Eastern District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Salvadorian Man with Multiple Prior Removals Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Salvadorian man with multiple previous convictions and removals pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States subsequent to a conviction of an aggravated felony.
According to court documents, in November 2000, Jose Neftali Gonzales, 48, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. In November 2001, following a period of incarceration, Neftali Gonzales was removed from the United States at taxpayer expense. Sometime later, Neftali Gonzales illegally reentered the United States, and around August 2009 Neftali Gonzales was found at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center following an arrest in Prince William County for possession of schedule I or II controlled substances. He was convicted of felony possession of schedule I or II drug. In June 2010, Neftali Gonzales pleaded guilty to illegal reentry subsequent to conviction of an aggravated felony and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. In August 2011, Neftali Gonzales was again removed from the United States at taxpayer expense. In August 2020, Neftali Gonzales was again discovered and arrested in the Eastern District of Virginia by ICE officers and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Neftali Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2021, and 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew Munroe, Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia A. Bove and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum 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. 1:20-cr-187.
Man Sentenced for Posing as Covert CIA Officer in Elaborate $4M FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) public affairs officer was sentenced today to seven years in prison for defrauding at least a dozen companies of over $4.4 million by posing falsely as a covert officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
According to court documents, Garrison Kenneth Courtney, 44, of Florida, falsely claimed to be a covert officer of the CIA involved in a highly-classified program or “task force” involving various components of the United States Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. According to the false story told by Courtney, this supposed classified program sought to enhance the intelligence gathering capabilities of the United States government. In truth, Courtney had never been employed by the CIA, and the task force that he described did not exist.
“Courtney – along with his five aliases – will now spend the next seven years in federal prison for his deceitful and felonious criminal conduct,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Courtney’s brazen and salacious fraud was centered on the lie that he was involved in a highly-classified intelligence program, and that he was a covert CIA officer engaged in significant national security work. In fact, Courtney never worked for the CIA, the supposed classified program did not exist, and Courtney invented the elaborate lie to cheat his victims out of over $4.4 million. I want to commend the trial team and their extraordinary efforts in untangling this complex fraud, and thank our many law enforcement partners who helped bring Courtney to justice.”
To accomplish the fraud, Courtney approached numerous private companies with some variation of this false story, and claimed that the companies needed to hire and pay him to create what Courtney described as “commercial cover,” i.e., to mask his supposed affiliation with the CIA. Courtney also fraudulently claimed that the companies would be reimbursed in the future for these salary payments, sometimes by the award of lucrative contracts from the United States government in connection with the supposedly classified program.
“The fraud committed by Garrison Courtney harmed the U.S. intelligence community, individual contractors, and private companies working hard to protect our nation,” said Brian C. Rabbit, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “By claiming to be a covert CIA officer involved in a bogus classified ‘task force,’ Courtney defrauded his victims out of over $4.4 million. But his elaborate scheme could have caused far more damage if the Department of Justice and our investigative partners had not successfully intervened.”
Courtney went to extraordinary lengths to perpetuate the illusion that he was a deep-cover operative. Among other things, he falsely claimed that his identity and large portions of his conduct were classified; directed victims and witnesses to sign fake nondisclosure agreements that purported to be from the United States government and that forbade anyone involved from speaking openly about the supposedly classified program; told victims and witnesses that they were under surveillance by hostile foreign intelligence services; made a show of searching people for electronic devices as part of his supposed counterintelligence methods; demanded that his victims meet in sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs) to create the illusion that they were participating in a classified intelligence operation; and repeatedly threatened anyone who questioned his legitimacy with revocation of their security clearance and criminal prosecution if they “leaked” or continued to look into the supposedly classified information. Courtney further created fake letters, purporting to have been issued by the Attorney General of the United States, which claimed to grant blanket immunity to those who participated in the supposedly classified program.
“Courtney wove an expansive web of lies by posing as a covert CIA officer working on a classified program. Courtney’s brazen scheme and manipulation was fueled by his own greed, all while invoking the secrecy of ‘national security’ to hide his lies,” said Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Today’s sentencing would not have been possible without our valued law enforcement, intelligence community, and military partners. I would also like to thank the men and women of the FBI who work diligently every day, and for years on this investigation, to root out fraud, uphold the Constitution and protect the American people.”
As a further part of the scheme, Courtney created a fraudulent backstory about himself, claiming that he had served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, had hundreds of confirmed kills while in combat, sustained lung injuries from smoke caused by fires set to Iraq’s oil fields, and that a hostile foreign intelligence service had attempted to assassinate him by poisoning him with ricin. All of these claims were false.
“The sentence handed down today should serve as a warning to those who would seek to cheat the American taxpayers and pervert the federal procurement system for their own ill-gotten gain” said Stanley A. Newell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Transnational Operations Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “In a scheme that sounds like something out of the movies, this adept con-artist hid behind a veil of phony classified programs, concocted a fake identity for himself as a government spy, and duped unsuspecting victims out of millions of dollars - all in the name of the U.S. Government. The DCIS and our investigative partners will tirelessly root out this sort of egregious fraud, and bring those responsible to justice.”
Courtney also convinced several real governmental officials that he was participating in this “task force,” explained that they had been selected to participate in the program, and then used those officials as unwitting props falsely to burnish his legitimacy. For example, he directed his victims to speak with these public officials to verify his claims, and separately instructed the government officials as to exactly what to say. Courtney thereby created the false appearance to the victims that the government officials had independently validated his story, when in fact the officials merely were echoing the false information fed to them by Courtney. At times, Courtney also convinced those officials to meet with victims inside secure government facilities, thereby furthering the false appearance of authenticity.
Through the scheme, Courtney also fraudulently gained a position working as a private contractor for the National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), a branch of NIH that provides acquisition support services to federal agencies. Once he had installed himself at NITAAC, Courtney gained access to sensitive, nonpublic information about the procurements of other federal agencies being supported by NITAAC. Courtney thereafter used that information to attempt to corrupt the procurement process by steering the award of contracts to companies where he was then also on the payroll, and used the false pretext of national security concerns to warp the process by preventing full and open competition. When law enforcement disrupted his scheme, Courtney actively was seeking to corrupt over $3.7 billion in federal procurements.
Courtney also sought to use the actual and apparent power of the government to execute and protect his scheme, and to attempt to defeat law enforcement’s investigation. Among other things, Courtney caused a public official to attempt to prevent a private company from responding to a grand jury subpoena; caused a civilian attorney with the Air Force to contact one of the prosecutors on the case in an attempt to read that prosecutor in to the bogus program, thereby freezing the investigation; caused a public official to threaten FBI agents investigating this case with themselves being prosecuted if they did not drop the investigation; falsely told victims who had questioned his legitimacy that they were about to be arrested by the FBI for supposedly leaking classified information; used unwitting public officials to feed the names of innocent witnesses to the FBI, in the hopes that the FBI would seek to prosecute those innocent persons for supposedly leaking classified information, thereby diverting attention from himself; and sought to have real public officials issue and sign a “classification guide” for the bogus program, a document that would have set forth the rules and standards by which information acquired as a part of a governmental program is classified.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Corey R. Amundson, Chief of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section; James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; Christine Ruppert, CIA Acting Inspector General; Thomas A. Monheim, Acting Inspector General of the Intelligence Community; Brig. Gen. Terry L. Bullard, Commander of the Office of Special Investigations for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force; Cardell Richardson, Inspector General for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; Frank Robey, Director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU); Christopher Dillard, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Alison Zavada, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Washington Field Office; and Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General for the Department of Justice, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady.
The Justice Department’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke and Heidi Boutros Gesch, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, and Deputy Chief Todd Gee of the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity 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. 1:20-cr-84.
Man Sentenced for Posing as Covert CIA Officer in Elaborate $4 Million FraudRead the Press Release
A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) public affairs officer was sentenced today to seven years in prison for defrauding at least a dozen companies of over $4.4 million by posing falsely as a covert officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; CIA Acting Inspector General Christine Ruppert; Acting Inspector General Thomas A. Monheim of the Intelligence Community; Brig. Gen. Terry L. Bullard, Commander of the Office of Special Investigations for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force; Inspector General Cardell Richardson for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit; Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Transnational Operations Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); Special Agent in Charge Alison Zavada of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Washington Field Office; and Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz for the Department of Justice, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady.
According to court documents, Garrison Kenneth Courtney, 44, of Tampa, Florida, falsely claimed to be a covert officer of the CIA involved in a highly-classified program or “task force” involving various components of the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. According to the false story told by Courtney, this supposed classified program sought to enhance the intelligence gathering capabilities of the U.S. government. In truth, Courtney had never been employed by the CIA, and the task force that he described did not exist.
“The fraud committed by Garrison Courtney harmed the U.S. intelligence community, individual contractors, and private companies working hard to protect our nation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Rabbitt. “By claiming to be a covert CIA officer involved in a bogus classified ‘task force,’ Courtney defrauded his victims out of over $4.4 million. But his elaborate scheme could have caused far more damage if the Department of Justice and our investigative partners had not successfully intervened.”
“Courtney – along with his five aliases – will now spend the next seven years in federal prison for his deceitful and felonious criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Terwilliger. “Courtney’s brazen and salacious fraud was centered on the lie that he was involved in a highly-classified intelligence program, and that he was a covert CIA officer engaged in significant national security work. In fact, Courtney never worked for the CIA, the supposed classified program did not exist, and Courtney invented the elaborate lie to cheat his victims out of over $4.4 million. I want to commend the trial team and their extraordinary efforts in untangling this complex fraud, and thank our many law enforcement partners who helped bring Courtney to justice.”
“Courtney wove an expansive web of lies by posing as a covert CIA officer working on a classified program. Courtney’s brazen scheme and manipulation was fueled by his own greed, all while invoking the secrecy of ‘national security’ to hide his lies,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge D’Antuono. “Today’s sentencing would not have been possible without our valued law enforcement, intelligence community, and military partners. I would also like to thank the men and women of the FBI who work diligently every day, and for years on this investigation, to root out fraud, uphold the Constitution and protect the American people.”
“The sentence handed down today should serve as a warning to those who would seek to cheat the American taxpayers and pervert the federal procurement system for their own ill-gotten gain,” said DCIS Special Agent in Charge Newell. “In a scheme that sounds like something out of the movies, this adept con-artist hid behind a veil of phony classified programs, concocted a fake identity for himself as a government spy, and duped unsuspecting victims out of millions of dollars – all in the name of the U.S. Government. The DCIS and our investigative partners will tirelessly root out this sort of egregious fraud, and bring those responsible to justice.”
To accomplish the fraud, Courtney approached numerous private companies with some variation of this false story, and claimed that the companies needed to hire and pay him to create what Courtney described as “commercial cover,” i.e., to mask his supposed affiliation with the CIA. Courtney also fraudulently claimed that the companies would be reimbursed in the future for these salary payments, sometimes by the award of lucrative contracts from the United States government in connection with the supposedly classified program.
Courtney went to extraordinary lengths to perpetuate the illusion that he was a deep-cover operative. Among other things, he falsely claimed that his identity and large portions of his conduct were classified; directed victims and witnesses to sign fake nondisclosure agreements that purported to be from the U.S. government and that forbade anyone involved from speaking openly about the supposedly classified program; told victims and witnesses that they were under surveillance by hostile foreign intelligence services; made a show of searching people for electronic devices as part of his supposed counterintelligence methods; demanded that his victims meet in sensitive compartmented information facilities to create the illusion that they were participating in a classified intelligence operation; and repeatedly threatened anyone who questioned his legitimacy with revocation of their security clearance and criminal prosecution if they “leaked” or continued to look into the supposedly classified information. Courtney further created fake letters, purporting to have been issued by the Attorney General of the United States, which claimed to grant blanket immunity to those who participated in the supposedly classified program.
As a further part of the scheme, Courtney created a fraudulent backstory about himself, claiming that he had served in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, had hundreds of confirmed kills while in combat, sustained lung injuries from smoke caused by fires set to Iraq’s oil fields, and that a hostile foreign intelligence service had attempted to assassinate him by poisoning him with ricin. All of these claims were false.
Courtney also convinced several real governmental officials that he was participating in this “task force,” explained that they had been selected to participate in the program, and then used those officials as unwitting props falsely to burnish his legitimacy. For example, he directed his victims to speak with these public officials to verify his claims, and separately instructed the government officials as to exactly what to say. Courtney thereby created the false appearance to the victims that the government officials had independently validated his story, when in fact the officials merely were echoing the false information fed to them by Courtney. At times, Courtney also convinced those officials to meet with victims inside secure government facilities, thereby furthering the false appearance of authenticity.
