Eastern District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A New Orleans man was sentenced today to more than 24 years in prison for production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Alexander Witt, 30, sexually abused two minors and produced video and pictures of that abuse. Witt engaged in sexual acts with Minor 1 when Minor 1 was approximately 11 or 12 years old. This abuse involved taking nude pictures of Minor 1 and filming himself engaging in sexual acts with Minor 1. Additionally, Witt sexually abused a second minor by engaging in sexual acts and produced images and video of that abuse.
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 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 Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Mansfield and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Eugene 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. 3:19-cr-05.
Government Contractor Settles Civil False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc., a federal government contractor located in Herndon, has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle civil fraud allegations that ManTech falsely represented that its principal manager of a contract for security services at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had a Top Secret clearance.
ManTech was awarded a subcontract on an EPA contract that required that certain tasks be performed only by individuals with a Top Secret clearance. ManTech represented that the principal project manager for the contract, and one of the individuals who would be performing those tasks, had the required Top Secret clearance. The United States alleged that when the project manager’s clearance was revoked, ManTech failed to inform EPA of the loss of the manager’s clearance. In a proposal to extend ManTech’s contract with EPA, ManTech allegedly again represented that the same project manager had a Top Secret clearance. The settlement resolves allegations that from the time the project manager’s clearance had been revoked until the time the project manager was removed from the project, ManTech billed EPA $325,701 for his services.
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 EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). The matter was investigated by EPA OIG Special Agents, Assistant U.S. Attorney Krista Anderson and Special Assistant U.S Attorney Ron Fiorillo. The civil claims settled by this False Claims Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Illegal Alien Sentenced after Repeated Criminal ConvictionsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Guatemalan citizen was sentenced today to more than a year and a half in prison for illegally reentering the United States after removal for a felony conviction.
“Juarez-Garcia has continued to show his total disregard for our laws by illegally entering our country multiple times and committing serious criminal offenses,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Juarez-Garcia’s habitual criminal behavior, such as felony-level drunk driving and serious domestic assault, represents a clear threat to public safety.”
According to court documents, Esau Juarez-Garcia, 41, illegally entered the United States sometime around 2009, and was removed after illegally reentering twice. Juarez-Garcia’s criminal record includes 10 convictions over a 16-year period, including felony DWI and a conviction for serious domestic assault against one woman five times.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller 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. 3:19-cr-59.
Thirteen-Time Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty today to cocaine and gun charges.
According to court documents, Curtis Talley, 38, who has 13 prior felony convictions, many of which are for prior probation violations, was found with distribution amounts of cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded gun when Norfolk police officers arrested him on outstanding warrants.
Talley pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that crime, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life when sentenced on December 2. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Larry D. Boone, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bosse 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. 2:18-cr-114.
State Department Official Pleads Guilty to Procurement FraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Washington, D.C., woman pleaded guilty today to disclosing confidential State Department bid proposals in an effort to help a furniture company executive win a lucrative government contract to provide furniture to a United States embassy abroad.
According to court documents, Patricia DeLaughter, 69, was a State Department official who was responsible for procuring furniture for United States embassies. In or around December 2016, the State Department was constructing a new embassy in a foreign nation. DeLaughter and another Department official participated in the process of soliciting bid proposals from contractors for the procurement of furniture for the new embassy’s offices.
From in or around December 2016 to in or around March 2017, DeLaughter and the other State Department official knowingly disclosed to Steven Anstine, the vice president of sales for an American furniture manufacturer, the confidential bid prices and design plans of at least three of Anstine’s competitors. DeLaughter knowingly disclosed this information in order to give Anstine—with whom DeLaughter had a social relationship—a competitive advantage in securing the procurement contract for the new embassy. The information that DeLaughter and her coworker gave Anstine enabled him and his company to win the contract with a bid of approximately $1.56 million.
According to DeLaughter’s admissions, DeLaughter made intentionally false statements to agents investigating her conduct. She falsely told State Department Office of Inspector General special agents that she had nothing to do with the embassy furniture project. She also falsely told the agents that she did not have a social relationship with Anstine. In fact, DeLaughter and Anstine had a social relationship and attended dinners, sporting events, and concerts together. Anstine paid at least a portion of DeLaughter’s expenses for these events.
In June 2019, Anstine pleaded guilty to one count of illegally obtaining contractor bid or proposal information in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
DeLaughter pleaded guilty to one count of illegally disclosing contractor bid or proposal information and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on November 8. 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, Brian A. Benczkowski, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Steve A. Linick, Inspector General for the Department of State, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg, Deputy Chief Robert J. Heberle and Trial Attorney John P. Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-205.
Man Pleads Guilty to Delivering 11 Kilos of Drugs to VirginiaRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A California man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents, Adrian Barraza-Pena, 27, of Riverside, was given a recreational vehicle in Riverside and was instructed to accompany another man to Memphis, in that recreational vehicle. On May 12, Barraza-Pena and the other man arrived in Memphis. Two days later, Barraza-Pena and the other man were instructed to start driving towards Virginia to meet a third man at a certain parking lot in South Hill. At this meeting, the man accompanying Barraza-Pena made contact with the third man and gave him a bag, which contained 8.54 kilograms of heroin and 3 kilograms of cocaine.
Barraza-Pena pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life when sentenced on November 20. 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, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy E. Cross, Peter G. Osyf, and Kevin P. Hudson 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. 4:19-cr-47.
MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced in Connection with AssaultRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An MS-13 gang member was sentenced today to more than five and a half years in prison for his leadership role and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple baseball bats.
“The hallmark of MS-13 is extreme violence,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The sole purpose of this brutal and senseless assault was to instill fear in communities here in Northern Virginia and dissuade cooperation with law enforcement. Our investigation and prosecution of this case should send a clear message that the violent acts of MS-13 in our community will be prosecuted at every opportunity.”
According to court documents, in October 2018, Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, of Falls Church, an admitted MS-13 gang member, conspired with several other members and associates of MS-13 to lure the victim to James Lee Park, in Falls Church, so that they could assault the victim. Del-Cid and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the local Silvas clique of MS-13. After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Del-Cid and approximately a dozen other members and associates of MS-13 beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
“The FBI Washington Field Office remains aggressive in investigating and dismantling gang activity, to ultimately bring justice to the victims of the horrific violence of MS-13,” said Timothy Dunham, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office. “Our goal is take these violent offenders off the street, which should send a message to others that this violence will not be tolerated in our community.”
This matter was investigated by the FBI WFO’s Safe Streets/HIDTA Task Force – Northern Virginia which is composed of FBI Agents along with Task Force Officers from the Fairfax County Police, the Prince William County Police, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, the Alexandria City Police, Fairfax City Police, Vienna Police Department, Herndon Police Department, and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, along with Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and ATF. The mission of this task force is to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle the most egregious and violent gangs operating in the Capital Region to include members of MS-13, a transnational street gang, known for its acts of violence.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II and Morris Parker 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. 1:19-cr-88.
Man Indicted for Straw Purchasing and Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Woodbridge man with straw purchasing two firearms in November 2016 and then giving those firearms to a Boston man.
According to the indictment, Carl Napper, 26, was allegedly paid $250 to straw purchase two firearms on behalf of a Boston man, who then transported the firearms back to Boston. One of these firearms was recovered in Boston a month later after having been used in a shooting incident.
Napper is charged with making false statements on an ATF form in connection with the purchase of the firearms, and transferring the firearms to a resident of another state). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of conviction. 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 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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy II and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Trigger 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. 1:19-cr-230.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Jury Convicts Hampton Duo for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Hampton man and woman yesterday on charges of cocaine distribution.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Marcus Troy Moody, 30, and Latoya Patrice Carter, 29, were stopped by Newport News police in December 2018 after committing multiple traffic infractions. A subsequent lawful search of Moody, Carter, and their vehicle yielded two loaded semi-automatic handguns, including one with an extended magazine; an additional loaded magazine; a digital scale with narcotics residue; narcotics packaging material; approximately 80 grams of cocaine; and approximately $4,000 in cash.
Moody and Carter face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on November 14. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor 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-51.
Man Indicted for Armed Robbery of Sprint StoreRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Norfolk man with the armed robbery of a Sprint Store in Colonial Heights.
According to the indictment, on January 7, Tajh Rodgers, 29, allegedly committed a violent armed robbery of a Sprint Store in Colonial Heights, stealing more than 70 Sprint Store products. To facilitate stealing these products, Rodgers threatened the lives of two Sprint employees, with the use of the firearm he was carrying. In total, 70 items were stolen from the store, including 22 Apple iPhones, 8 LG cellular telephones, 6 Samsung cellular telephones, and an Apple Watch.
