Western District of Virginia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Stanley, Virginia Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Stanley, Virginia man, who was found to be in possession of almost 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, a .380 pistol, and more than $30,000 in cash in November 2019, was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Gene Anderson Stidham, 41, pleaded guilty in January 2021 to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, on November 26, 2019, law enforcement assisted a Virginia probation officer with a search of Stidham’s residence in Stanley, Va. During the search, crystal methamphetamine, a wallet, and plastic bags were located. At a second location associated with Stidham, approximately twenty-nine pounds of methamphetamine, more than $33,000 in cash, and a loaded Smith and Wesson .380 pistol, were recovered.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Luray Police Department, the Stanley Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee prosecuted the case.
50-Year Sentence for Virginia Man Who Produced Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bland County, Virginia man was sentenced last week to 50 years in prison for making and producing child pornography at his home and illegally possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense.
William Dean Blankenship, 42, was a previously convicted felon residing in Bland County. On February 12, 2021, the Bland County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police executed a state search warrant at Blankenship’s home after receiving information that the defendant had engaged in sexual acts with children and was in possession of child pornography.
During that search, a cellular phone and other electronic devices that belonged to Blankenship were recovered. Blankenship’s phone contained over 50 video files of child pornography made by the defendant that showed him engaging in sexual intercourse with two minors under the age of 18. The investigation revealed that Blankenship routinely coerced and enticed the two minors to engage in sexual activity with Blankenship, and with one another, after he gave the minors narcotics and other controlled substances. Blankenship’s abuse began when the minors were approximately 13 and 14 years old. Law enforcement also located a firearm in the defendant’s home.
“Today’s lengthy sentence shows the commitment of the Department of Justice to protecting children from the type of abuse and coercive exploitation this defendant exhibited over several years,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “My Office will continue to investigate and prosecute all those who prey on our most vulnerable victims. I am grateful to the work of the Department of Homeland Security and the Virginia State Police for their work on this case.”.
“Now, Mr. Blankenship will begin to pay for the horrific atrocities he committed,” said Ray Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington, D.C. “This sentencing serves as another example to anyone who seeks to victimize our children, that we will work tirelessly to bring them to justice. HSI was proud to have partnered the Virginia State Police, as well as the Bland County and Giles County Sheriff’s Offices on this case.”
In September 2021, Blankenship pleaded guilty to 17 counts of production of child pornography and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bland County Sheriff’s Office, the Giles County Sheriff’s Office, and Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Luray Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Army RecruiterRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Luray, Virginia man pleaded guilty today to cyberstalking a female Army recruiter after being upset about failing his Army entrance examination.
According to court documents, Braxton Louis Danley, 26, contacted the victim, an army recruiter in Harrisonburg, Virginia, via email in February 2018 expressing his interest in joining the United States Army. In March 2018, Danley arrived at the victim’s recruiting station in Harrisonburg to take the required entrance exam. When Danley was unable to obtain a passing score, the victim and other recruiters instructed Danley to continue studying and to retake the test at a later date.
In April 2018, Danley called the victim multiple times on both her Army-issued cell phone and the recruiting station general telephone to inquire about re-taking the entrance exam. Each time, Danley was asked if he had studied for the test - which he admitted that he had not - and was advised that he would only be permitted to re-take the test after he had studied.
On May 14, 2018, Danley sent an email to the victim’s official Army email address stating, “I remember every thing you [expletive] done to me so time to settle the score.” (sic). On the same date, Danley called the recruiting station and told another recruiter he was angry and that he (Danley) needed to be arrested. In light of the email threat and phone call, the victim obtained a “no trespassing” notice and posted it at the recruiting station.
For the next few months, Danley continued to send the victim harassing texts. Eventually, the victim obtained a state Preliminary Order of Protection (PPO) against Danley.
On December 23, 2018, Danley posted a message on Facebook directed at the victim and two other Army recruiters that read, in part, “your lieing fu**ed up my life . lock and load fu**ers ima at your doorstep now .”(sic) A week later, Danley was arrested for violation of the state PPO and was convicted and sentenced to 12-months’ incarceration. He was released in June 2019.
Within a couple months of his release, Danley again posted threats against the victim on Facebook. Finally, in January 2020, Danley posted a message on Facebook that read “24 im getin locked remember j rj this is to. you im coming to get you.”(sic) Along with the message, Danley posted a link to a YouTube video that depicted, through images and lyrics, a violent home invasion and murder of the family residing in the home.
Danley pleaded guilty today cyberstalking and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2022 where he faces a sentence of up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Harrisonburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.
Danville Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges from Virginia, North CarolinaRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville, Virginia man, who spent two years as a fugitive after embezzling $600,000 from a Danville credit union before being arrested in Durham, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from his conduct in both Virginia and North Carolina.
Jorge Omar Navarro, 30, pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime for his conduct in Durham. Navarro also pleaded guilty to federal charges arising out of the Western District of Virginia: one count of embezzlement and one count of using counterfeit currency with the intent to commit fraud for his conduct in Danville.
“A unique course of criminality culminated in today’s guilty plea, which ensures that the defendant will be sentenced for the entire range of his misconduct,” said Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. “Credit for putting an end to the spree goes to officers of the Durham Police Department, whose thoroughness revealed that the defendant was in fact a drug trafficker and a fugitive from justice.
“This defendant used his position of trust within the credit union to gain access to large sums of money only to abuse that trust in the name of greed,” United States Attorney Chris Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia said today. “Fortunately, the men and women of the Danville Police Department acted swiftly and were able to keep all of the counterfeit bills in this case from making their way into circulation.”
Navarro was the head teller at a branch of URW Federal Credit Union in Danville. As head teller, Navarro had access to the vault and authority to order money for the branch. In September 2018, Navarro fled after taking $600,000 in cash from the credit union’s vaults and replacing it with counterfeit bills. Navarro spent two years as a fugitive.
Navarro remined a fugitive until March 2021, when the Durham Police Department in North Carolina responded to a report of shots fired and found a man (later identified as Navarro) covered in blood who claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint. After obtaining a search warrant for the premises, they located multiple firearms, kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $74,000 in cash. Navarro later admitted to investigators that he obtained the cash by selling drugs and confirmed his true identity, admitting that he had been using an alias after an incident with a bank in Virginia.
At sentencing, he faces a minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum penalty of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Danville Police Department, the United States Secret Service, the Durham Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric L. Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina and Rachel Barish Swartz for the Western District of Virginia.
Organizer of Conspiracy that Defrauded Cares Act of over $1.5 Million in Unemployment Benefits Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Jonesville, Virginia woman, who admitted to heading a conspiracy that defrauded the government of more than $1.5 million in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution.
Farren Gaddis Ricketts, 31, and her co-conspirators concocted a scheme to gather personal identification information and then submit unemployment claims to the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)] website for individuals who were known to be ineligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits, including various inmates in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities.
According to court documents, Ricketts developed a business entity called “Ricketts Advisory, LLC,” registered it with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and advertised as a financial services company that helped with filing pandemic unemployment claims.
In addition to receiving unemployment benefits herself, Ricketts charged fees to over 120 of her co-conspirator “clients” for the service of filing their fraudulent claims.
Between May 2020 and February 2021, Ricketts and her co-conspirators filed more than 150 fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits. For many of these filings, Ricketts created fraudulent documents to support the claims, including fraudulent IRS forms purporting to show pre-pandemic income.
“When Congress provided much needed financial assistance for those impacted by COVID-19, Farren Ricketts led a criminal conspiracy to steal more than $1.5 million in pandemic-related unemployment benefits,” U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “My Office will continue to lead the effort to prosecute those who stole money intended for those in legitimate need, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this offense and the impact it had on our communities. I am thankful to the IRS, DOL-OIG, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office and the Norton Police Department for their work on this important investigation.”
