Western District of Washington
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Seattle-area man arrested six times for armed drug dealing sentenced to ten years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A Seattle-area man who was arrested for drug trafficking by multiple law enforcement agencies six times over a two-year period was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Steven Eric Strauss, 56, was charged federally on May 5, 2022, with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said Strauss “has the potential to return to what has been a life of crime…. I need to protect the community from that.”
According to records filed in the case, between January 2020 and March 2022, Strauss was investigated and arrested for drug trafficking by multiple law enforcement agencies. Those arrests and seizures include:
- January 2020: Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office searched Strauss’ Everett residence after he sold narcotics to a person working with law enforcement. Seized methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, 9mm handgun and more than$14,000 in cash.
- March 2021: Washington State Patrol (WSP) stopped him in Seattle and seized methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, a rifle, and more than $27,000 in cash.
- April 2021: Strauss sold heroin and methamphetamine to a person working with law enforcement. Bellevue Police searched his car and seized a stolen pistol and a second handgun, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and more than $34,000 in cash.
- October 2021: Seattle Police arrested Strauss in a stolen travel trailer and seized two firearms, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and more than $9,000 in currency.
- November 2021: Lynnwood Police arrested Strauss for having a stolen disabled parking placard in his car. He had a short barrel rifle, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and more than $31,000 in cash.
- March 2022: Seattle Police arrested Strauss after seeing him engage in hand-to-hand drug deals. From his car officers seized methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, two pistols, and more than $20,000 in cash.
In asking for the ten-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson noted that Strauss has failed to reform following state prison sentences. “The defendant’s prior encounters with the criminal system also failed to deter or dissuade him from selling drugs and carrying firearms. A review of the defendant’s criminal history establishes that from the age of eighteen, the defendant has been in a revolving door of crime commission to prison admission,” AUSA Gregson wrote in her sentencing memo.
The case was investigated by the Washington State Patrol with assistance from the Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Lynnwood Police, and Bellevue Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Whatcom County contractor sentenced to two years in prison for failing to pay more than $1 million in employment taxes on employeesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 64-year-old Everson, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for failing to pay over taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Between 2013 and 2019, Jay Howard Prather owned and operated Heritage General Building Contractors. He had as many as 48 employees over that period and withheld $1,095,388 in Social Security, Medicare, federal income taxes, and unemployment taxes from his employees’ paychecks. Then, instead of paying the money to federal programs as required, he used the money to buy expensive horses, exotic sportscars, and to remodel his multi-million-dollar lavish estate. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said Prather “was warned several times that his conduct was illegal.”
“Mr. Prather stole from his employees and continued to do so even after he was confronted by those employees and by his accountant. He simply had no respect for the law or any concern about how his actions would impact his employees in the future,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Instead, he spent money that should have gone to their Social Security and Medicare accounts on his personal luxuries: $200,000 for thoroughbred horses and more than $360,000 on three Porsche automobiles.”
According to records filed in the case, several employees confronted Prather about his failure to pay over the money he had withheld from their paychecks. In 2017, he met with an accountant who told him his tax obligation was significant. Prather sought to limit his payment to the two former employees who were threatening to sue him if he did not pay. The accountant told him that was not possible. Prather stopped communicating with the accountant and never paid the taxes owed.
Even as Prather refused to pay the taxes he owed for his employees, he used their labor, and the money he withheld, to build and remodel his luxurious estate in rural Whatcom County.
In 2020 he formed a new custom cabinet company, Artisan Builders Inc. According to an affidavit from investigators, to date Prather has not paid the taxes he withheld from the two employees of that company.
“Mr. Prather made the wrong decision when he chose to buy horses and Porsches for his own fun over doing the lawful, right, and mandatory thing,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Mr. Prather abused his employees’ trust when he spent their withholdings for his own unjust enrichment.”
Judge Coughenour imposed a restitution obligation of $1,095,388.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service: Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erika Evans.
California man who allegedly trafficked women through multiple states using force, fraud, and coercion arrested and indicted in SeattleRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 30-year-old California man who allegedly forced women into prostitution using assaults, threats, and manipulation was arrested in Seattle last week on a grand jury indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Brandon Denzel Washington appeared today, in U.S. District Court in Seattle, and was ordered detained pending trial. Washington is charged with four federal felonies related to human trafficking. He has pleaded “Not Guilty,” and trial is currently scheduled for July 2023.
According to the indictment, Washington is charged with two counts of Sex Trafficking through Force, Fraud, and Coercion. Count One charges the forced trafficking of an adult female in Seattle from 2014 to 2020. Count Three charges Sex Trafficking through Force, Fraud, and Coercion for a second victim in Seattle from 2017 to 2019. In each case, Washington transported the victims to engage in prostitution. The transportation is charged in Counts Two and Four. One victim was transported from California to Washington State and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex acts. The second victim was transported from Washington to Hawaii and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex acts.
The sex trafficking scheme was first uncovered when a retired Bellevue Police Officer working security noticed a high number of men visiting a Bellevue luxury apartment building over a period of just a few weeks. The investigation took off from there with law enforcement investigators analyzing financial records, travel records, ads for commercial sex posted in online forums, and social media posts to identify victims of Washington’s sex trafficking activities and to gather evidence of the offenses. Washington uses the name “Bentley” online and allegedly had women under his control tattoo the emblem of the luxury car company on their bodies to show his ownership.
According to records filed in the case, two different women have provided law enforcement with detailed accounts of the brutal assaults Washington used to keep the victims in his control and earning money for him through commercial sex acts. Washington is alleged to have trafficked multiple women through California, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, New York, and other states. Evidence in the case reveals Washington allegedly forced one victim to sign a “contract” in blood spelling out that she had to earn $200,000 per year for him and “submit completely to him” – even asking permission to leave the house.
Washington’s social media posts indicate he remains active in human trafficking bragging about his luxury residences, vehicles, and wealth.
Sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison. Transporting a victim for prostitution is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker.
Puyallup, Washington, wound treatment firm settles allegations it submitted false bills to government health care programsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice, the Washington State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division, and United Wound Healing P.S., today resolved allegations that United Wound Healing (UWH) of Puyallup, Washington, had improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid for services provided in nursing homes and care facilities in Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho. UWH will pay $292,132 to resolve the matter. The company is settling the matter but admits no wrongdoing.
UWH partners with long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and adult family homes, to provide wound care to patients residing in those facilities. UWH providers travel to the partner facilities, where they conduct rounds to identify and treat patients with wounds, including wounds caused by pressure, dermatitis, vascular disease, diabetes, and surgery.
Between 2015 and 2022 UWH allegedly submitted false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for evaluation and management (E&M) services. Medicare generally prohibits healthcare providers from separately billing for E&M services provided on the same day as another medical procedure, unless the E&M services are significant, separately identifiable, and above and beyond the usual pre- and post-operative care associated with the medical procedure.
The settlement resolves allegations in a lawsuit filed in the Western District of Washington by Dena Walker, a former employee of UWH. The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery Ms. Walker will receive approximately $58,426 as part of the resolution.
“Providers have a responsibility to submit accurate claims to Medicare and Medicaid that are driven by patient needs,” said Steven J. Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As this case demonstrates, HHS-OIG is committed to investigating those who threaten the integrity of federal health care programs and recovering valuable taxpayer dollars so they can be used for their intended purposes.”
Of the settlement amount, $273,711 will go to the federal government and $18,420 will go to the state of Washington. Of those amounts, $130,136 is restitution to federal healthcare programs, and $15,929 is restitution to the state. The False Claims Act allows for increased damages to discourage improper billing to federal programs.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
This resolution was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Burns. Senior Counsel Carrie L. Bashaw handled the matter for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
Convicted Health Care Fraud defendant fails to report to prison; warrant out for his arrestRead the Press Release
Seattle – The former co-owner of a defunct medical testing company failed to report to prison as directed last week, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Richard Reid, 53, was convicted in March 2022, of five federal felonies connected to his scheme to profit from illegal kickbacks in the medical testing industry. In January 2023 he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Reid has repeatedly petitioned the judge to delay his prison reporting date, claiming to have COVID-19 and then long COVID. Judge John C. Coughenour refused to delay the date past the end of April.
Law enforcement has been working to locate Reid so that he can begin serving his sentence. Reid had been living in Astoria, Oregon but could not be located at his address. Law enforcement has learned Reid may be carrying a firearm and asks that the public contact the Seattle office of the FBI, at 206-622-0460, if they have information on his whereabouts.
The activities of Bellevue-based Northwest Physicians Laboratory (NWPL) have been the subject of extensive civil and criminal litigation. Richard Reid was one of the owners and the Vice President of Sales for NWPL. Reid helped NWPL obtain more than $3.7 million in kickback payments by steering urine drug test specimens to two labs that could bill the government for testing.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion
reid_fbi_wanted_poster.pdfJustice Department strengthens efforts to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous PersonsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day.
The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission, a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings, which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis.
“The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”
“Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.”
“The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.”
“Tribal Nations in the Western District of Washington are working on their response plans to be ready to act if a tribal member is reported missing. The Tulalip Tribes is the first to adopt and implement their plan, and we celebrate that milestone,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “The Washington State Patrol data notes 142 Indigenous persons in Washington are missing and we must keep them front and center as we undertake this important work.”
There are various activities planned throughout Western Washington. Today, several tribes are having walks and healing circles to honor the missing. This evening, the Tulalip Tribes and the Muckleshoot Tribe will gather for ceremonial observances. Tomorrow the community is invited to join the 3rd Annual MMIP Families March from Westlake Park in Seattle to Seattle Center. The march begins at 10:00 AM, and the public is encouraged to wear red in honor of the Murdered and Missing.
The Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence has a list of events on its website.
Attached to this release is a fact sheet on DOJ resources
doj_mmip_resources.pdfregarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons and the latest information from the Washington State Patrol regarding MMIP in our state.
missing_list_for_public_release_050123_002.pdfFormer Washington State Patrol Officer sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempted child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former member of the Washington State Patrol was sentenced to ten years in prison last week, after pleading guilty in January 2023 to Attempted Enticement of a Minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Trevor Smith, 30, of Marysville, was arrested in February 2021 after communicating with a woman who he believed was offering to allow him to have sex with her 6 and 11-year-old children. In reality, the woman was an undercover police officer, and the children were fictitious. Smith was arrested after meeting with the woman, purchasing condoms and traveling to the hotel where he thought the encounter would occur.
At the sentencing hearing last week, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun imposed 15 years of supervised release to follow the 10-year prison term. Smith will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.
Smith was originally charged in King County Superior Court, but the case was transferred to federal court in May 2021. Smith was released on bond until January 2023. When Smith entered his guilty plea, he also was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Seattle Police Department as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC).
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court.
California pair indicted for retail theft scheme; more than $800,000 in equipment stolen from home improvement chainRead the Press Release
Seattle – A man and woman from Southern California were arrested this week on an indictment charging them with conspiracy and ten counts of wire fraud related to an organized retail theft scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jalen Amir Thomas, 27, of Santa Monica, California, and Armia Ta’Jae Timmons, 25, of Los Angeles, were arrested on the eleven-count indictment. They appeared in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California yesterday. Prosecutors will ask that they be detained and transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.
“Organized retail theft has exploded across the country, due in large part to the growth of an online resale marketplace,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, we allege the coconspirators hatched a scheme to rent high-value construction equipment and then fail to return it. They allegedly sold the stolen goods on websites such as OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. They traveled through 23 different states and hit nearly 200 stores causing more than $800,000 in losses. We are putting a stop to it here in Western Washington.”