Rodgers is charged with robbery affecting commerce, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Colonel Jeffrey W. Faries, Chief of Colonial Heights Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gill and Kenneth Simon are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-111.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute heroin and possessing a gun.
According to court documents, Jameel Malik Simmons, 37, was observed by various Chesapeake police officers selling heroin to a customer outside of his apartment. After the police arrested Simmons, they obtained a search warrant for his residence and found more heroin and a loaded firearm in a kitchen cabinet.
Simmons pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced on November 7. 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 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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Muhr and William B. Jackson 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. 2:18-cr-138.
Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on Langley Air Force BaseRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man pleaded guilty today to charges of assault by strangulation stemming from a February altercation aboard Langley Air Force Base.
According to court documents, Gregory Keith Fortune-Prior, 29, was involved in a verbal argument with his son’s mother at her residence on Langely Air Force Base. During the argument, Fortune-Prior physically assaulted the victim by grabbing the back of her neck, throwing her on to the bed, and then hitting the victim causing her nose to bleed. After the victim exited the room into the hallway, Fortune-Prior followed and placed both of his hands around the front of the victim’s neck and began strangling her. The victim’s legs began to give out as she experienced difficulty breathing and after Fortune-Prior let go she fell to the ground. Fortune-Prior then kicked the victim on the side of her abdomen multiple times. The victim exited the residence with her son, but after realizing that she had left her identification and credit cards behind, returned to retrieve them. Upon returning, Fortune-Prior confronted the victim again and began hitting her. The victim was holding their two-year-old son at the time and had to use her body to cover the child so that Fortune-Prior did not hit him. The victim sustained multiple visible injuries as a result of the assault.
Fortune-Prior faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on November 22. 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 Colonel Kirk B. Stabler, Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-63.
Jury Convicts Hampton Man of Drug Related MurderRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Hampton man today on charges of use of a firearm resulting in death, drug conspiracy, attempted possession with intent to distribute ecstacy, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Damontaze M. Tillery, 24, arranged to trade a firearm for the drug MDMA, commonly called “ecstasy” which was to be provided by the victim. On July 26, 2018, the victim travelled from Virginia Beach to downtown Newport News to conduct the drug transaction with Tillery. The victim met Tillery at 19th Street and Ivy, and during the transaction Tillery murdered the victim. The victim was unarmed and still in possession of the quantity of ecstasy when he was found deceased in his vehicle with his foot on the gas causing the tires to spin until a bystander turned the vehicle off. An off-duty Newport News firefighter responded after seeing the smoke coming from the vehicle, and upon approaching the vehicle he realized the victim had a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim, Javon Stephenson, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tillery faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on November 8. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel and Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick 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. 4:19-cr-31.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to 8 years in prison for possessing firearms after having been convicted of a felony.
“Avery has a criminal history that includes over 50 convictions,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His criminal record includes violence and felony convictions for drug distribution and possessing firearms. In short, Avery is a career criminal and is a prime example of the type of individual that presents a serious safety risk to our communities.”
According to court documents, Charles Avery, 45, who is prohibited from possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon, possessed a 9mm rifle in October 2018 and a .40 caliber firearm in November 2018. Avery sold the 9mm rifle to a confidential source in exchange for a cash payment, and the following month he also sold the .40 caliber firearm, which agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were able to acquire through the use of a confidential source. Additionally, when Avery was arrested on the firearms charges in March, he was in possession of a quantity of crack cocaine.
Due to Avery’s extensive criminal history, clear lack of respect for the law, and need to protect the community from his criminal conduct, the United States sought an upward variance sentence in this case, which was granted by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.
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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Kenneth A. Miller, Director of Public Safety, Petersburg Bureau of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea-Miller 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. 3:19-cr-364.
Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to his role in the prostitution of a child at hotels across Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
According to court documents, Timothy Gary Williams, 29, met 17-year-old Jane Doe in October 2018 and the two began dating. Shortly thereafter, Williams and Jane Doe discussed Jane Doe engaging in commercial sex to earn money for the couple. Jane Doe then began regularly engaging in commercial sex acts at hotels in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Williams rented hotel rooms for her to use with clients, provided her with condoms, acted as security during her commercial sex appointments, and shared the proceeds from her commercial sex acts. Williams and Jane Doe also frequently used drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, together. On February 6, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received information indicating that Jane Doe was being forced to engage in commercial sex by Williams, and that Williams had physically abused Jane Doe, including assaulting her with a metal rod. When Jane Doe was recovered by law enforcement at a hotel in Virginia Beach on February 7, she confirmed that Williams had been violent with her, reporting that he had assaulted her with objects, strangled her, bitten her, and threatened her with violence.
Williams pleaded guilty to multiple counts of using facilities in interstate commerce to promote and manage the sex trafficking of a child and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on November 4. 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, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, and James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Kathleen Dougherty 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-107.
Illegal Alien Child Abuser Found Guilty of Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge woman who was recently convicted of aggravated sexual battery of a child family member was found guilty today of illegally reentering the United States.
“Terrazas Siles not only disregarded our immigration laws, she also sexually abused an innocent child while residing in the United States illegally,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to prosecuting criminal immigration cases, especially when the illegal alien presents a serious danger to children and other vulnerable victims in our community.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Lourdes Terrazas Siles, 39, is a native and citizen of Bolivia. Terrazas Siles had been previously removed from the United States in 2000, after she attempted to enter the United States with a fraudulent passport. Sometime thereafter, Terrazas Siles reentered the United States without permission to do so. She was found in the United States in August 2016, when she was arrested for felony aggravated sexual battery by a parent, step-parent, grandparent, or step-grandparent of a victim at least 13 but less than 18 years of age. She was convicted in Virginia on aggravated sexual battery charges in June 2017.
Terrazas Siles faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison when sentenced on October 11. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema found Terrazas Siles guilty after a bench trial. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony W. Mariano and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danya E. Atiyeh are prosecuting the case. This case was previously handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Kraft.
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-127.
Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking, ID Theft and Computer HackingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Culpeper County man pleaded guilty today to cyberstalking, unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Satyasurya Sahas Thumma, 23, engaged in cyberstalking of two women he had dated after each broke up with him.
From February to April 2018, Thumma dated and had a sexual relationship with Victim 1. During their dating period, Victim 1 sent Thumma multiple nude photos of herself. In April 2018, Victim 1 broke up with Thumma, and Thumma did not take the break up well. After a failed effort to get Victim 1 back, Thumma began an unsettling cyber harassment campaign. Posing as an unknown person, Thumma began sending Victim 1 anonymous text messages via a messaging app that allows users to make text messages appear to come from numbers other than their actual cell phone number. He threatened to post her nude photos to the public, created a Snapchat account to post the nude photos online and invited many of her friends to join the account, and threatened to send the nude photos to Victim 1’s parents, which he eventually did.
Thumma’s relationship with Victim 2 started in the summer of 2018 after they met through an online dating site. Victim 2 also sent Thumma multiple nude photos and videos during the several months they dated. When Victim 2 broke up with Thumma, Thumma used the same anonymizing messaging app that he used with Victim 1 to send harassing and disturbing texts to Victim 2 and her mother. Thumma manipulated Victim 2 with a conspiracy story purportedly involving violent individuals who were threatening him and who had hacked into his online accounts to steal Victim 2’s nude photos. He sent Victim 2 multiple emails from secure, overseas providers that included extortion demands, threats of death, and gruesome photos of women who were dead or being tortured. To add credibility to his violent conspiracy charade, Thumma included his own true phone number and email address on various messages to make it appear that “they” were threatening him as well. In March 2018, Thumma was involved in a DUI accident in Richmond that resulted in him being transported by EMS to the hospital. While lying on a hospital bed wearing a gown that appeared to be spattered with some blood, Thumma feigned being unconscious and took a selfie photograph. Several hours after being released from the hospital, Thumma used the anonymous texting application to send his hospital selfie photo to Victim 2 and her mom with the message, “Ur next.” During the Thumma’s harassment of Victim 2, he sent her nude photos to both her mom and dad, and to their family’s church email address. In addition, Thumma hacked into Victim 2’s Twitter account and sent approximately 30 messages containing her nude photos to her Twitter friends. He also hacked into her Facebook account and changed the password, and claimed in messages to Victim 2 that the violent conspirators were responsible for the Twitter and Facebook hacks.