“Ricketts not only defrauded taxpayers herself, but she also helped dozens more criminals line their pockets with unemployment benefits meant for those truly in need,” said Darrell Waldon, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge, Washington DC Field Office. “Our special agents will continue to pursue COVID-19 related fraud and ensure those who commit it are brought to justice.”
“Farren Ricketts and her co-conspirators profited from fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) they filed for individuals they knew to be ineligible for PUA benefits. In furtherance of the scheme, Ricketts utilized her financial services business, Ricketts Advisory, LLC., to manage the filing of the fraudulent claims and to create fraudulent documentation to support the claims. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is grateful for our partnerships with the Virginia Employment Commission and our many law-enforcement partners. We also thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued efforts to prosecute those who violate public benefit programs and commit fraud,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Norton Police Department in Wise County are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Three Indicted for Armed Hobbs Act Robbery and ShootingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment today charging three local men in connection with a September 2021 shooting and attempted armed robbery of an Albemarle County man who they believe possessed marijuana.
The grand jury today charged Madison Wonne Zelee, 26, Tyrel Anthony Dowell, 22, and Tyreek Saquan Ragland, 24, all of Charlottesville, each with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of committing Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of discharge of a firearm in commission of a Hobbs Act Robbery. In addition, Dowell and Zelee were each charged with an additional count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to respond to the spike in violent crimes across the Charlottesville-Albemarle County region by bringing federal charges when appropriate,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Partnering with law enforcement agencies across our community is a key component to achieving our shared goal of protecting our communities from gun violence.”
“The FBI is committed to leveraging our investigative resources to assist our law enforcement partners in addressing these violent crimes,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “We encourage anyone who has witnessed or is a victim of a violent crime to report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.”
According to the indictment, on September 30, 2021, Zelee, Dowell, and Ragland conspired to steal cash and other goods against their victim’s will through the use of force and fear of injury while brandishing and discharging a firearm.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Albemarle County Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Big Stone Gap Man Sentenced for Unemployment, Mail FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va., – A Big Stone Gap, Virginia man was sentenced last week to 60 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $164,470 in restitution for his part in a much larger conspiracy to defraud the government of more than $1.5 million in pandemic-related unemployment funds.
Johnny Hobbs, 37, joined co-defendant Farren Ricketts, 31, and others in a scheme to file fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits via the Virginia Employment Commission [VEC] website. Co-conspirators submitted unemployment claims containing materially false representations for various individuals who were known to be ineligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits.
While incarcerated, Hobbs joined the scheme in May 2020, initially seeking to receive unemployment benefits for himself. After he was released from jail, Hobbs approached Ricketts, and the other co-conspirators, and accepted a limited role with their criminal enterprise submitting claims to the VEC and recertifying weekly claims for other co-conspirators.
Ricketts, who pleaded guilty to similar charges, will be sentenced later this week.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentence today.
The Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Norton Police Department in Wise County investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .
Abingdon Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Stolen Mail, Bank FraudRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An Abingdon, Virginia man who stole hundreds of pieces of mail from over 100 different addresses in the Abingdon area, including a check he altered and cashed at a local bank, pleaded guilty today to related charges.
Bradley Alan Wolfe, 38, admitted today to possessing hundreds of pieces of mail that he stole from residential mailboxes in the Abingdon area in March, April, and September 2021. Items taken include multiple packages, cash, a United States passport, and checks ranging from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Wolfe altered one of the checks he stole by replacing the payee’s name with his own and cashed the check at Eastman Credit Union in Abingdon for $4,890.
Wolfe pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and one count of bank fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2022 and faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance provided by the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
USP Lee Inmate Sentenced for Possessing WeaponRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An inmate at United States Penitentiary (USP) Lee in Jonesville, Virginia was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison for possessing a weapon inside the prison.
Inmate Marquell Alonzo Derrington, 26, was convicted of possessing an 8-inch long, prison-made sharpened weapon, and pleaded guilty on September 7, 2021.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Debbie Stevens prosecuted the case for the United States.
Inmate and Visitor Plead Guilty to Introducing Buprenorphine at USP LeeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An inmate at United States Penitentiary (USP) Lee in Jonesville, Virginia and his visitor pleaded guilty this week for their roles in introducing Buprenorphine into the prison.
Deborah Townsend, 36, of Jonesborough, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing, and possessing with the intent to distribute, Buprenorphine, a Schedule III narcotic.
Co-defendant Michael Selvidge, 37, an inmate at USP Lee, pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited object (Buprenorphine), possession with the intent to distribute Buprenorphine, and conspiracy to provide an inmate a prohibited object.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the guilty pleas today.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Debbie Stevens prosecuted the case for the United States.
Dublin, Virginia Man Sentenced on Drug, Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Dublin, Virginia man, who illegally possessed a pair of firearms and methamphetamine, was sentenced this week to 81 months in federal prison.
Dezmon Harmon, 28, pleaded guilty in August to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of a firearm which has had the serial number removed, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to court documents, on April 29, 2020, authorities attempted to initiate a traffic stop of Harmon in Wythe County, Virginia, but he sped off in his vehicle before exiting and fleeing on foot. Harmon was eventually apprehended by Wythe County deputies and found to be in possession of methamphetamine, a loaded, sawed-off shotgun, and a loaded .40 caliber pistol.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
Roanoke Woman Sentenced for Misusing Official Government SealRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va., – A Roanoke woman was sentenced this week to two years’ probation, the first 90 days of which must be spent on home detention, for creating a document misusing the official seal of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
According to court documents, Lisa Rachelle Spangler, 50, obtained new employment with Medi Home Health in 2020. As part of her employment, a background check was conducted on Spangler, which revealed Spangler was previously convicted of a federal crime in the Western District of Virginia, a fact she hid from her new employers.
Spangler was convicted in 2018 of making a false statement under oath in a federal court proceeding.
When Spangler was confronted about her conviction, she produced a document on letterhead from the Office of the Clerk with the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The letter included the name of the current Clerk of Court and the seal for United States District Court.
The letter claimed that Lisa Rachelle Spangler was not involved in the case referred to in the background check. The letter was not legitimate, and had been fabricated by the defendant.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene R. Day prosecuted the case.
Pair Sentenced to More than 10 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, and Fentanyl in Roanoke AreaRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A pair of Roanoke men, who conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, at least 100 grams of heroin, and 40 grams or more of both fentanyl and cocaine, were sentenced last week to more than 10 years each in federal prison.
Jarod Sylvester Alston, 28, was sentenced last week to 135 months in federal prison and Antonio Lemar Waddell, 32, was sentenced to 132 months in prison.
According to court documents, from at least May 2018 until September 2019, Alston, Waddell, and others engaged in trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl out of a residence on Crescent Street, NW, in the City of Roanoke.
On August 28, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at the Crescent Street residence and seized a variety of illegal drugs, including approximately 370 grams of methamphetamine, 103 grams of fentanyl, 8 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of heroin, and 119 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl. In addition, multiple firearms and more than $38,000 in cash were also seized.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the City of Roanoke Police Department, the Roanoke Division of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Kari Munro prosecuted the case for the United States.
Dickenson County Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearms and Methamphetamine While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Dickenson County, Virginia man was sentenced today to 130 months of total incarceration for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and violating the terms of his supervised release.
Bernard Anthony Murphy, 57, was released from federal prison on July 29, 2020, approximately five years earlier than expected, due to being granted a compassionate release because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and alleged medical issues. Murphy was placed on a three-year term of supervised release, the first four months of which were to be spent on home confinement.
