and bring them to justice.”
“Those who choose to commit violent acts will be investigated and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate these cases as demonstrated by these sentences."
“Jose Gimenez-Lobos displayed his depravity by conspiring to stab a man to death in cold blood,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. “The severity of his crime is reflected in the prison sentence he received today. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to relentlessly pursue individuals or groups who perpetrate violence against the residents of our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities.”
Solorzano-Quintanilla was sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 23, 2021. Lemus-Castillo was sentenced to life in prison on June 26, 2023.
The FBI, FBI Richmond Field Office’s RAVE Task Force, and Department of Homeland Security investigated the case, with significant assistance from the City of Richmond Police Department.
Trial Attorney Matthew Hoff of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
Final Defendant Sentenced in Multi-State Dogfighting RingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Yesterday the final defendant prosecuted as part of an extensive investigation into a dogfighting and drug distribution network was sentenced to 46 months in prison.
According to information in the public record, in 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating several individuals, including Herman Tyrone Washington, 51, of Highland Springs, in connection with a drug investigation. Through court-authorized electronic surveillance of co-conspirator Kenneth Otey’s phone, law enforcement officers analyzed over 400 conversations between the co-conspirators discussing their involvement and participation in dogfighting activities over two months. The ensuing investigation revealed that, between December 2017 and August 2021, the conspirators organized contract matches—an agreed-upon fight negotiated by two parties for dogs of a specific weight and gender to take place on a set date, with an established purse and forfeit— and roll fights—a short fight between two dogs to test the dogs’ fighting abilities, usually for the purpose of sport and entertainment. They also transported dogs in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to participate in dog fights; bred and trained dogs to fight; and at least one of the conspirators killed losing dogs by drowning them in buckets of water. The conspirators used private messaging applications, including Meta and Telegram, to communicate with other people, including to coordinate fights and post videos of fights and training techniques. They collectively sponsored an animal in or attended at least 59 dog fights during the conspiracy.
In November and December 2020, law enforcement executed five residential search warrants and seized 93 dogs that were being used in connection with the dogfighting criminal organization. The Court found the animal fighting venture to involve extraordinary cruelty and to be of exceptional scale.
“The inhumane treatment of animals, especially ones bred to be companions for humans is not only strictly illegal, but deeply cruel,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We have sought significant sentences in this case because the mistreatment of animals is a serious crime born of malicious intent. These dogs deserved better.”
“Dogfighting is not a sport, it’s a brutal crime against animals who rarely escape death unless liberated by law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The lengthy sentences faced by Washington and others who conspired in this dogfighting ring illustrate that those who seek to profit from the suffering of animals face significant prison time.”
“Dog-fighting is an extremely violent and abhorrent activity that profits from the abuse and neglect of animals,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “With today’s sentence, these criminals will be served justice for profiting from this abuse,”
“This successful prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation and a fantastic example of long term, effective cooperation between local, state and federal resources,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. “Dog fighting is a serious, cruel offense that often is connected to additional narcotic and gun crimes. I’m proud of my team’s role and hard work that contributed to justice being served.”
Washington pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and possession of a pitbull-type dog for the purpose of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture. As a condition of his supervised release, Washington is prohibited from owning or possessing dogs or their reproductive cells.
Washington was the last of seven individuals charged in this conspiracy. Those individuals were collectively sentenced to a total of 534 months imprisonment and each will serve a multi-year period of supervised release. Like Washington, the other defendants are prohibited from owing or possessing dogs during their supervised release.
The following co-conspirators have been convicted and sentenced in this prosecution:
Kenneth L. Otey, Jr., 48, of Richmond, was sentenced to a total term of 300 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two drug offenses, a firearm offense, and conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture.
Connell Samuel Stukes, Sr., 49, of Rembert, South Carolina, was sentenced to a total term of 63 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and possession of a pit bull-type dog for purpose of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture.
Raymond Johnson, 42, of Richmond, was sentenced to a total term of 37 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a firearm offense and conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture.
Jerome Donte Smith, 35, of Richmond, was sentenced to a total term of 37 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and sponsoring an animal in an animal fighting venture. At the time of his offense conduct, Smith was on supervised release in connection with a prior federal drug conviction.
Antonio Thomas Ruffin, 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to a total term of 36 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to transporting a pit bull-type dog for purpose of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture and possession of an animal for the purpose of having the animal participate in an animal fighting venture.