Through the scheme, Courtney also fraudulently gained a position working as a private contractor for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC), a branch of the NIH that provides acquisition support services to federal agencies. Once he had installed himself at NITAAC, Courtney gained access to sensitive, nonpublic information about the procurements of other federal agencies being supported by NITAAC. Courtney thereafter used that information to attempt to corrupt the procurement process by steering the award of contracts to companies where he was then also on the payroll, and used the false pretext of national security concerns to warp the process by preventing full and open competition. When law enforcement disrupted his scheme, Courtney actively was seeking to corrupt over $3.7 billion in federal procurements.
Courtney also sought to use the actual and apparent power of the government to execute and protect his scheme, and to attempt to defeat law enforcement’s investigation. Among other things, Courtney caused a public official to attempt to prevent a private company from responding to a grand jury subpoena; caused a civilian attorney with the Air Force to contact one of the prosecutors on the case in an attempt to read that prosecutor in to the bogus program, thereby freezing the investigation; caused a public official to threaten FBI agents investigating this case with themselves being prosecuted if they did not drop the investigation; falsely told victims who had questioned his legitimacy that they were about to be arrested by the FBI for supposedly leaking classified information; used unwitting public officials to feed the names of innocent witnesses to the FBI, in the hopes that the FBI would seek to prosecute those innocent persons for supposedly leaking classified information, thereby diverting attention from himself; and sought to have real public officials issue and sign a “classification guide” for the bogus program, a document that would have set forth the rules and standards by which information acquired as a part of a governmental program is classified.
The Justice Department’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided assistance with the investigation.
Deputy Chief Todd Gee of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Burke and Heidi Boutros Gesch, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh prosecuted the case.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Child Sexual Abuser Pleads Guilty to Citizenship FraudRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty today to unlawfully obtaining United States citizenship.
According to court documents, Miguel Angel Reyes, 39, lied on various immigration forms while applying to become a naturalized United States citizen. Reyes lawfully entered the United States as a minor in 1994 from the Dominican Republic and obtained his legal permanent residence through his parents. By 2016, Reyes had enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Hampton Roads area. In May 2016, Reyes’s then wife reported to authorities that Reyes had sexually assaulted her two minor daughters. While Reyes was under investigation for those charges, he began the process of naturalizing as a United States Citizen and on multiple immigration forms and in multiple immigration interviews falsely denied that he had committed any crimes. Before Reyes pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison for his offenses, his false statements led to him becoming a naturalized citizen.
Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and mandatory loss of his United States citizenship when sentenced on March 9, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky 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. 2:20-cr-84.
U.S. Attorney Announces Establishment of Civil Rights Enforcement UnitRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger announced the establishment of a new Civil Rights Enforcement Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA).
“I am proud to announce that EDVA is the first U.S. Attorney’s Office nationwide to have multiple Assistant U.S. Attorneys 100 percent dedicated to enforcing the rights of persons with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and another Assistant U.S. Attorney dedicated full-time to enforcing the rights of servicemembers and veterans under statutes like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act,” said Terwilliger.
“After taking office as U.S. Attorney in May 2018, I spent time traveling the District to meet organizations with which we have partnered to enforce disability rights,” said Terwilliger. “I discovered two things: One, under AUSA Steve Gordon’s leadership, this office has a nationally recognized ADA enforcement practice; and two, the needs of citizens within the Eastern District’s disability community far outpaced our office’s available resources. As a lifelong dyslexic, this work is near and dear to me and I know that were it not for the ADA, I would not be standing here, in this position, today. I could not be prouder to have the Civil Rights Enforcement Unit now become part of the revered U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.”
The new unit institutionalizes and expands EDVA’s existing Civil Rights Enforcement Program, which has already had great success in enforcing the rights of persons with disabilities. The unit will combine case-based advocacy with community outreach and training, and will seek to expand our work into assisting veterans with disabilities to ensure that those who fought for our country are not discriminated against based upon a disability.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 1 in 4 (23.6 percent) adults in Virginia have disabilities. These men and women continue to face innumerable barriers to their full inclusion into all aspects of society. Examples of these barriers include:
- Attitudinal barriers, including the mindset that accommodations, such as those provided for students with learning disabilities, are some kind of special treatment, an unfair crutch, rather than simply providing equal access to people with disabilities;
- Communication barriers, such as failure to provide a sign language interpreter for high stakes interactions with medical personnel at a hospital; and
- Architectural barriers, such as missing ramps at polling places that prevent individuals, including those brave women and men who fought in our military to secure the right to vote for all, from engaging in the fundamental right to vote.
The establishment of EDVA’s Civil Rights Unit honors the 30th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.
Highlights of EDVA’s ADA Enforcement Program
Ensuring Equal Access to Healthcare. EDVA has developed a leading practice under the Justice Department’s Barrier Free Healthcare Initiative, entering into multiple comprehensive settlement agreements with Lincare, Inc., Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, Fairfax Nursing Center, and Commonwealth Health and Rehabilitation Center, healthcare providers who failed to provide sign language interpreter services to patients and companions who are deaf, including for high-stakes communications regarding critical medical care.
Ensuring Equal Access to Polling Places. In connection with the Justice Department’s ADA Voting Initiative, EDVA entered into comprehensive settlement agreements with Fauquier County and the City of Chesapeake to ensure that people with mobility disabilities can physically access polling locations so as to not be denied their fundamental right to vote.
Ensuring Physical Access to Places of Public Accommodation. EDVA has successfully resolved multiple matters to ensure physical access to public places to those with mobility disabilities. One significant example is a settlement with the operator of the Crystal City Shops and Underground relating to a pedestrian concourse that is 11 blocks long and three blocks wide to ensure physical accessibility for people with disabilities.
Highlights of EDVA’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative
Protecting Our Servicemembers from Unlawful Evictions and Damages Actions. EDVA obtained the largest ever settlement against a property management company for violating the SCRA.
Protecting Our Veterans’ Employment and Reemployment Rights: EDVA has investigated and resolved a matter in favor of an Army Reserve soldier whose civilian employment with Lawn Doctor of Stafford-Culpeper was terminated after the soldier’s absence due to active duty military service. On behalf of the soldier, our office recovered the soldier’s lost income, as well as liquidated damages.
Outreach and Partnerships
In addition to enforcement actions, EDVA will continue to prioritize community outreach and training, which has amplified the impact of our enforcement work by cultivating strong working relationships with leaders from the community and covered entities, educating people and communities about their rights, deterring violations, and informing our enforcement efforts.
To date, EDVA has held more than 60 community outreach and engagement events in support of our ADA efforts, including an annual round table with stakeholders in the Disability Rights Community; a community meeting regarding ADA issues arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; presentations to premiere national and regional ADA conferences; and trainings for significant covered entities, such as the Virginia Association of Community Service Boards, the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Finally, we are grateful for the partnership and support of disability rights-focused organizations like the National Association for the Deaf, Arc of Loudon, disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock, Arc of Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, and the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center.
2020 marks the ADA’s 30th anniversary. The Justice Department continues to advance the nation's goal of equal opportunity, integration, full participation, inclusion, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. Through its enforcement and technical assistance tools, the Justice Department strives to eliminate unlawful discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Bilal Abdus-Salaam, 38, of Capitol Heights, a multi-time convicted felon, including for previous firearms offenses, was released from prison in June 2020. Less than a month later, on July 16, he entered two Federal Firearms Licensees in the Eastern District of Virginia. Abdus-Salaam was accompanied by his wife at both locations, and video surveillance showed Abdus-Salaam handling multiple firearms, to include a rifle and a pistol, that his wife went on to purchase.
On August 21, a search warrant was executed on his wife’s residence in Maryland, where Abdus-Salaam received mail and was observed on multiple occasions in late July and early August 2020. During the search, law enforcement recovered the two firearms purchased in Virginia in July 2020, along with an additional rifle, a rifle upper receiver, firearm magazines, ammunition, and various other items associated with firearms.
Abdus-Salaam faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 23, 2021. 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.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Roberts 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. 1:20-cr-244.
Group Home Operator for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Agrees to Settle ADA AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Good Neighbor Homes, Inc. (GNHI), which operates more than 50 group homes for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD) in Virginia, and is the largest group home operator in Virginia.
The settlement agreement resolves allegations that GNHI failed to furnish sign language interpreting services during multiple complex and high stakes interactions with one of its residents who is deaf, including interactions in which the resident was supposed to be able to have an opportunity to provide meaningful input regarding her care plan, medical appointments, and incident investigations regarding serious injuries to the resident. As a result, the aggrieved individual alleged that she often did not understand what was happening with regard to significant aspects of her life. The U.S. Attorney’s Office further investigated allegations that GNHI sometimes relied on the complainant’s sister to facilitate communication in the absence of a sign language interpreter.
“This resolution demonstrates this office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of those who are deaf or hard of hearing and ensuring that they are able to communicate with service providers who are responsible for providing person-centered care,” said Terwilliger. “GNHI provides essential services to a particularly vulnerable population, individuals who often have multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. We are pleased that GNHI has agreed to take steps to ensure that all of its group homes will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters, to its consumers who need them in order to communicate effectively.”
In addition to making significant changes to its policies and practices, GNHI agreed to resolve these matters by paying $225,000 to the resident for whom it failed to furnish sign language interpreting services, $40,000 to her sister, and a civil penalty of $50,000.
To resolve these matters, GNHI agreed to adopt policies that will make its services accessible to individuals with communication disabilities; designate an ADA Administrator, who will be responsible for ensuring GNHI’s compliance with the ADA; enter into agreements with sign language interpreting service providers to provide services to its consumers who need them; and to provide training for its personnel on the ADA’s effective communication requirements. GNHI also agreed to pay damages to the complainant and her sister, and a civil penalty to the United States. This resolution is particularly significant because group homes are essential to ensuring that individuals with I/DD are able to receive community-based services and be integrated into their communities, and individuals who are deaf are entitled to have access to these services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Gordon, Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator, investigated the matter. The civil claims settled by this ADA agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA including a Technical Assistance Publication entitled: ADA Requirements: 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). ADA complaints may be filed by email to [email protected].
2020 marks the ADA’s 30th anniversary. The Justice Department continues to advance the nation's goal of equal opportunity, integration, full participation, inclusion, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. Through its enforcement and technical assistance tools, the Justice Department strives to eliminate unlawful discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
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.
Four Individuals Charged in $200K Coast Guard Credentialing SchemeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Four individuals have been charged for their respective roles in a conspiracy to sell phony Coast Guard merchant mariner credentials in Norfolk.
According to allegations in the unsealed indictment, Lamont Godfrey, 42, of Portsmouth, Eugene Johnson, 45, of Norfolk, Shunmanique Willis, 43, of Texas, and Alonzo Williams, 45, of Louisiana, acted in concert to create counterfeit certificates from the Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy (MAMA) and sell them to merchant mariners for a profit. The MAMA is a private state-of-the-art maritime training center, offering mariners over 100 U.S. Coast Guard approved deck and engineering courses needed for merchant mariners to hold various positions on merchant vessels. Godfrey worked for the MAMA as the school’s Chief Administrator.
According to the indictment, Godfrey used this position to create fake MAMA course certificates for mariners who had never taken the MAMA courses, in exchange for thousands of dollars in payments. The mariners would receive the fake certificates along with instructions on how to load them in the Coast Guard systems and be credited with a fraudulent Coast Guard qualification. Johnson, Willis, and Williams worked with Godfrey as brokers to find additional mariners willing to buy the fake certificates. In exchange for their efforts, Johnson, Willis, and Williams all received a cut of the illicit proceeds from the scheme. In total, the conspiracy netted over $200,000 in profits from the production of these counterfeit MAMA certificates and involved over 150 mariners purchasing fraudulent qualifications.
Godfrey, Johnson, Willis, and Williams are charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of two 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Marty J. Martinez, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky 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. 2:20-cr-95.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Cheating 1,700 Victims in $1.2 Million Loan ScamRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach woman pleaded guilty today to an internet-based loan scam that cheated approximately 1,700 victims out of over $1.2 million.
According to court documents, Terri Beth Miller, 53, and her husband and co-defendant Ronald A. Smith, 59, set up a company called Business Development Group, an internet-based business that offered, in exchange for an advance fee, to assist individuals in preparing loan applications to obtain SBA-guaranteed loans. They solicited potential customers on the basis of false, fraudulent, and misleading statements and representations, including, among others, that the company was headquartered at the Trump Building in New York and had assisted well-known large companies in obtaining SBA loans. They offered a money-back guarantee, but in fact employed various fraudulent methods to deny refunds. Miller and Smith solicited approximately 1,700 customers, who paid an aggregate sum of approximately $1,287,000 in advance fees. The vast majority of these customers did not receive an SBA guaranteed loan. In fact, Miller and Smith did virtually nothing to even attempt to obtain loans for their customers.
Miller pleaded guilty to wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on April 16, 2021. 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.