Thumma faces a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison and $500,000 in fines when sentenced on November 7. 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 David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian R. Hood is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-103.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nearly five years in prison for his second conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“With over 30 criminal convictions, Johnson has shown total disregard towards our justice system,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “A convicted felon possessing a loaded gun and drugs is a deadly combination for communities across the Eastern District. Along with our law enforcement partners, we are 100 percent committed to pursuing criminals like Johnson who present a serious danger to the safety of our communities.”
According to court documents, Devonte Johnson, 28, was approached by law enforcement officers on a public sidewalk in Gilpin Court around 2:00 a.m. in January. When one of the officers noticed a bulge in Johnson’s waistband, Johnson turned away and soon thereafter fled from the officers. While fleeing, Johnson reached into his waistband for a loaded .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, which was later recovered by law enforcement and found to be fully loaded with ammunition. After arresting Johnson, officers searched him for contraband, ultimately recovering crack cocaine and heroin. Johnson was previously convicted in Richmond Circuit Court for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a violent felony.
"This case is a great example of the partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement,” said David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “The Richmond Violent Crime Initiative, led by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), has prioritized violent crime reduction in our city. The FBI is grateful for the partnership with the USAO, as well as with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the City of Richmond Police Department that led to the successful federal prosecution of a convicted felon in possession of a firearm."
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 Kenneth Simon 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. 3:19-cr-49.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A New Jersey woman pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Antonella Maria Barba, 32, of Point Pleasant, was parked in downtown Norfolk at approximately 11:05 p.m. in October 2018, when she was approached by law enforcement. A dog handler screened Barba’s rental vehicle with a drug dog, which alerted on the vehicle. The canine officer searched Barba’s rental vehicle and discovered a closed shoebox in plain view on the front passenger floorboard. The officer opened the shoebox and discovered a plastic bag containing a large quantity of a white, rock-like substance. Barba subsequently admitted she had landed at Washington-Dulles at around 4:00 p.m. on a flight from Los Angeles, and that she rented a car there and drove to Norfolk. The substance seized from Barba’s rental car was submitted to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Savannah Laboratory for forensic analysis, where a forensic scientist determined the substance to be fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, with a total weight of 830.9 grams.
Barba faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced on November 21. 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, Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, and Angela Greene, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask 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. 2:18-cr-158-2.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Counterfeit Currency ChargesRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm and uttering counterfeit money.
According to information before the court, Amaud Brown, aka “Moe Gunz”, 24, is a convicted felon and self-admitted member of the Gangster Disciples who obtained, or tried to obtain, at least seven firearms with the help of several straw-purchasers. Brown actually called one of the licensed gun stores he frequented to inquire about purchasing more guns while police officers were at that gun store investigating his previous straw-purchases.
Police executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence and recovered two loaded handguns, shotgun parts, dozens of rounds of ammunition, marijuana, cut and uncut counterfeit money printed on resume paper, and materials used to manufacture counterfeit money. Investigators later discovered that Brown had used fake $100 bills to rip off at least four victims, including a Navy serviceman, who had exchanged their electronic devices to him in return for what they believed was real cash.
Brown faces a maximum of 30 years in prison when sentenced on October 18. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Matthew S. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, and Angela Greene, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson 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-85.
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States after he had been deported.
According to court documents, Marcos Ordonez-Ortiz, 28, was found illegally in the United States two months ago when he was arrested and convicted in Virginia Beach for public swearing or intoxication. He had been deported at taxpayer expense eight months earlier, after sustaining a Virginia Beach DUI conviction and after overstaying authorization for voluntary departure. He then returned to Hampton Roads sometime in that eight-month period.
Ordonez-Ortiz pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a previously deported alien, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison when sentenced on November 18. 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 Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Jackson 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-112.
Man Sentenced for Role in Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to more than one year in prison for using his girlfriend to making false statements when acquiring eight firearms between 2012 and 2016.
“Straw purchasing a firearm is a federal crime with serious consequences,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case is representative of a focused effort here in EDVA to investigate and prosecute individuals who straw purchase and illegally traffick firearms. Once on the streets, straw purchased firearms often end up in the hands of prohibited persons like Toole, who are legally prohibited from obtaining and possessing firearms.”
According to court documents, Jeffrey Quinton Toole, 56, recruited his girlfriend Yolanda Lisa Stone, 47, to purchase eight firearms for him at federally licensed firearms dealers in the Richmond metropolitan area between 2012 and 2016. When purchasing these firearms, Stone falsely stated on forms she was legally required to complete that she was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when in fact, she was straw purchasing them for Toole. Toole sold three of the guns to Abdul Shahid Davis, who then sold them to an undercover New York City Police Detective. Toole kept four of the guns that were turned over to agents during the investigation, while one gun remains missing. Toole has been convicted of multiple felonies, including a 1991 conviction for making false statements on Virginia state firearms purchase forms.
“This case serves as another perfect example of why ATF will continue to vigorously pursue and arrest anyone involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “Falsifying forms for the purpose of purchasing a firearm is more than a mere paperwork violation—it’s a federal crime. These criminals are putting guns in the hands of serious criminals who pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities.”
Seven other defendants have earned felony convictions and have been sentenced for making false statements in connection with this scheme:
Name, Age
Hometown
Felony Conviction
Sentence
Cherie Elanda Wyatt, 42
Richmond
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
1 year of probation
Kevin Edward Wilson, 29
Powhatan
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
2 years of probation, 180 days of home detention
Denise Michelle Sinkford, 41
Richmond
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
2 years of probation, 180 days of home detention
Shanta Teisha Brown, 29
Richmond
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
2 years of probation, 60 days of home detention
Evelyn Jean Collins-Chandler, 54
Richmond
Conspiracy to Make False Statements to Acquire Firearm
2 years of probation, 60 days of home detention
Ebony Danielle Clarke, 34
Richmond
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
3 years of probation, 210 days of home detention
Jeremy Durand Lewis, 35
Chesterfield County
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
2 1/2 years in prison
Two defendants have pleaded guilty to making false statements on firearm forms and are awaiting sentencing:
Name, Age
Hometown
Convictions
Sentencing Date
Brandon Andrea Powell, 40
Chester
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
October 3
Yolanda Lisa Stone, 47
Richmond
False Statement to Acquire Firearm
August 5
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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Moore and Kenneth Simon prosecuted the case.
Special assistance in this investigation and prosecution was provided by the New York City Police Department and the New York County District Attorney’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:18-37, 56, 77, 86, 110, 120, 138, 154, and 3:19-cr-13.
Man Pleads Guilty to 2016 Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man pleaded guilty today on charges of brandishing a firearm during a 2016 carjacking.
According to court records, in December 2016, Daniel Lee Pittman, Jr., 20, approached the driver of a Porsche Panamera outside a Hampton barbershop and pointed a semi-automatic firearm at the driver’s head, ordering him to “run his pockets” and get out of the vehicle. Pittman fled in the Porsche and shortly thereafter he led police on a high-speed chase up to speeds of 100 mph. Police terminated the pursuit and later located the stolen car in a nearby Hampton neighborhood. Pittman was identified by the victim approximately two hours after the carjacking.
Pittman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of life in prison when sentenced on October 30. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, Terry L. Sult, Chief of Hampton Police Division, and Anton Bell, Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy E. Cross and Christopher O. Taylor 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. 4:19-cr-36.
Violent Felon Sentenced for Illegally Entering U.S. for Sixth TimeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An illegal alien and violent felon who has previously illegally entered the United States on at least six occasions, was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for illegally reentering the United States.
“Diaz-Ramos is a violent felon who has demonstrated a blatant disregard for our immigration laws,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “After completing his prison sentence, Diaz-Ramos will once again be deported at taxpayer expense. This is a serious issue of public safety and national security, and we remain committed to prioritizing criminal immigration enforcement.”
According to court documents, Jose Edgardo Diaz-Ramos, 37, is a native and citizen of Honduras. Prior to his previous removal, Diaz-Ramos was convicted of a violent felony in California of willful infliction of corporal injury on a spouse. In 2014, after serving a sentence of six years in prison, Diaz-Ramos was deported at taxpayer expense for a fifth time. Sometime thereafter, Diaz-Ramos illegally reentered the United States again. In May, Diaz-Ramos pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien after commission of a felony.