However, Murphy admitted that in June 2021, less than one year after his compassionate release and while still on federal supervision, he was found in possession of over 17 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, a Ruger AR-15 rifle, and a Glock 43, 9mm pistol.
He pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The court sentenced him today to 106 months of imprisonment on the two new charges and 24 months of imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATFE’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case.
Leader of Rollin’ 30s in Roanoke Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Sean Denzel Guerrant, a Roanoke man who led the Rollin’ 30s Crips in Roanoke, pleaded guilty today to one count of racketeering conspiracy that included responsibility for a murder as well as a separate count involving a conspiracy to murder a different victim. During his plea hearing, Guerrant admitted to leading the criminal street gang whose members committed a murder in June 2017.
Guerrant, a.k.a. “Harlem Dunk” and his co-conspirators, Trayvone Raycron Kasey, Chauncey Dion Levesy, and Demonte Rashod Mack, were members of the Rollin’ 30s Crips, which also called itself the “Dirt Gang.” The Rollin’ 30s Crips are a national street gang founded in the greater Los Angeles, California area with smaller sets in other cities throughout the United States. The Roanoke set of the Rollin’ 30s operated primarily in northwest Roanoke, centered in and around the Lansdowne neighborhood.
“There is no higher priority for my Office than prosecuting murders stemming from gang violence. If you shoot and kill another person because of, or in furtherance of, some gang affiliation, you can know that the United States Attorney’s Office, and our partners in law enforcement, are going to investigate and bring federal charges where appropriate.” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case also sends a message to those perceived leaders of criminal enterprises. It makes no difference under federal law whether you personally committed the murder, or whether you encouraged, directed, or ordered another person to commit an act of violence. You are going to face the same consequences as those who pull the trigger. I am thankful to the FBI and the Roanoke City Police Department for their continued dedication to their work on this difficult but important mission.”
“While nothing can erase the pain that the family and friends of this young man feel after his life were taken, we hope this plea brings some level of peace and comfort to them. This joint investigation with our federal, state and local partners resulted in the successful conclusion of this homicide investigation. This is a clear and direct message to those who continue to choose to engage in gun violence and organized crime in Roanoke: we are going to do everything we can to hold you accountable for your actions. The Roanoke Police Department and our partners at every level of the judicial system are committed to doing our part to keep Roanoke safe,” said Chief Sam Roman, Roanoke Police Department
“Today’s result is the culmination of a multi-year, coordinated investigation by the FBI, City of Roanoke Police Department and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “This conviction shows that the FBI and its partners continue their commitment to investigate and disrupt those individuals and organizations who victimize our communities.”
Guerrant admitted today that he, Kasey, Mack, Levesy, and others conspired to conduct a pattern of racketeering activity, including multiple threats and acts of violence. Specifically, Guerrant ordered N.L., a seventeen-year-old, to kill D.F. to atone for N.L.’s gang violations and perceived disloyalty to the gang.
In the early morning hours of June 15, 2017, Kasey drove N.L. to pick up D.F., while Levesy and Mack followed them to a nearby Roanoke apartment complex. After arriving at the apartment complex, everyone except Levesy exited their vehicles while D.F. ran away and hid, leaving Mack, Kasey and N.L. together in one of the parking areas. At that time, N.L. refused to hand over his firearm to Kasey until Mack pointed his own firearm at N.L. and told him to give it up. After handing over his firearm to Kasey, N.L. ran away in an attempt to escape, but both Kasey and Mack chased him and ultimately shot N.L. twice in the back. According to the Medical Examiner, N.L.’s murder resulted from the two shots that entered his back.
After the shooting, Mack, Kasey, and Levesy returned to the gang’s “trap house” and met up with Guerrant and other Rollin’ 30s gang members, at which time everything that occurred was reported to Guerrant.
The City of Roanoke Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force investigated this case along with other law enforcement assets from the Virginia State Police, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller, Coleman Adams, and Michael Baudinet are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops 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.
Roanoke Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Conspiracy Charges, Faces Mandatory Life SentenceRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, Demonte Rashod Mack, 32, admitted today that he was a member of the Rollin’ 30s Crips and pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy charges for gang-related violence throughout the City of Roanoke.
Mack and his alleged co-conspirators, Trayvone Kasey, Chauncey Levesy, and others were members and associates of the Rollin’ 30s Crips, which also called itself the “Dirt Gang.” The Rollin’ 30s Crips are a national street gang founded in the greater Los Angeles, California area with smaller sets in other cities throughout the United States. The Roanoke set of the Rollin’ 30s operated primarily in northwest Roanoke, centered in and around the Lansdowne neighborhood.
“Reducing violent crime through impactful prosecutions like that of the Rollin’ 30s is a priority of this United States Attorney’s Office,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “We will continue to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure the cases we bring serve to make our communities safer.”
“Today's conviction demonstrates the FBI's commitment to working in conjunction with our partners to vigorously investigate and bring to justice those who commit violent crimes,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today.
Roanoke City Police Chief Sam Roman said, “This outcome is a great example of what happens when law enforcement has a successful partnership with the prosecutorial side of the justice system. Thanks to our partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement, Roanoke is a safer place. Our community is sending a strong message to those who choose to perpetuate gun violence and organized crime in our city: we will find you and do everything we can to hold you accountable for your actions.”
Mack admitted today that he, Kasey, Levesy, and others conspired to conduct a pattern of racketeering activity, including multiple threats and acts of violent crime.
Specifically, in June of 2017, Mack conspired with Kasey, Levesy, and others to murder “Victim D.F.” Court documents further allege that Mack and Kasey murdered “Victim N.L.” at the direction of a leader within the gang. Both D.F. and N.L. were members of the Rollin’ 30s gang, but fell out of favor with them in early summer of 2017.
N.L. was only seventeen years old when he was murdered and had graduated from high school just a few weeks earlier. He was still alive when police officers found him at the apartment complex, but died shortly thereafter. After the shooting, Mack and Levesy met up with other Rollin’ 30s gang members and reported everything that occurred to the gang’s leadership.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the City of Roanoke Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The investigation was a coordinated effort that also involved law enforcement assets from the Virginia State Police, the Roanoke County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller, Coleman Adams, and Michael Baudinet are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops 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.
Roanoke Man Arrested on Federal Gun Charges in Relation to 2019 Murder on Denniston AvenueRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who was charged but later acquitted in state court of a May 2019 murder that took place on Denniston Avenue in the City of Roanoke, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint out of the Western District of Virginia on federal firearms charges related to the same incident.
Demarcus Sahiquan Glenn, 23, was charged by state authorities with murder, attempted robbery and use of a firearm in commission of each of those crimes in relation to the May 2019 murder. At his trial, Glenn testified that he arrived at the location to engage in a drug transaction during which, according to Glenn, the victim pulled a gun on him. Glenn testified he pulled his own gun from his pocket and shot and killed the victim, T.P., who was 16 years old.
“It is a federal crime to use, carry, brandish, or discharge a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug transaction. My office is committed to playing a role with its federal, state, and local partners in addressing the gun violence in Roanoke,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “If you shoot and kill another person in the Western District of Virginia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is going to follow the facts and the law and seek federal charges when appropriate.”
“The FBI is committed to working with the United States Attorney’s Office to address drug activity and violent crime in the Roanoke area,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “We will continue to work with our partners to vigorously investigate and hold accountable those who pose risks to our communities and encourage residents to immediately report incidents to local law enforcement or the FBI through tips.FBI.gov.”
Glenn was arrested yesterday and charged with using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and brandishing and discharging said firearm. If convicted, Glenn faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coleman Adams, Kristin B. Johnson and Matthew Miller are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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 works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders, and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Sentenced this Week for Roles in Pandemic Unemployment Fraud, Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – Four more Southwest Virginia residents who conspired with over 30 other people to defraud the United States government by filing claims for more than $499,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits and committing mail fraud and other offenses were sentenced this week to federal prison time.