Smith pleaded guilty to similar charges in October, and will be sentenced on April 2, 2021. He was convicted of nearly the identical loan scam in 2006 and received a sentence of seven years in prison.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Salsbury 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. 2:20-cr-69.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesterfield man was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Elijah Cupitt, 37, was arrested in December 2019, when U.S. Marshals, working alongside the Richmond Police Department and Chesterfield Police Department, sought to locate him and a murder suspect that Cupitt was suspected to be housing. After obtaining consent to search the residence, U.S. Marshals searched the master bedroom walk-in closet and located a bag of white powder, later confirmed to be crack cocaine, and a firearm described as a Smith and Wesson, .40 caliber. Cupitt admitted to possessing the evidence and had over 15 past criminal convictions, including four felony convictions, at the time of the search.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Simon, Jr. 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. 3:20-cr-48.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A previously convicted felon was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for the unlawful possession of a Glock semi-automatic handgun.
According to court documents, Dayquan Antoine Goodwin, 27, of Newport News, was wanted on outstanding arrest warrants in Newport News. Newport News Police encountered Goodwin as he was walking around Patrick Henry Mall and placed him under arrest. When searching Goodwin, officers discovered a small amount of marijuana, five loose oxycodone tablets in his pocket, and a loaded Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Goodwin knew that he was a prior convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms. A Facebook search warrant revealed that Goodwin had posted pictures of himself with the same firearm on earlier occasions.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. 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. 4:19-cr-16.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in a Multi-State Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for his participation in a conspiracy to traffic approximately 18 kilograms of heroin into the Richmond area.
According to court documents, in June 2019, Special Agents with the Department of Homeland Security (HSI) seized approximately 24 kilograms of heroin, nearly 2 kilograms of fentanyl, and nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine from targets in Brownsville, Texas. The substances were packaged in five tractor trailer batteries and various quantities were headed for Chicago, Illinois and Richmond. Agents with HSI, working with Virginia State Police, coordinated a controlled delivery of the heroin which was destined to Richmond. Jose Zavala-Higareda, 29, was identified as the individual to whom the heroin headed for Richmond was to be delivered. The agents coordinating the controlled delivery and exchanged phone calls and text messages with Zavala-Higareda in advance of the batteries arriving in Richmond. Additionally, the agents and Zavala-Higareda identified a meeting location to deliver the drugs and when the agents arrived, Zavala-Higareda and another person received the batteries and paid for the heroin with $16,500 in cash. The heroin within the tractor trailer batteries weighed approximately 18.14 kilograms.
Law enforcement later conducted a search of Zavala-Higareda’s residence in Richmond and found him to be in possession of another $33,050 in cash, which was enough to purchase 11 additional ounces of heroin. Zavala-Higareda also possessed ledgers which were consistent with record-keeping in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Never Ending Story. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony 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. 3:20-cr-15.
Fraudster Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty today to engaging in a COVID-19 related loan fraud scheme with losses of $196,000.
According to court documents, Joseph Cherry, 40, of Norfolk, who was previously convicted of federal felony charges involving fraud and money laundering, engaged in a scheme to obtain COVID-related loan benefits through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and affiliated lenders. In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act, which was signed into law in March 2020, established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Such programs include the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
In March and April 2020, Cherry submitted multiple applications for PPP and EIDL loans. Cherry provided false information on the loan applications related to his claimed businesses, income, employment and his criminal record. As a result of these false applications, Cherry fraudulently obtained $196,900 in loan proceeds from the U.S. Treasury into a bank account he established at Langley Federal Credit Union. In a brief period of time in April 2020, Cherry withdrew over $100,000 in the form of cash and a cashier’s check and made various purchases inconsistent with the purposes of the PPP and EIDL programs.
Cherry pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government property. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on March 11, 2020. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (SBA); Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Peter R. Rendina, 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 Brian J. Samuels 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. 4:20-cr-27.
Former DARPA Program Manager Agrees to Settle Allegations of Improper Conversion of Government TechnologyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program Manager and Founder and CEO of XeroWind, LLC of Falls Church, has agreed to pay $50,000 and surrender three patents to the United States government to settle allegations relating to his improper patenting of U.S. Government property and technology.
In July, the United States filed a lawsuit against Dr. Deepak Varshneya, of Falls Church, and XeroWind alleging conversion of government technology. The government’s complaint contended that while a DARPA Program Manager, Dr. Varshneya worked on a DARPA research program known as “ONE SHOT,” which developed a crosswind and range measuring rifle scope. Dr. Varshneya requested permission to patent the technology, but DARPA made the determination, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. Part 501, that the ONE SHOT technology was the sole property of the United States government. Dr. Varshneya did not appeal the determination and admitted that he worked on the ONE SHOT technology in the course of his government employment. Despite that determination and admission, Dr. Varshneya nonetheless filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering that same technology, failing to make any mention of the government interest. Shortly after leaving DARPA, Dr. Varshneya filed two follow-on patent applications covering the same technology, and founded XeroWind, LLC to market the ONE SHOT technology.
The $50,000 monetary payment settles allegations that included breach of fiduciary duty of a government employee. In addition, the settlement requires Dr. Varshneya to surrender the three patents to the U.S. Government. The settlement includes a limited non-exclusive license agreement with Dr. Varshneya and XeroWind, allowing them to market the technology in certain markets but requiring payment of royalties to the United States government.
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 Department of Justice Intellectual Property Section.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Starr and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Michel Souaya.
The civil claims settled by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Civil Case No. 1:20-cv-741.
Man Pleads Guilty to ATM Skimming Fraud that Targeted Navy FederalRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Romanian man who was extradited to the United States pleaded guilty today to an ATM skimming fraud scheme targeting Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
According to court documents, in 2014 and 2015, Aurel Eremia, 43, and several other conspirators engaged in widespread effort to install portable card reading devices (skimming devices) and micro camera equipment inside and over the mouth of NFCU ATMs card readers and keypads. Eremia and the conspirators used such devices to record and to acquire, without lawful authorization, the personal identification and financial information of NFCU customers.
Conspirators stored and transferred by electronic means the personal identification and financial information fraudulently obtained. Then, conspirators transferred and used the information to gain unauthorized access to bank and credit accounts belonging to NFCU customers by, among other things, re-encoding account numbers onto the magnetic strips of other cards, including gift cards. The re-encoded cards, in combination with the corresponding PINs, were used to make unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from the compromised NFCU accounts, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere. The conspiracy resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses and other conspirators have been convicted and sentenced.
Eremia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the conspiracy charge, and a mandatory consecutive term of 2 years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge. Eremia is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Jerald W. Page, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Samuels and Kaitlin Cooke 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. 4:15-cr-63.
Emporia Man Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing 5 FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Emporia man was sentenced today to one year prison for lying on ATF forms in the course of straw purchasing five firearms.
According to court documents, following the recovery of a firearm from a convicted felon by the Metropolitan Police Department, ATF agents reviewed firearm transaction records and determined that Shatez Damauri-Quadre Franklin, 23, had purchased the firearm and numerous others less than three months prior from a sporting goods store in Colonial Heights. In making the purchases, Franklin represented himself as the true buyer of the firearms. However, immediately after he received the firearms, Franklin transferred them to another individual who was going to resell them in Washington, D.C. Franklin was paid by the individual for making the purchases.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia T. Giles and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael C. Tucker 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-125.
Arlington Man Pleads Guilty to $3.5M Healthcare Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Arlington man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud that resulted in losses of over $3.5 million.
According to court documents, Onkur Lal, 29, worked in various roles at MedEx Pharmacy, MedEx Health Pharmacy, and Royal Care Pharmacy, which were all owned and operated by the same individual. From around 2014 to around 2019, Lal conspired with the owner and others in a number of different fraudulent schemes to defraud health care benefit programs, including TRICARE, Medicare, Virginia Medicaid, and Maryland Medicaid. Lal took part in a number of fraudulent schemes, including generating false prescriptions, billing health insurance companies for prescriptions that were never filled, and billing patients’ health care benefit programs for numerous high cost medications that he and his co-conspirators knew were not prescribed and/or never received.
Lal and his conspirators also submitted false invoices under the names of other pharmacies, in an attempt to circumvent audits. Further, Lal and another co-conspirator fraudulently posed as pharmacists by elevating their title and credentials within the pharmacy’s prescription software system. Lal and his co-conspirator then used these elevated titles to verify prescriptions, which they then submitted to health care benefit programs and pharmaceutical suppliers for payment. The various schemes resulted in health care benefit programs losing more than $3.5 million.
Lal is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21, 2021, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); James A. Dawson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Christopher Dillard, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service's Mid-Atlantic Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monika Moore, Carina A. Cuellar, and Jamar K. Walker 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. 1:20-cr-237.
Alleged Drug Traffickers Charged with Murder-for-Hire in NorfolkRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Six members of a North Carolina-based drug-trafficking organization were arrested today on charges of the murder-for-hire of Norfolk resident Lillian Bond, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and narcotics conspiracy, murder while engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise, murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense, use of a firearm resulting in death, and distribution of cocaine, among other charges.
According to the indictment unsealed today, the defendants were charged for their roles in a long-running drug conspiracy allegedly led by Jaquate Simpson and based in the Greensboro, North Carolina, area. The indictment alleges that during the conspiracy, a Norfolk-based drug dealer who had been buying cocaine from the conspiracy failed to pay for a multi-kilogram delivery. The indictment alleges that, as payback, Simpson and his right-hand man, Landis Jackson, hired Kalub Shipman and Nelson Evans to murder someone associated with the Norfolk drug dealer, and that on April 19, 2016, Shipman and Evans shot Lillian Bond to death outside her residence on Trice Terrace in Norfolk.
Six of the defendants were arrested in the Greensboro and Charlotte areas today. The remaining two defendants, Jaquate Simpson and Kalub Shipman, are in state custody and will make their initial appearances in federal court at a later date.
The defendants and charges are listed below:
Name
Age
Charges
Jaquate Simpson, aka
“Quay,” “J,” “Stacks,” “Predator”36
Continuing criminal enterprise; murder while engaged in continuing criminal enterprise; narcotics conspiracy; murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; distribution of cocaine; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire
Landis Jackson, aka “Juve,” “Juvie”
36
Continuing criminal enterprise; murder while engaged in continuing criminal enterprise; narcotics conspiracy; murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; distribution of cocaine; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire
Kalub Shipman, aka “Kato,” “Baydo”
32
Murder while engaged in a drug-trafficking offense; use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire; felon in possession of a firearm
Nelson Evans
30
Use of a firearm resulting in death; conspiracy to commit murder for hire; murder for hire; felon in possession of a firearm
Patrice Farland, aka “Treece”
41
Narcotics conspiracy; distribution of cocaine
Brian Tate, aka
“B. Tate”35
Narcotics conspiracy
Mario Love, aka “O”
36
Narcotics conspiracy
Shafter Manuel, aka “Pete”
37
Narcotics conspiracy
If convicted, the charged defendants face mandatory minimum sentences ranging from 10 years in prison to life. 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.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation CARDINAL SIN. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed.
The Greensboro (NC) Police Department and DEA provided assistance with this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph DePadilla, Andrew Bosse, and John F. Butler, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Bird, are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-90.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Announces $14M in DOJ Grants to Combat Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced awards of $14,330,170 in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the Eastern District of Virginia.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“During my time as U.S. Attorney, we have been laser-focused on the goal of reducing deaths involving opioids and the addiction crisis through coordinated, community-wide solutions targeting both the supply of and demand for opioids,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We have enacted a robust enforcement policy, investigating and prosecuting drug traffickers whose poison causes death and other non-fatal overdoses. We have also developed key community partnerships for an all-hands-on-deck approach. And we have invested valuable resources in prevention efforts through community outreach, increasing education and raising awareness of the dangers of addiction through our Silent No More program. While I am proud of this work and our accomplishments, I recognize that we must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat this crisis. With this commitment, I am confident that the work we do will account for the number of lives saved in the coming months and years.”
Awardee
Program
Amount
Virginia Arlington County Government
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program
$899,887
Virginia County of Augusta
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program
$600,000
Virginia Chesterfield County
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program
$1,192,430
Virginia Isle of Wight County
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
$330,500
Virginia Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
$499,112
Virginia National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Planning, Training and Technical Assistance, and Resource Center Initiative
$1,450,000
Virginia National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Planning, Training and Technical Assistance, and Resource Center Initiative
$2,700,000
Virginia National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Planning, Training and Technical Assistance, and Resource Center Initiative
$1,500,000
Virginia National Association of Drug Court Professionals
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Planning, Training and Technical Assistance, and Resource Center Initiative
$2,200,000
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program
$727,336
National Recreation and Park Association
Mentoring Opportunities For Youth Initiative
$1,249,999
Child Family Services of Eastern Virginia, Inc., dba ‘The Up Center’
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
$690,553
Virginia Department of Forensic Science
Research and Evaluation for the Testing and Interpretation of Physical Evidence in
Publically Funded Forensics Laboratory
$290,353
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Leesburg Man Arrested for $2.5M CARES Act Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Leesburg man was arrested today on charges of fraudulently obtaining over $2.5 million in loans through the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and then spending the fraudulently obtained money on luxury items.