“The arrest and prosecution of Diaz-Ramos is another example of ICE officers prioritizing violent offenders who threaten our nation’s safety and security,” said Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. “Not only did Diaz-Ramos repeatedly violate our immigration laws, but he has also victimized our neighbors. He will now again rightfully be removed from the U.S.”
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan P. Geary 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. 1:19-cr-216.
Man Sentenced for Shipping over 700 Pounds of Marijuana to VirginiaRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to six years in prison for his involvement in a large scale marijuana distribution network and money laundering.
According to court documents, Tyrell Jones, 23, started and managed a large-scale marijuana distribution operation involving several other co-conspirators. The marijuana conspiracy lasted from April 2017 through October 2018 when Jones secured a source of supply in California, while he was attending college. During the course of the conspiracy, frequent shipments of marijuana were sent from California to Hampton Roads, with most of it shipped through the U.S. Postal Service using various Ship ‘n Click accounts. Jones and other co-conspirators shipped a total of 222 packages of marijuana with a total weight of 724 pounds of marijuana. Sometimes the marijuana was secreted inside vehicles and driven from California to Virginia, where it was then broken down into smaller quantities and sold on the streets.
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, 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 sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Muhr and Kevin Hudson 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-55.
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Purchasing 20 FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to 10 counts of making false statements to acquire firearms.
“Yesterday in Washington, D.C., I stood alongside federal and local law enforcement leaders and affirmed our commitment to prosecuting the illegal purchase and transportation of firearms,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This case is representative of that commitment: We will continue to use federal firearms laws to hold individuals accountable for coming into Virginia to illegally purchase firearms. Every illegally purchased firearm is a gun that can wind up in the hands of a prohibited person and poses a significant danger to law enforcement and our communities.”
According to court documents, between November 2018 and April 2019, Quayshawn Shymel Simmons, 28, of Baltimore, purchased 20 firearms from Federal Firearm Licensees in Virginia using a false address in Hampton. Police in Washington, D.C. have recovered some of the firearms Simmons purchased from other individuals, including individuals convicted of a felony and/or in possession of distribution quantities of Oxycodone and crack cocaine at the time of their arrest.
“This case perfectly highlights why ATF will continue working diligently to combat firearms trafficking to curb violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Ashan M. Benedict of the Washington Field Division. “Gun traffickers are not simply committing paperwork violations. These criminals put guns in the hands of serious criminals who pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities. We are putting all gun traffickers on notice that we will find you; you will be held accountable; and you will be punished under the law.”
Simmons pleaded guilty to making false statements and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on October 25. 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 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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas U. Murphy II and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Annie Zanobini 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. 1:19-cr-181.
Jury Convicts Final Defendant in Grocery Store Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Virginia Beach man today on armed robbery and conspiracy charges for his role in a spree of grocery store robberies that ended with the shooting of the manager at a local Harris Teeter.
“This verdict is justice not only for the victims, but for the citizens of this community who want to live in freedom from this kind of senseless gun violence,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We cannot undo the misery that this defendant and his co-conspirators caused others to suffer, but we can take some solace that they have been held accountable and will receive the just punishment their crimes deserve.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Darrius A. Heuser-Whitaker, 19, was one of two masked gunmen who robbed a Virginia Beach Food Lion grocery store and attempted to rob a Harris Teeter grocery store, also in Virginia Beach. During the robberies, Heuser-Whitaker pushed a semi-automatic handgun equipped with a laser sight into the backs of the store managers while demanding money from the safe.
“Today’s verdict is the result of a collaborative effort with our partners from the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Police Departments and U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure this dangerous crime spree was stopped before anyone else was hurt, and to hold accountable every person responsible for terrorizing the community and harming innocent citizens,” said Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “This successful investigation is just one example of the longstanding commitment and teamwork among law enforcement partners in Hampton Roads to protect the public from violent criminals.”
Heuser-Whitaker and his nine co-conspirators worked in at least six-man teams for each robbery, which included inside and outside look-outs, getaway drivers, and two gunmen. The robbery crew used police scanners to monitor law enforcement activity and earpieces to communicate with one another. The gunmen were in and out of the stores within minutes. In the final attempted robbery at the Harris Teeter store, the other gunman, Devonta Doyle, shot the manager after the manager was unable to open the safe. Heuser-Whitaker, Doyle, and others fled the scene and threw their shoes out of their getaway car in an area near Regent University. The FBI and Virginia Beach Police Department located the shoes and submitted them for analysis, which tied one of the shoes to Heuser-Whitaker. Investigators were able to link eight of the ten co-conspirators to a group of friends who attended Tallwood High School and lived in the College Park neighborhood of Virginia Beach.
Heuser-Whitaker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on October 24. 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.
Heuser-Whitaker’s nine co-conspirators pleaded guilty to various robbery and gun charges on the dates below:
Name, Age
Hometown
Convicted
Cato M. Battle, 19
Virginia Beach
February 27, 2019
Willey E. Brooks, 27
Norfolk
February 26, 2019
Quayshawn Davidson, 22
Virginia Beach
May 24, 2019
Devonta Doyle, 23
Virginia Beach
July 2, 2019
Monica Perkins, 30
Norfolk
February 27, 2019
Brennan K. Smith, 22
Virginia Beach
July 18, 2019
Brandon C. Tisdale, 21
Virginia Beach
February 28, 2019
Trevor L. Tisdale, 25
Virginia Beach
February 26, 2019
Keonte K. Yorkshire, 22
Virginia Beach
February 5, 2019
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, Mark Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, and Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Andrew Bosse, 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. 2:18-cr-177
Herndon Man Sentenced to Prison for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Herndon man was sentenced today to one year in prison for cyberstalking a victim in New York.
According to court documents, Brandon Theresa, 21, engaged in an extensive cyberstalking campaign against a victim from at least May 2015 through December 2018. During that time, he accessed the victim’s online accounts without her permission; created fake accounts in her name; and sent sensitive information from her account in order to embarrass her. When the victim tried to cut off communication with him, Theresa took more serious steps to maintain an unwanted presence in her life. For example, using the personal information of the victim and the victim’s friends and family, Theresa established U.S. Postal Service Informed Delivery accounts in their names to receive a steady stream of notifications about the mail sent to those individuals’ homes. He used this information to track the victim’s activities and learn about the people in her life. He continued to send veiled threats to the victim, using anonymizing technologies that made it difficult for the victim to block the communications. Theresa’s harassment of the victim continued well after the victim informed him that she was reporting his conduct to the police and did not cease until federal authorities executed a search warrant at his home in December 2018.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Michael Ray, Inspector in Charge of Analytics/Cyber Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Charles Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Fong 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. 1:19-cr-118.
Doctor’s Office Manager Sentenced for Selling Oxycodone PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach woman was sentenced today to more than seven years in prison and ordered to pay a $34,500 forfeiture judgment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Oxycodone.
“Schemetti was forging prescriptions and selling them to a drug dealer,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to prosecute medical staff and doctors who betray the public’s trust in the medical profession by engaging in illegal drug diversion.”
According to court documents, Jessica L. Schemetti, 34, was working at a medical practice in Virginia Beach. In December 2016, Schemetti began forging prescriptions and by March 2017 she was selling those forged prescriptions to another Virginia Beach drug dealer for $500 per prescription. The Virginia Beach drug dealer supplied Schemetti with names to use on the prescriptions. By August 2017, the doctor became aware of Schemetti’s forgeries, but was dishonest with law enforcement when confronted in order to cover for Schemetti. The doctor, Jim-David Gaglione, was also prosecuted. Schemetti continued to write these prescriptions in exchange for payment into early 2018. In all, Schemetti wrote prescriptions for over 5,000 Oxycodone pills, over 4,000 amphetamine pills, and over 500 Xanax pills.
The doctor, Jim-David Gaglione, pleaded guilty to distribution of amphetamine and was sentenced to two and half years in prison in November 2018.
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 James A. Cervera, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hudson 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-1.
Bookkeeper Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling $390,000Read the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced today to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay over $390,000 in restitution for embezzling that amount from the company for whom she provided bookkeeping, accounting and payroll services.
According to court documents, Nakai Koyenhan, 46, who pleaded guilty to forging the securities of an organization in November 2018, was employed by Church Point Manor, LLC to provide bookkeeping, accounting and payroll services. Koyenhan stole more than $327,000 from the company by forging over 300 checks over a period of approximately three and a half years. She also made fraudulent wire transfers from the company bank account to her personal bank account and to her personal credit card, totaling an additional $63,000. In total, Koyenhan stole more than $390,000 from Church Point Manor, which operated a well-known bed and breakfast/restaurant that was forced to close as a result of the embezzlement.