“As the US retail sector faces increasing challenges such as layoffs and store closings, it becomes more difficult for stores to absorb the impact of retail fraud, which amounts to billions of dollars in losses,” said SAC Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI is proud to have started a strategic initiative with the Seattle Police Department and various corporate partners in 2023 to hold those involved in organized retail theft accountable for their actions.”
According to the indictment, as early as March 2022, Thomas led a group including Timmons, that traveled the U.S., stopping at home improvement stores and renting two types of expensive construction equipment: jumping jack tampers and vibratory plate compactors valued between $1,500 and $2,000 each. The group used debit cards to make a small rental deposit for each machine and signed an agreement that if the equipment was not returned on time, they would pay mounting fees. They used false identities and ruse telephone numbers to rent the equipment. They transported stolen goods in vans and rental trucks.
In all, some 480 pieces of equipment were stolen from the home improvement stores. When a store tried to charge the debit account for the value of the equipment or the penalties incurred, it learned there was insufficient funds to cover the debt. Thomas and Timmons then attempted to sell the stolen equipment at a steep discount on various online marketplaces.
The group stole multiple items of equipment from stores in Federal Way, Tacoma, Vancouver, Covington, Longview, Bothell, Everett, Redmond, and Seattle.
Because the deposits traveled by wire outside the state of Washington, the pair is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ten counts of wire fraud and/or aiding and abetting wire fraud.
The conspiracy count and the wire fraud counts are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.
Team from Western Washington honored for investigation and prosecution of major cybercrime group Fin7Read the Press Release
Seattle – The Department of Justice investigative team in a major cybercrime case, pursued in the Western District of Washington, was honored today with an Executive Office of U.S. Attorney’s Director’s award for Outstanding Litigative Team, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The prosecutors, paralegals, and cyber investigators from the FBI broke up the hacking group Fin7. The award was presented today in Washington DC.
“Investigating and prosecuting cybercrime is uniquely challenging –the offenders hide behind keyboards, often overseas, but can do untold billions of dollars in damage,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “With Fin7, the tireless work by our team saw three of the defendants arrested and brought to the United States to face charges. All three have been held accountable with significant prison sentences. Fin7 as an entity is no more.”
Those recognized today with the Director’s Award include: Former Assistant United States Attorneys Frances Franze-Nakamura and Steven Masada, and DOJ Trial Attorney Anthony Teelucksingh for their work prosecuting the case; Paralegals Anna Chang and Salee Porter for their critical work organizing records and discovery from companies, foreign governments, and law enforcement so that we could successfully petition for the extradition of the three defendants who were arrested while traveling in Germany, Spain, and Thailand; and FBI special agents who all performed outstanding investigative and analytic work that was critical to the successful prosecution.
According to records filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, between 2015 and 2018, FIN7 members engaged in a highly sophisticated malware campaign to attack more than 100 U.S. companies, predominantly in the restaurant, gaming, and hospitality industries. FIN7 hacked into thousands of computer systems and stole millions of customer credit and debit card numbers which were used or sold for profit.
In the United States alone, FIN7 successfully breached the computer networks of businesses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, stealing more than 15 million customer card records from over 6,500 individual point-of-sale terminals at more than 3,600 separate business locations. Additional intrusions occurred abroad, including in the United Kingdom, Australia, and France. Companies that have publicly disclosed hacks attributable to FIN7 include such familiar chains as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chili’s, Arby’s, Red Robin and Jason’s Deli.
Fedir Hladyr, 38, a Ukranian national, who played a managerial role in FIN7, was arrested in Dresden, Germany and was sentenced in April 2021 to ten years in prison. Andrii Kolpakov, 35, who served as a high-level hacker, was arrested in Lepe, Spain, and was sentenced to seven years in prison June 2021. Denys Iarmak, 33, who also served as a high-level hacker was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand and was sentenced to five years in prison in April 2022.
The Director’s Awards are awarded annually by the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys to recognize outstanding work by U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the United States.
Seattle man sentenced to four years in prison for dealing fentanyl in downtown Seattle while armed with a handgunRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 37-year-old Seattle man was sentenced this week to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Johnson was prosecuted federally as part of Seattle’s Operation New Day – a concerted effort by Seattle Police and federal partners to remove open air drug markets in key hotspots in the city of Seattle.
“We are committed to prosecuting appropriate federal cases from the efforts to stop drug trafficking on Third Avenue and in the International District,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, Mr. Johnson did not learn from his first arrest in the International District and was arrested a second time, less than a month later, selling fentanyl at 3rd and Pike. In both instances he was armed with semi-automatic pistols. Such a case is appropriate for federal sanctions.”
Johnson was arrested on February 4, 2022, near 12th and Jackson in the International District, when an undercover law enforcement officer approached him and purchased fentanyl pills. At the time of the arrest Johnson had additional pills, $165 cash, and a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol. Johnson was released from custody. Before charges were filed on that arrest, Johnson was contacted again by law enforcement – this time at 3rd and Pike. On March 2, 2022, law enforcement officers saw Johnson engage in hand-to-hand sales of fentanyl pills. Johnson had 184 fentanyl pills in his pocket as well as nearly $1,100 in cash drug proceeds. He also had a loaded Polymer80 semi-automatic pistol.
In imposing the four-year prison sentence and the three years of supervised release to follow, Judge John C. Coughenour said “the involvement of the firearms and the significant amount of fentanyl is very troubling for the court.”
Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson noted the case was slated for federal prosecution, because of Johnson’s quick return to dealing after the first arrest. “The rapid rate of recidivism the defendant demonstrated by engaging in the very same conduct weeks later leaves little question about the threat he poses to community safety. Fentanyl is highly addictive and incredibly lethal. Packing firearms while dealing fentanyl adds another layer of dangerousness and increases the risk of violence occurring when addicted consumers and unruly rivals are factored into the mix,” AUSA Gregson wrote in her sentencing memo.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Washington man charged for International District drive-by shooting and possession of drugsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 48-year-old man with ties to Seattle was charged federally with unlawful possession of a firearm and other offenses after he was arrested for a drive-by shooting in Seattle’s International District, announced US Attorney Nick Brown. Phuong Nguyen Le, appeared today on the indictment. In February 2023 Le was allegedly found with fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base. Le has been in custody in King County and today was brought over for arraignment on the federal charges.
On February 24, 2023, Seattle Police officers responded to reports of shots fired at the intersection of 10th Avenue South and South King Street in Seattle. Witnesses at the scene reported a man in a white Mercedes fired a handgun in the air multiple times at the intersection. SPD officers then located the vehicle nearby and found Phuong Nguyen Le driving, with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Le was the owner of the vehicle. Le ultimately gave consent to search the vehicle. SPD officers seized the following items:
- a Springfield Armory XD-9 9mm caliber pistol, bearing serial number BY348001, with a round of ammunition in the chamber and a partially loaded magazine;
- an additional Springfield Armory 9mm caliber magazine loaded with ammunition;
- two spent bullet shell casings;
- approximately 83 grams of heroin;
- approximately 135 grams of cocaine;
- approximately 194 grams of suspected fentanyl powder;
- approximately 350 pills suspected to contain fentanyl;
- multiple cloth zipper bags containing approximately $4,400 in mixed denominations;
- various baggies;
- large amounts of handwritten names and phone numbers written on
- various documents;
- A notebook containing names.
In April of 2012, Le was convicted of distribution of cocaine base in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. In September of 2020, Le was sentenced to two years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of drugs.
Unlawful possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment. Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute is punishable by up to 40 years imprisonment. Carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is punishable by up to life in imprisonment.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne.
Shoreline, Washington, man sentenced to 51 months in prison for illegal possession of ammunitionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 45-year-old Shoreline, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 51 months in prison for unlawful possession of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Rustam Yusupov pleaded guilty in February 2023, following his arrest in March of 2022. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said the prevalence of guns on the streets is leading “to a bloodbath in this country.”
“Washington State is a pioneer in Red Flag laws designed to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “We will never know what motivated Mr. Yusupov to bring high powered firearms and sniper rifles to a downtown hotel. This prosecution means his arsenal has been surrendered to police, and he remains prohibited from purchasing more firearms in the future.”
According to records filed in the case, Seattle Police Officers were called to a downtown Seattle hotel room on March 10, 2022, with reports of a distraught man asking the hotel staff for assistance. When the officers went to the hotel room, they noted that furnishings had been over-tuned, with the mattress moved to block the door. Police found two firearms in the room – including a “ghost gun,” -- a firearm without a serial number.
Due to his agitated state, Yusupov was transported for medical attention. As officers were preparing to leave the hotel, a staff member working in the garage alerted them to weapons he had seen in Yusupov’s car. In the car were multiple firearms – including two additional “ghost guns.” In all, police recovered:
- FMK Firearms Model AR-1 Extreme 5.56 NATO caliber rifle.
- Aero Precision Model X15 5.56 caliber pistol.
- Ruger Model 5.7 5.7x28mm caliber pistol.
- Ruger Model 18029 Precision 6.5mm Creedmoor/.308 Winchester Caliber rifle.
- Kel-Tec Model Sub 2000 9x19mm caliber rifle.
- A North American Arms Corp. Derringer .22 revolver.
- Two Polymer80 9mm caliber pistols with no serial number.
- A skeletonized AR-15 5.56 NATO caliber pistol with no serial number.
In his plea agreement Yusupov admits that he is the subject of a domestic violence protection order. He had been ordered by King County Superior Court to surrender all his weapons. In March 2020 and again in May 2021, Yusupov was ordered to surrender his firearms and had signed paperwork and informed law enforcement that he no longer possessed any firearms.
When law enforcement went to search Yusupov’s home, they found the walls smeared with blood. Testing revealed that it was the blood of a dog. A dog was also found in the home in a kennel, badly malnourished. It was taken to a shelter for care.
The search of the home resulted in the recovery of two inert grenades; a container for 120mm rocket projectiles; hundreds of rounds of assorted ammunition (both handgun and rifle caliber), including 600 rounds of Israel Military Industries 5.56mm caliber ammunition; multiple handguns and rifle magazines (some loaded); assorted pistol slides; a ballistic vest with rifle plates; a bolt-action rifle; and assorted firearms accessories and firearms parts.
Yusupov is forfeiting multiple firearms and ammunition to the government.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Owner of Tukwila, Washington Thai restaurant sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax fraud totaling nearly $1 millionRead the Press Release
Seattle – The owner of ‘Simply Thai’ restaurant in Tukwila, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for willful failure to pay over taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Keovilayvanh Rinthalukay, 62, pleaded guilty in February 2023, admitting that between 2015 and 2019 he withheld Medicare, Social Security, and federal income taxes from his employees’ paychecks, but instead of paying the taxes to the government, he pocketed the money for his own benefit. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said the amount withheld “is not a small number – it’s a lot of money. And the defendant didn’t find it necessary to pay his taxes for a number of years – it shows no respect for the law.”
“The failure to turn over payroll taxes is simply theft from employees who trust their employer to make those payments for their future well-being,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, Mr. Rinthalukay has committed to aggressively pay back more than $926,000 in tax debt. The prison sentence brings home the need to do right by workers and their future Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment benefits.”
According to records filed in the case, between 2015 and 2019, the Tukwila restaurant employed dozens of people. Over that same period the restaurant failed to pay over the taxes withheld from paychecks, as well as the employer’s share of the payroll and federal unemployment taxes. In all, Rinthalukay failed to pay at least $926,092. Instead, he used the money for his personal expenses including buying property, paying private school tuition for his children, and buying a motorcycle. Judge Robart noted at today’s hearing that Rinthalukay currently owns two homes in Western Washington that together are valued at well over $2 million.
As relevant conduct, the government noted that Rinthalukay has not paid his personal federal income taxes since 1998. The IRS is still reviewing that matter.