According to court documents, Didier Kindambu, 48, fraudulently obtained two loans issued under the PPP, a program instituted by Congress in an effort to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to pay salary or wages to their employees. Kindambu carried out the scheme in connection with two businesses that he owns by creating fraudulent payroll documentation for each business, and then submitting that documentation in support of the PPP loan applications. In total, Kindambu fraudulently obtained approximately $2,501,753 in loan proceeds, and then spent those funds, in part, on items unrelated to any legitimate PPP-related expense, such as a Lexus automobile and a Cessna aircraft.
Kindambu is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Alexandria today at 2 p.m.
Kindambu is charged with one count of bank fraud. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (SBA); and Jay N. Lerner, Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC-OIG), made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Burke 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. 1:20-mj-286.
Honduran Man Pleads Guilty After Third Illegal Entry into USRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran with multiple previous convictions and removals pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States.
According to court documents, Erasmo Alberto-Echeverria, 43, illegally reentered the United States after having been removed on two different occasions. In 2009, Alberto-Echeverria was convicted of misdemeanor hit and run and driving while under the influence of alcohol in Fairfax County. He was removed from the United States by federal immigration authorities in 2010. Thereafter, he illegally reentered the country and was arrested in 2015 on an outstanding warrant for his misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance before he was removed. After being convicted of that narcotics offense in Fairfax County, the defendant was removed from the United States for the second time. He illegally reentered the country for a third time and was most recently discovered by immigration authorities after his arrest in Fairfax County in 2020 for the misdemeanors unlawful entry and destruction of property.
Alberto-Echeverria faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew Munroe, Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William I. Friedman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza K. Ty 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. 1:20-cr-221.
U.S. Attorney Announces Update on Firearms Initiative in DMVRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger provided an update on the status of Project Guardian-DMV, our strategic effort to reduce violent crime and further enforce federal firearms laws across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV).
“Criminals in the DMV have been on notice that we are federally serious about illegal firearms offenses,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The prosecutors of the Eastern District, in conjunction with ATF and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, have redoubled our efforts to combat straw purchasing, firearms trafficking, and use of a firearm during a drug trafficking or violent crime offense, pursuant to Project Guardian-DMV.”
During Fiscal Year 2020, from Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2020, the Alexandria Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged over 60 defendants with firearms-related offenses, including straw purchases, illegal possession of firearms by previously convicted felons and other prohibited persons, and carrying, brandishing, or discharging a firearm during a crime of violence or in relation to a drug trafficking offense. These defendants were involved in the unlawful purchase and/or possession of over 200 firearms, of which more than 85 firearms have been recovered and seized by law enforcement.
Project Guardian is the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
Project Guardian-DMV localizes the Justice Department’s national effort, and expands upon the current partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF, and Metro Police Department, and now also includes the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Maryland and the Western District of Virginia, and the Virginia State Police.
Recent Project Guardian-DMV cases
U.S. v. Emmanuel Ndjongo and Alexus Jordan
Ndjongo, of Bowie, Maryland, and his then-girlfriend, Jordon, of Alexandria, conspired to straw purchase 31 firearms from Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) in Virginia. Jordon purchased six of the firearms at FFLs in Virginia. Ndjongo used Jordon’s name to order the remaining firearms online from an FFL located in North Carolina, and had these firearms shipped to various FFLs in Virginia. Once the firearms arrived in Virginia, Jordon picked up the firearms and gave them to Ndjongo, who sought to sell the firearms to other individuals. Local law enforcement in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland have recovered two of the firearms unlawfully purchased during this conspiracy, both of which had altered or destroyed serial numbers. The whereabouts of the remaining 29 firearms are unknown.
U.S. v. Reginald Tolliver
In July 2019, Tolliver, of Woodbridge, a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed and fired a SigSauer semi-automatic pistol during a gang-related shootout at a recording studio in Alexandria. Surveillance video footage captured two masked individuals exit a vehicle and fire at a vehicle occupied by Tolliver and his associates. Video captured Tolliver fire his pistol at the masked individuals before police responded to the scene to find Tolliver and an associate wounded by gunfire. On August 13, Tolliver was sentenced to over four years in prison for his involvement in the shootout.
U.S. v. Chad Thomas Lamph
Lamph, of Fredericksburg, pleaded guilty on September 25 to lying on an ATF form in the course of straw-purchasing seven firearms for a convicted felon and criminal street gang member. Following the recovery of a firearm by the Metropolitan Police Department that had been purchased just one week prior, ATF agents reviewed firearm transaction records and determined that Lamph, 22, had purchased that firearm and numerous others from federal firearms licensees in December 2019. For each firearm that he purchased, Lamph certified on ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual transferee / buyer. However, the ATF’s investigation revealed that Lamph had in fact purchased seven of those firearms on behalf of another individual he knew to be a convicted felon and criminal street gang member in exchange for money. Lamph pleaded guilty to making a false statement with respect to information required to be kept in the records of a federal firearms licensee. Lamph faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on December 11.
U.S. v. David Sungur
On September 29, Sungur, of Fairfax, pleaded guilty today to dealing in firearms without a license. Beginning around March 2019 through March 2020, Sungur engaged in the business of dealing in firearms through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. Among the firearms that he sold and advertised for sale were homemade pistols devoid of serial numbers or other unique identifiers, commonly known as “ghost guns.” Sungur explained to prospective customers that he charged a premium for such pistols because he made them, because they lacked serial numbers, and because they could not be linked to any previous criminal activities. Sungur also sold weapons on multiple occasions to undercover detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Organized Crime & Intelligence Bureau, who had learned he was selling firearms. Over the course of four separate transactions, he sold detectives more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, magazines, and numerous firearms – some of which were "ghost guns" – in exchange for cash. On two of these occasions, Sungur also sold detectives 3D-printed machine gun conversion devices that, after installation, enabled semi-automatic firearms to fire fully-automatically. Following his arrest, Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered that he was in possession of additional materials and kits used to manufacture ghost guns, additional ammunition, additional magazines, a 3D printer, and an additional firearm. Sungus faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on December 16.
More information on Project Guardian in EDVA can be found here.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Previously Convicted Felon, Who Allegedly Killed Newport News Police Officer, Pleads Guilty to Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man pleaded guilty today to being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and felony possession of marijuana. Both charges stem from the defendant’s alleged involvement in a January traffic stop that led to the death of Newport News Police Officer Katie Thyne.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, Vernon Evander Green II, 38, encountered Newport News Police at the Monitor Merrimac Overlook. Police responded to the area after reports of a vehicle with two occupants who appeared to be smoking marijuana. The officers found Green in the driver’s seat and asked him to exit the vehicle. He failed to comply with the officers’ requests and instead fled the scene.
A later search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of marijuana in different places of the vehicle. Officers found a soft cooler bag near Green’s vehicle that had the word “BrightView” written on the front. The bag contained Green’s picture and a Kel-Tec CNC Industries firearm with Green’s fingerprint on the magazine. The BrightView cooler bag had been in the defendant’s vehicle during the encounter with the Newport News police officers at the Monitor Merrimac Overlook. The defendant admitted he had previously been convicted of a felony and was not allowed to possess a firearm.
Green pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana, a felony due to Green’s prior felony drug conviction. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 18, 2021. 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.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick and Lisa R. McKeel 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. 4:20-cr-35.
Arlington Man Sentenced for Coercion and Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – An Arlington man was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor in the Richmond area.
“We must do everything possible to protect our children from dangerous sexual predators like Jose Parra-Camargo,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Child sexual abuse is a horrific and abhorrent crime. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for ensuring that Parra-Camargo will now be in a place where he cannot prey on our most vulnerable victims.”
According to court documents, Parra-Camargo, 45, solicited a 14 year-old female in the Richmond area for sex on numerous occasions in 2016 and 2017 over the Internet application “Kik.” As part of this conduct, he directed her to send him pornographic images of herself. On two occasions, Camargo drove to Richmond from his residence in Arlington and had sex with the minor victim after convincing her to sneak out of her house.
“Child predators often use the Internet to gain the trust of vulnerable children and exploit it for their own gratification. They are a true danger to our children, communities, and society,” said David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and the men and women of the Richmond Child Exploitation Task Force this predator has been taken off the streets and can no longer victimize our children.”
Around the same time, Parra-Camargo was additionally chatting with an undercover officer from the Loudoun County, Virginia Police Department who was posing as a 14 year-old girl. After also soliciting the undercover officer for sex, Loudoun County officers arrested Parra-Camargo. He pled guilty in 2017 in a separate state prosecution in Loudoun County Circuit Court to use of a communications system to solicit a minor and received a five-year term of imprisonment, which he will continue to serve out prior to beginning his term of federal imprisonment.
“A strong sentence like this sends an important message that individuals who try to exploit children and rob them of their innocence will be brought to justice,” said Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia. “I want to thank my team for their hard work on this case, as well as our state and federal partners for their continued partnership in working to bring justice to those who would harm or take advantage of children.”
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexaundra Williams and Gene Fishel 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. 3:20-cr-4.
Woman Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Gun Used in Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison for being an illegal drug user in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Jaclyn Amanda Inge, 41, purchased two handguns from federally licensed gun dealers at gun shows. Before buying each gun, Inge completed a form 4473. On the form, she checked the box indicating that she was not addicted to drugs or a drug user, when in fact, as several witnesses would testify, she has used marijuana daily for years. And she illegally possessed those guns while being a drug user.
In October 2017, Inge and two conspirators, including Desmond Littlejohn, plotted to rob Mac’s Reloads, a Federal Firearm Licensee and ammunition-reloading business located in Virginia Beach where Inge was employed. During the robbery, Inge and Littlejohn used at least one of the guns Inge had purchased just weeks earlier. Inge provided the robbers with inside information about Mac’s Reloads to help them commit the crime.
In February 2019, Littlejohn was convicted by a federal jury of charges stemming from the armed robbery and was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William B. Jackson and Bill Muhr prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.
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. 2:19-cr-90.
United States Unseals Superseding Indictment Charging Nationwide Money Laundering NetworkRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States has unsealed a superseding indictment charging six individuals with participating in a conspiracy to launder millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of foreign cartels. This superseding indictment is the result of a nearly four-year investigation into the relationship between foreign drug trafficking organizations and Asian money laundering networks in the United States, China, and elsewhere.
“The successful work in uncovering and halting this scheme is due to years of collaboration and cooperation by multiple Department of Justice units and our law enforcement partners who are all committed to combating transnational criminal organizations,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We would not have been able to achieve this result without our investigative partners and agencies around the world helping contribute to this case. My thanks to all of you for your continued commitment to this important work.”
“The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that distribute contraband, launder illicit proceeds, and attempt to corrupt our society,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt for the Criminal Division. “I would like to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and our federal law enforcement partners for taking down a criminal organization that laundered drug proceeds for the Mexican cartels. Drug traffickers and money launderers operate globally, but this investigation demonstrates that they will be brought to justice wherever they are found.”
According to the superseding indictment, Xizhi Li, Jianxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Eric Yong Woo, Jingyuan Li, Tao Liu, and others participated in a years’ long conspiracy to use casinos, front companies, foreign and domestic bank accounts, and bulk cash smuggling to launder money on behalf of drug trafficking organizations.
“These individuals went to great lengths to conceal their alleged criminal activities and further schemes that enabled drug cartels to push their poisons on our communities and launder their illicit proceeds,” said Wendy Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Special Operations Division. “Despite these efforts, they could not evade detection by U.S. law enforcement. DEA, along with our partners, will continue to arrest and bring to justice transnational criminals like these, who facilitate and profit from the vicious global drug trade.”
The superseding indictment also alleges that Tao Liu planned to bribe a U.S. Department of State official using wire transfers and cryptocurrency to create U.S. passports that he and his associates would use to enter the United States and engage in additional crimes, including money laundering. In fact, this State Department official was an undercover law enforcement agent, and these allegations stem from a seven-month undercover investigation.
“The defendants in this case are alleged to have gone to great lengths to carry out their sophisticated money laundering conspiracy,” said James M. Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Chicago. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our partner agencies to disrupt the flow of narcotics into the country that is facilitated through the laundering of funds out of the U.S.”
“This is a perfect illustration of DSS’ global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on complex international, multi-jurisdictional cases,” said Jeffrey A. Thomas, Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Investigations Division. “DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world.”
Below is information related to each defendant charged in the superseding indictment:
Name, Age
Charges
Xizhi Li, 45
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Jianxing Chen, 40
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Jiayu Chen, 46
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Eric Yong Woo, 43
Counts 3 (money laundering)
Jingyuan Li, 47
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Tao Liu, 45
Counts 1-14 (drug trafficking, money laundering, attempted identity fraud, and bribery)
Five of the six defendants are in custody (Jianxing Chen is a fugitive).