Randall Johnson, 42, of Castlewood, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in prison. Today, Steven Mullins, 34, of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was sentenced to 27 months, Ajay Johnson, 26, of Fruitland Park, Florida, received a sentence of 30 months, and Patrick Payne, 43, of Big Stone Gap, was sentenced to 24 months in prison.
“The nearly $500,000 in funds stolen by this conspiracy could have gone to Virginians in critical need of support during a pandemic, but instead went into the hands of those undeserving,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The sentences handed out this week prove that this Department of Justice will not standby as individuals take advantage of programs designed to help our nation recovery from this once in a generation health crisis.”
“These conspirators thought they could game the system and defraud the government during a time of national crisis,” said IRS-CI Washington DC Field Office Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon. “We will continue to root out Covid-19 related fraud and bring these bad actors to justice.”
“Randall Johnson, Steven Mullins, Ajay Johnson, and Patrick Payne, all sought to financially enrich themselves by engaging in a conspiracy to submit false claims for pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) for ineligible claimants, to include prisoners. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and its partners, such as the Virginia Employment Commission and U.S. Attorney’s Office, will continue to work together to preserve the integrity of the PUA program by vigorously pursuing those who commit this type of fraud,” stated Special Agent-In-Charge Syreeta Scott, Philadelphia Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
According to court documents, R. Johnson, Mullins, Payne, and A. Johnson conspired with others to file claims for pandemic unemployment benefits through the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) website. The scheme involved submitting claims for various individuals who were not eligible to receive pandemic unemployment benefits, including numerous inmates incarcerated in Southwest Virginia regional jails. To date, 23 of the co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their roles in the broader conspiracy.
Conspiracy members lied on the VEC filings as part of the scheme to make filers appear eligible for benefits. Because pandemic unemployment benefits were paid weekly, each of those filings re-verified and re-certified the false statements on numerous occasions throughout the scheme.
In all, the conspiracy participants filed fraudulent claims for approximately 37 individuals, causing at least $499,000 in false claims to be have been paid. In addition to those indicted, eight co-conspirators have already entered into plea agreements with the United States.
The Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Norton Police Department, and the Russell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Murphy prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or by accessing the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – The Department of Justice yesterday announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Western District of Virginia two localities were awarded funding totaling $$468,750.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“For more than 25 years, the Department’s COPS Program has supported local law enforcement to advance public safety in our communities. The money awarded under this year’s grant program will provide critical support to these local partners in our District in achieving their law enforcement mission,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.
The following localities in the Western District of Virginia received awards:
- The City of Radford - $375,000
- The City of Buena Vista - $93,750
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Roanoke Doctor Sentenced to Three Years’ Imprisonment for Over-Prescribing OpioidsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Virginia doctor was sentenced to 36 months in prison, a fine of $10,000, and a forfeiture money judgment of $500,000 yesterday for distributing and dispensing Schedule II controlled substances to patients outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The controlled substances charged included high dosages of morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentence today, stating, “Ms. Lewis violated her patients’ trust by placing her own greed before their very real needs. This significant sentence sends a strong message that our office will continue to investigate and prosecute any in the health care system who seek to illegally profit from the opioid crisis.”
According to evidence presented in court, Verna Mae Lewis, 70, profited over $523,000 from her illegal prescribing. The evidence also demonstrated that she prescribed patients the same regimen of opioids month after month without tapering and, in some cases, escalated dosages without any medical justification. She issued these prescriptions following little to no medical examination, without supporting records or diagnostic studies, and in contravention of guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Virginia Board of Medicine.
Lewis continued to prescribe opioids to patients in spite of their documented histories of substance abuse, accidental overdoses, and previous terminations from other medical practices for testing positive for cocaine and other illicit drugs.
As part of her guilty plea, Lewis agreed to surrender her medical licenses and registrations, to never apply for their reinstatement, and to never practice medicine in the future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration–Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Virginia State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.Salem Man Pleads Guilty to Felony for ‘Buzzing’ Salem Firefighters with DroneRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Salem, Virginia man admitted to flying a drone near the fire station in the City of Salem on July 25, 2019 and “buzzing” a group of firefighters that stood outside. The drone flew directly at the firefighters who had to dive out of the way, and then flew into the garage of the fire station where it crashed into a pole.
James Russell Weeks, III pleaded guilty to operating an unregistered aircraft, a felony that is punishable up to three years in prison.
Because any drone weighing more than .55 pounds is considered an “unmanned aircraft” by the Federal Aviation Administration, it must be registered before being operated, and Weeks failed to register his drone with the FAA as required.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Salem Police Department and United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man pleaded guilty last week to possession with the intent to distribute the deadly drug fentanyl.
Dakota Shadoe Tunnell, 21, became known to law enforcement in early 2021 when a flood of illegal pills began showing up in Smyth County, Virginia. The pills resembled a pharmaceutical preparation of oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, but were inconsistent in size, shape, and color as compared to pharmaceutical-grade pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “pressed” or “M30” pills.
During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Tunnell had been purchasing 300 to 500 pills at a time from his supplier and redistributing them in the Marion, Virginia area. On September 5, 2021, law enforcement executed a controlled purchase of approximately 100 pills from Tunnell for $1,700.
“The sale of fentanyl has grown dramatically in Southwest Virginia. People need to be aware of the dangers associated with these illegal ‘pressed pills’ because one pill can kill,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The illicit use of fentanyl results in death or serious bodily injury more than any other controlled substance, and we will vigorously prosecute those who disseminate it.”
Tunnell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2022. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
Pair Plead Guilty to Distributing Eutylone in WinchesterRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va. – A pair of Winchester, Virginia men, pleaded guilty this week to possessing and distributing Eutylone, a Schedule I controlled substance primarily used for its psychoactive, stimulant effects.
Eutylone emerged on the United States’ illicit drug market in 2014, reports of its abuse have sharply increased since 2018. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that Eutylone is being falsely marketed by drug dealers as MDMA (“Ecstasy” or “Molly”) and has been distributed under the street names of “Red Bull” and “Blue Playboy,” among others.
Beginning in January 2020, the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force conducted multiple controlled drug buys from Gregory McKinley Frye, 54, and his nephew, Lamont Antoine Parson, 39. On February 6, 2020, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the Winchester, Virginia apartment occupied by Frye and Parson and recovered over three kilograms of Eutylone, a 9mm pistol, and a digital scale.
“Eutylone is especially risky to users because it looks nearly identical to other drugs like Ecstasy or Molly but produces a weaker effect, tempting people to take more, and leading to severe adverse effects such as tremors, seizures, or even death,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The prosecution of these defendants serves to make Winchester a safer community by educating its citizens of the presence of this dangerous drug in their town.”
Frye pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute Eutylone and two counts of distribution of Eutylone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2022 and faces up to 20 years in prison. Parson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute Eutylone and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute Eutylone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2022 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force (comprised of the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, the Luray Police Department, the Front Royal Police Department, the Strasburg Police Department, the Winchester Police Department, and the Virginia State Police) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.
Kentucky Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Jenkins, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 147 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine from Kentucky into Wise County, Virginia.
From February to April 2021, James Orlin Little, 54, sold large quantities of methamphetamine to three confidential informants working for the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force. On April 21, 2021, authorities conducted a traffic stop on Little’s vehicle and found approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, spoons with narcotics residue, plastic baggies, and a loaded 9mm rifle.