Prosecutors described Rinthalukay’s history of misconduct in their sentencing memo. “Rinthalukay has a long history of disregard for his tax obligations, both personally and as a business owner. The criminal conduct here is not some momentary aberration but rather part of a decades-long pattern. And his conduct harmed not only the United States Treasury, but also the employees at his restaurant. Employees risk losing credit with the Social Security system when their payroll taxes are not turned over to the IRS,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Kopczynski wrote in the sentencing memo.
“Restaurant employees deal with a lot: long hours, irate customers, and exhausting work. One thing they shouldn’t have to worry about – their employer stealing from them,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Mr. Rinthalukay has owned and operated a restaurant for a long time and knows how important it is for his staff to provide good customer service. Today’s sentence is a strong reminder that business owners must play by their own rules and provide good service to their employees. Remitting tax withholdings and not stealing from their workers is a solid start.”
As of today, Rinthalukay has paid $550,000 of the taxes owed. The judgment imposed by Judge Robart will require prompt repayment of the remainder, including having Rinthalukay liquidate assets if needed.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Kopczynski.
Snohomish man who dealt drugs, even as he awaited sentencing for an earlier drug conviction, pleads guilty to drug, gun, and murder-for-hire related chargesRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A Snohomish, Washington, man who was rearrested following his sentencing in a drug trafficking scheme, has now pleaded guilty to new charges, including attempting to hire a hitman to kill a witness in his case, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Michael John Scott, 44, was sentenced in January 2020 to 78 months in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine. One week later, before he was to report to serve his sentence, he was arrested on his way to a drug deal in Whatcom County. While at the federal detention center awaiting trial on these new drug charges, Scott tried to hire a hitman to kill a witness against him. Today, Scott pleaded guilty to four federal felonies.
Scott admitted two additional crimes connected to drug distribution. According to the facts in the agreement, even as Scott was awaiting sentencing for the earlier drug distribution crimes, he was continuing to set up drug deals. On January 30, 2020, he was arrested as he arrived to sell fentanyl pills to a person in Whatcom County. That person was working with law enforcement. A search of Scott’s home revealed a stolen, loaded firearm, a Colt Delta Elite 10mm semi-automatic pistol. Scott admits in his plea agreement that he had the gun in furtherance of his drug distribution conspiracy.
Following the January 30, 2020, arrest, while in custody at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington, Scott agreed to pay an associate $2,000 if he would assist Scott in finding a hitman to kill a witness against him and an associate of that witness. Scott said he would pay $10,000 each for the murders. Scott told his associate that he wanted the deaths to appear to be fentanyl overdoses. In June and July 2021, Scott wrote letters disguised as ‘legal mail’ to the person he thought was the hitman and to a friend he wanted to handle payment for the crimes.
The FBI was aware of the scheme and had an agent pose as the hitman. The friend of Scott’s met with the “hitman” and provided him with a down payment.
Today, Scott pleaded guilty to: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances --punishable by up to 20 years in prison; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime – punishable by a mandatory consecutive five year prison term on top of any sentence imposed for the other counts of conviction; Use of Interstate Commerce Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire –punishable by up to ten years in prison; and Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant – punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 20 years in prison and the defense can recommend no less than ten years in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law when Scott is sentenced on July 27, 2023.
Scott pleaded guilty in June 2019 for his role in U.S. v Hernandez et al, a 32-defendant drug trafficking case that was unsealed in December 2018. Scott was a high-volume redistributor of fentanyl-laced imitation oxycodone pills and cocaine, who delivered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to his cartel suppliers for the drugs–sometimes as much as $150,000 at a time. When Scott’s home was searched in December 2018, law enforcement recovered illegal drugs, more than $40,000 in cash, and other tools of the drug trade.
In the current case, Scott is forfeiting more than $25,000 seized in the case as well as the firearm seized at his residence.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Max Shiner.
Puyallup, Washington man pleads guilty to conspiring to attack power substationsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 32-year-old Puyallup, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to Conspiracy to destroy energy facilities, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Matthew Greenwood admits in his plea agreement that he and co-defendant Jeremy Crahan, 40, vandalized four power substations and plotted to fell trees to take out power lines. Both men were arrested before the tree plan was put into action. Greenwood faces up to twenty years in prison when sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on July 21, 2023.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, Greenwood and Crahan hatched the scheme to disrupt power so they could break into ATMs and businesses and steal money. On December 25, 2022, they damaged four substations:
- Hemlock Substation in Puyallup, Washington, owned by Puget Sound Energy. Here, the two cut through a fence and Greenwood manipulated a switch damaging equipment and cutting power for 8,000 customers.
- Elk Plain substation in Spanaway, Washington, owned by Tacoma Power. The men cut padlocks on the gate and Greenwood manipulated breakers to damage equipment and cause an outage
- Graham substation in Graham, Washington, operated by Tacoma Power. The men cut through a perimeter fence and Greenwood manipulated a switch to damage equipment. This outage, combined with the Elk Plain substation outage, caused more than 7,500 customers to lose power.
- Kapowsin Substation in Graham, Washington, operated by Puget Sound Energy. The men cut through a fence and Greenwood tampered with a switch causing sparks, flame, and a power outage.
Following the December 25, 2022, substation vandalism, the men spent time looking for additional ways to cause power outages by felling trees. The goal was to cut power so that they could burglarize businesses and steal from ATMs. Law enforcement arrested them before they could put the tree plan into action.
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend the low end of the guidelines range when Greenwood is sentenced. Since his arrest, Greenwood has been in intensive drug treatment while awaiting resolution in this case.
Co-defendant Jeremy Crahan remains charged with conspiracy to attack energy facilities.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Tacoma Police Department, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Federal Protective Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Man with homes in California and Arizona indicted for sex trafficking women in Seattle through force, fraud, and coercionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A California man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for four federal felonies related to his sex trafficking of adult female victims, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Winston Cornell Burt aka “Dice Capone,” 31 of Hemet, California, was arrested November 6, 2022, after he allegedly brutally assaulted a 20-year-old woman and engaged in a rolling gun battle as she fled in a van driven by a man who picked her up from the roadway. Burt is charged federally with Sex Trafficking through Force, Fraud, and Coercion; Transportation of an Adult Female for Prostitution through Coercion and Enticement; and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Firearms. Burt will be arraigned on the indictment within the next couple weeks.
“The level of violence in this case is stunning – brutal beatings of young women, threats with firearms, emotional and physical control of every aspect of the victims’ lives,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “I commend the Seattle Police Department and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for working quickly to get Mr. Burt in custody, thus ensuring the immediate safety of the victim and the community.”
According to records filed in the case, Burt self-identifies as a “pimp” who led a sex trafficking enterprise through California, Arizona, and Washington. The young women in the case were allegedly required to provide all the money they earned in prostitution to Burt. Three women had his name tattooed on their faces – an apparent sign of “ownership.”
On November 2, 2022, Burt assaulted the 20-year-old victim in this case by kicking her, punching her, and pistol whipping her after she indicated she wanted to stop working for Burt. The assault occurred at an Airbnb in south Seattle. Three days later, on November 5, 2022, Burt assaulted the victim again and forced her to strip to her underwear. The victim tried to escape from the rental home by jumping out a third story window. The defendant and two women working for him forced her into a car and drove towards a motel on north Aurora Avenue. Burt was armed with a gun, but the victim was able to get out of the car and ran into traffic on Aurora wearing only her underwear. Burt and his female assistants tried to force the victim back into their car, but the victim stayed in the middle of the roadway until finally picked up by an Uber driver who saw her in distress.
Even after the victim was driven away in a van, Burt gave chase on Aurora Avenue and fired shots at the van with the victim inside. The driver was eventually able to evade Burt and called the Washington State Patrol for assistance.
Ultimately law enforcement responded to the scene and got the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.
Burt was arrested on November 6, 2022, as he was attempting to leave the Airbnb in south Seattle. He has been detained at the King County Jail since his arrest.
The indictment calls for the forfeiture of both firearms, more than $24,000 in cash, and jewelry worth in excess of $100,000.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to life in prison. Transportation of an adult female for prostitution through coercion and enticement is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by ten years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the FBI with assistance from the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Ben Gauen worked closely with the Seattle Police Department and Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham on this case.
burt.indictment.filed_.pdfUnlicensed Vancouver, Washington, tax preparer pleads guilty to aiding and assisting with preparing false tax returnsRead the Press Release
Seattle – The owner of a Vancouver, Washington business that sought to assist immigrants with a variety of services has pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Saul Valdez was an unlicensed tax preparer who led his immigrant customers to believe he was filling out their tax forms correctly. Instead, from 2016 through 2018, Valdez inserted a variety of false deductions and expenses on tax returns, lowering the customers’ tax obligations. Valdez faces up to three years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on August 28, 2023.
“Mr. Valdez operated a business providing services to primarily non-English speaking clients, who had little understanding of the U.S. tax system,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Rather than truly assist them, his false deductions, expenses and credits put them at risk of owing back taxes and penalties, not to mention the stress of contact from the IRS.”
According to the plea agreement, Valdez operated Conexion Latina, and used programs such as TaxAct and TurboTax to prepare clients’ taxes. For tax year 2017, Valdez admits claiming false and fraudulent expenses, donations, and credits on 36 different tax returns. The tax loss on those 36 returns is $54,045. That is the amount of restitution Valdez has agreed to pay.
Using statistical sampling of 50 of some 2000 returns prepared by Valdez from 2016 through 2018, Valdez admits that the total tax loss for his fraud is $1,293,921.
Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Presentation of a False and Fraudulent Return is punishable by up to three years in prison.
Prosecutors have agreed to cap their sentencing recommendation at 30 months in prison.
The case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster.
Six indicted as part of Whatcom County fentanyl trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
Seattle – A federal grand jury indicted six people in connection with a Whatcom County fentanyl distribution organization, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The ring has been under investigation since late 2022 and was actively moving fentanyl from the Seattle area to redistributors in the Bellingham, Washington area. Three of the six people indicted are in custody. Three more are being sought by law enforcement.
“I commend the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Gang Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration for a fast-moving investigation that worked to interdict potentially deadly pills over the last four months,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “These alleged traffickers also possessed guns – some stolen, some with extended magazines – a dangerous combination with the narcotics.”
In a detailed criminal complaint, law enforcement officers described how they observed various apparent drug transactions and interdicted the drug loads. In one instance, law enforcement was called to a mini-mart where two people involved with the drug ring overdosed on fentanyl and had to be revived and transported to the hospital. Investigation of the ring revealed that the alleged two top leaders lived in Burien, Washington, and downtown Seattle. Multiple members of the ring have criminal histories which prohibit them from possessing firearms.
The grand jury charges all six defendants below with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Additionally, the defendants are charged as follows:
- Robel Sisay Gebremedhin A/K/A Robel Sisay Gebremedhui, 40, of Burien, WA is charged with: possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm; and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Mohamed Abdirisak Mohamed, 34, of Seattle, WA is also charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm; and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Ahbdurman Ahmed, 32, of Seattle, WA is also charged with: two counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm.
- Matthew Anderson, 35, of Bellingham, WA is also charged with: two counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute
- Daniel John Faix, 39, of Bellingham, WA is also charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Natasha Parkhill, 37, of Bellingham, WA is also charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
State charges are anticipated on seven additional defendants.
“While our community struggles with the impacts of fentanyl overdoses and deaths, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Drug Task Force continues to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to hold those distributing this dangerous drug accountable for their actions. We aggressively investigate those that bring these deadly drugs and criminal enterprises into our communities that prey on our most vulnerable,” said Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick.