Xizhi Li, Jiaxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Jingyuan Li, and Tao Liu are all charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine knowing and intending that it will be unlawfully imported into the United States. If convicted, these defendants faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Xizhi Li, Jiaxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Jingyuan Li, Eric Yong Woo, and Tao Liu are also charged with conspiracy to launder money. If convicted of this offense, the defendants will face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, Tao Liu is charged with four counts of attempted identity fraud, four counts of bribery, one count of conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of international promotional money laundering. If convicted of attempted identity fraud and/or bribery, he faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment per count. If convicted of money laundering, he faces up to 20 years’ of imprisonment per count.
The case was investigated as part of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Dark Castle and Operation Taishan Triangle. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wendy C. Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA-Louisville; Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA-New York; Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Michael P. Ben’Ary, along with Trial Attorneys Kerry Blackburn, Mary Daly, and Stephen A. Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, are prosecuting the case.
Significant assistance was provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Federal Police, the Mexican Federal Police, Australia Department of Home Affairs, the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC), and the New Zealand Police.
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. 1:19-cr-334.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
United States Unseals Superseding Indictment Charging Nationwide Money Laundering NetworkRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment charging six individuals with participating in a conspiracy to launder millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of foreign cartels. This superseding indictment is the result of a nearly four-year investigation into the relationship between foreign drug trafficking organizations and Asian money laundering networks in the United States, China, and elsewhere.
“The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that distribute contraband, launder illicit proceeds, and attempt to corrupt our society,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt for the Criminal Division. “I would like to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and our federal law enforcement partners for taking down a criminal organization that laundered drug proceeds for the Mexican cartels. Drug traffickers and money launderers operate globally, but this investigation demonstrates that they will be brought to justice wherever they are found.”
“The successful work in uncovering and halting this scheme is due to years of collaboration and cooperation by multiple Department of Justice units and our law enforcement partners who are all committed to combating transnational criminal organizations,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We would not have been able to achieve this result without our investigative partners and agencies around the world helping contribute to this case. My thanks to all of you for your continued commitment to this important work.”
“These individuals went to great lengths to conceal their alleged criminal activities and further schemes that enabled drug cartels to push their poisons on our communities and launder their illicit proceeds,” said Wendy Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Operations Division. “Despite these efforts, they could not evade detection by U.S. law enforcement. DEA, along with our partners, will continue to arrest and bring to justice transnational criminals like these, who facilitate and profit from the vicious global drug trade.”
“The defendants in this case are alleged to have gone to great lengths to carry out their sophisticated money laundering conspiracy,” said James M. Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our partner agencies to disrupt the flow of narcotics into the country that is facilitated through the laundering of funds out of the U.S.”
“This is a perfect illustration of DSS’ global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on complex international, multi-jurisdictional cases,” said Jeffrey A. Thomas, Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Investigations Division. “DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world.”
According to the superseding indictment, Xizhi Li, Jianxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Eric Yong Woo, Jingyuan Li, Tao Liu, and others participated in a years’ long conspiracy to use casinos, front companies, foreign and domestic bank accounts, and bulk cash smuggling to launder money on behalf of drug trafficking organizations.
The superseding indictment also alleges that Tao Liu planned to bribe a U.S. Department of State official using wire transfers and cryptocurrency to create U.S. passports that he and his associates would use to enter the United States and engage in additional crimes, including money laundering. In fact, this State Department official was an undercover law enforcement agent, and these allegations stem from a seven-month undercover investigation.
Below is information related to each defendant charged in the superseding indictment:
Name, Age
Charges
Xizhi Li, 45
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Jianxing Chen, 40
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Jiayu Chen, 46
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Eric Yong Woo, 43
Counts 3 (money laundering)
Jingyuan Li, 47
Counts 1-3 (drug trafficking and money laundering)
Tao Liu, 45
Counts 1-14 (drug trafficking, money laundering, attempted identity fraud, and bribery)
Five of the six defendants are in custody, Jianxing Chen is a fugitive.
Xizhi Li, Jiaxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Jingyuan Li, and Tao Liu are all charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine knowing and intending that it will be unlawfully imported into the United States. If convicted, these defendants faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Xizhi Li, Jiaxing Chen, Jiayu Chen, Jingyuan Li, Eric Yong Woo, and Tao Liu are also charged with conspiracy to launder money. If convicted of this offense, the defendants will face a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, Tao Liu is charged with four counts of attempted identity fraud, four counts of bribery, one count of conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of international promotional money laundering. If convicted of attempted identity fraud and/or bribery, he faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment per count. If convicted of money laundering, he faces up to 20 years’ of imprisonment per count.
The case was investigated as part of two Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wendy C. Woolcock, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Special Operations Division; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA-Louisville; Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA-New York; Jessica Moore, Chief of the Criminal Investigations Division of the U.S. Department of State’s DSS; and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of HSI made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Michael P. Ben’Ary, along with Trial Attorneys Kerry Blackburn, Mary Daly, and Stephen A. Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance. Significant assistance was also provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Federal Police, the Mexican Federal Police, Australia Department of Home Affairs, the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC), and the New Zealand Police.
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. 1:19-cr-334.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Announces Update on Firearms Initiative in Hampton RoadsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Today U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger provided an update on the status of Project Guardian, our strategic effort to reduce violent crime and further enforce federal firearms laws across the Eastern District of Virginia, including here in Hampton Roads.
“We are committed to combating violent crime and firearms offenses in our Tidewater Divisions,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The prosecutors of the Eastern District, in conjunction with ATF and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are doubling down on illegal firearms offenses through Project Guardian.”
During Fiscal Year 2020, from Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2020, the Norfolk and Newport News Divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office have charged over 85 defendants with firearms-related offenses, including straw purchases, illegal possession of firearms by previously convicted felons and other prohibited persons, and carrying, brandishing, or discharging a firearm during a crime of violence or in relation to a drug trafficking offense. One such collaborative effort was Operation High Tide, which resulted in 23 convictions and combined sentences of over 187 years for previously convicted felons who illegally possessed firearms and many of whom sold narcotics while in possession of firearms.
Project Guardian is the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
Project Guardian in EDVA localizes the Justice Department’s national effort, and expands upon the current partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF, and Metro Police Department, and now also includes the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Maryland and the Western District of Virginia, and the Virginia State Police.
Recent Project Guardian cases in Hampton Roads
United States v. Vernon Evander Green II
On July 6, 2020, Green made his initial appearance in federal court on gun charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a January traffic stop that led to the death of Newport News Police Officer Katie Thyne. Green is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. He is scheduled to plead guilty tomorrow.
United States v. Paul Eric Sherrod Parham
In September 2019, Paul Eric Sherrod Parham, a seven-time prior convicted felon, was walking in the area of 36th Street and Chestnut Avenue in Newport News. Parham had outstanding warrants at the time for abduction, larceny, assault and battery, and withholding a credit card belonging to another individual. An individual who knew Parham, and who was aware of Parham’s outstanding warrants, notified Newport News Police of Parham’s precise location. When officers encountered Parham, confirmed his identity and felony status, and began to take him into custody, Parham notified the officers that he was unlawfully carrying a loaded SCCY, CPX-1, 9mm semiautomatic handgun. Parham pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 4, 2021.
United States v. Tamarrea Deyon Walker
In April 2019, Walker, who is a member of the Suffolk-based criminal street gang “YNGI”, and a fellow gang member, brandished firearms and shot at two rival gang members, who fled to their vehicle and drove away while brandishing rifles. Walker and four other YNGI members got into their own car and gave chase. The two groups shot at each other while driving. The driver of Walker’s car was shot in the chest, which caused him to slam on the gas, speed through an intersection, and crash head-on into another vehicle. Police officers arrived at the accident scene soon after and saw Walker rummaging around the vehicle and an extended 9mm magazine lying on the ground by his feet. This extended magazine was capable of holding more than double the ammunition in a standard handgun clip. The officers also recovered from the wreckage more than 30 grams of heroin and four firearms, including a Masterpiece Arms 9mm handgun. A photo of Walker holding the Masterpiece Arms handgun, loaded with that same extended magazine, was posted on his Instagram account just days earlier. Walker had a prior conviction for felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and a lengthy history of participating in gang activity and brandishing firearms at his enemies. Furthermore, Walker was on state probation for the felony when he committed this offense. On September 10, Walker was sentenced to 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to his state sentence for violating probation.
United States v. Demetrius McGregor
On September 24, a federal jury convicted McGregor, who is an 11-time convicted felon with a long history of committing violent gun crimes in Hampton Roads, on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. On Oct. 6, 2017, McGregor was arrested on a warrant in front of his apartment by members of the Norfolk Police Department Fugitive Unit and a Deputy U.S. Marshal. They recovered a loaded Sig Sauer handgun from his waistband. Investigators obtained a search warrant for McGregor’s apartment, where he was staying with his mother, and found in the bedroom closet 18 bags of cocaine, two assault rifles, one of which was loaded and had been reported stolen, four additional large-capacity magazines, dozens of rounds of .45 and 9mm caliber ammunition, and two digital scales. The investigators also recovered from under the bedroom mattress a Sig Saur .45 caliber magazine designed for the gun taken from his waistband, two additional digital scales sitting out in the open on top of a cabinet, and shoes that McGregor had previously photographed himself wearing and had posted on his Facebook page along with multiple photos of himself standing in front of his residence months before the arrest and search. The .45 caliber ammunition from the closet and in the magazine under the mattress matched the brand of the ammunition in the handgun recovered from McGregor. McGregor faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on Feb. 4, 2021.
United States v. Keith Earl Redman
Redman was a member of a Portsmouth-based cocaine and crack-trafficking conspiracy led by Charles Boomer (who was recently sentenced to sixteen years in federal prison) that was responsible for distributing kilogram amounts of the substances throughout Hampton Roads. Redman was the armed security for Boomer’s drug premises. In September 2018, Redman engaged in a shootout with at least two masked gunmen trying to rob one of Boomer’s drug premises—a residence across the street from a Portsmouth elementary school. Redman shot both gunmen in the legs and thwarted the robbery, while sustaining minor injuries. Police officers arrived at the scene and stopped Boomer, Redman, and another co-conspirator as they were trying to flee in Redman’s girlfriend’s car. During the police encounter, the officers saw that the co-conspirators were sitting on multiple bags of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, thousands of dollars in cash, and the handgun Redman used to shoot at the masked gunmen. The officers recovered even more drugs and drug-manufacturing materials, as well as dozens of spent shell casings, from inside and in front of the residence. On October 1, Redman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime.
More information on Project Guardian in EDVA can be found here.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Announces Update on Firearms Initiative in RichmondRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Today U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger provided an update on the status of Project Guardian, our strategic effort to reduce violent crime and further enforce federal firearms laws across the Eastern District of Virginia, including here in Richmond.
“We are committed to combating violent crime and firearms offenses in our Richmond Division,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The prosecutors of the Eastern District, in conjunction with ATF and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are doubling down on illegal firearms offenses through Project Guardian.”
Project Guardian is the Justice Department’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
Project Guardian in EDVA localizes the Justice Department’s national effort, and expands upon the current partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF, and Metro Police Department, and now also includes the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Maryland and the Western District of Virginia, and the Virginia State Police.
During Fiscal Year 2020, from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020, the Richmond Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged approximately 55 defendants with firearms-related offenses, including straw purchases, illegal possession of firearms by previously convicted felons and other prohibited persons, and carrying, brandishing, or discharging a firearm during a crime of violence or in relation to a drug trafficking offense. These defendants were involved in the unlawful purchase and/or possession of over 175 firearms, of which more than 100 firearms have been recovered and seized by law enforcement.
Recent Project Guardian cases in Richmond
U.S. v. Robert Graham and Rashad Fraierson
Fraierson and Graham robbed the Powhatan Drug Pharmacy, and the Bremo Pharmacy, in Henrico, in order to steal narcotics, including Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and other substances. In the first robbery, in July 2019, Graham placed a false 911 call regarding a threat of an armed person at a local high school. As law enforcement was diverted, which was Graham’s and Fraierson’s intention, Graham and Fraierson entered Powhatan Drug Pharmacy, brandished a firearm, forcibly tied up the pharmacist using zip-ties, and robbed the pharmacy of various narcotics. Before they fled, the two men stole more than $33,000 worth of drugs. The second robbery occurred in November 2019, when they used the same techniques to rob the Bremo Pharmacy, and stole more than $20,000 worth of drugs. Fraierson, who was previously convicted of three felony drug trafficking crimes in 2002, 2003, and 2015, was sentenced on October 1 to 26 years in prison. Graham was sentenced on October 9, 2020 to over 14 years in prison.