Little pleaded guilty in July 2021 to distributing more than five grams of “ice” methamphetamine, possessing with the intent to distribute more than five grams of “ice” methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Wise County Man of Trafficking Methamphetamine from Atlanta into Southwest VirginiaRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Wise County man this week of trafficking methamphetamine from Atlanta, Georgia.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Daniel Rowland, 46, had been trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine from a source in Atlanta, Georgia, to southwest Virginia for further distribution. Rowland was arrested in possession of over two pounds of methamphetamine, $32,500 in U.S. currency, and a loaded 9mm pistol. Rowland had been wiring money from the Food City grocery in Wise, Virginia, directly to Mexico to pay for methamphetamine he purchased in Atlanta.
A federal jury convicted Rowland of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, money laundering, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug crime, and two counts of distributing methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Former Lynchburg Attorney Sentenced on Wire Fraud, Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A former Lynchburg, Virginia attorney, who specialized in elder law and estate planning, was sentenced today to 24 months for wire fraud and making false statements.
Cherie Anne Washburn, 45, engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money or property by fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises from elderly victims. Evidence showed that Washburn used the ill-gotten monies to enrich herself, including purchasing real estate and making donations to charities that her boss owned in order to curry favor.
“This defendant took the trust a client places in their attorney to always act in their best interest and betrayed it,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Many of the victims in this case were older members of our community, making Washburn’s fraud scheme more egregious. I am grateful to Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison and the FBI for their work on this case, and hopeful that the victims have some level of closure today.”
“Ms. Washburn gained the trust of her clients to commit her criminal activity. With this guilty plea, Ms. Washburn has finally accepted responsibility for her actions; and those who were manipulated and suffered losses because of her deceit will see justice served,” Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division said. “FBI Richmond appreciates the partnership of the Lynchburg City Police Department and the Western District of the United States Attorney’s Office during this investigation. If you suspect fraud, please report it to tips.fbi.gov or to your local FBI office.”
“Cherie Washburn’s calculated and predatory behavior was rightfully punished with a 24 month active sentence in a federal prison. Outcomes like this are the result of agencies working together to bring criminal activity like this to light. I am very appreciative for the resources dedicated to this prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI,” said Bethany Harrison, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Lynchburg.
In 2015 and 2016, a senior care management service company referred elderly clients to Washburn for the purpose of obtaining elder-related legal services. Washburn subsequently entered separate Power of Attorney (POA) agreements with each of her victims. Under the terms of these POAs, Washburn was entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement for reasonable expenses for services rendered but could not use the personal property of any client to benefit herself.
Despite these agreements and her ethical obligations, Washburn wrote multiple checks and made wire transfers from her victims’ accounts to herself for personal benefit. These checks and transfers ranged in value from $3,025 to $45,000. Additionally, in 2017, Washburn attempted to improperly make herself the beneficiary of two investment accounts held by one of her victims. At the time, these accounts had a combined approximate value of $288,000.
In April 2018, Washburn entered into an agreement to purchase a residence in Lynchburg for approximately $219,000 using monies belonging to another one of her victims and a mortgage lender. In order to complete the home purchase, Washburn submitted a letter to Quicken Loans falsely stating that Washburn was this elderly victim’s great-niece and that this victim provided Washburn with a gift of $40,000 for the purchase of the residence. The next day, Washburn deposited $45,000 from this victim’s SunTrust Account to Washburn’s Wells Fargo account.
In addition to surrendering her license to practice law, Washburn pleaded guilty in July 2021 to two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a mortgage lender.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Baudinet and Daniel P. Bubar, as well as Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison, prosecuted the case.
Wise County Woman Sentenced for Failing to Disclose Information Regarding Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Norton, Virginia woman was sentenced today to 3 months in prison for failing to disclose information that would have affected her right to continue receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits.
According to court documents, Robin Annette Fultz, 50, received SSI disability benefits for which she was ineligible from July 1, 2009 through November 1, 2019. During this time, Fultz was married to Timothy Fultz, who had full-time employment. Following a brief separation that caused a temporary move to South Carolina in 2008, Robin and Timothy Fultz reconciled in July 2009 and lived together in Wise County from 2009-2019.
Despite this reconciliation, Robin Fultz knowingly and falsely stated on forms that she and her husband had been separated since 2006, that they had not lived together since that time, and that she lived alone while paying rent to a landlord in South Carolina.
In all, Robin Fultz received $85,867 in SSI disability benefits for which she was not eligible.
Fultz pleaded guilty in August 2021 to having knowledge of an event affecting her initial or continued right to receive any Supplemental Security Income as well as concealing or failing to disclose such an event with the intent to fraudulently secure such benefit.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The Office of the Inspector General – Social Security Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Winchester Man of Distribution of Heroin Resulting in an OverdoseRead the Press Release
HARRISONBURG, Va.– A federal jury convicted a Winchester, Virginia man yesterday for conspiring with others to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin as well as distributing heroin that resulted in serious bodily injury.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Robert Bradley Lockhart, 33, was a heroin dealer connected to a drug pipeline between Baltimore, Maryland and Front Royal, Virginia. During the course of the investigation, the Northwest Virginia Drug and Gang Task Force (NWDGTF) Front Royal Team identified more than 30 overdose injuries connected to that heroin pipeline, and conducted dozens of controlled heroin buys, traffic stops, search warrants and interviews with Virginia-based heroin sub-distributors. This investigation led to the arrest of many individuals, including the defendant, Robert Bradley Lockhart.
“Stopping the flow of heroin and other powerful drugs from out-of-state is a top priority of the Justice Department,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Lockhart, and others, brought hundreds of grams of deadly drugs into Virginia and caused multiple overdoses. I am grateful to the work of the Front Royal Police Department, the DEA, and the Assistant United States Attorneys who prosecuted this conspiracy for closing this deadly pipeline.”
According to cooperating witnesses, Lockhart obtained quantities of heroin ranging from 10 to 30 grams each time he traveled to Baltimore between the summer of 2016 and December 2017, sometimes going to Baltimore several times a week. His heroin sales led to three different overdoses, one of which was the basis for the second count. Law enforcement conducted six controlled purchases of heroin from Lockhart and recovered 24 grams of heroin concealed in his anal cavity on the date of his arrest.
The Front Royal Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Northwest Virginia Drug and Gang Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Rumsey and Heather L. Carlton prosecuted the case.
Husband and Wife Real Estate Team Indicted on Federal Fraud, Identify Theft ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A federal grand jury returned an indictment this week charging a Wise, Virginia couple, who owned and operated a local real estate agency, with defrauding multiple advance commission companies and committing aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, Jessee Allen Deloach, 40, and Natasha Ashley Miller Deloach, 38, owned and operated Koltown Properties, a real estate agency with locations in both Wise and Abingdon, Virginia.
As alleged in the indictment, from March 1, 2016 through November 30, 2019, Jessee and Natasha Ashley Miller Deloach created at least nineteen fraudulent residential sales contracts and submitted them to multiple advance commission companies in order to fraudulently obtain money.
Advance commission companies provide a financial service to real estate agents by assisting them with cash flow. Specifically, real estate agents sell portions of their pending commissions on legitimate residential sales contracts in exchange for access to cash before the closing date.
Both defendants are charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and will make their initial court appearance November 9, 2021 in Abingdon, Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Virginia Man Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine, Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Wytheville, Virginia man was sentenced earlier this month to 248 months in prison for distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm.
Following a three-day trial in September, a jury convicted Tracy Leonard Brown, 45, on four counts—one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possessing firearms after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine while knowingly being an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
According to evidence presented at trial, Brown was arrested on July 3, 2019 after a high-speed pursuit through Carroll County where he used a scout to avoid law enforcement. Searches of Brown’s person and car uncovered more than two pounds of methamphetamine, two pistols, digital scales, baggies, and roughly $3,800 in cash. The evidence also showed that Brown had sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Wytheville just weeks before the high-speed pursuit.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police.