“In order to continue to protect the Puget Sound region from organizations that distribute fake pills laced with fentanyl, we will act swiftly, as we did in this investigation, with all of our local and federal partners to ensure the health and safety of our communities,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
For some defendants in this case, the large drug quantities involved, and the firearms, require mandatory minimum penalties of ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of a firearm is furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a consecutive five years in prison on top of any sentence imposed on other charges.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Whatcom County Drug and Gang Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, and the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs.
Des Moines, Washington, woman sentenced to 30 months in prison for bank fraud and identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 49-year-old Des Moines, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jennifer Suazo, aka Jennifer Esperanza, was arrested in August 2022 after fleeing from law enforcement at an earlier encounter. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “… identity theft is something that everyone lives in fear of …. Having one’s identity stolen steals that person’s sense of confidence, faith, and security too ….”
According to records filed in the case, Suazo purchased victims’ identifying information from various sources, including the dark web, which she then used to open accounts at financial institutions in the victims’ names and to take over victims’ existing bank accounts. To carry out this fraud, Suazo created identification documents in victims’ names but with her photograph on the ID. Suazo also changed the mailing addresses for the accounts created or taken over so that she would receive all communications about the accounts and thereby hide her fraud and theft from the victims. Suazo also deposited victims’ checks into her personal bank account. Between 2019 and 2022, Suazo defrauded individual victims and financial institutions of at least $107,472.
When law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at her home, they discovered notebooks with the personal information of some 316 victims.
Suazo pleaded guilty in January 2023.
Due to her history of drug addiction, Judge Lin recommended Suazo participate in the Bureau of Prisons’ intensive Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).
In sentencing materials, Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly noted the harm posed by identity theft, writing, “… the ramifications of her actions were wide-reaching: Suazo not only drained state and federal law enforcement resources to identify victims and trace the fraudulent transactions, but also caused victims ongoing anxiety about the security of their accounts and credit after their information was compromised.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
Two charged in scheme to illegally purchase firearms and transfer them to othersRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two South King County men were charged today with multiple firearms offenses for their involvement in the purchase of more than 100 firearms in an apparent “straw purchaser” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Dion Jamar Cooper, 31, of Kent, Washington and De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, aka Deondre Lamontia McDougle, 32, of Federal Way, Washington were charged by criminal complaint. Phillips and Cooper will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
“The alleged straw purchaser in this case bought more than 100 firearms in less than two years – and two dozen of the firearms have been linked to crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Schemes like this put our community at significant risk. We will use all tools – including new criminal statutes passed by congress – to stop such conduct.”
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in late January with the assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley. The victim was able to flee in her car. Police found a firearm in her vehicle that had been dropped by one of the assailants. A check of the firearm revealed it had been purchased by Dion Jamar Cooper on December 10, 2022. That recovery led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) to check Cooper’s purchase history. Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021. On 24 different instances he purchased multiple firearms – sometime four or more. Of the 107 firearms identified as being purchased in this scheme, 24 of the guns have been recovered and linked to crimes.
During March and April 2023, agents surveilled Cooper as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. Agents identified De’ondre Lamontia Phillips as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he purchased the firearms. Phillips is prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms due to convictions for distribution of heroin (2014) and convictions for illegal firearms possession and two counts of assault (2009). Surveillance of the two revealed Cooper turning the firearms over to Phillips who stored them in his residence.
Cooper and Phillips are charged with Straw Purchasing of Firearms, involving ten different guns. Both men are also charged with two counts of trafficking in firearms. Phillips is charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Phillips is also charged with unlawful possession of firearms.
Straw Purchasing of Firearms and Trafficking in Firearms are both punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possession of controlled substances in this case is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years and up to 40 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other charges. Unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Los Angeles man, arrested with guns and drugs in stolen RV at Washington State park, sentenced to 10+ years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 45-year-old Los Angeles man was sentenced late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Anthony Morales was arrested in May 2021 and pleaded guilty in November 2022. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle imposed five years of supervised release to follow prison.
According to records filed in the case, Morales conspired with others to use a stolen RV to transport and sell methamphetamine and other drugs. Morales was arrested in the stolen RV in Grayland Beach State Park. Inside the RV was more than a kilo of methamphetamine, counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl, five firearms, assorted ammunition, and high-capacity firearm magazines. Law enforcement also recovered $24,000 in cash. Morales also had a number of identity theft related documents – drivers licenses, Social Security cards in other names, a passport, checkbooks and credit cards in other names, as well as a credit card magnetic stripe reader/writer.
Morales has eleven previous convictions as an adult for crimes such as possession of controlled substances, firearms possession, theft, and identity fraud offenses. He has been sentenced to prison for terms ranging from two years to 32 months. Prosecutors recommended an 11-year prison term for this federal offense.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (JNET), comprised of officers with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Centralia Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Shiner.
Pierce County motocross coach and sponsor arrested for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 32-year-old Tacoma man was arrested and charged with production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Bryant Keith McCullough was arrested today, April 10, 2023, after an investigation conducted by the Tacoma Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. McCullough is accused of enticing and coercing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. McCullough made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the Tacoma Police Department received information from a concerned parent about an image that was shared in a group chat of Pierce County motocross parents regarding an explicit Snapchat message apparently sent by McCullough to a minor motocross racer whom he was sponsoring.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCullough’s Tacoma residence last month and seized several devices, including a GoPro camera. Police found numerous sexually explicit images and videos of minors on the seized GoPro. Several of the GoPro videos found by law enforcement show McCullough filming a cellphone on which he is viewing sexually explicit images and videos of young males sent to him through Snapchat.
At least one victim confirmed to law enforcement that they had sent McCullough sexually explicit images and videos, at the motocross coach’s request. The victim acknowledged sending the images with the promise that they would receive money, clothing, alcohol, marijuana, and/or preferential treatment regarding motocross coaching.
McCullough came into federal custody today and will remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac pending further hearings.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Tacoma Police Department and the FBI. If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Hampton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Leader of multi-state drug trafficking group sentenced to 9 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl, meth, and heroinRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 39-year-old Woodinville, Washington, resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 108 months in prison, for his role as the leader of a conspiracy to distribute narcotics including fentanyl, meth, and heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jose Luis Ibarra-Valle has been in custody since his arrest in December 2020. At his sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “You introduced large quantities of heroin and fentanyl into this community…drugs that are highly addictive and dangerous.”
“During the investigation, Mr. Ibarra-Valle was heard on the wire-tap talking about getting a firearm so he could go after drug customers who owed him money,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “And when Mr. Ibarra-Valle learned someone had died from his fentanyl laced pills, he wasn’t worried about selling deadly pills, instead he only complained that the death would cause increased law enforcement scrutiny.”
The investigation began in March 2020 and involved telephone wiretaps beginning in July 2020. The investigation revealed Ibarra-Valle was bringing drugs up from California to Oregon and Western Washington. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized 16,000 fentanyl pills, 30 pounds of methamphetamine, and six pounds of heroin. Ibarra-Valle was stopped by law enforcement in October 2022 with 10,000 fentanyl pills, 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than a kilo of heroin.
Five members of the drug trafficking ring have already been convicted and sentenced:
JESUS GUTIERREZ-GARCIA, 33, Everett, WA was sentenced to 78 months in prison.
JESUS GARNICA-MELGOZA, 41, Seattle, WA was sentenced to 42 months in prison
SANTOS CARO, 37, Portland, Oregon was sentenced to five years in prison
LEE WALLETTE, 39, Mountlake Terrace, WA was sentenced to six years in prison
TISHA GIRTZ, 40, Lake Stevens, WA was sentencing to 54 months in prison
In asking for a ten-year sentence prosecutors noted the huge increase in overdose deaths. According to a national report, “between June 2020 and May 2021 more than 100,000 Americans died from drug overdose – more than twice the number of U.S. traffic fatalities or gun violence deaths during that period. Some two-thirds of these deaths – about 170 fatalities each day, primarily among those ages 18 to 45 – involved synthetic opioids.” Commission on Combatting Synthetic Opioid Trafficking – Final Report, Executive Summary, page ix, dated February 2022.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, United States Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Stevens Police Department and Tulalip Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
Ferndale, Washington woman sentenced to six months for trafficking hundreds of “knock-off” designer goodsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 42-year-old Ferndale, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three months in prison and three months home confinement for trafficking in counterfeit goods, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Kara Suneva Allen, aka Kara Suneva Mitchell, pleaded guilty in October 2022. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “We cannot tolerate a robin hood mentality in the community…even though you thought you were helping other mothers afford luxury goods, you were actually helping them participate in criminal activity.”
According to records filed in the case, Allen operated a business named ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ LLC. The business was located in a warehouse space in Ferndale, Washington. As of March 2022, a website associated with the business advertised 467 different items for sale that appeared to be products made by Adidas, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, MCM, Nike, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, and UGG. All the products were priced substantially below the suggested retail price for the genuine items.
An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office revealed that in August and September 2021, three shipments destined for Allen and her company were seized from the mail in Oakland, California. The shipments, which originated in China and Hong Kong, contained a wide variety of counterfeit goods, including handbags, wallets, and jewelry. Allen was notified of these seizures, but never petitioned to have the goods in the shipments released. An analysis of shipping records revealed that between September 2021 and March 2022, approximately 46 shipments from China and Hong Kong had been sent to the Ferndale warehouse where ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ operated.
To document Allen’s sale of counterfeit goods, an undercover agent made online purchases from the company’s website. In one instance, the agent made an undercover purchase of a Louis Vuitton-branded handbag for $110. The suggested retail price for that specific authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is $1,690.00. A Louis Vuitton representative confirmed the handbag purchased from the website was counterfeit.
On May 2, 2022, law enforcement executed search and seizure warrants at Allen’s place of business, home, and vehicle. Over 1,800 items of suspected counterfeit merchandise were seized, including purses, scarves, belts, luggage tags, sunglasses, tumblers, and other accessories.
In total, between June 2021 and May 2022, Allen acquired, attempted to acquire, or sold more than 1,900 counterfeit items with an estimated retail value of $185,842. Her profit over that time was approximately $43,430.
As noted in the government’s sentencing memorandum, before the search warrant was executed, Allen was told more than once that what she was doing was illegal. Allen “received several letters from CBP and Louis Vuitton’s counsel putting her on notice that her business activities were unlawful. It is an aggravating factor that, despite these numerous opportunities to cease … operations, Allen nonetheless persisted in obtaining and selling counterfeit merchandise, and even instructed an employee to describe that merchandise using coded language to avoid detection,” Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly wrote in her sentencing memorandum.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Ferndale Police Department, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
Federal Way armed fentanyl dealer sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 27-year-old Federal Way, Washington, resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 180 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl and carrying a firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Fernando Lopez-Armenta has been in custody since his arrest on August 4, 2021.
According to records filed in the case, a confidential source received a phone call from Lopez-Armenta on August 4, 2021, stating that he was willing to sell him fentanyl. Later that day, Lopez-Armenta met the confidential source in his car in Federal Way, intending to sell the source 10,000 fentanyl pills, with 4,000 more stashed in his car.
Once it was confirmed that Lopez-Armenta possessed illegal narcotics, agents moved in to arrest him. Upon seeing the agents, Lopez-Armenta stepped out of his car and pointed his loaded pistol in the direction of agents and the confidential source. Lopez-Armenta finally put his pistol down on the hood of his car after a verbal order from another agent. He was subsequently arrested. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Coughenour stated, “The Court commends the arresting officers. The fact that Lopez-Armenta pointed a loaded gun at the officers, and they did not fire, shows tremendous restraint. He is lucky to be alive today.”
At trial in August, the jury found Lopez-Armenta guilty of one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and one count of carrying a firearm in commission of that crime.