Royal Washington, 51, of Charles City, was sentenced to a term of 15 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Washington Division; and Jason Miyares, Virginia Attorney General, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne.
Special thanks to United States Marshal Service, FBI Baltimore Field Office, Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force, Richmond Animal Care and Control, the Henrico County Police Division, Sussex Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore Animal Services and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony and Trial Attorneys Banumathi Rangarajan and William J. Shapiro of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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-132.
Former Journalist Pleads Guilty to Transportation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A former journalist pleaded guilty today to transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, while visiting South Carolina in February 2020, James Gordon Meek, 53, of Arlington, Virginia, used an online messaging platform on his iPhone to send and receive images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to discuss his sexual interest in children. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12, including an infant being raped. Meek brought the iPhone containing the child sexual abuse material back with him when he returned to Virginia.
Meek is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. 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’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington County Police Department.
Trial Attorney Whitney Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Journalist Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Abuse Material ChargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington man pleaded guilty today to transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, while visiting South Carolina in February 2020, James Gordon Meek, 53, used an online messaging platform on his iPhone to send and receive images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to discuss his sexual interest in children. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12, including an infant being raped. Meek brought the iPhone containing the child sexual abuse material back with him when he returned to Virginia. Additionally, Meek possessed multiple electronic devices containing images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Meek is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for each charge. 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite, Jr, Assistant Attorney General. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitney Kramer are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington County Police Department.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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-65.
Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to $1.4M Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man pleaded guilty today to defrauding the U.S. government of approximately $1.4 million in tax revenue by preparing false tax returns on behalf of his unsuspecting clients.
According to court documents, between 2016 and 2020, Lawrence Appiah-Osei, 58, ran a tax preparation business called New Look Enterprise out of his home in Alexandria. From at least 2017 through 2020, Appiah-Osei executed a scheme to fraudulently inflate the tax refunds of his clients. To do so, Appiah-Osei falsely claimed that his clients operated businesses that lost thousands of dollars each year. These fraudulent losses drove down the clients’ taxable income and increased the clients’ tax refunds. The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) estimates the Appiah-Osei’s actions resulted in a tax loss of approximately $1.4 million to the federal government.
Appiah-Osei is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3. He faces a maximum penalty of six 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hood 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. 1:23-cr-113.
Virginia Man and Woman Charged with Committing Forced Labor and Alien Harboring at Gas Station and Convenience Store for Multiple YearsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, returned a seven-count indictment today charging a Virginia couple with forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain and document servitude along with fraud-related charges – conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud and fraudulent transfers in contemplation of bankruptcy – in connection with their operation of a gas station and convenience store in North Chesterfield, Virginia.
According to the court documents, between March 2018 and May 2021, Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 42, allegedly forced the victim to provide labor and services at Singh’s store, including working as the cashier, preparing food, cleaning and managing store records. The indictment alleges that the defendants used various coercive means, including confiscating the victim’s immigration documents and subjecting the victim to physical abuse, threats of force and other serious harm and, at times, degrading living conditions, to compel him to work long hours for minimal pay. The indictment further alleges that the defendants harbored the victim after his visa expired for financial gain and committed bankruptcy-related fraud offenses.
The charge of forced labor carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Richmond Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IndictmentVirginia Beach Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Totaling More than $800,000Read the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance (UI) benefits using personal identifiable information (PII) belonging to both Virginia Department of Corrections inmates and unwitting victims from the Norfolk area and out of state.
According to court documents, from approximately May 2020 through in November 2020, Jenyce Williams, 34, and her co-defendants and co-conspirators conspired to use PII, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers belonging to others to file hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of UI claims amid the pandemic when numerous businesses were shut down. Williams’ role in the conspiracy was to submit UI applications and complete weekly recertifications using PII provided either by one of her co-conspirators, a Virginia Department of Corrections inmate, or obtained using other sources. For the UI applications to be successful, Williams and a second co-conspirator provided numerous false inputs in required fields on the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) website, including a false mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, and last employer. Williams and her second co-conspirator repeated false recertifications on a weekly basis to ensure benefits would continue to be paid. For many of the inmate claims, Williams continued weekly recertifications through in or about December 2020 until the VEC cut off known inmate claims. Williams elected for most of the UI benefits to be paid through a preloaded Way2Go debit card, which was mailed to the mailing address listed on the application, which was either Williams’ address, a co-conspirator’s address, or other residences selected to avoid suspicion regarding too many cards going to one address. The false claims filed specifically by Williams for 12 inmates resulted in the approval of approximately $193,332 in UI benefits. As a result of the overall conspiracy, the VEC approved approximately $478,640 in UI benefits on behalf of Virginia Department of Corrections inmates who were not entitled to receive such benefits, in addition to two non-inmates who had former connections to the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Williams also used another source available to members of the conspiracy to obtain PII belonging to individuals out of state who were not incarcerated. Using this PII, Williams filed approximately 15 claims, resulting in the approval of approximately $361,664 in UI benefits. These innocent out-of-state victims did not provide their PII to Williams or any of her co-defendants and had no knowledge of the scheme.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor 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. 2:23-cr-30.