Assistant United State Attorneys Whit D. Pierce and Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.
Culpeper Woman Arrested in Dark Web Murder-for-Hire PlotRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Culpeper woman, who went online in an attempt to hire a hitman using bitcoin, was arrested today on federal criminal charges.
According to court documents, Annie Nicole Ritenour, 25, placed an “order” via the Dark Web that advertised murder-for-hire services. Ritenour created an account with the website and deposited approximately $3,200 in bitcoin to hire a hitman to kill her intended victim. To further assist with her “order,” Ritenour uploaded photos of her intended victim, as well as other personal information, including their place of employment, type of vehicle they own, and the best time and place to kill them.
“This case highlights the need for more intense federal enforcement of the cyber security protocols of the Internet,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia has made cybercrime a priority for this exact reason, and this murder-for-hire plot serves as an example of why we need to remain vigilant in the policing of those dark corners of the web where cybercrime thrives.”
“Upon learning of the murder-for-hire plot, the FBI moved quickly to ensure the safety of the intended victim and identified Ms. Ritenour as the person responsible for the threat,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Neil Mathison said today. “The FBI reminds the public that making threats online or using the Dark Web to hire someone to harm another has serious consequences, and we will work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney's Office to hold criminals accountable.”
Ritenour is charged with one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and one count of murder-for-hire. If convicted, Ritenour faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine, International Money Laundering, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Greenville, South Carolina man, who formerly resided in Bristol, Virginia, pleaded guilty last week to distributing methamphetamine, international money laundering, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiring to obstruct justice.
According to court documents, Joshua Desorcy, 36, was directly responsible for coordinating the importation of methamphetamine shipments through a source of supply in Mexico.
Desorcy directed his co-conspirators to make numerous trips to Atlanta, Georgia and Houston, Texas, in 2020 and 2021 to pick up large quantities of methamphetamine from sources of supply in those cities. Desorcy coordinated these pickups by directing the wiring of funds to various recipients in Mexico as identified by indicted co-conspirator Amy Cobb.
Desorcy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering with the intent to promote the carrying on of a specified unlawful activity, one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of conspiring to obstruct justice. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2022. The defendant has agreed to a sentencing range of 35-40 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the DEA’s Washington Division made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Murphy is prosecuting the case.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Possess Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man pleaded guilty last week to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Anthony P. Arrindell, 19, ordered illegal fentanyl pills through the mail. The pills resembled a pharmaceutical preparation of oxycodone-hydrochloride pills, but the pills were inconsistent in size, shape, and color as compared to pharmaceutical-grade pills. Pills of this type are sometimes referred to as “pressed” or “M30” pills.
In early 2021, law enforcement began investigating a flood of illegal pill distribution in Smyth County, Virginia. On July 21, 2021, United States Postal Inspection Service investigators identified and intercepted a suspected drug parcel. Investigators executed a federal search warrant on the parcel and found it contained what appeared to be pressed fentanyl pills. There were more than 1,700 pills in the package, with a total weight of approximately 188 grams. Lab testing later confirmed that the pills contained fentanyl.
On August 16, 2021, investigators intercepted another suspected drug parcel that had the same California return address as the July parcel. Investigators conducted a controlled delivery of this parcel from the Post Office in Marion. Arrindell came to the Post Office, collected the parcel, and left the Post Office with the parcel. Law Enforcement confronted Arrindell outside the Post Office. Inside the parcel, investigators found approximately 22.7 grams of pressed pills.
“Communities across Virginia have been ravaged by the spread of opioids, leading to higher levels of substance abuse disorder and overdose deaths,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals bring these substances into our communities, this United States Attorney’s Office, along with our partners in law enforcement, will act to prosecute those offenders in order to protect the community, especially those struggling to overcome addiction.”
Arrindell, who is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2022, faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison up to a maximum sentence of forty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
Danville Man Sentenced for Distributing Cocaine, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville man was sentenced last week to 87 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine and methamphetamine.
Joe Ali Daniels, 61, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of distributing cocaine and two counts of distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in May, September, and October of 2019, Daniels made several sales of cocaine and methamphetamine to police. During each of these transactions, Daniels used a cell phone to arrange the sales, which took place at Daniels’ residence in Danville, Virginia. Once at the residence, Daniels called another individual, who delivered the drugs to complete the transaction.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Washington Field Division made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Danville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Swartz and Coleman Adams prosecuted the case for the United States.
Gordonsville Man Pleads Guilty in Series of 2020 Summertime Armed Robberies of Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Gordonsville, Virginia man pleaded guilty today to federal Hobbs Act robbery charges in connection to a series of armed robberies that took place at commercial businesses in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Stafford County.
According to court documents, Dominique Dejone Thurston, 23, committed a series of armed Hobbs Act robberies at commercial businesses in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Stafford County. These robberies included the Oak Hill Market in Albemarle County, the 7-Eleven on Ivy Road in the City of Charlottesville, a BP gas station convenience store in the City of Charlottesville, the 7-Eleven on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County, a Kangaroo Gas station in Albemarle County, a 7 Day Junior Store in the City of Charlottesville, and the 7-Eleven on Boulderview Road in Albemarle County. During each robbery, Thurston brandished a firearm while pointing it at a store employee and demanding cash.
“This case serves as a perfect example of when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to help address violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting the most violent offenders in our communities,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.
“This investigation is a great example of law enforcement collaboration at its best. ATF is proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, and the Stafford County Police Department in addressing violent offenders and those that illegally possess firearms,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said. “The ATF Washington Field Division will continue to stand alongside our partners to ensure our communities are protected against people that commit acts of violence.”
Thurston pleaded guilty today to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2022. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Charlottesville, and the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nina-Alice Antony with the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Charlottesville are prosecuting the case for the United States.
USP Lee Inmate Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A federal inmate at United States Penitentiary (USP) Lee in Jonesville, Virginia was sentenced last week to 84 additional months in prison for illegally possessing a controlled substance and for possessing contraband in prison.
According to court documents, Antoine Biggs, 37, pleaded guilty on July 14, 2021 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute buprenorphine, a schedule III-controlled substance and one count of possessing contraband in prison.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Biggs was sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the Bureau of Prison in the amount of $31,471.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced the sentenced today.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Debbie Stevens prosecuted the case for the United States.
Christopher R. Kavanaugh Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Western District of VirginiaRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – In a ceremony Thursday evening, Christopher Robert Kavanaugh was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. The Honorable Lisa O. Monaco, Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice, administered the oath office at a private ceremony at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C.
President Joseph R. Biden nominated Mr. Kavanaugh to be the United States Attorney on August 10, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on October 5, 2021.
“It is the honor of my life to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. I know that the federal prosecutors here tirelessly serve the citizens of the Western District of Virginia in their pursuit of justice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such a talented and dedicated team of public servants,” U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “I look forward to working closely with our law enforcement partners, defense counsel, and the court in serving the District.”
U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh, 41, of Charlottesville, is a career federal prosecutor, having served as an Assistant United States Attorney for both the United States Attorney’s Office in Charlottesville as well as the District of Columbia. During his career, Mr. Kavanaugh directed numerous multi-agency investigations and prosecutions, including the hate crimes prosecution of James Fields for the August 12, 2017 car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia. Mr. Kavanaugh also served as the District’s chief national security prosecutor, and spent time supervising and training fellow prosecutors while serving as the Counsel to the U.S. Attorney and Senior Litigation Counsel. Most recently, Mr. Kavanaugh was Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Kavanaugh graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Tech, where received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable James C. Cacheris, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.