In asking for a prison sentence of 180 months plus five years of supervised release, Assistant United States Attorney Erika Evans argued to the Court, “The 10,000 fentanyl pills that Lopez-Armenta brought to this drug deal represented thousands of potential overdose deaths. And he did not just traffic deadly drugs—he did so while carrying a gun.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erika Evans and Rebecca Cohen.
Final defendant in Skagit County drug arrest sentenced to 72 months in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 39-year-old Mount Vernon, Washington, resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 72 months in prison for possessing dangerous drugs and guns on two separate occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Steven Lopez Ruiz has been in custody since his arrest on March 14, 2022.
According to records filed in the case, Ruiz was first encountered by law enforcement on March 1, 2022, in the driver’s seat of a car that contained fentanyl laced pills, methamphetamine, and two firearms. Just two weeks later, on March 14, 2022, law enforcement stopped a car in which Ruiz was riding. Ruiz attempted to run from police but was apprehended. On that occasion, he possessed over 1,000 fentanyl pills, as well as heroin.
Ruiz was prosecuted along with the car’s driver, Santos Gutierrez-Fosella and a second passenger, Robert Johnny. Gutierrez-Fosella was held responsible for some 89,000 fentanyl pills in the car and was sentenced to ten years in prison. In January 2023, Robert Johnny was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the case.
In asking for a seven-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman wrote to the court, “Ruiz has committed serious offenses that pose a danger to the public. He has received substantial sentences for prior drug-trafficking and violence, and yet he was not deterred from engaging in the instant offense. He also attempted to flee from law enforcement in this case. Ruiz’s history of drug-trafficking, unlawful firearm possession, and physical violence, and his lack of respect for the law and for law enforcement, require a significant prison sentence in order to achieve deterrence and protect the public.”
The case was investigated by the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Swinomish Police Department, and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman.
Vashon Island, Washington resident indicted for labor trafficking offensesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 44-year-old Vashon Island, Washington resident was arrested yesterday on a superseding indictment charging him with ten federal felonies related to human trafficking in the form of forced labor, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jesus Ruiz-Hernandez, aka Christo Jesus Escobar Solares, was originally indicted in November 2022 for transporting, harboring, and bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain. The superseding indictment, returned this week, adds seven federal counts including two counts of forced labor and additional counts of transporting, harboring, and bringing an alien to the U.S. for financial gain.
“Undocumented people are particularly vulnerable to forced labor schemes because they believe they do not have the same basic rights as U.S. citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case the grand jury found that Mr. Ruiz-Hernandez sought to enrich himself by forcing undocumented workers to labor for him, and that he benefitted financially by bringing undocumented workers to Western Washington.”
Specifically, the indictment states that in the spring of 2017, Ruiz-Hernandez used force, threats of force, and physical violence to force an adult victim to work for him (count 1). That count also alleges the victim suffered aggravated sexual abuse. Ruiz-Hernandez is charged with transporting that victim for financial gain (count 2), harboring that victim for financial gain (count 3), and bringing that victim to the United States for financial gain (count 4).
The superseding indictment also charges that in July 2018, and continuing until August 2021, a second victim was forced to work for Ruiz-Hernandez and was threatened with harm (count 5). That victim was also transported for financial gain (Count 6). The indictment also charges that the victim was harbored for financial gain (count 7) and was brought to the U.S. for financial gain (count 8).
Finally, Ruiz-Hernandez is charged with transporting and harboring a third victim for financial gain between May 2020 and August 2021(counts 9 and 10).
When Ruiz-Hernandez was arrested on the first indictment in November 2022, the Magistrate Judge determined there were conditions under which he could safely be released, and he had been out of custody until yesterday.
Following his arrest yesterday, law enforcement determined that he was harboring five additional workers who do not appear to have status in the United States. The investigation into how those non-citizens came to be employed by Ruiz-Hernandez is under investigation. After hearing argument, Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler determined there are no conditions under which Ruiz-Hernandez can be safely released in the community, and that he poses a risk of flight.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trial in this matter is set for May 15, 2023, in front of U.S. District Judge James L. Robart.
Forced labor is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and up to life imprisonment if the jury determines that the offense involved aggravated sexual abuse. Transporting an alien for financial gain and harboring an alien for financial gain are each punishable by up to ten years in prison. Bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain is punishable by a mandatory minimum three years in prison and up to ten years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham. Ms. Crisham is the Western District of Washington coordinator of our efforts to stop human trafficking.
Arizona man sentenced to 70 months in prison for laundering money and seeking to deliver ammunition to drug trafficking organizations in MexicoRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 28-year-old resident of Nogales, Arizona, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and his attempt to smuggle ammunition for high powered firearms into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Rafael Alejandro Canez, was arrested November 13, 2021, after he was contacted on multiple occasions attempting to hide ammunition in his vehicle to smuggle across the border to Mexico. Canez was also identified as part of a separate money laundering conspiracy. At the sentencing hearing Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said “If you are involved in money laundering for a drug ring, you don’t know for sure someone is going to die from the drugs…. But unfortunately, cartels are awash in guns. If you are smuggling ammunition and gun parts the result is people dying -- innocent bystanders, other cartel members, or law enforcement officers.”
“The conduct in this case touches on the two things that keep the cartels flooding our country with drugs: the money they make and the guns they use to enforce their often violent conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Mr. Canez played a critical role as a smuggler of both money and ammunition and so must be held accountable.”
According to records filed in the case, Canez played a significant role in a massive multi-state and multi-national “funnel account” money laundering scheme. Canez traveled across the country collecting funds and depositing them in bank accounts which then were accessed to wire money to cartel connections in Mexico, or to withdraw cash and smuggle the money into Mexico. Canez personally laundered more than $1 million in cash for the drug trafficking organization. In just a few months in 2017 and 2018, more than $120,000 from Western Washington flowed through Canez’ account. Canez traveled to Illinois, Arizona, and New Mexico to pick up cash and make deposits – in Chicago alone he picked up $800,000 in currency.
On multiple occasions in 2020 and 2021, Canez came to the attention of law enforcement for his munitions smuggling scheme. In June of 2020, Homeland Security Investigations contacted him when he ordered 5,000 links for machine gun ammunition. The links allow a “belt” of bullets to be fed into the machine gun. Law enforcement seized the links. About a year later, Canez was found with 3,000 rounds for an AK-47 style rifle, and an upper receiver for an AR-15 style assault rifle. Canez admitted he planned to smuggle the ammunition into Mexico. Records reflect that he had purchased 16,000 rounds of that type of ammunition.
Finally, Canez was contacted as he was trying to leave the U.S. for Mexico and was found to be carrying 55 high-capacity magazines for AR-15-style assault rifles. The magazines were hidden in the spare tire underneath his vehicle.
Multiple law enforcement agencies worked on this case including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington and Arizona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) in Arizona, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Western Washington, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Arizona.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
Bremerton, Washington man indicted for three-month ‘swatting’ campaign that threatened victims across the USA and in CanadaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 20-year-old Bremerton, Washington, man was arrested early today on an indictment charging him with ten federal felonies related to his illegal harassing activity – also known as “swatting.” Ashton Connor Garcia will make his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
“Every time Mr. Garcia is alleged to have made one of his false reports to law enforcement, he triggered a potentially deadly event – sending heavily armed police officers to an address where they mistakenly believed they would confront someone who was armed and dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the unpredictable and terrifying dynamic these calls created for Mr. Garcia’s alleged victims cannot be overstated. There is nothing funny about abusing emergency resources and intentionally placing people in harm’s way.”
“Fortunately, no one was hurt as law enforcement responded to Mr. Garcia’s swatting calls,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “However, it is impossible to quantify the significant harm caused by his actions, which affected communities across the nation. Mr. Garcia will be held accountable for his actions, and we hope this also serves as an example of how serious the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, state, and local law enforcement take these threats.”
According to the indictment, between June 2022 and early September 2022, Garcia made more than 20 swatting calls to law enforcement, targeting victims in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. According to the indictment, Garcia gathered personal information about his victims, and then threatened his victims with harm, including placing swatting calls to send an armed police presence to their home. In some instances, he made swatting calls at the request of friends. Garcia demanded money, virtual currency, credit card information, or sexually explicit photos from some of the people he threatened.
Garcia used voice over internet technology to hide his identity. Using false identities, he made fake reports to non-emergency police numbers claiming things such as that he and others had planted explosive devices in particular locations. He falsely accused other individuals of committing crimes, such as murder, rape, and kidnapping, and he falsely claimed that these individuals possessed dangerous weapons, such as knives, firearms, and explosive devices. Frequently he used the same scripts claiming that his father was holding him hostage, false claims that he shot his parents, false claims that his father stabbed his mother, and false claims that his father had raped female members of the family.
The false reports tied up law enforcement resources that could have been used for actual emergencies. In some instances, law enforcement entered the victim residence with weapons drawn and detained people at the residence.
Garcia allegedly treated the swatting calls like entertainment. He broadcast his swatting calls via the internet platform Discord. Garcia allegedly told other Discord users that he considered himself a “cyber terrorist.”
Specifically, the indictment charges Garcia with these crimes:
- Extortion – Ohio: On July 17, 2022, allegedly demanded credit card information or would injure the reputation of the victim, their family, would leak nude photos, and “swat them.”
- Threats and Hoaxes -Ohio: On July 22, 2022, allegedly made a swatting call to the Shaker Heights Police Department falsely alleging his father was holding the family hostage with firearms and a hand grenade.
- Threats and Hoaxes – Ohio: On July 28, 2022, allegedly called the Cleveland Police Department falsely claiming he had planted a bomb at the Fox News station in Cleveland.
- Hoaxes regarding firearms – California: On July 29, 2022, allegedly called the Los Angeles Police Department falsely claiming his father was raping his sister, that his father had lots of guns and was both mentally ill and a drug addict.
- Interstate threats – Kentucky: on July 30, 2022, allegedly called the Kentucky State Police threatening to kill named hostages.
- Hoaxes regarding aircraft – California: on August 23, 2022, allegedly called the Los Angeles Police and claimed his daughter told him there was a bomb on her flight from Honolulu to LAX.
- Extortion – New jersey: on August 24, 2022, allegedly attempted to obtain photographs and videos of a minor female’s body by threatening to accuse a family member of a crime and “swat” them.
- Threats and hoaxes regarding explosives – Michigan: allegedly reported to the Milan Michigan Police Department that his father was holding him hostage with a gun and bomb.
- Threats and hoaxes – Tennessee: on September 2, 2022, allegedly called the Milan, Tennessee Police Department alleging he was being held hostage by his father who had a gun and bomb.
- Threats and hoaxes regarding explosives – California: allegedly called Los Angeles Police Department alleging he had stashed four pounds of C4 explosives at an airport in Los Angeles and would detonate it unless he was paid $200,000 in bitcoin.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Threats and hoaxes involving explosives are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Other charged threats and hoaxes are punishable by up to five years in prison. Extortion is punishable by up to two years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with substantial assistance from numerous local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and in Canada.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca.
garcia_indictment_court_stamped.pdfSkagit County man sentenced to ten years in prison for drug and gun crimesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 24-year-old resident of Mount Vernon, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for drug trafficking while armed with multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Santos Gutierrez-Fosella was arrested on March 14, 2022, with more than 89,000 fentanyl pills, two kilos of methamphetamine and five firearms – one of them a ghost gun. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “The seriousness of your crimes has been escalating and all are tied to drugs…. You amplified the danger to the public, law enforcement and yourself by trying to protect your drugs with guns.”
“Mr. Gutierrez-Fosella took more than $130,000 to Arizona to load up on potentially deadly fentanyl pills – that conduct alone indicates he was a prolific drug distributor,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “When the Skagit County authorities tried to arrest him, he rammed a patrol car in a futile attempt to escape. In his pocket was a loaded 9mm ghost gun. His conduct posed a danger to the community on many levels.”