U.S. v. Travis Ball
On June 18, 2020, Ball was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his illegal possession of a firearm that was used to kill Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael Walter in May 2017. Ball shot and killed Special Agent Walter during a traffic stop in the Mosby Court public housing community in Richmond. At the time of the murder, Ball possessed a FIE, model Titan, .25 caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Believing that he was wanted in Lancaster County for a probation violation, Ball resisted arrested and shot Special Agent Walter once in the head. Text messages found on Ball’s cellphone later revealed that two days prior to the murder he told his girlfriend he was not going back to jail and would “end up killing something.” The sentence imposed in this case runs consecutive to the 36-year sentence for capital murder that Ball received in the City of Richmond Circuit Court related to the murder of Special Agent Walter.
U.S. v. Antonio Smith
On October 6, 2020, Smith was sentenced to four years in prison for possession of a firearm by convicted felon. According to court documents, Smith was observed by Richmond Police with two firearms after several previous convictions for felonies. In September 2019, Richmond Police were called to the scene of a domestic assault, and observed Smith on the front porch of the residence. Smith then quickly ran inside, only to emerge from the back door of the residence a few seconds later. Police asked Smith to stop, but he continued around the building and ran up to an occupied vehicle that was parked on the street. At that time, the police officer observed Smith toss two firearms into the vehicle. Smith was arrested at the scene and the firearms were recovered. At sentencing, Smith received an enhancement for reckless endangerment to the occupants of the vehicle.
U.S. v. Shamel McLaughlin
On October 7, 2020, McLaughlin, a previously convicted felon, was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for his possession of a firearm and possession of distribution amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base following a vehicular pursuit in the City of Richmond. According to court documents, in October 2019, McLaughlin engaged Richmond Police Department (RPD) officers in a high-speed vehicular pursuit in a residential neighborhood in the City of Richmond. Upon stopping his vehicle, RPD officers apprehended McLaughlin after a brief foot pursuit. A search of McLaughlin revealed a baggie with 3.45 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and 15 grams of marijuana. Following McLaughlin’s arrest, RPD officers discovered inside his vehicle a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, 17 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, 2.49 grams of cocaine base, and small amounts of heroin and fentanyl. Based on his two prior drug distribution convictions, the Court sentenced McLaughlin as a career offender.
U.S. v. Vincent Rashad Gordon, et al.
On January 21, 2020, indictments were returned against Vincent Rashad Gordon, Davard Rasheed Anderson, Shaquinta Latoya Monroe, and Rahmer Raheem Scott for their respective roles in a conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. Each defendant allegedly entered into a conspiracy to assist Gordon with acquiring firearms he could not legally purchase. As a part of the conspiracy, Anderson, Monroe, and Scott would go into a licensed firearms dealership and purchase firearms at the direction of Gordon, who would tell them which firearms to buy and would provide them the money to purchase the firearms. To complete the purchase, the co-conspirators allegedly lied on ATF Form 4473, by affirming that they were purchasing the firearms for themselves when they were actually purchasing firearms for Gordon. Anderson purchased 54 firearms for Gordon; Monroe purchased 18 firearms for Gordon; and, Scott purchase 9 firearms for Gordon. Scott was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Monroe was sentenced to three years’ probation. Gordon is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2020. Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7.
More information on Project Guardian in EDVA can be found here.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man pleaded guilty today to possession of firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Markes Jackson, 31, was arrested after he was observed by law enforcement driving erratically on the roadway in Colonial Heights in December 2019. A sergeant observed the vehicle that Jackson was driving straddling the centerline, and as Jackson continued to drive, the sergeant observed Jackson cross over the centerline three times.
After Jackson was stopped, officers approached the vehicle and smelled alcohol and marijuana. An officer observed the barrel of a rifle sticking out from underneath a blanket on the back floorboard. Jackson was found to be in possession of a pill bottle with no label, which had 32 Alprazolam pills wrapped inside a plastic baggie. A 9mm round of ammunition was also recovered from Jackson’s pocket. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a Taurus 9mm firearm from underneath the driver’s seat. This weapon had 8 rounds in the magazine and a round in the chamber.
In addition, Jackson acknowledged in the statement of facts filed with the Court that he also possessed the Bushmaster rifle that was on the back floorboard. This firearm was a high capacity weapon equipped with a 45-round magazine, with 25 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. The Taurus 9mm firearm had been acquired by Jackson in November 2019. More than one-half ounce of marijuana and Eutylone, a Schedule I controlled substance, were also recovered from the Toyota.
In pleading guilty, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on February 12, 2021. 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.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Colonel Jeffrey W. Faries, Chief of Colonial Heights Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller 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. 3:20-cr-87.
California Inmate Pleads Guilty to Arranging Drug Shipments from PrisonRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Lancaster, California man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, while he was serving a life sentence in a California prison, Nicholas Everet Thurman, 38, acted as a contact between drug customers and suppliers, using various means including contraband mobile telephones. Thurman arranged for methamphetamine and other controlled substances to be shipped from drug suppliers in California and Mexico to drug distributors in the Eastern District of Virginia and New Jersey for further distribution.
On May 24, 2019, a federal grand jury in Norfolk returned an indictment charging Thurman and others with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Following his indictment, Thurman was transported to Norfolk, where the U.S. Marshal placed Thurman in custody at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk. Upon arrival, Thurman regularly communicated with Sallie Renee Jones, a Chesapeake resident. From September 2019, and continuing thereafter until October 2019, Thurman and Jones routinely discussed ongoing shipments of controlled substances and corresponding payments for drug shipments. It was revealed to investigators that Thurman had access to multiple drug trafficking organizations based in California, as well as Mexico, which he used to have methamphetamine and other illegal controlled substances mailed to the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere for distribution.
Between June 2019 and October 2019, Thurman caused approximately 24 parcels containing methamphetamine and other controlled substances to be shipped through the U.S. Mail from California to Jones in the South Hampton Roads area. Jones received the final such parcel on October 21, 2019, at her residence in Chesapeake. On October 24, 2019, the police seized 207.07 grams of methamphetamine from Jones and her passenger during a traffic stop in Virginia Beach. On the same date, the police seized 303.4 grams of methamphetamine from Jones’ residence in Chesapeake.
Jones pleaded guilty on July 26 and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30.
Thurman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Thurman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced on February 25, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Anthony F. Zucaro, Jr., Interim Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell 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. 2:19-cr-83.
DOJ Charges over 14,200 Defendants with Firearms-Related Crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process.
These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
“Combatting violent crime has been a top priority for the Eastern District of Virginia,” said United States Attorney, G. Zachary Terwilliger. “With the critical support of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we have surged resources to those areas hardest hit by firearms violence: Richmond, Petersburg, and the Peninsula. A critical part of this work has been prioritizing cases for federal prosecution such as the straw purchasing of firearms, felons in possession of firearms, and use of a firearm during a drug trafficking or violent crime offense. We will remain steadfast in this work until all of the Eastern District’s communities can walk out their front doors without constant fear of criminal crossfire.”
Of the more than 14,200 cases charged, over 200 defendants have been charged here in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
American Contractor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Government Equipment from U.S. Military Base in AfghanistanRead the Press Release
An American military contractor pleaded guilty today to her role in a theft ring on a military installation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbit of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John F. Sopko made the announcement.
Varita V. Quincy, 35, of Snellville, Georgia pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of making false official statements. Sentencing is set for Feb. 23, 2021 before Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Quincy admitted that, between April 2015 and July 2015, she, Larry J. Green of Chesapeake, Virginia, and others conspired to steal, and did steal, equipment and property of value to the United States while working for a government contractor operating on Kandahar Airfield, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Kandahar Airfield was used by U.S. military forces to support U.S. military missions throughout Afghanistan.
Quincy was a supervisor in the office that issued security badges required for the movement of personnel and property on and off Kandahar Airfield. Quincy admitted that as part of the conspiracy, Green identified items of value to steal, such as vehicles, generators, refrigerators, and other equipment. Green negotiated the sale of those items with persons outside of the installation. Quincy then facilitated the thefts by creating false official documents, or instructing those she supervised to prepare such documents, to facilitate the entry of unknown and unvetted Afghan nationals and their vehicles on to the military installation to remove the stolen property. Quincy shared in the profits from this scheme. The false documents she created, or directed others to create, were used to deceive security officers and gate guards and thereby compromised the security and safety of the military installation.
Quincy’s co-conspirator Green pleaded guilty on July 8, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit theft of property of value to the United States worth over $300,000, one count of theft of property of value to the United States; and one count of aiding and abetting the submission of false statements. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2020.
SIGAR investigated the case with help from Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the 939th Military Police Detachment of the Indiana Army National Guard. Trial Attorneys Sasha N. Rutizer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Rosaleen O’Gara of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky of the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
Update: US v. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee ElsheikhRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Defendants Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) charged for their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, today made multiple appearances here in federal court.
At 11:30 a.m. EST, both defendants appeared separately via video link for their respective detention hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan. Both defendants waived their detention hearing, and were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
At 2:00 p.m. EST, both defendants appeared separately via video link for their respective arraignment hearings before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Both defendants waived formal readings of the indictment, pleaded not guilty, and requested a trial by jury.
Judge Ellis found that the case is unusual and complex, will require a considerable amount of discovery, and may include classified information. As such, Judge Ellis found that the ends of justice outweigh the interests of the public and the defendants in proceeding to trial within the 70-day deadline established by the Speedy Trial Act.
The next court appearance for both defendants is a status conference scheduled for Jan. 15, 2021.
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-239.
Portsmouth Woman Charged with Fraud Scheme Targeting VeteransRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Portsmouth woman with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud veterans.
According to allegations in the indictment, Rita Copeland, 59, operated an entity known as “Veteran Services of the Commonwealth.” Copeland purported to provide caregiving, contracting and rental assistance services to various veterans from 2016 through 2019. Copeland allegedly caused a number of victims to apply for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such grant payments are to be used for certain designated improvements to the residences of veterans. Copeland allegedly failed to perform all of the promised work and used a portion of these payments to her own benefit, contrary to the designated purposes of the funds. Copeland also allegedly diverted the income and retirement fund payments of another veteran to a bank account that she had opened. Copeland also allegedly fraudulently obtained and diverted loan funds and used the credit and debit cards of this elderly victim. Finally, Copeland also allegedly engaged in a rental fraud scheme, purporting to link veterans with landlords, but then diverting rental and security deposit payments to her own benefit.
Copeland is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Copeland faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the wire fraud charges and a mandatory consecutive term of two years on the aggravated identity theft 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.
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels 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. 4:20-cr-63.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Man Pleads Guilty to Cheating 1,700 Victims in $1.2 Million Loan ScamRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pleaded guilty today to an internet-based loan scam that cheated approximately 1,700 victims out of $1,287,000. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to court documents, Ronald A. Smith, 59, and his wife and co-defendant Terri Beth Miller, 53, set up a company called Business Development Group. Business Development Group was an internet-based business that offered, in exchange for an advance fee, to assist individuals in preparing loan applications to obtain SBA-guaranteed loans. They solicited potential customers on the basis of false, fraudulent, and misleading statements and representations, including, among others, that the company was headquartered at the Trump Building in New York and had assisted well-known large companies in obtaining SBA loans. They offered a money-back guarantee, but in fact employed various fraudulent methods to deny refunds. Smith and Miller solicited approximately 1,700 customers, who paid an aggregate sum of about $1,287,000 in advance fees. The vast majority of these customers did not receive an SBA guaranteed loan. In fact, Smith did virtually nothing to even attempt to obtain loans for their customers. Smith was convicted for nearly the identical scam back in 2006 and received a seven year sentence.
In addition, Smith made a false application to the Virginia Employment Commission for unemployment benefits, including an additional $600 per week in federal pandemic unemployment compensation authorized under the CARES Act. He falsely stated that he was not the owner or operator of a business and that he had not received income from another source. As a result of his false statements, Smith received $9,600 in federal pandemic unemployment compensation to which he was not entitled.
Smith pleaded guilty to wire fraud, engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, and fraud in connection with emergency benefits. He faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison when sentenced on April 2, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Salsbury 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. 2:20-cr-69.
Chesapeake Man Sentenced to 31 Years for Sexually Abusing ChildRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 380 months in prison for sexually abusing a child.
“Child sexual abuse is heinous and causes incalculable and unknowable harm to survivors,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Sadly, this horrendous crime is likely to have personal and public reverberations for years to come. I want to thank and applaud our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for ensuring that this defendant will now be in a place where he cannot sexually abuse minors.”
According to court documents, in July or August of 2017, Jacob Earl Gilmore, 38, sexually abused a minor girl at St. Julian’s Creek Annex, a controlled Naval Facility and Gillmore’s place of work. During a weekend in July or August, Gillmore secreted the child onto the installation in the trunk of his car. Once on the installation, brought the child to his office and sexually abused her multiple times. During their investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) learned that Gillmore had been escorting the girl on to St. Julian’s Creek Annex for years.