USP Lee Inmate Sentenced for Possessing a Weapon Inside the PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An inmate at USP Lee in Jonesville, Virginia was sentenced this week to 41 months of additional incarceration for possessing a weapon inside the prison.
According to court documents, Jose Soto-Ramirez, 35, possessed a weapon inside USP on December 22, 2019. He was sentenced this week to 41 additional months of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine M. Hummert prosecuted the case for the United States.
Tractor-Trailor Driver from Illinois Sentenced for Transporting Minor from Virginia to South Dakota and Engaging in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Cahokia, Illinois man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in prison for transporting a minor from Virginia to South Dakota with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to court documents, David Skaggs, 33, was an over-the-road tractor-trailer operator. In 2015, Skaggs started communicating on Facebook with a 15-year-old boy in Lee County, Virginia. Over the course of several months, Skaggs and the boy, “AA,” developed a friendly relationship and Skaggs became acquainted with AA’s family, including AA’s younger sister, victim “KL,” who was 13 years old.
In August 2015, Skaggs took AA and KL on a long-distance trip in his tractor-trailer. Skaggs picked up AA and KL in Lee County and drove them to South Dakota. After stopping at a truck stop in South Dakota, Skaggs bought the two minors alcohol, and they all drank while sitting in the truck. After AA was asleep, Skaggs had sexual intercourse with KL in the sleeper portion of Skaggs’ truck. KL later gave birth to Skaggs’s child.
“David Skaggs befriended the victim’s family to gain their trust only to later identify and abuse the young victim after driving her halfway across the country,” Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “Today’s sentence reflects the serious nature of his offense and just how serious this Justice Department approaches cases involving the abuse of children. I am grateful to the FBI, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Department of Social Services for the professional manner in which they handled this very serious and very delicate matter.”
“The FBI is committed to the safety and well-being of our community members, especially minors who unsuspectingly become associated with online predators and are victimized through betrayal and exploitation,” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Stanley M. Meador said today. “FBI Richmond will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to identify, investigate and prosecute these criminals and provide appropriate resources for the victims. If you know of or suspect someone has inappropriate contact with a minor, please report it to law enforcement immediately.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, and Virginia Department of Social Services investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit D. Pierce is prosecuting the case.
Southwest Virginia Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine from Georgia into Lee and Wise CountiesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Wise County, Virginia man was sentenced this week to 135 months in prison for conspiring with others to traffic methamphetamine from Georgia into Lee and Wise counties for redistribution.
According to court documents, Cory Austin Hammond, 23, purchased significant quantities of methamphetamine from co-defendant Daniel Rowland and other sources in Georgia. Hammond then transported the drugs into Lee and Wise County for redistribution. Hammond admitted today to purchasing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020.
Hammond pleaded guilty in June 2021 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
Rowland, along with co-defendants Jonathan Adam Rollins, Jessica Ann Robey, Eric Matthew Glass, and Justin Shane Cress were indicted in February 2021 and are pending trial.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Inmate at USP Lee Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a WeaponRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An Inmate at USP Lee in Jonesville, Virginia was sentenced this week to 36 months of additional incarceration for unlawfully possessing a weapon inside the prison.
Andrew Bryant, 35, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possessing contraband inside a prison. He was sentenced this week to 36 additional months of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar made the announcement today.
The Investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Luckie prosecuted the case for the United States.
Lebanon, Virginia Man Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Lebanon, Virginia man was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for using the online messaging application KIK to distribute images of child pornography to undercover law enforcement officers.
According to court documents, Matthew Thompson, 40, used KIK, an application where individuals create usernames and can send messages online, to communicate with others he believed to be interested in trading images of child pornography.
In June 2020, undercover law enforcement officers located in Wisconsin identified Thompson’s KIK username, “gbrown20201,” as being responsible for distributing child pornography by posting such materials onto a KIK chatroom messaging board frequented by individuals interested in child pornography images.
In July 2020, law enforcement officials in Texas identified the “gbrown20201” username as being an active member of two known child pornography chatgroups and serving as an administrator for one of the groups. The Texas investigation revealed that Thompson distributed at least nine images of child pornography between the dates of July 24, 2020, and July 31, 2020, and received additional child pornography materials.
Thompson pleaded in June 2021 to one count of knowingly distributing one or more visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that has been mailed or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Virginia State Police, and Russell County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Bland County Man Pleads Guilty to 17 Counts of Production of Child Pornography, Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va.– A Bland County, Virginia man pleaded guilty yesterday to 17 counts of producing child pornography at his home and illegally possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense.
According to court documents, William Dean Blankenship, 42, was a previously convicted felon residing in Bland County, Virginia. On February 12, 2021, the Bland County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police executed a state search warrant at Blankenship’s home after receiving information that the defendant had engaged in sexual acts with children and was in possession of child pornography.
During that search, law enforcement found a firearm, cellular phone and other electronic devices that belonged to Blankenship. Blankenship’s phone contained over 50 video files of child pornography produced by the defendant which depicted him engaging in sexual intercourse with two minors under the age of 18. Further investigation determined Blankenship routinely coerced and enticed the two minors to engage in sexual activity with Blankenship and with one another after providing the minors with narcotics and other controlled substances. Blankenship’s abuse began when the minors were approximately 14 and 13 years old.
“Blankenship repeatedly used coercive means to abuse his child victims, and now faces a lengthy prison sentence for these horrific acts,” Acting United States Attorney Bubar stated today. “I am thankful for the hard work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Virginia State Police, who will continue to investigate and, together with our office, prosecute anyone like Blankenship who seeks to prey on our children.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is proud to have partnered with the Bland County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold Mr. Blankenship accountable for his reprehensible actions,” said Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge of Washington D.C. Homeland Security Investigations. “His sentencing should serve as a reminder to others who victimize children; we will work tirelessly to bring predators to justice.”
Blankenship pleaded guilty yesterday to 17 counts of production of child pornography and one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2021 and faces an agreed upon sentencing range of between 20-50 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Murphy is prosecuting the case.
Miami Man Sentenced for Healthcare Fraud Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Miami, Florida man was sentenced last week to five months in prison and five months of home confinement for conspiring with another man to pay and receive kickbacks. In addition to home confinement, he will pay $66,000 in monetary penalties and will be permanently excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs.
According to court documents, Michael Olshavsky, conspired to receive and pay kickbacks to encourage urine drug screen testing performed by a lab in Florida. Some of the testing referred to the lab was paid for by Medicare, Virginia Medicaid, and TennCare. Co-conspirator John Linke was sentenced last week to three months home confinement.
“Using an opioid treatment practice to defraud federal and state health care programs is unconscionable and a serious federal crime,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “Investigating and prosecuting those who seek to commit health care fraud and illegally profit from the opioid crisis remains a top priority of this office. I appreciate the great work and assistance from our many state and federal partners, whose hard work brought Olshavsky to justice.”
“Healthcare providers who defraud the system are not only stealing from Medicaid and Medicare, but they are also stealing from taxpayers,” said Attorney General Mark Herring. “Virginians should be able to trust their healthcare providers to make decisions in a patient’s best interest, without any kind of outside influence or monetary gain. I want to thank my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their hard work on this case, as well as our local, state, and federal partners who continue to help my team hold individuals accountable when they defraud our healthcare system.”
“Those who seek to profit from the opioid crisis through illegal schemes make the problem worse,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who, through their dishonesty, jeopardize the public health.”