To conceal her actions, Koyenhan, on an ongoing basis, made false entries in the accounting ledger she maintained for Church Point Manor. She would, for example, change the names of the payees and amounts on the forged checks she had written in order to make it appear that they were payments for legitimate business expenses. Koyenhan used the money she stole for her own personal benefit. She spent the money, among other things, to make car loan payments and rent payments, to purchase a wedding ring and wedding supplies, and to travel to various destinations, including Nigeria.
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 sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Salsbury prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-162.
Former Head of People Express Airlines Pleads Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Suffolk man pleaded guilty today to fraud in connection with the failure of People Express Airlines in 2014 and the filing of a false income tax return.
According to court documents, Michael Morisi, 59, was the former president of People Express Airlines, Inc. (PEX), which engaged in failed start-up operations at the Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport. Morisi led the push to get PEX operational, despite a failed track record of obtaining private investments and significant outstanding liabilities. A switch to a focus on the public commitment of funds led to PEX obtaining a $5 million loan from TowneBank that was guaranteed by the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC). The loan was funded in June 2014. Within a month, PEX had drawn down nearly the entire loan amount. PEX operated for approximately three months before suspending service due. In the aftermath of the suspension of operations, various creditors sought repayment from PEX in 2014 and 2015.
At the same time, Morisi opened new bank accounts to receive insurance proceeds and avoid the seizure of funds. Morisi provided false representations to creditors (including the PAC, which paid over $4 million to satisfy the TowneBank loan) claiming that no funds were available. He made large purported back salary payments to himself and other executives in lieu of paying creditors. When the first bank account was made subject to a state tax lien, Morisi moved accounts again so that he could receive and divert additional insurance proceeds. He also filed false tax returns for three years omitting income and failed to file returns for two additional years.
Morisi pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false federal income tax return. He faces a maximum penalty of 23 years in prison when sentenced on November 15. 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), Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, and Jamie Mazzone, Regional Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels 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. 4:19-cr-44.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to MedicaidRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach woman pleaded guilty today to making a false statement to the Medicaid Program.
According to court documents, Mary Otto, 53, worked as the office manager for the Behavioral Neuropsychiatric Group, a psychiatric practice in Virginia Beach. While Otto was in charge of the administrative tasks of the practice, she had no medical training and was not licensed to practice medicine, nor prescribe medications in Virginia. Court records indicate that the psychiatrist who owned the practice traveled extensively overseas, sometimes for months at a time. During these times, patients of the practice required prescription medication refills. The psychiatrist provided Otto with blank pre-signed prescription pads for Otto to prescribe Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances in the psychiatrist’s absence. In one particular instance, Otto prescribed Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance, to a Medicaid patient. According to the court documents, Medicaid would not have paid for the medication had they known Otto prescribed it.
Otto faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on November 5. 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, Robert Craig, Special Agent in Charge for Defense Criminal Investigative Service Mid-Atlantic Field Office, Nicholas DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask 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. 2:19-cr-101.
Virginia Beach Pump Company Pleads Guilty to Clean Water Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Virginia Beach company pleaded guilty today to violating the Clean Water Act.
According to court documents, Forrest Sewer Pump Service, Inc., a family owned and operated business headquartered in Virginia Beach, violated the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 2015 and 2016 by illegally discharging pollutants into unauthorized manholes and pump stations. The court records indicate Forrest Sewer has been a Virginia licensed wastewater hauler and provider of sewer pumping services and grease hauling for more than 20 years. Forrest Sewer maintained an industrial user wastewater discharge permit to discharge into the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) sewage treatment system. However, the records indicate that Forrest Sewer discharged at the unauthorized locations to, among other things, avoid paying dumping fees to HRSD.
The knowing introduction of trucked pollutants into undesignated locations is specifically prohibited by the CWA pretreatment prohibitions and the local HRSD Industrial Wastewater Discharge Regulations. Forrest Sewer was caught on video dumping the pollutants at an undesignated location in the Virginia Beach area.
Forrest Sewer faces a maximum sentence of five years of probation, as well as fine of up to $50,000 per day of violation for the Clean Water Act violations when sentenced on October 24. 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 Jennifer Lynn, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, Philadelphia Area Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of EPA attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Goldstein and David Lastra.
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-118.
Man Convicted for Making False Statements and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Henrico man yesterday on charges of making a false statement when acquiring a firearm and was also convicted of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in January 2018, Richmond Police and Virginia State Police confronted Jawuan House, 22, on suspicion that one of his associates stole a firearm from a vendor table at a gun show in Richmond. When VSP and RPD made contact with House, they found him in the company of Yamin Maxey. Law enforcement ultimately followed House to his vehicle in the parking lot in order to try and gain information to find the person that stole the firearm.
In the course of speaking with House and Maxey, law enforcement learned from Maxey that he had straw purchased two firearms for House at the gun show. House also purchased a third firearm, an AK pistol, at the gun show. When law enforcement searched House’s vehicle for those firearms, they found, in total, five firearms. Three of which were purchased from the gun show, including the straw-purchased firearms, and two of which were previously purchased and which belonged to House and Brian Samuels, who was sentenced to five years in prison on June 24. Law enforcement also found in the trunk of the vehicle 40 grams of marijuana in two mason jars and a digital scale. House stated he and friends were using the marijuana at a party.
House faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for his conviction on making a false statement in acquiring a firearm and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana when sentenced on November 12. 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 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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, William C. Smith, Interim Chief of Richmond Police, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr., accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Anthony and Janet Jin Ah Lee are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-46.
Jury Convicts Flynn Intel Group Founder of Conspiring to Act as an Undisclosed Agent of TurkeyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – After three hours of deliberations a federal jury convicted a California man today on charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government, conspiring to make false statements and willful omissions in a FARA filing, and acting as an agent of a foreign government.
“Rafiekian was held accountable for his actions and found guilty by a jury of his peers,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors for their thorough investigation, extensive briefing, and commitment to this case.”
“Today’s verdict should stand as a deterrent to any malign foreign influence that undermines the integrity of our political processes,” Assistant Attorney General John Demers said. “Through misrepresentations in his FARA filing, Mr. Rafiekian attempted to deceive the public and influence key leaders on behalf of Turkey. The Department of Justice treats these crimes with the gravity that they deserve.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Bijan Rafiekian, 67, of San Juan Capistrano, California, along with his co-conspirator, Kamil Ekim Alptekin, 42, of Istanbul, a Turkish national with close ties to the highest levels of the Government of Turkey, were involved in a conspiracy to covertly influence United States politicians and public opinion against a Turkish national, Fethullah Gulen, who is an imam, writer, and political figure living in the United States. The Government of Turkey had filed two extradition requests for Gulen, and has been trying to convince the Department of Justice to extradite Gulen back to Turkey since 2015. The plot included using the Flynn Intel Group (FIG), a company founded by Rafiekian and Michael T. Flynn, which provided services based upon Flynn’s national security expertise.
According to court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to use FIG to delegitimize the Turkish citizen in the eyes of the American public and United States politicians, with the goal of obtaining his extradition, which was meeting resistance at the U.S. Department of Justice. At the same time, the conspirators sought to conceal that the Government of Turkey was directing the work. However, not only was Rafiekian told by Alptekin that Turkish cabinet-level officials had approved the budget for the project, but Alptekin also told Rafiekian that he provided the Turkish officials updates on the work. Rafiekian understood that Alptekin was relaying the Turkish officials’ directions on the work to Rafiekian, Flynn, and others at FIG.
According to court documents, the scheme included using a Dutch shell company, Inovo, owned by Alptekin to act as FIG’s “client.” FIG was paid $600,000 in three installments from an account in Turkey in Alptekin’s name. After Alptekin made the payments to FIG, FIG kicked back 20 percent of the payments to Alptekin’s company in the Netherlands, with two such kickbacks being made.
Rafiekian faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on October 18. 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, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and John P. Selleck, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis, John T. Gibbs, Aidan T. Grano, Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie K. Sweeten 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. 1:18-cr-457.
Jury Convicts Flynn Intel Group Founder of Conspiring to Act as an Undisclosed Agent of TurkeyRead the Press Release
After three hours of deliberations a federal jury convicted a California man today on charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government, conspiring to make false statements and willful omissions in a FARA filing, and acting as an agent of a foreign government.
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and John P. Selleck, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the verdict.