According to records filed in the case, Gutierrez-Fosella was indicted with two others on March 30, 2022. Robert Johnny was purchasing pills from Gutierrez-Fosella. He was sentenced in January 2023, to six years in prison. A third co-defendant, Steven Lopez Ruiz is scheduled for sentencing on April 5, 2023.
When law enforcement searched Gutierrez-Fosella’s car after the traffic stop, they found not only the fentanyl and methamphetamine, but S10,000 in cash and four firearms: a .40 caliber Hi Point handgun, a Beretta APX handgun, a Palmetto PA15 rifle, and a CZ Scorpion rifle. Gutierrez-Fosella had the loaded ghost gun and another $7,000 in cash in his pockets.
As part of the agreement to resolve the federal case, the Skagit County Prosecutor agreed to resolve its pending charges against Gutierrez-Fosella, including charges related to an armed robbery, by accepting pleas to the following charges pending in Skagit County: Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in the First Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, and Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree.
The case was investigated by the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Swinomish Police Department, and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman.
Drug ring tied to Aryan prison gang indicted with 24 federal arrestsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – Twenty-seven people were indicted by a grand jury for drug trafficking, and many of those in the indictment are tied to the “Aryan Family,” a white supremacist prison gang, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Twenty-four of the defendants have been arrested over the last five days in Washington and Arizona. The alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization, Jesse James Bailey, is also an influential member of the Aryan Family prison gang. Bailey is alleged to have trafficked huge amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in Washington, Idaho, and to Alaska. Bailey and many other defendants will have detention hearings in Tacoma today.
“While the dozen counts in this indictment do not detail every criminal moment in this conspiracy, it does provide one remarkable statistic: 48 firearms seized in this case even before last week’s takedown,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “On Wednesday we took another 177 guns off the street and additional kilos of fentanyl and meth. The level of danger is high when you have people connected to Aryan prison gangs spreading drugs and using guns in our community.”
“This operation was the culmination of a year and a half of great investigative work,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Seattle field office. “We were able to arrest over 20 subjects, some of whom are alleged to have operated this drug organization from prison, and also prevented vast quantities of dangerous drugs from being sold on our streets. I'm so proud of how the FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners worked together to keep our community safe.”
On Wednesday March 22, 2023, the coordinated takedown involving ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers resulted in the seizure of an additional 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona.
These defendants have been indicted by the grand jury. All are in federal custody unless otherwise noted.
Jesse James Bailey, 39, of Steilacoom, Washington, in custody
Thomas Carver, 59, of Auburn, Washington in custody
Bryson Gill, 30, of Buckeye, Arizona, in custody in Arizona
Yehoshua Kilp, 37, incarcerated in Washington State prison
Gustavo Castellanos-Tapia, 37, of Burien, Washington, in custody
Candice Bailey, 41, of Steilacoom, in custody
Ronaldo McComb, 58, of Ridgefield, Washington, in custody
Keagen Larsen, 28, currently incarcerated in King County Jail
Sean Moinette, 54, of Spanaway, Washington in custody
Gregory Beers, 30, of Edgewood, Washington, being sought by law enforcement
Michael Warren, 63, of Shelton, Washington, in custody
Michael Slocumb, 44, of Concho, Arizona, in custody in Arizona
Isaac Cervantes, 24, of Phoenix, in custody in Arizona
Sara Thompson, 37, of Bonney Lake, Washington, in custody
Shawn Ellis, 31, of Renton, Washington, in custody
Eric Smith, 52, incarcerated in Washington State prison
Joseph Hempel, 45, of Burien, Washington, in custody
Stephanie Yepez, 42, being sought by law enforcement
Daniel Hammond, 41, of Puyallup, Washington, in custody
Philip Boorkman, 40, of Seattle, in custody
C’La Morales, 36, of Pierce County, in custody
Ronnie Griffin, 64, of Tacoma, in custody
Anna Sarnes, 37, of Quilcene, Washington, in custody
Anthony Escoto, 51, of Tukwila, in custody
William Tripp, 34, being sought by law enforcement
Dana Hanson, 57, of Burbank, Washington, in custody
Justin Hanson, 48, of Burbank, Washington in custody
Before last week’s takedown, during the year that the ring was under investigation, law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms.
“The sheer amount of narcotics seized in this investigation is shocking,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle. “The fentanyl seized in this operation contained enough lethal doses to kill everyone who lives in Tacoma and Seattle, with enough lethal doses left over to poison another half a million people.
“DOC is honored to be part of this interdisciplinary task force,” said Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange. “It takes a highly skilled team to investigate, disrupt and dismantle a sophisticated group of criminals like this. Fentanyl use by incarcerated individuals and those under DOC supervision in the community has become a serious problem. Removing a major supplier of this deadly drug is a huge victory for all Washingtonians.”
“Combatting large criminal enterprises who have tentacles into our communities, prisons, and borders cannot be accomplished without partnerships at all levels. This joint effort demonstrates our capabilities to investigate and seize firearms, narcotics and large amounts of cash used to destabilize our communities and institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “We’re thankful to the FBI, DEA, ATF, CBP, Tacoma PD, Thurston County Narcotics Task Force and all our partners in this investigation which made the dismantlement of this organization possible.”
“This operation is an example of the difference we can make when we collaborate to keep illegal guns and drugs from hitting our streets,” said Chief Avery Moore, Tacoma Police Department. “Guns and drugs have taken the lives of our loved ones, friends, neighbors, and community members. The contraband confiscated in this effort will not be allowed to harm anyone. The Tacoma Police Department, along with our law enforcement partners will not stop in the pursuit to bring those who set out to harm and exploit our communities to justice.”
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
In addition to the agencies above, on Wednesday March 22, 2023, agents and officers from FBI Phoenix, DEA Phoenix Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Puyallup Tribal Police, and the Vancouver, Pasco, Kennewick, Puyallup, Steilacoom, and Burien Police Departments, the Clark, Cowlitz, Jefferson, King, and Benton County Sheriff’s Offices all assisted with arrests and search warrants.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon.
bailey_et_al_indictment.pdfSpouse and cousin of drug trafficking ringleader sentenced to significant prison terms for their roles in drug distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two members of a drug trafficking ring that buried drugs and cash on a rural property near Arlington, Washington, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jose Arrondondo-Valdez, 27, was sentenced to nine years in prison and Yvette Olguin, 40, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Arrondondo-Valdez is the cousin of ringleader Cesar Valdez-Sanudo. Olguin is Valdez-Sanudo’s wife. Both played key roles in the drug ring. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said he based his sentences “on the size of the drug ring and that it distributed fentanyl, which is an extraordinarily dangerous drug.”
“Debt collection, money laundering – these are sophisticated organizations that don’t function without members who handle these chores – and the two people sentenced today were key players in a drug ring that distributed massive amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In addition to prison time, substantial resources have also been seized as proceeds of drug trafficking.”
Members of the drug ring were indicted in December 2020, following a lengthy wire-tap investigation. Law enforcement seized large amounts of drugs during the investigation, including a 49-pound load of methamphetamine that was coming to Washington State from California, disguised in boxes for household items.
All told, in the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 143 pounds of methamphetamine, 15 pounds of heroin, 35,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 24 firearms, and approximately $ 778,000.
“With today’s sentences, Mr. Arrondondo-Valdez and Ms. Olguin will spend significant amounts of time in federal custody as a result of their roles in this drug trafficking organization,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Together with our state and local partners we removed significant amounts of narcotics and firearms from the community and prevented the organization from using its proceeds to further their illicit schemes.”
Jose Arrondondo-Valdez served as the right-hand man to ringleader Valdez-Sanudo. Arrondondo-Valdez was arrested with Valdez-Sanudo at the Snoqualmie Casino. The men had three loaded and chambered firearms in their vehicle, one with a homemade silencer. The men planned to confront a member of the ring who owed a debt for drugs.
Jose Arrondondo-Valdez lived on the Arlington property that Olguin and Valdez-Sanudo had purchased with drug money. When law enforcement searched the property, they seized more than 27 kilos of meth, nearly six kilos of heroin, and nearly two kilos of fentanyl pills, much of it buried underground. On the property, there were ten firearms.
Olguin was key to the operations of the drug trafficking organization by making hotel and travel arrangements and working to launder the cash the operation took in. When the drug ring members were arrested, Law enforcement seized cash, checks, and the contents of bank accounts as proceeds of the drug crime. Olguin schemed with her husband Valdez-Sanudo to launder more than $1 million through casinos. The couple purchased property and vehicles to launder drug money. Olguin sought to avoid banking transaction reporting requirements by making deposits in amounts below the $10,000 threshold.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tacoma Residence Office in partnership with Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET), Kent Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, SeaTac Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF), the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Jaquette and C. Andrew Colasurdo.
Former Burlington, Washington, resident sentenced to 20 years in prison for production of images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 44-year-old resident of Dayton, Nevada, who previously resided in Burlington, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20 years in prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Between 2014 and 2020, John Holcomb made sexually explicit videos of a young child left in his care. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik remanded Holcomb to custody saying, “These were serious and violent offenses…. One of the most reprehensible cases the court has seen.”
“No sentence can relieve the trauma suffered by the young victim in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “The court recognized a key issue of concern for prosecutors in this case, that the community and other children be protected.”
According to records filed in the case, in 2020, law enforcement in Skagit County was investigating Holcomb for an unrelated criminal allegation. As part of that investigation, law enforcement served a court authorized search warrant on Holcomb allowing them to seize his electronic devices. The forensic examination revealed videos depicting child sexual abuse. Law enforcement then sought a new search warrant from a Skagit County Superior Court judge to further review the devices for images of child sexual abuse.
The forensic examination revealed three videos of Holcomb sexually abusing a child who was about 6 or 7 years old.
Holcomb will register as a sex offender following his release from prison and he will be on federal supervision for the rest of his life.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Burlington Police Department, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, the Mt. Vernon Police Department, and the Oak Harbor Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton and Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor who is specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court. Appellate Attorneys Teal Miller and Jonas Lerman added critical assistance to the prosecution of this case.
Tacoma man pleads guilty to producing images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 37-year-old Tacoma man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. William Alexander Crisolo was arrested October 1, 2021, after an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Crisolo admitted today that he made sexually explicit images of two young children. One set of images was traded via the internet application KIK for other images of child sexual abuse. Crisolo faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison when sentenced on July 16. 2023.
According to records filed in the case, Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center received a tip from a foreign law enforcement agency that Crisolo was claiming, via internet chats, that he was abusing two different minor children and filming the abuse. Law enforcement moved to search Crisolo’s residence and electronic devices. On his custom-built computer, investigators found more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images and 100 child sexual abuse videos. On Crisolo’s phone, law enforcement identified sexually explicit images of the two young child victims.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, both the prosecution and defense will recommend a 16-and-a-half-year sentence. Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law.
The plea in federal court also resolves state court charges for child molestation.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Tacoma Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Dillon and Matthew Hampton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Kent, Washington, resident indicted for dealing fentanyl while illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 36-year-old Kent, Washington, resident was indicted by a grand jury for trafficking narcotics while illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Mohamed Aweys Muse is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Muse is scheduled for arraignment on March 15, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, Muse came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2022, when Muse was observed making hand-to-hand drug sales in the area of Airport Way South and South Holgate Street in Seattle. Muse appeared to target the clients of a methadone clinic a block away for his drug sales.