Between November 30, 2015, and May 30, 2016, Linke was employed at an office-based opioid treatment program that used medication-assisted treatment for patients suffering from substance use disorder. In exchange for being paid $5,000 per month, Linke arranged for the clinic to send urine drug screen samples to the laboratory in Florida where Olshavasky worked. These payments were disguised as commissions paid to Linke as an “independent sales representative” for Olshavsky’s company, Encore Holdings LLC. Olshavasky paid Linke at least $16,000 through Encore Holdings to direct WRC’s drug screening business to the Florida lab, although Linke was not actually an independent sales representative for Encore, and he did not act as such.
The Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Janine M. Myatt and Assistant United States Attorneys Randy Ramseyer and Whit Pierce prosecuted the case for the United States.
Danville Restaurant Owner Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – The owner of Seaford and More in Danville, Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 months and one-day in prison for defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by exchanging cash for SNAP benefits.
According to court documents, Bobby Lee James, 69, and others who worked at Seafood and More, redeemed SNAP benefits in exchange for cash between 2010 and 2018. James also admitted that he directed his employees to redeem SNAP benefits for cash during the same time and that he knew what he was doing was wrong.
James pleaded guilty in January 2021 to one count of wire fraud and one count of food stamp fraud.
According to court documents, from October 2010 to July 2018, SNAP redemptions for Seafood and More exceeded the state average of all other seafood specialty class stores in Virginia by more than $2,465,555. In total, Seafood and More caused approximately $1,835,767 in losses to the SNAP program.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement today.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, and the Danville Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Inmate at USP Lee Sentenced for Assault and Possessing a Weapon in PrisonRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – An inmate at USP Lee in Jonesville, Virginia was sentenced last week to 100 months in prison for assaulting another inmate and possessing a weapon inside the prison.
Peter Pagan, 28, pleaded guilty in June 2021. According to court documents, In June 2020, Pagan assaulted inmate A.C. with a dangerous weapon, a prison-made knife known as a “shank” with the intent to do bodily harm.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine M. Hummert prosecuted the case for the United States.
Marion Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Marion, Virginia man pleaded guilty last week to using the online messaging service KIK to distribute child sex abuse materials featuring prepubescent females.
According to court documents, Travis Shane Smith, 38, was identified by an undercover law enforcement officer working out of Wisconsin between May 4, 2020 and June 3, 2020, as being a member of a known child pornography online chat room.
Smith used the KIK username “tman_1983” to distribute child sex materials onto a KIK chatroom messaging board. Specifically, Smith distributed four videos of prepubescent females engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including two videos of adult males having sex with prepubescent females.
“Distributing videos depicting the sexual abuse of children perpetuates their trauma and abuse, and simply will not be tolerated,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated today. “It remains a top priority of our office to investigate and prosecute those who seek to victimize children. We appreciate the good work of our federal, state and local partners, who brought Smith to justice.”
“The FBI and our investigative partners are dedicated to protecting these victims, who become pawns in this world of online sexual exploitation; and will work together to identify and prosecute these criminals,” said Stanley M. Meador. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “There are resources to help these victims, and we encourage anyone who has been victimized or is aware of an on-going incident to report it to law enforcement immediately.”
Smith pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly distributing one or more visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2021 and faces a mandatory minimum sentenced of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Virginia State Police, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, and Marion Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case.
Former Roanoke-Area EMS Worker Sentenced for Tampering with Fentanyl and HydromorphoneRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A former emergency medical services worker for Roanoke County Emergency Medical Services, was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in federal prison for tampering with vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone.
According to court documents, Jeffery Leedy, 32, tampered with at least 50 vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone while working at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital and as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) worker for Roanoke County Emergency Medical Services.
Leedy pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of tampering with a consumer product (fentanyl and hydromorphone) that affects interstate commerce with reckless disregard for the risk that another person will be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.
On May 16, 2019, a Roanoke City EMS ambulance crew member discovered a suspected tampered vial of fentanyl while on an EMS call. When he attempted to administer the vial to a patient, he noticed the vial’s cap was not secured and believed the vial had been tampered with. Further investigation revealed that Leedy had tampered with the vial by removing the fentanyl and replacing it with saline.
A supervisor with the Roanoke County EMS queried the access card database and determined that Leedy had been accessing the rescue squad building at night, while he was not working, to take fentanyl. Further investigation revealed at least 50 vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone had been tampered with.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar made the announcement today.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations and Virginia State Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer is prosecuted the case for the United States.
Bristol, Tennessee Man Sentenced for Healthcare Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Tennessee man was sentenced today to three months of home confinement for conspiring with another man to pay and receive kickbacks. In addition to home confinement, he will pay $56,000 in monetary penalties and will be permanently excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs.
According to court documents, John Paul Linke, 58, conspired to receive and pay kickbacks to encourage urine drug screen testing performed by a lab in Florida. Some of the testing referred to the lab was paid for by Medicare, Virginia Medicaid, and TennCare. Co-conspirator Michael Olshavasky, of Miami, Florida, will be sentenced on September 22, 2021.
“The defendant’s diversion of critical federal and state funds that were needed to target the opioid crisis for his own greed is unconscionable,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bubar stated today. “We will continue to prioritize prosecuting health care fraud cases, and that we will continue to work closely with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and our other critical federal and state partners, to bring such providers to justice.”
“Healthcare providers who use kickback schemes like this one are not only defrauding our healthcare system, but they’re also stealing from Virginia taxpayers just to line their own pockets,” said Attorney General Herring. “Virginians trust their healthcare providers to make the best decisions for their patients without monetary gain or outside influence. I want to thank my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their work on this case as well as our local, state, and federal partners for their ongoing collaboration on cases where individuals try and defraud our Medicaid and Medicare systems.”
“Those who seek to profit off the opioid crisis through illegal schemes make the problem worse,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who, through their dishonesty, jeopardize the public health.”
Between November 30, 2015, and May 30, 2016, Linke was employed at an office-based opioid treatment program that used medication-assisted treatment for patients suffering from substance use disorder. In exchange for being paid $5,000 per month, Linke arranged for the clinic to send urine drug screen samples to the laboratory in Florida where Olshavasky worked. These payments were disguised as commissions paid to Linke as an “independent sales representative” for Olshavsky’s company, Encore Holdings LLC. Olshavasky paid Linke at least $16,000 through Encore Holdings to direct WRC’s drug screening business to the Florida lab, although Linke was not actually an independent sales representative for Encore, and he did not act as such.
The Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Janine M. Myatt and Assistant United States Attorneys Randy Ramseyer and Whit Pierce prosecuted the case for the United States.
Southwest Virginia Nonprofit Receives Federal Funding to Assist VictimsRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Southwest Virginia nonprofit legal aid society will receive more than $585,000 from the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program of the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar announced. Nationally, the LAV Program is awarding nearly $36 million in victim legal assistance funding to organizations across the country.
The Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society will receive $585,631 to provide legal services under the grant program.
“Aiding victims of crime is an essential function of the Department of Justice,” Acting United States Attorney Daniel P. Bubar said today. “I am pleased to announce this significant grant, which will assist the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society in continuing to bring much-needed resources to the residents of Southwest Virginia.”
The awards announced today are part of more than $475.5 million that OVW is distributing in 2021 to support projects that meaningfully address the needs of underserved and marginalized survivors, improve access to justice, enhance survivor safety, hold offenders accountable, and build a coordinated community response to violence against women.
“The awards we make this year will touch the lives of millions of survivors of violence and help our nation end these devastating crimes,” said Allison Randall, OVW Acting Director. “OVW is proud to be the leading federal voice in the country’s fight against sexual and domestic violence.”
The LAV Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Comprehensive legal services extend beyond representation in emergency and non-emergency protection order hearings to address the broad spectrum of legal issues that victims encounter, including family matters such as divorce, child custody or child support, immigration, administrative agency proceedings, and consumer or housing matters.
The Office on Violence Against Women provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.