“Today’s verdict should stand as a deterrent to any malign foreign influence that undermines the integrity of our political processes,” Assistant Attorney General John Demers said. “Through misrepresentations in his FARA filing, Mr. Rafiekian attempted to deceive the public and influence key leaders on behalf of Turkey. The Department of Justice treats these crimes with the gravity that they deserve.”
“Rafiekian was held accountable for his actions and found guilty by a jury of his peers,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I want to thank the investigators and prosecutors for their thorough investigation, extensive briefing, and commitment to this case.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Bijan Rafiekian, 67, of San Juan Capistrano, California, along with his co-conspirator, Kamil Ekim Alptekin, 42, of Istanbul, a Turkish national with close ties to the highest levels of the Government of Turkey, were involved in a conspiracy to covertly influence United States politicians and public opinion against a Turkish national, Fethullah Gulen, who is living in the United States. The Government of Turkey had filed two extradition requests for Gulen, and has been trying to convince the Department of Justice to extradite Gulen back to Turkey since 2015. The conspiracy included using the Flynn Intel Group (FIG), a company founded by Rafiekian and Michael T. Flynn, which provided services based upon Flynn’s national security expertise.
According to court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to use FIG to delegitimize the Turkish citizen in the eyes of the American public and United States politicians, with the goal of obtaining his extradition, which was meeting resistance at the U.S. Department of Justice. At the same time, the conspirators sought to conceal that the Government of Turkey was directing the work. However, not only was Rafiekian told by Alptekin that Turkish cabinet-level officials had approved the budget for the project, but Alptekin also told Rafiekian that he provided the Turkish officials updates on the work. Rafiekian understood that Alptekin was relaying the Turkish officials’ directions on the work to Rafiekian, Flynn, and others at FIG.
According to court documents, the scheme included using a Dutch shell company, Inovo, owned by Alptekin to act as FIG’s “client.” FIG was paid $600,000 in three installments from an account in Turkey in Alptekin’s name. After Alptekin made the payments to FIG, FIG kicked back 20 percent of the payments to Alptekin’s company in the Netherlands, with two such kickbacks being made.
Rafiekian faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on October 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Gillis, John T. Gibbs, Aidan T. Grano, Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie K. Sweeten are prosecuting the case.
Virginia Businessman Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Employment Tax Fraud and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
A Dulles, Virginia, equipment rental business owner pleaded guilty today to employment tax fraud and illegally possessing a firearm, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to court documents, from 2013 through 2018, Lawrence Robert Gazdick Jr. operated his business under multiple names, including National Technology Rentals, NTL Technology Leasing Services, and AV Rental Solutions. During this time, Gazdick withheld payroll taxes from his employees’ paychecks, but did not file payroll tax returns and did not pay the withheld funds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In total, Gazdick caused a loss to the IRS of approximately $5.35 million. Additionally, Gazdick admitted to possessing a firearm recovered from his business office, despite the fact he was previously convicted of a felony.
United States District Court Judge Anthony J. Trenga scheduled Gazdick’s sentencing for Oct. 18, 2019. At sentencing, Gazdick faces a maximum of five years in prison for failing to pay over payroll taxes and a maximum of ten years in prison for the firearm offense. He also faces monetary penalties and a term of supervised release. As part of his plea agreement, Gazdick has agreed to pay the IRS full restitution.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Terwilliger thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Jamar K. Walker and Tax Division Trial Attorney Kimberly M. Shartar, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Businessman Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Tax Fraud and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Ashburn businessman pleaded guilty today to employment tax fraud and illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, Lawrence Robert Gazdick, Jr., 54, operated his audio visual equipment rental business under multiple names, including National Technology Rentals, NTL Technology Leasing Services, AV Rental Solutions, and others from 2013 through 2018. During this time, Gazdick withheld payroll taxes from his employees’ paychecks, but failed to file payroll tax returns and failed to pay over the withheld funds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In total, Gazdick failed to pay over the IRS approximately $5.35 million of payroll taxes. Additionally, Gazdick admitted to possessing a firearm recovered from his business office, despite the fact that he was previously convicted of a felony.
As part of the plea agreement, Gazdick agreed to pay over $200,000 in restitution for premiums he failed to pay for health insurance provided to his employees.
Gazdick pleaded guilty to willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over taxes; and unlawfully possessing a firearm. He faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment on the tax offense and ten years of imprisonment on the firearm offense when sentenced on October 18. 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 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, Richard E. Zuckerman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charles Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamar K. Walker and Trial Attorney Kimberly Shartar of the Tax Division 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. 1:19-cr-200.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and ID Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman pleaded guilty today to charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft stemming from her scheme to steal personal checks from residential mailboxes in Richmond.
According to court documents, Katina Everett, 45, executed a mail theft and bank fraud scheme over approximately a three-month period in late 2018 and early 2019. During that time period, Everett traveled throughout Richmond’s Fan neighborhood, stealing mail from residents’ mailboxes. Everett was looking for personal checks, which she would then alter to reflect her name, or that of an individual acting at Everett’s direction as the payee, as well as an often significantly higher payment amount. Prior to this federal conviction, Everett had already been convicted of more than 20 other felonies, including more than a dozen larceny and fraud convictions.
Everett pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, and faces a mandatory sentence of two years on the aggravated identity theft conviction, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud conviction, when sentenced on October 21. 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 Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Garnett 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. 3:19-cr-81.
Seafood Processor Pleads Guilty to Selling Foreign Crab Meat Falsely Labeled as Blue Crab from U.S.Read the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Poquson man pleaded guilty today to his participation in a lucrative conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and falsely labelling millions of dollars-worth of foreign crab meat as “Product of USA”.
“As I stated when his father was convicted, the Caseys conspired to replace Atlantic Blue Crab with crab meat from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Central and South America,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Casey falsely labeled nearly 400,000 pounds of crab meat with a retail value in the millions of dollars. This fraud causes real financial harm to the fragile, maritime economies here in the region, and threatens to tarnish the good name of the watermen and women who have worked this estuary for generations. We are committed to working with our federal and state partners to ensure compliance with the Lacey Act, and to enforce our nation’s environmental laws that are in place to protect consumers from similar fraud schemes.”
According to court documents, Michael P. Casey, 42, was the Vice President for Marketing and Operations of Casey’s Seafood Inc., a wholesale processor of crab meat and other seafood. He pleaded guilty to conspiring with James R. Casey and others to substitute foreign crab meat for Atlantic blue crab. James Casey, the owner and President of Casey’s Seafood, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January to a 48-month term of imprisonment.
“By illegally mislabeling hundreds of thousands of pounds of crab meat, the defendant intentionally undermined the local crab processing industry – defrauding customers and, in turn, damaging the public’s trust in an industry that is important to the local economy," said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Assistant Attorney General for Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Mr. Casey’s actions are an affront to those who play by the rules when selling blue crab, and The Department will continue to work closely with its partners to prosecute criminals who flout the rule of law.”
As part of the plea, Michael Casey admitted to knowing that Casey’s Seafood employees were directed to unpack foreign crab meat from containers and re-package that meat into containers bearing the company name and which were labeled “Product of USA.” falsely labeling more than 183 tons of crab meat, which was then sold to grocery stores and independent retailers. Casey also admitted to aiding and abetting James Casey in selling at least 367,765 pounds of crab meat falsely labeled “Product of USA,” with a total wholesale value of approximately $4,324,916.
“Seafood fraud undermines the economic viability of U.S. and global fisheries, deceives consumers, and threatens the health of those who consume tainted or misidentified seafood products,” said James Landon, Director of NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement. “This case is a great example of investigative cooperation by state and federal law enforcement to strengthen seafood fraud detection and safeguard the industry and consumers.”
A significant decline in Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) harvests that began in 2010 made it increasingly expensive to purchase live Atlantic blue crab and increasingly difficult to profit from the labor-intensive process of picking meat from live-harvested blue crab. As part of his guilty plea, Casey admitted that, because of this decline, he and the company could not and did not process sufficient quantities of Atlantic blue crab to meet customer demands. To make up the shortfall, the co-conspirators used foreign crab meat to fulfill customer orders. During the periods when the company did not process blue crab—which sometimes lasted three months—the co-conspirators purchased crab meat (not live crabs) from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and other foreign locales.
“U.S. consumers expect the origin of their seafood to be correctly identified. When sellers attempt to deceive the public about their product’s origins, they put the public’s health at risk by introducing seafood of unknown origin,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Office. “When sellers are deceptive about their products’ origins, they deprive the public of important information about their purchasing decisions. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above fair dealing.”