Recidivist Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of MinorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A New York man pleaded guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
According to court documents, from at least August 2020 through November 2020, Anthony Lynch, 59, who is a registered sex offender in New York, communicated with the out-of-state minor over the telephone and through various social media applications. In those communications, Lynch repeatedly demanded that the minor take explicit videos and photographs of herself for his personal use. When the underage victim did not comply, defendant repeatedly threatened her, writing that the “war has started” and by claiming, among other things, that he would distribute intimate pictures of her over the internet and email the victim’s school with her information and claim that she was performing online sex shows. After a lengthy investigation, including a search warrant executed at his purported residence in Brooklyn, Lynch was located at a relative’s home in Chesapeake, Virginia, and arrested.
Lynch is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years and a maximum penalty of 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 taking into account 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 Al Chandler, Chief of Suffolk Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the FBI New York Field Office and the San Francisco Police Department for their significant assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi 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. 2:23-cr-8.
North Chesterfield Man and Woman Charged with Committing Forced Labor and Alien Harboring at Gas Station and Convenience Store for Multiple YearsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. –A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today charging a Virginia couple with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain, and document servitude, along with fraud-related charges – conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud and fraudulent transfers in contemplation of bankruptcy – in connection with their operation of a gas station and convenience store in North Chesterfield.
According to the court filings, between March 2018 and May 2021, Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 42, forced the victim, Singh’s cousin, to provide labor and services at Singh’s store, including working as the cashier, preparing food, cleaning and managing store records. The indictment alleges that the defendants used various coercive means, including confiscating the victim’s immigration documents and subjecting the victim to physical abuse, threats of force and other serious harm and, at times, degrading living conditions, to compel him to work extensive hours for minimal pay. The indictment further alleges that the defendants harbored the victim after his visa expired for financial gain and committed bankruptcy-related fraud offenses.
The charge of forced labor carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
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-92.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography That He Shared Across the InternetRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA – A man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Vincent Sarikey, 35, formerly of Herndon, enticed a 15-year-old girl to produce CSAM that he then distributed to other offenders over Telegram, a messaging application. In April 2018, he also attempted to entice a self-identified 12-year-old girl in Argentina to produce CSAM. The minor told Sarikey she was 12 and that he would “go to jail” and refused to make the sexually explicit video he requested. Sarikey then distributed two videos of sexually explicit conduct to the minor to try to entice her into producing a sexually explicit video for him.
According to court documents, between October 2015 and July 2017, Sarikey conversed freely with a friend about his sexual interest in children. Sarikey talked about his attempts to meet, groom, and abuse children, including child to whom he had access, as well as blamed his victims for his own criminal conduct. Sarikey’s devices revealed over 20,000 images and 500 videos of CSAM, including 486 known series with identified victims.
Sarikey pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and faces additional charges for sexual exploitation of a child in the Southern District of Indiana based on his allegedly sexually abusing a child and using that child to produce CSAM almost 15 years ago.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney McKenzie Hightower and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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-56.
Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Virginia man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Vincent Sarikey, 35, formerly of Herndon, enticed a 15-year-old girl to produce CSAM that he then distributed to other offenders over Telegram, a messaging application. In April 2018, he also attempted to entice a self-identified 12-year-old girl in Argentina to produce CSAM. The minor told Sarikey she was 12 and that he would “go to jail” and refused to make the sexually explicit video he requested. Sarikey then distributed two videos of sexually explicit conduct to the minor to try to entice her into producing a sexually explicit video for him.