“This sentencing should serve as a warning that child sexual predators will always be exposed and rooted out,” said Gregory Scovel, NCIS Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to fully investigating all criminal threats to communities where our Department of the Navy family live and work.”
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Gregory Scovel, Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. 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. 2:19-cr-114.
Update: US v. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee ElsheikhRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Defendants Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) charged for their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, will next appear in federal court in Alexandria tomorrow.
Both defendants will appear via video link for their respective detention hearings at 11:30 a.m. EST. The hearings are open to the public and will occur in courtroom 1000 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan. The hearings will also be available via public teleconference. The call-in information is below.
Public Teleconference Access Information for U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan:
Teleconference #: 1-877-336-1829
Access Code: 7800850
Later tomorrow afternoon, both defendants will appear via video link for their respective arraignment hearings at 2 p.m. EST. The hearings are open to the public and will occur in courtroom 900 before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. The hearings will also be available via public teleconference. The call-in information is below.
Public Teleconference Access Information for Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III:
Teleconference #: 1-888-398-2342
Access Code: 8324646
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-239.
U.S. Attorney Terwilliger Announces $8.6 Million in Awards to Combat Human Trafficking in VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through its Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), has awarded over $8.6 million to fund efforts that combat human trafficking and provide vital services to trafficking victims throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“The scourge of human trafficking is the modern-day equivalent of slavery, brutally depriving victims of basic human rights and essential physical needs as it erodes their sense of dignity and self-worth,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice is relentless in its fight against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Working with state and local law enforcement and community victim service providers, we will continue to bring these criminals to justice and deliver critical aid to survivors.”
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery,” said Terwilliger. “As a former human trafficking prosecutor myself, I know firsthand that there is no more just prosecution than holding accountable those who would sell, sexually and physically exploit, and ultimately discard a human being. Thank you to the Department of Justice for supporting efforts here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to our critical partners in this all important fight to protect vulnerable individuals and hold traffickers accountable.”
Nationally, OVC awarded over $97.4 million to state, local and tribal jurisdictions, service providers and task forces all over the country, while OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded the remaining $3.5 million to support research and evaluation on human trafficking.
The below awards were issued to organizations here in Virginia:
Awardee
Program
Amount of Award
Office of Attorney General of Virginia
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$525,352
Transitions Family Violence Services
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$588,868
ICF Incorporated, LLC
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$1,499,911
International Association of Chiefs of Police:
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$2,500,000
National White Collar Crime Center
Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
$1,000,000
Survivor Ventures
Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking
$498,546
Transitions Family Violence Services
Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking
$368,130
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice
Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking
$1,684,000
“Human trafficking is a massive global enterprise with roots in cities and communities here in America and across the world,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is using all the resources at its disposal to help our state, local and tribal partners uncover and eradicate trafficking operations and help victims open the door to a new life.”
Grants awarded under fiscal year (FY) 2020 OVC programs aim to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to survivors of human trafficking. Specific programs:
- The Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking program awards over $22.7 million total. OVC awards over $17.7 million to 27 programs to support the effectiveness of collaborative and multidisciplinary task forces to combat human trafficking. The purpose of this program is to develop and strengthen programs for victims of human trafficking, including enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and other stakeholders to identify victims and provide justice for those victims through the investigation and prosecution of their traffickers. OVC also awards nearly $5 million in grants to three organizations for training and technical assistance for the task forces.
- The Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards over $35.1 million total to 73 organizations to provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grants will also provide funding to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment and receive occupational training and counseling.
- The Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking program awards over $4.2 million total to four recipients to integrate human trafficking policy and programming at the state or tribal level. This program will enhance coordinated, multidisciplinary and statewide approaches to at-risk populations to improve outcomes for children and youth who are victims of human trafficking.
- The Preventing Trafficking of Girls program awards $1.8 million total to four organizations, including a training and technical assistance provider, to support prevention and early intervention services, including mentoring and other direct support services for girls who are at risk of or are victims of sex trafficking.
- The Services for Minor Victims of Sex Trafficking program gives over $6.8 million to four recipients to develop, expand and strengthen assistance programs for minor victims of sex trafficking. Under this program, the funded states, tribes, and units of local government will provide (directly and through partnerships) an array of services that minor victims of human trafficking often require to address their need for safety, security, and healing.
- The Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking program awards nearly $2 million total to three organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for minor victims of labor trafficking whose victimization occurred when they were under the age of 18.
- The Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards more than $23.6 million to 43 organizations to support services specific to victims of human trafficking.
- The Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking program awards $643,163 total to deliver specialized training and technical assistance to victim service organizations to enhance their ability to provide appropriate housing for victims of human trafficking.
- OVC awards the Promoting Employment Opportunities for Survivors of Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Project continuation funding in the amount of $300,000 to increase access to quality educational and employment opportunities for survivors of human trafficking.
Grants awarded under FY 2020 NIJ programs aim to understand law enforcement practices with regard to preventing and responding to victims of trafficking. Specific programs:
- The Research and Evaluation of Trafficking in Persons program awards over $2.5 million total to four organizations to build upon research and evaluation efforts to better understand, prevent and respond to trafficking in persons in the United States.
- The Research on Law Enforcement Responses to Sex Trafficking of Minors program awards nearly $1 million to understand how law enforcement practices with regard to preventing and responding to the sex trafficking of minors have evolved since passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. NIJ was specifically interested in understanding how widely law enforcement agencies have adopted practices based on the perspective that the minor is a victim rather than a delinquent and the challenges that agencies have faced in adopting such practices.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/ovchumantraffickingfactsheet.pdf. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Jury Convicts Man for Producing Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Loudoun County man today on charges of producing and distributing child pornography.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kevin Hewlett, 34, was a farrier, a craftsman who trims and shoes horses’ hooves. He was hired to be the farrier to a minor girl’s horses.
Hewlett began communicating with the minor girl regularly through text messages and social media applications. Then in August 2018, Hewlett recorded himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor in his bedroom. A few months later, in January 2019, Hewlett distributed the sexually explicit video of himself with the 16-year-old girl to the minor over the internet using Instagram.
Hewlett faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 26, 2021. 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.
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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the verdict.
This case was investigated by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, composed of FBI agents and local, state, and federal partners.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Smith III and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendelynn Bills 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. 1:20-cr-64.
Update: US v. Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee ElsheikhRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization, arrived here today in FBI custody on charges related to their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, as well as the deaths of British and Japanese nationals, in Syria.
Former British citizens Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, made their initial appearances here in federal court this evening in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa C. Buchanan.
The defendants were informed of the charges against them, provided court-appointed defense counsel, and remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals and held pending their next hearing.
The defendants are next scheduled to appear in federal court in Alexandria on Friday. They are each scheduled for a detention hearing at 11 a.m., and an arraignment at 2 p.m.
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-239.
ISIS Militants Charged with Deaths of Americans in SyriaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization, are expected to arrive here today in FBI custody on charges related to their participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, as well as the deaths of British and Japanese nationals, in Syria.
Former British citizens Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, are expected to make their initial appearances here in federal court this afternoon.
“These charges are the product of many years of hard work in pursuit of justice for our citizens slain by ISIS,” said William P. Barr, Attorney General of the United States. “Although we cannot bring them back, we can and will seek justice for them, their families, and for all Americans. Our message to other terrorists around the world is this — if you harm Americans, you will face American arms on the battlefield or American law in our courtrooms. Either way, you will be pursued to the ends of the earth until justice is done.”
According to allegations in the indictment, from 2012 to 2015, Kotey, Elsheikh, Mohamed Emwazi (deceased), and a fourth British citizen (CC-1) currently incarcerated in Turkey, were ISIS fighters and participated in the abduction of American and European hostages in Syria. The men also allegedly engaged in a prolonged pattern of physical and psychological violence against the hostages, including against American citizens James Wright Foley, Kayla Jean Mueller, Steven Joel Sotloff, and Peter Edward Kassig. Due to their English accents and their history together in the United Kingdom, the four men were often referred to by hostages as “The Beatles.”
“Kotey and Elsheikh are alleged to have committed horrific crimes in support of ISIS, including hostage taking resulting in the deaths of four American citizens,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Their alleged acts have shattered the lives of four American families. What each of these families have sought more than anything else is for these defendants to have their day in court. Well, that day has come. While we cannot return their loved ones or undo the pain that these families face each day, we can do everything possible to ensure that the defendants are held accountable for their alleged savage actions.”
From August 2014 through October 2014, ISIS released videos depicting Emwazi’s barbaric beheadings of Foley, Sotloff, and British citizens David Haines and Alan Henning. In November 2014, ISIS released a video depicting the decapitated head of Kassig. In January 2015, ISIS released videos with images of two dead Japanese citizens.
“Today, we remember the victims, Jim Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig, and Kayla Mueller, and their families who are forever affected by these senseless acts of violence,” said Christopher Wray, FBI Director. “These families have suffered with the painful loss of their loved ones at the hands of brutal killers; today’s charges demonstrate the FBI’s dedication and commitment to giving them the justice they deserve. We, along with our partners in the U.S. Government, remain steadfast in our duty to bring to justice those who have harmed our citizens — no matter where they are, and no matter how long it takes. I’m grateful to the men and women of the FBI, the victims’ families, and our domestic and international partners, for their tireless efforts to bring us to where we stand today with the prosecution of these men on U.S. soil.”
According to allegations in the indictment, Kotey, Elsheikh, and Emwazi worked closely with Abu Muhammed al-Adnani, a former leading commander of ISIS and chief media spokesperson. Until he was killed by the United States military in August 2016, Adnani reported directly to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former self-proclaimed leader of ISIS. Baghdadi was killed during a United States military operation in Syria in October 2019.
“The indictments of Alexanda Kotey and Elshafee Elsheikh are the result of more than eight years of tireless work by the FBI Washington Field Office and personnel across the U.S. Government and the international law enforcement community,” said James A. Dawson, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “These individuals allegedly conducted a litany of heinous and barbaric crimes as part of their duties as members of ISIS and for too long, the families of their victims have suffered while awaiting the day they would finally see justice for their loved ones. The men and women of the FBI remain dedicated to bringing the full force of the US justice system upon those who harm our citizens in furtherance of terrorism.”
According to allegations in the indictment, Kotey, Elsheikh, and Emwazi met repeatedly with Adnani concerning the hostage taking scheme and other matters. Between November 2012 and February 2015, Kotey, Elsheikh, Emwazi, and other ISIS fighters committed acts inflicting pain, suffering, cruelty and mistreatment on American, British, European, and other hostages in captivity, including murders; forced witnessing of murders; mock executions; shocks to the torso and extremities with an electric taser; and forced “rumbles” where all hostages were placed in a room and forced to fight one another, among others.
Throughout the captivity of the American hostages and others, Kotey, Elsheikh, and Emwazi allegedly supervised detention facilities holding hostages and were responsible for transferring hostages between detention facilities, in addition to engaging in a prolonged pattern of physical and psychological violence against hostages. From November 2013 to February 2015, Kotey and Elsheikh allegedly coordinated the Western-hostage ransom negotiations conducted by email. Kotey and Elsheikh knew and understood that the release of American and other hostages was conditioned on the transfer of large sums of money or concessions from the United States government, such as the release of Muslim prisoners. The email communications to the families of the American victims were written with clear English using British phrases and idioms, as well as other phrases and language used by Kotey and Elsheikh.
According to allegations in the indictment, on or about April 25, 2014, Kotey, Elsheikh, and Emwazi forcibly moved the Italian, Danish, and German citizens, along with two other European humanitarian aid workers, to an isolated area approximately two miles from their prison to witness the execution of Syrian prisoner. Kotey and Elsheikh knew and understood this execution was part of the hostage negotiation process. Emwazi executed the Syrian prisoner by shooting him in the back of the head and then numerous times in the torso as he fell into a grave. Kotey instructed the hostages to kneel at the side of the grave and witness the execution while holding handmade signs pleading for their release. Elsheikh videotaped the execution of the Syrian hostage, and after the execution the three men returned the European hostages to the prison with Elsheikh telling one hostage, “You’re next, [First name].”
The indictment alleges that ISIS fighters also forcibly seized the following individuals: Two United Kingdom citizens, an Italian citizen, a Danish citizen, a German citizen, four French citizens, three Spanish citizens, a New Zealand citizen, and a Russian citizen.
Kotey and Elsheikh were captured together in January 2018 by the Syrian Democratic Forces as they attempted to escape Syria for Turkey. Emwazi was killed in a United States military airstrike conducted in November 2015 in Syria.
The American Victims
James Wright Foley – In November 2012, Kotey, Elsheikh, Emwazi, and other ISIS fighters forcibly seized and detained Foley, a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom. On or about Aug. 19, 2014, ISIS’s media center released a video depicting Emwazi beheading Foley.