In January, Muse started staying overnight at a Lynwood, Washington apartment. On February 2, 2023, law enforcement served a court-authorized search warrant on both the Lynnwood and Kent apartments. In the Lynnwood apartment, investigators found fentanyl, cocaine, and three firearms. In the Kent apartment, law enforcement found additional cocaine. Muse was arrested and has been in federal custody since his arrest.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Due to the drug quantities involved, Muse faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the drug trafficking charges. The firearms count is punishable by an additional five years in prison to run consecutive to any prison term imposed on the drug charges.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.
Former law enforcement officer convicted of sexually abusing young childrenRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 69-year-old member of the Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe was convicted today of nine federal crimes related to the sexual abuse of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Anthony Turrey, of Port Angeles, Washington, was convicted following a seven-day jury trial. The jury deliberated for about two days before returning the guilty verdicts. Turrey was remanded to federal custody to await sentencing. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle scheduled the sentencing for June 5, 2023.
In 2021, according to records filed in the case, three victims disclosed abuse by the defendant that occurred between 2008 and 2016. The charged assaults occurred on tribal land, triggering federal jurisdiction. Two of the victims were as young as 6 and 7 years old when the sexual assaults began.
Early in his career, in 1993-94, Turrey served as a law enforcement officer on the Hoh Reservation. Turrey, and those who knew him at that time, described his role as Chief of Police. The Hoh Tribe has no record of that position, but is aware that Turrey was employed by the tribe and supervised a fisheries enforcement officer. Turrey went on to serve as a police officer for the Lower Elwah Tribe and also served on the Tribal Council.
Turrey was convicted of six counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact.
Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor is punishable by a mandatory-minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life. Abusive Sexual Contact is punishable by a maximum of life in prison. Sexual Abuse of a Minor is punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Lower Elwha S’Klallam Police Department, with assistance from the National Park Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster, Will Dreher, and Jonas Lerman.
Seven indicted in Seattle in connection with coast-to-coast drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
Seattle – Seven people have been indicted in the Western District of Washington in an investigation that began with a drug trafficking ring in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Over the past 36 hours, law enforcement has taken all of the defendants into custody, with three arrested in Arizona and four arrested in Seattle. In addition, two people named in indictments in Pittsburgh were arrested in the Seattle area. Those arrested in Seattle are being detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington pending future hearings.
“This investigation shows how drug trafficking rings interact across the country – drugs coming into Arizona are then transferred to distributors as geographically distinct as Seattle and Pittsburgh,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Prosecutors and law enforcement here have worked cooperatively to arrest and prosecute the key players responsible for hundreds of thousands of potentially deadly doses.”
“Cartel activity of this nature is of particular concern to HSI, and we continue to prioritize investigations into individuals and organizations that illicitly introduce deadly fentanyl and firearms into our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “This national operation has brought 90 individuals to justice, taken a large amount of guns off of our streets, and serves as a message to other fentanyl trafficking organizations that we will not stop; for the safety and security of the communities that we serve, we can’t stop as innocent lives are at risk.”
According to records filed in the case, a key member of the drug conspiracy was arrested in Seattle on January 11, 2023. Bryce Hill is charged in the Western District of Pennsylvania with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. The Pittsburgh investigation began in 2018 and became a wiretap investigation in the spring of 2022. The investigation identified Bryce aka “Benji” Hill as a key distributor of drugs in the Seattle area. Hill traveled, or had his associates travel, between Arizona and Seattle, bringing in drugs and taking drug proceeds back to conspirators in Phoenix.
When investigators served search warrants on residences in Seattle associated with Hill, they seized five firearms – including assault style weapons and those with extended magazines.
One firearm had been modified to fire fully automatic. Hill is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions. At Hill’s apartment in Seattle, where he was arrested, law enforcement seized about 27 kilos of fentanyl pills. The drugs were still in the suitcases they had traveled in from Arizona. Law enforcement also seized more than $387,000 in cash.
In all, some 60 people have been charged in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Over the past ten months, investigators in the Pennsylvania-based case have seized more than 673 pounds of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills, over 400 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 16 pounds each of fentanyl powder and cocaine, over $600,000 in cash, nine vehicles, and 47 firearms.
Yesterday alone, in connection with the arrests in the Seattle area, law enforcement seized:
- Seven additional firearms for a total of 21 associated with this case
- Approximately $500,000 cash
- A half kilo of cocaine
- Smaller amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl pills
The seven people indicted in Seattle allegedly conspired with Bryce ‘Benji’ Hill in the drug distribution scheme. Those indicted include:
Cierra Ward, 21, of Kent, Washington
David Theodore Carr, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona
Jaren Christopher Tran, 43, of Seattle
Shaunyae Allen, 37, of Oak Harbor, Washington
Jose Cortes 34, of Marysville, Washington
Aliana Lyla Khan, 34 of Scottsdale, Arizona
Kayla Vigil, 28, of Tempe, Arizona
Additionally, two defendants from Western Washington were arrested on an indictment from the Western District of Pennsylvania:
Alicia Parks, 25, of Kent, Washington
Mohamed Kariye, 34 of Kent, Washington
“This organization sold their illicit narcotics throughout the U.S., from the Southwest border to the Pacific Northwest and all the way to the East Coast,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “Our federal partnerships once again have proven invaluable in defeating these organizations and holding their members accountable. According to DEA labs, 6 out of 10 fake pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. With the seizure in one Seattle apartment, our partnerships saved 162,000 lives.”
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
In the Western District of Washington, the investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) with assistance from the FBI, DEA, and ATF. In Pennsylvania the investigation is being led by HSI and the FBI.
The case in the Western District of Washington is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Michelle Jensen.
Seattle woman convicted of multiple child sexual abuse offensesRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 39-year-old woman from Seattle was convicted late yesterday of five federal felonies related to the sexual abuse of children, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Shabnam Dawn Pilisuk was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Pilisuk is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on May 31, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, a Seattle Police detective uncovered information about a website that included discussion of incest and child abuse. The investigation revealed that Pilisuk was the founder and operator of the website. The investigation further revealed that Pilisuk had traveled with an 11-year-old and sexually molested the child. The website is no longer functioning.
In March 2019, Seattle Police and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served a judicially authorized search warrant on Pilisuk’s West Seattle Home. They seized her electronic devices. The devices were forensically examined and determined to have images of child sexual abuse. In November 2021, a victim disclosed the sexual abuse that began when the child was 11 years old.
The jury convicted Pilisuk of: Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor under 12, punishable by a mandatory minimum 30 years to life in prison; Production of Child Pornography punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison to 30 years in prison; two counts of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years to life in prison; and Possession of Child Pornography, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The actual sentence will be determined by U.S. District Judge Tana Lin after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Pilisuk remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Hampton and Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation cases in federal court.
Two Western Washington artists plead guilty to illegally misrepresenting their work as “Indian Produced”Read the Press Release
Seattle – In two separate criminal cases, Western Washington artists pleaded guilty today to violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) by representing themselves as Native American artists, when they have no tribal enrollment or heritage, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. The men, 52-year-old Lewis Anthony Rath, of Maple Falls, Washington, and 67-year-old Jerry Chris Van Dyke aka Jerry Witten, of Seattle, both pleaded guilty today and will be sentenced on May 17, 2023.
“When non-Native artists falsely claim Indian heritage, they can take sales away from true Indian artists working to support themselves with skills and techniques handed down for generations,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Stores and galleries need to partner with artists to ensure those artisans and craftsmen advertised as Indian Artists truly have tribal status.”
The investigation of Jerry Van Dyke began in February 2019, when the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received a complaint that Van Dyke was representing himself as a Nez Perce Indian Artist, when in fact, he is not an enrolled tribal member. Investigators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made undercover purchases at a gallery in the Pike Place Market area of Seattle that advertised pendants Van Dyke had made as Native American
art. Van Dyke used the name Witten for these sales. When interviewed by agents, Van Dyke admitted knowing about the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and admitted he was not a tribal member. Through the gallery Van Dyke had sold more than $1,000 worth of carved pendants represented as Native American artwork based on Aleut masks. According to the plea agreement, Van Dyke had worked with the gallery for more than ten years, with the gallery owner providing him with woolly mammoth ivory, antlers, animal bones and fossilized walrus ivory to make the pendants that it sold.
Van Dyke pleaded guilty to Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods and Products. The crime is punishable by up to one year in prison.
The investigation of Anthony Rath began in May 2019, after a complaint to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. The investigation revealed that Rath falsely represented himself to be a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Undercover agents purchased a carved totem pole and necklace from the same Pike Place Market gallery for more than $1,334. Agents noticed the gallery had other carvings by Rath that were represented as Native produced. At another shop on the Seattle waterfront agents purchased
another carved totem pole and a mask, again represented to be Indian produced. The biography of the artist at both shops falsely claimed that Rath was Native American. Internet sites Rath used to sell his artwork also falsely claim he is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
When agents executed a search warrant on Rath’s Whatcom County home and studio, they found he also possessed feathers from protected birds: golden eagles and other migratory birds such as hawks, jays, owls and more. Rath is forfeiting all those feathers to the government.
Rath pleaded guilty to Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods and Products, Unlawful Possession of Golden Eagle Parts and Unlawful Possession of Migratory Bird Parts. Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods and Products and Unlawful Possession of Golden Eagle Parts are punishable by up to one year in prison, while Unlawful Possession of Migratory Bird Parts is punishable by up to six months in prison.
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) is very pleased that Jerry Chris Van Dyke and Anthony Rath have been brought to justice for their roles in selling fake Indian artwork in violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act,” said U.S Department of the Interior IACB Director Meridith Stanton. The IACB is responsible by statute for administering the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, an anti-counterfeiting statute adopted by Congress aimed at ridding the Indian arts and crafts market of fakes like those being sold by defendants Van Dyke and Rath. “Cases like these are critical to preserving the integrity and viability of authentic Native American art and craftwork in general, as well as preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Nez Perce Tribe and the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the economic livelihoods of their artists and craftspeople,” Director Stanton added. “The IACB applauds the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Western District of Washington and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IACA Enforcement Unit in investigating and prosecuting these important cases.”
“Protecting Native American culture and traditions is a critical part of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's dedicated team of special agents work on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who choose to misrepresent the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products are brought to justice. Lewis Anthony Rath and Jerry Van Dyke took advantage of Native American artists and U.S. consumers for personal and financial gain and should be held accountable for their actions.”
Under the terms of the plea agreement Van Dyke and prosecutors will both recommend no prison term. However, the ultimate sentence is up to U.S. District Judge Tana Lin.
There is no agreed sentencing recommendation for Rath.
The cases are being investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Tribal Liaison J. Tate London.
Local leader of violent drug trafficking ring sentenced to 12+ years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – One of the leaders of a violent international drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 148 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jose Elias Barbosa, 37, of Kent, Washington, was sentenced to 5 years of supervised release to follow prison. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said Barbosa had a leadership role in a massive drug trafficking organization that used guns and threats of violence to collect debts.
“This cartel connected drug trafficking ring damaged our community with dangerous drugs, and with their guns and threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Our focus is on curtailing the flow of dangerous and addictive drugs into western Washington. We need the community to work together to reduce the market for these substances.”
“Every day the men and women of the DEA in Seattle and throughout the US are working tirelessly to stop dangerous drugs from entering our country,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Seattle Field Division. “We will continue with all of our partners in holding those like Mr. Barbosa accountable and protecting our communities from illicit narcotics, guns, and violence.”
According to records filed in the case, Barbosa pleaded guilty in August 2022, admitting he was one of the leaders of a transnational drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement has linked the organization to the CJNG cartel in Mexico. In November 2019, the DTO received a shipment of liquid methamphetamine concealed in candles. Barbosa helped DTO members to extract the methamphetamine and cook it into crystal form at a Port Orchard, Washington location.