According to court documents, between October 2015 and July 2017, Sarike conversed freely with a friend about his sexual interest in children. Sarikey talked about his attempts to meet, groom, and abuse children, including a child to whom he had access, as well as blamed his victims for his own criminal conduct. Sarikey’s devices revealed over 20,000 images and 500 videos of CSAM, including 486 known series with identified victims.
Sarikey pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and faces additional charges for sexual exploitation of a child in the Southern District of Indiana based on his allegedly sexually abusing a child and using that child to produce CSAM almost 15 years ago.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former City of Richmond Official and Wife Plead Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A former senior manager at the City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW), who previously served as the Deputy Director of Operations at DPW, and his wife pleaded guilty today to defrauding the city.
According to court documents, Michael Evins, 67, used his position within DPW, a governmental entity responsible for providing engineering, technical, and administrative services to Richmond residents, to steer governmental contracts towards himself and his co-conspirators, including his wife, Samaria Evins, 52.
From at least 2016 through 2021, Michael Evins and Samaria Evins took steps to defraud the DPW. First, Samaria Evins and other co-conspirators created and operated straw companies to bid on DPW work. Second, Michael Evins designated and approved DPW work to be performed by these straw companies using his position at DPW, circumventing Virginia law and City of Richmond rules against self-dealing by public employees. In some instances, the work to be performed was completely fabricated and no such work was ever needed. In other instances, the work was actually performed by DPW employees, not by contracted vendors. Sometimes, Samaria Evins and other co-conspirators subcontracted the work out for profit upon winning the DPW work. Third, where procurement amounts exceeded $5,000, a DPW approval threshold requiring that work be competitively bid, Michael Evins and his co-conspirators manufactured fictitious straw bids on behalf of competitor companies to engineer the preferred company winning the work. Finally, upon receiving DPW funds, Samaria Evins and other co-conspirators paid Michael Evins a portion of the proceeds.
As an example, in early 2019, DPW sought to have overgrown foliage at Parker Field, an area in Richmond, cleared in advance of Fourth of July celebrations that same year. Though Michael Evins knew mowing of the field was being performed by DPW employees, he nevertheless approved a requisition in the DPW purchase order system for a company owned by Samaria Evins to mow the entire area 16 times in four days, at a total cost of $4,800. In all, Michael Evins, Samaria Evins, and their co-conspirators fraudulently caused DPW to disburse at least $603,701 in funds to companies owned by Samaria Evins and her co-conspirators, causing approximately $226,767 in loss to DPW.Michael Evins is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Samaria Evins is also scheduled to be sentenced on November 7. She faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. Another co-conspirator, Shaun Lindsey, a senior administrative technician at DPW, previously pled guilty in the same scheme on May 9. 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.
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 James Osuna, Inspector General, City of Richmond Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth 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 Nos. 3:23-cr-81 and 3:23-cr-87.
Ex-Spouses Indicted for Laundering Money Stolen from Retirement and Investment AccountsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a Prince George’s County, Maryland, man and woman with their involvement in laundering the proceeds of various fraud schemes targeting victims’ retirement and investment accounts.
According to allegations the indictment, from approximately September 2017 to April 2020, Dasola Abdulraheem, 41, and Ismaila Abdulraheem, 44, both Nigerian nationals and formerly spouses, received the proceeds of various financial frauds into accounts that they controlled, and thereafter, conducted financial transactions with the proceeds to disguise the nature and source of the funds.
The indictment further alleges that unknown co-conspirators targeted the victims of this scheme by gaining access to their financial accounts, typically retirement or investment accounts. In one case, co-conspirators are alleged to have gained access to a victim’s severance payout from his former employer. The indictment states that once the conspirators compromised a victim’s account, they posed as the victim and instructed the victim’s financial institution to add a new outside bank account to the victim’s account. The outside account was controlled by either the Abdulraheems or one of the couriers that they used. Once the victim’s financial institution added a conspirator’s account to the victim’s account, the conspirators allegedly directed that money from the victim’s account be siphoned from the victim’s account and deposited into the Abdulraheems’ accounts or into a co-conspirator’s account. The proceeds are alleged to have been used in some cases to purchase salvage cars at auction or to wire money to business entities in Nigeria.