The crab meat from Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam included meat from Portunus pelagicus, Portunus haanii, and Ovalipes punctatus, which are all Indo-West Pacific species of crab that do not live in the continental waters of the United States. The company also purchased crab meat (not live crabs) from Central American sources, which did include Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, but also included other species such as Callinectes bocourti, Callinectes bellicosis, Callinectes toxotes, and Callinectes arcuatus.
As part of the guilty plea, Casey further admitted that beginning at least as early as 2010, and continuing through June 17, 2015, he was aware that company employees had been directed to unpack foreign crab meat from suppliers’ containers, comingle it with domestic blue crab and/or other types of crab, and re-pack that crab meat into Casey’s Seafood containers, all of which were labeled “Product of USA”.
As part of the plea, Casey admitted that part of the conspiracy was to purchase discounted foreign crab meat, some of which was referred to as “distressed” because it was approaching or beyond its posted “best used by” dates. Casey admitted to knowing that company employees “re-conditioned” the “distressed” crab meat by re-pasteurizing it, and then packaging the “re-conditioned” meat into the company’s containers, which were labeled and sold as blue crab and “Product of USA.” Casey also was aware that employees placed labels with “Product of USA” on containers that concealed labels marked as “Product of China” and “Product of Brazil”.
Casey pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on November 14. 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 part of an ongoing effort by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Virginia Marine Police, and the Department of Justice to detect, deter, and prosecute those engaged in the false labeling of crab meat.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Assistant Attorney General for Environment and Natural Resources Division, Logan Gregory, Special Agent in Charge for NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement’s Northeast Division, Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office, and Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt and Trial Attorney Gary Donner of the Justice Department’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-67.
Seafood Processor Pleads Guilty to Selling Foreign Crab Meat Falsely Labeled as Blue Crab from USARead the Press Release
Michael P. Casey of Poquoson, Virginia, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Newport News, Virginia, on charges stemming from his participation in a lucrative conspiracy to falsely label millions of dollars-worth of foreign crab meat as “Product of USA.”
“By illegally mislabeling hundreds of thousands of pounds of crab meat, the defendant intentionally undermined the local crab processing industry – defrauding customers and, in turn, damaging the public’s trust in an industry that is important to the local economy,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Mr. Casey’s actions are an affront to those who play by the rules when selling blue crab, and The Department will continue to work closely with its partners to prosecute criminals who flout the rule of law.”
“As I stated when his father was convicted, the Caseys conspired to replace Atlantic Blue Crab with crab meat from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Central and South America,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Casey falsely labeled nearly 400,000 pounds of crab meat with a retail value in the millions of dollars. This fraud causes real financial harm to the fragile, maritime economies here in the region, and threatens to tarnish the good name of the watermen and women who have worked this estuary for generations. We are committed to working with our federal and state partners to ensure compliance with the Lacey Act, and to enforce our nation’s environmental laws that are in place to protect consumers from similar fraud schemes.”
“Seafood fraud undermines the economic viability of U.S. and global fisheries, deceives consumers, and threatens the health of those who consume tainted or misidentified seafood products,” said James Landon, Director of NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement. “This case is a great example of investigative cooperation by state and federal law enforcement to strengthen seafood fraud detection and safeguard the industry and consumers.”
“U.S. consumers expect the origin of their seafood to be correctly identified. When sellers attempt to deceive the public about their product’s origins, they put the public’s health at risk by introducing seafood of unknown origin,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Office. “When sellers are deceptive about their products’ origins, they deprive the public of important information about their purchasing decisions. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above fair dealing.”
Casey was the Vice President for Marketing and Operations of Casey’s Seafood Inc., a wholesale processor of crab meat and other seafood. He pleaded guilty to conspiring with James R. Casey and others to substitute foreign crab meat for Atlantic blue crab. James Casey, the owner and President of Casey’s Seafood, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January to a 48-month term of imprisonment.
As part of the plea, Michael Casey admitted to knowing that Casey’s Seafood employees were directed to unpack foreign crab meat from containers and re-package that meat into containers bearing the company name and which were labeled “Product of USA.” falsely labeling more than 183 tons of crab meat, which was then sold to grocery stores and independent retailers. Casey also admitted to aiding and abetting James Casey in selling at least 367,765 pounds of crab meat falsely labeled “Product of USA,” with a total wholesale value of approximately $4,324,916.
A significant decline in Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) harvests that began in 2010 made it increasingly expensive to purchase live Atlantic blue crab and increasingly difficult to profit from the labor-intensive process of picking meat from live-harvested blue crab. As part of his guilty plea, Casey admitted that, because of this decline, he and the company could not and did not process sufficient quantities of Atlantic blue crab to meet customer demands. To make up the shortfall, the co-conspirators used foreign crab meat to fulfill customer orders. During the periods when the company did not process blue crab—which sometimes lasted three months—the co-conspirators purchased crab meat (not live crabs) from Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and other foreign locales.
The crab meat from Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam included meat from Portunus pelagicus, Portunus haanii, and Ovalipes punctatus, which are all Indo-West Pacific species of crab that do not live in the continental waters of the United States. The company also purchased crab meat (not live crabs) from Central American sources, which did include Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, but also included other species such as Callinectes bocourti, Callinectes bellicosis, Callinectes toxotes, and Callinectes arcuatus.
As part of the guilty plea, Casey further admitted that beginning at least as early as 2010, and continuing through June 17, 2015, he was aware that company employees had been directed to unpack foreign crab meat from suppliers’ containers, comingle it with domestic blue crab and/or other types of crab, and re-pack that crab meat into Casey’s Seafood containers, all of which were labeled “Product of USA.”
As part of the plea, Casey admitted that part of the conspiracy was to purchase discounted foreign crab meat, some of which was referred to as “distressed” because it was approaching or beyond its posted “best used by” dates. Casey admitted to knowing that company employees “re-conditioned” the “distressed” crab meat by re-pasteurizing it, and then packaging the “re-conditioned” meat into the company’s containers, which were labeled and sold as blue crab and “Product of USA.” Casey also was aware that employees placed labels with “Product of USA” on containers that concealed labels marked as “Product of China” and “Product of Brazil.”
This case was part of an ongoing effort by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Investigations, the Virginia Marine Police, and the Department of Justice to detect, deter, and prosecute those engaged in the false labeling of crab meat.
The guilty plea took place before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller in Newport News. Sentencing will take place on Nov. 14, 2019. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to falsely label crab meat is five years in prison and a fine of up to half the gross gain of the offense.
The investigation is continuing. This prosecution is being handled by the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Eric Hurt and Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner.
Men Plead Guilty in $1 Million Prime Bank SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two Michigan men pleaded guilty today for their roles in an advanced fee scheme involving phony Standby Letters of Credit supposedly issued by European banks.
According to court documents, Samuel John Abraham, 62, of Novi, and Kenneth Ross Thomas, 52, of Westland, conspired to defraud individuals and businesses desperate for credit by promising to arrange substantial lines of credit from European banks. In exchange for an up-front deposit of approximately $150,000 into an escrow account, Abraham, operating as Advanced Funding Group, using aliases such as “J. Samuel Ibrahim” and “Jamal S. Ibrahim,” and also posing as an attorney calling himself “John Wynn,” claimed that he could “lease” for clients a Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) from a European Bank in the “face amount” of approximately $100 million. Of this large sum, clients were promised they could simply keep approximately $20 million as a “non-recourse loan.” A supposed “monetizer” would then use the remainder of the funds over the course of the year-long lease of the SBLC in order to engage in lucrative overseas trades (also known as “platform trading”), which would supposedly generate profits sufficient to repay the entire SBLC.
As part of the scheme, clients were directed to wire money to Escrow Agent Kenneth Thomas of “K. Thomas and Company Escrow Services.” In reality, the money was wired to the personal checking account of Kenneth Thomas, whose true profession was acting as Abraham’s chauffer and as a designer of cat towers. Thomas promptly provided most of the money to Abraham. According to the Superseding Indictment, Abraham then spent large sums of the money gambling at the Motor City Casino in Detroit, and on vehicles and a condominium. According to the Superseding Indictment, Abraham took in approximately $1million in proceeds from the fraud. Victims resided in Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, and other locations.
Standby Letters of Credit as marketed by the defendants do not exist and have long been the subject of public service announcements by the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Abraham has a prior federal conviction and also a permanent injunction entered against him by the SEC for operating the same scheme.