Kayla Jean Mueller – In August 2013, ISIS fighters forcibly seized and detained Mueller in Syria. Beginning in or about October 2014, Baghdadi sexually abused Mueller against her will while she was held captive in Syria. On or about Feb. 7, 2015, Mueller’s family received an email from ISIS fighters confirming Mueller’s death in Syria.
Steven Joel Sotloff – In August 2013, ISIS fighters forcibly seized and detained Sotloff in Syria. On or about Sept. 2, 2014, ISIS’s media center released a video depicting Emwazi beheading Sotloff.
Peter Edward Kassig – In October 2013, ISIS fighters forcibly seized and detained Kassig in Syria. On or about Nov. 16, 2014, ISIS’s media center released a video depicting the decapitated head of Kassig.
Kotey and Elsheikh are each charged with conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death; four counts of hostage taking resulting in death; conspiracy to murder United States citizens outside of the United States; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists — hostage taking and murder — resulting in death; and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The Department of Justice expresses its profound appreciation to the United Kingdom government as well as the Syrian Democratic Forces for their dedicated commitment to assist the United States in seeking justice for all the victims of the alleged crimes.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs are providing assistance with this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis M. Fitzpatrick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Gibbs and Aidan Taft Grano are handling the prosecution, with the assistance of Trial Attorney Alicia Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section (CTS) and CTS Deputy Chief Bridget Behling.
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-239.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Chinese Nationals Involved in $1.1 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Chinese nationals involved in a $1.1 million fraud scheme involving gift cards, have both pleaded guilty and one has been sentenced for their respective roles in the conspiracy.
According to court documents, Yuchen Zhang, 23, of Manassas, and Shouming Sun, 41, of Herndon, were part of a wire fraud conspiracy in which members of the conspiracy contacted victims by telephone or through social media and assumed fictitious identities. The conspirators falsely claimed to be from the Internal Revenue Service or an employee of a financial institution, and falsely told victims they were entitled to money or under some form of immediate financial threat, such as having their personal identification information compromised by known criminals. The co-conspirators used these ruses and others to trick the victims into purchasing gift cards and then sending to them the gift cards’ redemption codes. The redemption codes allow the gift cards to be redeemed without being in possession of the physical card. Zhang, Sun and others then used the fraudulently obtained redemption codes to purchase goods totaling approximately $1.15 million.
Sun was sentenced today to seven months in prison.
Zhang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 10, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr, Fairfax County Chief of Police; and J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea and set the sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Viviana Vasiu are prosecuting the cases.
This matter was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office's Transnational Organized Crime Task Force which is composed by FBI agents along with local, state, and federal partners. Significant investigative assistance was provided by the Fairfax County Police Department.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:20-cr-226 and Case No. 1:20-cr-113.
Armed Drug Dealer Sentenced to Prison after Vehicular PursuitRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A previously convicted felon was sentenced today to over 12 years in prison for his possession of a firearm and possession of distribution amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base following a vehicular pursuit in the City of Richmond.
According to court documents, in October 2019, Shamel McLaughlin, 35, of Richmond, engaged Richmond Police Department (RPD) officers in a high-speed vehicular pursuit in a residential neighborhood in the City of Richmond. Upon stopping his vehicle, RPD officers apprehended McLaughlin after a brief foot pursuit. A search of McLaughlin revealed a baggie with 3.45 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and 15 grams of marijuana. Following McLaughlin’s arrest, RPD officers discovered inside his vehicle a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, 17 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, 2.49 grams of cocaine base, and small amounts of heroin and fentanyl
Based on his two prior drug distribution convictions, the Court sentenced McLaughlin as a career offender.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-16.
Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possession of a firearm after being convicted of multiple felonies.
According to court documents, Antonio Smith, 53, was observed by Richmond Police with two firearms after several previous convictions for felonies. In September 2019, Richmond Police were called to the scene of a domestic assault, and observed Smith on the front porch of the residence. Smith then quickly ran inside, only to emerge from the back door of the residence a few seconds later. Police asked Smith to stop, but he continued around the building and ran up to an occupied vehicle that was parked on the street. At that time, the police officer observed Smith toss two firearms into the vehicle. Smith was arrested at the scene and the firearms were recovered. At sentencing, Smith received an enhancement for reckless endangerment to the occupants of the vehicle.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and William C. Smith, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Holli R. Wood, 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. 3:20-cr-14.
United States Obtains Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction Against Edward SnowdenRead the Press Release
On Sept. 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered a final judgment and permanent injunction against Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).
In September 2019, the United States filed a lawsuit against Snowden, who published a book entitled Permanent Record in violation of the non-disclosure agreements he signed with both CIA and NSA. The lawsuit alleged that Snowden published his book without submitting it to the agencies for pre-publication review, in violation of his express obligations under the agreements he signed. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Snowden has given public speeches on intelligence-related matters, also in violation of his non-disclosure agreements.
The United States’ lawsuit did not seek to stop or restrict the publication or distribution of Permanent Record. Rather, under well-established Supreme Court precedent, Snepp v. United States, the government sought to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations.
In December 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, found in favor of the United States in the suit against Snowden on the issue of liability and held that Snowden breached his contractual and fiduciary obligations to the CIA and NSA by publishing Permanent Record and giving prepared remarks within the scope of his pre-publication review obligations, but reserved judgment on the scope of these violations or the remedies due to the government. On Tuesday, the court entered judgment in the government’s favor in an amount exceeding $5.2 million and imposed a constructive trust for the benefit of the United States over those sums and any further monies, royalties, or other financial advantages derived by Snowden from Permanent Record and 56 specific speeches.
“Edward Snowden violated his legal obligations to the United States, and therefore, his unlawful financial gains must be relinquished to the government,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice will not overlook the wrongful actions of those who seek to betray the trust reposed in them and to personally profit from their access to classified national security information.”
“Intelligence information should protect our nation, not provide personal profit,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This judgment will ensure that Edward Snowden receives no monetary benefits from breaching the trust placed in him.”
“We will pursue those who take advantage of sensitive positions in government to profit from the classified information learned during their government service,” said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division.
This lawsuit is separate from the criminal charges brought against Snowden for his alleged disclosures of classified information. This lawsuit is a civil action, and based solely on Snowden’s failure to comply with the clear pre-publication review obligations included in his signed non-disclosure agreements.
This matter is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.
United States Obtains Final Judgement and Permanent Injunction Against Edward SnowdenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia entered a final judgement and permanent injunction against Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).
“Edward Snowden violated his legal obligations to the United States, and therefore, his unlawful financial gains must be relinquished to the government,” said Jeffrey A. Rosen, Deputy Attorney General of the United States. “As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice will not overlook the wrongful actions of those who seek to betray the trust reposed in them and to personally profit from their access to classified national security information.”
In September 2019, the United States filed a lawsuit against Snowden, who published a book entitled Permanent Record in violation of the non-disclosure agreements he signed with both CIA and NSA. The lawsuit alleged that Snowden published his book without submitting it to the agencies for pre-publication review, in violation of his express obligations under the agreements he signed. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Snowden has given public speeches on intelligence-related matters, also in violation of his non-disclosure agreements.
“Intelligence information should protect our nation, not provide personal profit,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This judgment will ensure that Edward Snowden receives no monetary benefits from breaching the trust placed in him.”
The United States’ lawsuit did not seek to stop or restrict the publication or distribution of Permanent Record. Rather, under well-established Supreme Court precedent, Snepp v. United States, the government sought to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations.
“We will pursue those who take advantage of sensitive positions in government to profit from the classified information learned during their government service,” said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division.
In December 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found in favor of the United States in the suit against Snowden on the issue of liability. The Court held that Snowden breached his contractual and fiduciary obligations to the CIA and NSA by publishing Permanent Record and giving prepared remarks within the scope of his pre-publication review obligations, but reserved judgment on the scope of these violations or the remedies due to the government.
On Tuesday, the Court entered judgment in the government’s favor in an amount exceeding $5.2 million and imposed a constructive trust for the benefit of the United States over those sums and any further monies, royalties, or other financial advantages derived by Snowden from Permanent Record and 56 specific speeches.
This lawsuit is separate from the criminal charges brought against Snowden for his alleged disclosures of classified information. This lawsuit is a civil action, and based solely on Snowden’s failure to comply with the clear pre-publication review obligations included in his signed non-disclosure agreements.
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 Justice Department’s Civil Division.
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.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Robbery of Two PharmaciesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico County man was sentenced today to 26 years in prison for the armed robbery of two pharmacies in 2019.
According to court documents, Rashard Fraierson, 42, and co-defendant Robert Graham, 41, of Henrico County, robbed the Powhatan Drug Pharmacy, and the Bremo Pharmacy, in Henrico, in order to steal narcotics, including Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and other substances.
In the first robbery, in July 2019, Graham placed a false 911 call regarding a threat of an armed person at a local high school. As law enforcement was diverted, which was Graham’s and Fraierson’s intention, Graham and Fraierson entered Powhatan Drug Pharmacy, brandished a firearm, forcibly tied up the pharmacist using zip-ties, and robbed the pharmacy of various narcotics. Before they fled, the two men stole more than $33,000 worth of drugs. The second robbery occurred in November 2019, when they used the same techniques to rob the Bremo Pharmacy, and stole more than $20,000 worth of drugs.
Fraierson had been previously convicted for three felony drug trafficking crimes in 2002, 2003, and 2015, involving cocaine and heroin.
Graham also pleaded guilty in the case and will be sentenced on October 9.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony 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. 3:20-cr-29.
Drug Trafficking Co-Conspirator Sentenced after Engaging in ShootoutRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Keith Earl Redman, 25, was a member of a Portsmouth-based cocaine and crack-trafficking conspiracy led by Charles Boomer, 44, of Portsmouth. This conspiracy was responsible for distributing wholesale amounts of cocaine and crack throughout Hampton Roads. Redman was the armed security for Boomer’s drug premises. Boomer was recently sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.
In September 2018, Redman engaged in a shootout with at least two masked gunmen trying to rob one of those drug premises. The residence was located across the street from a Portsmouth elementary school. Redman shot both gunmen in the legs and thwarted the robbery while sustaining minor injuries. Police officers arrived at the scene and stopped Boomer, Redman, and another co-conspirator as they were trying to flee in Redman’s girlfriend’s car.
During the police encounter, the officers saw that the co-conspirators were sitting on multiple bags of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, thousands of dollars in cash, and the handgun Redman had used to shoot at the masked gunmen. The officers recovered even more drugs and drug-manufacturing materials, as well as dozens of spent shell casings, from inside and in front of the residence.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Promotional Deceit. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Scott C. Burke, Acting Chief of Portsmouth Police; and Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson 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. 2:20-cr-30.
Dinwiddie Methamphetamine Dealer Pleads Guilty to DistributionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Dinwiddie man pleaded guilty today to possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in October 2019, Eric Darnell Royal, Jr., 23, traveled by himself to the Chula Gas Mart, located in Amelia. Upon arrival, Royal possessed a red bag around his waist that contained illegal narcotics and possessed a firearm inside his vehicle. Shortly after arriving, two individuals approached Royal, assaulted him, and ripped the red bag from his waist. A struggle ensued in the parking lot between Royal and the two men causing multiple plastic baggies to fall from the red bag onto the ground. Following the fight, Royal picked up the red bag and left the gas station. Law enforcement later recovered, on the ground in the parking lot, two clear plastic baggies with 342 purple oval unmarked tablets determined to be 76.49 grams of methamphetamine and 58.99 grams of marijuana.
An off-duty law enforcement officer who witnessed the fight followed Royal to a residence in Amelia County. The off-duty officer called Amelia County Sheriff Deputies for backup. Once arriving to the scene, the Amelia Deputies looked into Royal’s vehicle and in plain view observed a firearm and a red bag on the driver’s seat. After conferring with investigators who responded to the Chula Gas Mart scene about the fight and a potential shooting, the deputies applied for and obtained a state search warrant for Royal’s vehicle. Inside the vehicle, the officers recovered a Glock 9mm, Model 34, semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 17 rounds, a Glock 30 round magazine (empty), a red zippered bag containing: green leafy material, $200 in United States currency, and plastic baggies with 15.89 grams of methamphetamine purple powder, a variety of unspent ammunition, digital scales, a Glock 9mm magazine, and a Taurus magazine.
In August, federal agents arrested Royal at his place of business, located in Chester. After determining that Royal’s vehicle was on the premises, federal agents observed in plain view a plastic vacuum sealed bag on the front seat with a substance consistent with marijuana residue inside. Federal agents applied for and obtained a federal search warrant for Royal’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed: a loaded Sig Sauer, Model P229, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol; a vacuum-sealed bag with marijuana residue; a digital scale; and marijuana.
Royal pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 2, 2021. 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.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert 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. 3:20-cr-84.