The indictment further alleges that the Abdulraheems attempted to conceal their involvement in laundering proceeds by using shell companies, such as “ISMRAN LLC,” “DAISIM GLOBAL LINK LLC,” “RUKLAT INTERNATIONAL VENTURES,” and “DAISIM INTERNATIONAL” to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and unlawful monetary transactions. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful monetary transactions charges. 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.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Kathleen E. Robeson 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. 1:23-CR-107.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Automotive Shop Owner Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Marijuana in Hampton RoadsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Hampton man late Friday afternoon of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from approximately September 2019, until his arrest in April 2022, Orlando Roosevelt Adkins, 45, operated and managed Elite Customs, an automotive repair and custom autobody shop in Hampton, Virginia. During this time, this property was used as a drug-involved premises for a drug trafficking conspiracy. Within this conspiracy, the co-conspirators, including Adkins, distributed and possessed quantities of fentanyl and marijuana. The conspirators would purchase and receive drugs from suppliers in Mexico, Texas, California, and North Carolina, and arrange for the drugs to be transported to Virginia using rental vehicles, couriers, postal services, semi-trailers, trucks, and recreational vehicles. According to witnesses, Adkins facilitated the trafficking scheme by maintaining Elite Customs as a central point of operations for the conspiracy and cultivated illicit business relationships among conspirators.
On June 26, 2023, Adkins pleaded guilty to charges of distribution of marijuana, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and two counts of using a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking, but denied involvement in any drug trafficking conspiracy. Adkins was tried last week on the remaining conspiracy charge, during which the federal jury found that Adkins was, in fact, part of a drug conspiracy that involved fentanyl and marijuana.
Adkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana and faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison when sentenced on November 28. 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.
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; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Orrin Gallop, Interim Chief of Hampton Police; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Engelking prosecuted the case.
This case 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-20.
Three Darknet Fentanyl Vendors Sentenced to over 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Tempe, Arizona, woman was sentenced today to 5 years in prison for her role in operating multiple darknet pages selling illicit drugs alongside two previously sentenced co-conspirators.
According to court documents, from at least in and around January of 2022 through August 2022, Veronica Dittman, 28, along with co-conspirators Rick Schiffner, 31, and Devin Langer, 30, both based in Phoenix, Arizona, ran the darknet monikers “TrustedTraphouse,” “GoldenTrails,” “PopcornPlug,” and others across at least dozen different darknet markets. On these markets, the co-conspirators advertised various controlled substances, including crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills that the conspirators advertised as oxycodone. During the course of the conspiracy, the conspirators made over 1,300 sales of controlled substances over the darknet using these accounts, distributing at least 800 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, 500 grams of methamphetamine, 16 grams of heroin, and 7 grams of cocaine. The conspirators described the pressed pills containing fentanyl on one marketplace as “Not normal OxyCodone”, informing potential customers “These are MUCH stronger than pharmaceutical OxyCodone… These were NOT made by a pharmacy,” and warning customers to “BE CAREFUL.” Dittman worked primarily with Schiffner to process orders over the darknet and then package and ship them. Dittman also operated her own vendor accounts on the darknet using the monikers “VirtualPeddler” and “Darkette”. By the time of her arrest, she had made at least 74 sales of controlled substances through those accounts, the majority of which were fentanyl.
The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets, or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products, as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods.
Co-conspirators Schiffner was sentenced on April 14, 2023, to 150 months imprisonment. Co-conspirator Langer was sentenced on April 17, 2023, to 84 months imprisonment.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and George A. Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia expresses its appreciation to the FBI Phoenix Field Office, USPIS Phoenix Division, Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for their significant assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather 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. 1:23-cr-31.
Portsmouth Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm used in Murder of Seven-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm used in the shooting of a child and straw purchasing another firearm used in a second shooting.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Antonyo Taylor, 27, possessed a tan Smith and Wesson M&P connected to the homicide of a seven-year-old girl in Portsmouth, and separately straw purchased a GIRSAN MC 1911. On December 22, 2020, Taylor told others that he wanted to go shoot at rival gang members. Taylor and others, riding inside a gold Acura TL pulled alongside another vehicle that Taylor incorrectly indicated contained rival gang members. Taylor then fired his tan Smith and Wesson M&P towards the other vehicle. During this shooting, one of the passengers in the second vehicle, a seven-year-old girl, was shot and killed. Separately, on or about September 20, 2020, Taylor straw purchased a GIRSAN MC 1911. A co-conspirator of Taylor purchased the firearm from a legal firearm vendor and, during the purchase, checked the box on the ATF form 4473 indicating that they were the actual buyer of the firearm. The co-conspirator then transferred the firearm to Taylor. According to text messages obtained by law enforcement, Taylor admitted he used this firearm in a separate shooting in October of 2020 in Portsmouth that did not result in injuries.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, 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. Judge John A. Gibney, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Heck 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. 2:22-cr-127.