Thomas and Abraham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Abraham pleaded guilty to an additional count of wire fraud. Thomas and Abraham each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on October 4. 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 Charles Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell L. Carlberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly R. Pedersen 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. 1:19-cr-111.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – An Emporia man was sentenced today to more than 15 1/2 years in prison for his role in a multi-kilograms cocaine ring in Emporia.
According to court documents, Rondell Lundy, 32, entered into a conspiracy to distribute cocaine beginning in 2013 to 2017. From February 2017 through June 28, 2017, FBI agents monitored a court-ordered wiretap on several cellular telephones being used by conspiracy leader Deron Powell. Lundy was intercepted on numerous occasions speaking with Powell, and others, negotiating for the purchase of cocaine. Federal and state law enforcement conducted surveillance of Powell, as well as various residences in the Emporia area, and corroborated Lundy’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute the cocaine. Intercepted recorded calls confirmed that Powell planned to purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine for approximately $35,000, and on one occasion, agreed to sell half of that kilogram to Lundy. As part of the plea agreement, Lundy admitted he is responsible for distributing four and one-half kilograms of cocaine.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Richmond Area Violent Enterprises Task Force, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF), Operation Bulls Eye. 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, David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Ricky Pinksaw, Chief of the Emporia Police Department, William T. Jarratt Jr., Sheriff of the Greensville County Sheriff’s Office, and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey 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. 3:19-cr-14.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Role in Pharmacy RobberyRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Two Yorktown men were sentenced today to a total of nearly 18 years in prison for their respective roles in an armed robbery of a pharmacy.
According to court documents, on Dec. 2, 2014, Derrick Johnson, 25, and Tysean Ransome, 25, entered the Glendale Pharmacy in Newport News and robbed two employees of prescription pills at gunpoint. A third co-conspirator, Johnathan D. Williams, directed Johnson and Ransome to do the robbery.
Johnson was sentenced to nearly eight years, while Ransome was sentenced to 10 years. Williams was sentenced to 14 years on July 8.
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.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Brim Reaper. 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, and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa R. McKeel 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-6.
Woodbridge Gang Member Sentenced for Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 11 1/2 years in prison for cocaine trafficking and firearms offenses.
“Lozada’s conduct proves the adage that where guns and drugs intersect, violence is the result,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases to ensure criminals like Lozada are held accountable.”
According to court documents, Jorge Lozada, 23, is a known associate of the United Blood Nation/Imperial Gangsta Blood gang. From early 2017 through September 2017, Lozada distributed marijuana and cocaine, often advertising the drugs he had for sale through social media. Lozada used and carried firearms in connection with his drug distribution business, again posting video and photos of himself and his associates carrying firearms to social media. Ultimately, Lozada was arrested in an apartment in Woodbridge in possession of cocaine, a scale, packaging material, cash, cell phones, a Glock 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, and ammunition.
“ATF’s primary mission is to protect America’s neighborhoods from violent crime,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. “Consequently, when ATF identifies those gang members who perpetrate violence by trafficking drugs and carrying firearms, make no mistake, we will use all of our resources as demonstrated in this case to bring them to justice and get them off our streets.”
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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary 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. 1:18-cr-372.
Former Employee of D.C. School Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A former Virginia resident was sentenced today to six years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for transporting child pornography.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division made the announcement.
Paul Joseph Wilson, 49, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. According to admissions Wilson made in connection with his plea, in 2013, Wilson lived and worked at a school in Washington, D.C. While living in a dormitory at the school, Wilson downloaded child pornography from the Internet and subscribed to child-pornography-specific newsgroup services. Wilson later transported child pornography from D.C. to Virginia. Wilson also admitted to being a member of a child pornography website that operated over the dark web and to using the dark web to access and download images of children being sexually abused.
The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Trial Attorney Kyle P. Reynolds of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Smith III of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for his possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and while under a term of federal supervised release during a traffic stop in Henrico County.
According to court documents, Jabali Dickerson, 27, was in a vehicle with two other people that was stopped by Henrico County police officers in December 2018. Upon speaking with the driver, the officer smelled marijuana emanating from the vehicle and noticed at the feet of Dickerson, in the back seat, a backpack. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded Glock, model 30, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, in the backpack and a check stub with Dickerson’s name. A search of Dickerson’s pants pocket revealed the check linked to the check stub found in the backpack. It was later confirmed that Dickerson was a convicted felon and on a term of federal supervised release at the time of his arrest.
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 Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Humberto I. Cardounel, Jr., Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. 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. 3:19-cr-43.
Portsmouth Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Violent Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today for his role in a violent racketeering conspiracy and other related firearm charges.
According to court documents, Timothy Sawyer-House, aka “Trouble”, 28, was a member of a Portsmouth-based “line” of the Nine Trey Gangsters (NTG), a gang affiliated with the United Blood Nation. In March 2014, Sawyer-House was in a vehicle with a fellow gang member who opened fire and murdered 23-year old Portsmouth resident, Delante Eley.
As a member of the NTG, Sawyer-House also sold narcotics and firearms on multiple occasions to a confidential informant who was working for the FBI.
Sawyer-House pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sawyer-House faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison when he is sentenced on October 23. 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 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.
The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Billy Club. 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, and Angela Greene, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Raymond A Jackson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler, Andrew C. Bosse, and Joseph E. DePadilla 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. 2:19-cr-36.
Former Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Dispensing OpioidsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former pharmacy owner pleaded guilty today to fraudulently filling and dispensing thousands of prescription medications, including opioids, outside the usual course of professional practice.
According to court documents, Latif Mohamed Chowdhury, aka Gulam Latif Chaudhury, 28, operated, managed, directed, and controlled two now-defunct pharmacies known as Alexandria Care Pharmacy LLC (ACP-1) and Alexandria Care Pharmacy Store #2 LLC (ACP-2). Chowdhury has never been qualified to serve as a licensed pharmacist and has no medical qualifications. Nonetheless, between August 2015 and February 2016, Chowdhury fraudulently operated ACP-1 and ACP-2 by personally filling and dispensing thousands of dosage units of medications, including opioids, without a licensed pharmacist on-site. Chowdhury used the identities of licensed pharmacists, without their permission, to carry out his scheme.
Chowdhury admitted to fraudulently billing health insurance benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for refills of prescription medications that were not delivered to customers even though his pharmacies received payment for these prescriptions. Chowdhury also submitted fraudulent health insurance claims in the names of pharmacy customers for medications that were not authorized by any physician, and were not dispensed to any of the customers, in order to enrich himself through illicit profits generated by ACP-1 and ACP-2.
Furthermore, on several occasions, Chowdhury dispensed Schedule II controlled substances in the names of minors, including children as young as 7 and 8-years-old, outside the usual course of professional practice. During the execution of a search warrant, a loaded Colt .38-caliber firearm that belonged to Chowdhury was located in plain view on the pharmacy department shelves.
Chowdhury pleaded guilty to unlawful distribution of Schedule II controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice, and also agreed to forfeit $500,000 as proceeds of his illegal conduct. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on September 27. 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, Charles Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raj Parekh and Monika Moore 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 is 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-203.
Man Sentenced for Attempt to Sell Firearm and Bulletproof VestRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nine and a half years in prison for possessing and attempting to sell a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and a bulletproof vest.
“Criminals typically remove serial numbers from guns to make them harder to trace, so they can be used in future crimes,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Coupled with the bulletproof vest, Jones attempted to introduce to the community the necessary materials intended to commit serious acts of violence. My sincere thanks to our local and federal law enforcement partners for their effort in making our streets safer with the successful prosecution of this felon.”
According to court documents, Dominic Jones, 29, agreed to sell a firearm and a bulletproof vest for $500 to a confidential informant working for the ATF. In August 2018, Jones arrived by vehicle to meet the informant in the 1900 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike of Richmond, to make the sale. Upon Jones’s arrival, Richmond Police officers located Jones sitting in the backseat of a vehicle, approached the vehicle, and asked Jones to step out. As Jones exited the vehicle, RPD officers immediately noticed in plain view a firearm at Jones’s feet.
RPD officers recovered the firearm and determined it to be a Taurus, model PT111, 9mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol, with an obliterated serial number. On the seat next to Jones, RPD officers recovered a black bag containing a bulletproof vest. A records check revealed Jones as a convicted felon and he was placed under arrest. A search of Jones revealed a syringe of suspected heroin. RPD officers later recovered multiple text messages from Jones’s cellphone to the confidential informant setting up the sale of the firearm.
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, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division, and William C. Smith, Interim Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. 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. 3:19-cr-17.