Former Virginia Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Offense for Sexually Assaulting Minor VictimRead the Press Release
A former police officer pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia to violating the civil rights of a minor victim by forcibly sexually assaulting her.
According to court documents, Cleshaun A. Cox, 31, admitted that on or about May 27, 2019, while he was in uniform and working in his official capacity as an officer with the Portsmouth Police Department in Portsmouth, Virginia, he encountered Victim 1, a 17-year-old female, during a call for a noise complaint. After another, more senior officer told Victim 1 to drive home, Cox followed Victim 1 to her home in his marked police vehicle. Cox instructed Victim 1 to drive to a parking lot, where he then instructed her to get into his vehicle. Cox then drove Victim 1 to an isolated area. There, he forced Victim 1 to have vaginal sex with him against her will. Cox admitted that he knew that Victim 1 was only 17 years old and that he knew that she did not want to have sex with him. Cox also admitted to lying to state investigators about his actions that night.
“The defendant violated his oath and abused his power to sexually assault a child,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The federal government will not tolerate law enforcement officials who commit acts of sexual assault and abuse, and we will continue to seek justice for the survivors of these heinous crimes.”
“Police officers are entrusted to safeguard and protect our community, especially vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Police officers are not above the law. Those who abuse their position to commit such abhorrent acts must and will be held accountable.”
“Our communities trust police officers to keep their members safe, and the defendant violated that trust when he sexually assaulted a child while on duty,” said FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to ensuring that law enforcement officers who abuse their authority are held accountable for their crimes.”
Sentencing has been set for Nov. 28. With his guilty plea, Cox faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In August 2021, Cox pleaded guilty to state level charges of carnal knowledge and abduction and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, 10 years of which was later suspended by the court.
The FBI Norfolk Field Office investigated the case.
Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
Former Portsmouth Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Minor VictimRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A former police officer pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia to violating the civil rights of a minor victim by forcibly sexually assaulting her.
According to court documents, Cleshaun A. Cox, 31, admitted that on or about May 27, 2019, while he was in uniform and working in his official capacity as an officer with the Portsmouth Police Department in Portsmouth, Virginia, he encountered Victim 1, a 17-year-old high school student, during a call for a noise complaint. After another, more senior officer told Victim 1 to drive home, Cox—unbeknownst to the other officer— followed Victim 1 to her home in his marked police vehicle. Cox instructed Victim 1 to drive to a parking lot, where he then instructed her to get into his vehicle. Cox then drove Victim 1 to an isolated area. There, he forced Victim 1 to have vaginal sex with him against her will. Cox admitted that he knew that Victim 1 was only 17 years old and that he knew that she did not want to have sex with him. Cox also admitted to lying to state investigators about his actions that night, including by falsely stating he did not know Victim 1’s true age and by falsely stating that it was Victim 1 who had proposed a sexual act to him.
“Police officers are entrusted to safeguard and protect our community, especially vulnerable children,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Police officers are not above the law. Those who abuse their position to commit such abhorrent acts must and will be held accountable.”
“The defendant violated his oath and abused his power to sexually assault a child,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The federal government will not tolerate law enforcement officials who commit acts of sexual assault and abuse, and we will continue to seek justice for the survivors of these heinous crimes.”
“Our sworn police officers have a duty to uphold the constitution and are entrusted with protecting the safety and quality of life of the communities they serve,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. “Cleshaun Cox broke that trust when he, while acting under color of law, physically assaulted a teenage girl and violated her rights to bodily integrity. Cox’s conduct is not reflective of the honor and professionalism with which Portsmouth Police officers perform their duties, and I am grateful for the department’s collaboration in this investigation.”
Sentencing is scheduled for November 28. Under the plea agreement, Cox faces at least 15 years and up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and registration as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In August 2021, Cox pleaded guilty in Portsmouth Circuit Court to charges of carnal knowledge and abduction and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, 10 years of which was later suspended by the court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt for the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes accepted the plea.
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-84.