While surveilling the Port Orchard residence, law enforcement heard multiple gunshots and later learned Barbosa had been shot in the collarbone. Members of the drug ring grew concerned law enforcement would arrive at the Port Orchard house, so they loaded the meth infused candle wax into a van. The van was later stopped by law enforcement who seized the meth and the processing equipment.
In all, Barbosa was responsible for the distribution of at least 55 pounds of methamphetamine, 600 grams of heroin, and fentanyl throughout Western Washington and elsewhere.
The wiretapped phone calls revealed that Barbosa pursued those who owed drug debts to the organization and possessed firearms during the drug conspiracy. According to the plea agreement, on one occasion, Barbosa took a car from another DTO member to satisfy a drug debt. Barbosa later threatened that same DTO member. The wiretapped calls show Barbosa and others talked frequently about kidnappings, assaults, and even murders as ways to get debtors to pay up.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Tacoma Resident Office in partnership with Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET), Kent Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, SeaTac Police Department, Thurston County Narcotics Team (TNT), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Jaquette and C. Andrew Colasurdo.
U.S. Attorney Nick Brown leads DOJ delegation to commemorate “Bloody Sunday,” and passage of Voting Rights Act of 1965Read the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Nick Brown will be joined by more than 30 other U.S. Attorneys from across the country as a delegation to commemorate the 58th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the March over Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Over March 4-6, 2023, U.S. Attorneys from across the country will meet with community and civil rights leaders while exploring some of the significant and educational civil rights institutions in Alabama.
“As the leaders of the Department of Justice in our districts, we can never forget the historic events that shaped our history and inform our work today,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “We will be meeting with distinguished Federal Judge Myron Thompson, learning about the important work of the Johnson institute, and exploring the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. As we grapple with hate crimes and civil rights abuses in our own states, these resources bring home what is at stake in our civil rights work.”
In addition to the Selma March scheduled for Sunday March 5, 2023, the U.S. Attorneys will meet with Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, as part of the subcommittee work supporting the Attorney General Advisory Committee (AGAC).
Other meetings and visits during the trip will focus on both historic civil rights conflicts and issues that are still fresh today.
- The group will meet with distinguished jurist Myron Thompson, the first Black Assistant Attorney General for Alabama and the second Black Federal Judge in the state. As the former Chief Judge in the Middle District of Alabama, Judge Thompson was instrumental in preserving the Montgomery bus station where the Freedom Riders were attacked in 1961 and the establishment of the Freedom Rides Museum. Judge Thompson is a recipient of the Thurgood Marshall award for his “personal contributions and extraordinary commitment to the advancement of civil rights.”
- The group will also meet with Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons.
- The attorneys will visit The Johnson Institute in the Montgomery federal courthouse where many key civil rights cases were decided. The Johnson Institute demonstrates through its programming the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the independent judiciary.
- They will go to The Legacy Museum, which provides a comprehensive history on the legacy of slavery. Lynching, codified racial segregation, and the emergence of over-incarceration in the 20th century, are examined in depth and brought to life through film, images, and first-person narratives at the museum.
- At the Memorial for Peace and Justice the group will reflect on America’s History of racial injustice. Set on a six-acre site, the memorial uses sculpture, art, and design to contextualize racial terror. The site includes a memorial square with 800 six-foot monuments to symbolize thousands of racial terror lynching victims in the United States.
The U.S. Attorneys from these districts are attending the Selma and Montgomery events: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, Northern and Eastern Districts of California, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Virginia, Western District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Brown and Civil Rights Subcommittee Vice-Chair Rachael Rollins are appreciative of the work done by the Middle District of Alabama to host the delegation.
DOJ and Lincoln Pharmacy in Tacoma settle allegations the pharmacy failed to follow the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
Seattle – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Lincoln Pharmacy in Tacoma have reached a settlement agreement over inspection findings by the Drug Enforcement Administration that Lincoln had failed to comply with some of the administrative requirements of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Lincoln Pharmacy will pay the United States $80,000 to resolve the claims. The settlement is one in a series of enforcement actions the DEA has taken with providers and pharmacies over administrative violations of the CSA.
“The Controlled Substances Act has requirements for medical professionals and pharmacies so that certain narcotic substances are carefully tracked,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Those requirements are designed to allow DEA to monitor the distribution of these drugs to try to combat abuse and addiction and the harms that follow.”
The settlement with Lincoln Pharmacy states that during an inspection in June 2021, DEA found that in a variety of ways, Lincoln Pharmacy failed to appropriately track controlled substances coming to the pharmacy. For example: Lincoln Pharmacy failed to maintain records on substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone between March 2020 and June 2021; Lincoln Pharmacy’s inventories of scheduled drugs were inadequate; the pharmacy failed to keep records of when and how much of certain scheduled drugs were delivered to the pharmacy; the pharmacy failed to secure some of the controlled substances; and the pharmacy failed to keep the ‘private key’ secure - something used to sign DEA orders.
Lincoln is paying the $80,000 settlement but does not admit any liability.
This is the third entity to settle administrative claims with the U.S. Attorney’s Office over administrative failure to follow the Controlled Substances Act.
In September 2021, JRK Pharma Inc d/b/a Edmonds Pharmacy settled allegations that between October 2019 and May 2021, it filled 347 prescriptions for controlled substances written by two practitioners who either did not have valid state licensed to practice medicine or did not have an active DEA license to prescribe controlled substances. Edmonds Pharmacy paid $20,000 to resolve the allegations and does not admit liability.
In August 2022, Dr. Akiko Kato, a naturopathic physician, signed a settlement stating that she prescribed controlled substances that were outside her naturopathic license and limitations under the CSA. Between October 2016 and October 2021, she wrote 644 prescriptions for substances such as Dextroamphetamine, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Ketamine, and Phentermine. Dr. Kato was not authorized to prescribe such prescriptions. Dr. Kato paid a $37,500 settlement.
These cases were a result of a concerted focus of DEA to prevent pharmacies from filling prescriptions written by providers without prescribing authority for those substances.
“The DEA will hold those medical practitioners accountable who fail to comply with the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) in order to deter pharmaceuticals from being abused,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
The DEA investigated these matters and the cases were resolved by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Waldrop and Ashley Burns.
Redmond man pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud COVID-19 Payroll Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 62-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiring to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $646,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph M. Freeman used the names of two companies he registered to try to obtain forgivable Paycheck Protection Loans to protect the salaries of non-existent employees. After detecting the fraud, federal investigators froze approximately $220,000 that remained in Freeman’s bank account and returned it to the Small Business Administration. Freemen will be sentenced for the fraud conspiracy on May 16, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in May 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators used information about a company he formed in 2004 to claim $500,000 in PPP funds. Freeman claimed Special Delivery LLC had 15 employees and a payroll of $200,000 per month, when in fact it had no employees other than Freeman. Freeman used fake Internal Revenue Forms to make it appear the company had employees and sought $500,000 in PPP funds. On May 20, 2020, the loan proceeds were wired to Freeman’s bank. After receiving the funds, Freeman created an account with a payroll service to disburse the funds to individuals who were not employees of the company.
On June 15, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators submitted a second fake application. Freeman claimed New Jack Trucking LLC had 10 employees and a monthly payroll of $58,400. Freeman and his associates claimed the business had been in operation in February 2020 even though the entity never had any genuine business activity. The coconspirators used fake IRS forms and a falsified bank statement to make it appear New Jack Trucking had employees. On June 16, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators obtained $146,000 for that fraudulent application.
Freeman supplied some of the loan proceeds to his coconspirators and used some of the funds for his own benefit. In July 2020, after federal investigators detected the fraud and notified Freeman’s bank, approximately $220,000 of the loan proceeds were frozen and returned to the Small Business Administration. The net loss from the scheme is $426,666.
Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Funds is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross monetary gain to the defendant or the gross monetary loss to the victims of the offense. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than two years in prison for Freeman.
This case was investigated by the U.S Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang.
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 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 via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Two Nigerian citizens indicted for attempting to defraud the United States of over $25 millionRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two Nigerian citizens who currently reside in Toronto, Canada, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their scheme to steal COVID-19 disaster benefits and U.S. tax refunds, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, 45, was arrested yesterday in Frankfurt, Germany, as he traveled back to Canada from Nigeria. Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 45, was arrested in Canada. Each defendant remains in Germany or Canada respectively pending extradition to the U.S.
“These men are accused of using the stolen identities of thousands of Americans to submit over 1,700 claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to over 25 different states, including Washington State,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “My Office is committed to bringing to justice those accused of exploiting a time of crisis to illegally enrich themselves, whether they are in the United States or abroad.”
“These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to bring together our law enforcement partners and pursue these alleged fraudsters around the world,” said Department of Justice Acting Director of COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Michael C. Galdo. “I applaud the hard work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, thank our domestic and international partners for their continued assistance, and look forward to seeing additional results from the data analysis identifying suspected pandemic relief fraud.”
According to the indictment, Lawal and Ambali used the stolen personal information of thousands of U.S. taxpayers and residents to file fraudulent claims for COVID-19 pandemic assistance and false tax returns seeking refunds. In total, the claims sought approximately $25 million, but the conspirators obtained approximately $2.4 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits.
The co-conspirators allegedly submitted claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to over 25 states including New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, California, and Washington. Using 13 Google accounts they filed some 900 claims. The co-conspirators also allegedly established four internet domain names that they then used for fraud – creating some 800 different email addresses that were used for fraud.
Lawal and Ambali allegedly filed some 2300 fraudulent income tax returns seeking over $7.1 million in tax refunds. The IRS caught most of the fraud and paid only about $30,000 in fraudulent refunds.
The co-conspirators also attempted to use the stolen identities for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to defraud the Small Business Administration.
According to the indictment, the co-conspirators had the proceeds of their fraud sent to cash cards or to “money mules” who transferred the funds according to instructions given by the co-conspirators. They also allegedly used stolen identities to open bank accounts and have the money deposited directly into those accounts for their use.
Lawal and Ambali are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, ten counts of wire fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft.
The conspiracy and wire fraud counts are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison to run consecutive to any other prison time imposed in the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The National Unemployment Fraud Task Force provided a lead on this case to the investigative team in Western Washington. The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). Also contributing to the investigation were Washington State Employment Security Division (ESD), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy Chang and Seth Wilkinson of the Western District of Washington. DOJ’s Office of International Affairs is assisting.
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 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 via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
lawal_and_ambali_indictment.pdfThird and Pike armed drug dealer sentenced to five years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 31-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison for federal crimes related to his distribution of fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle and his armed shoplifting in Bellevue, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Kendall Alston was arrested on March 23, 2022, after Seattle Police Officers noted his hand-to-hand drug sales. The officers had been surveilling the area of 3rd Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets as part of “Operation New Day.” The emphasis patrol was aimed at increasing public safety in the Pike/Pine corridor where drug sales had led the area to become a hot spot for other crimes including assaults and shootings.
“Mr. Alston was armed with a loaded handgun while dealing potentially deadly fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Drugs and guns are a deadly combination and getting both off the street is a priority for the community.”
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, an officer in an observation point above the street witnessed a person in distinctive clothing engaging in what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug sale. The officer returned to street level and saw the person later identified as Alston make another drug sale. Officers moved in and took Alston into custody. Alston carried 244 blue pills that were later tested and found to contain fentanyl. In his backpack, Alston carried a loaded Hi-Point .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
After a 3-day trial in August 2022, the jury deliberated about three hours before finding Alston guilty of knowingly distributing fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Following the guilty verdicts, Alston agreed to plead guilty to two additional counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The counts are related to his March arrest in downtown Seattle with the firearm, and a previous January 2022 arrest for shoplifting in Bellevue, where he was found to be carrying a different firearm.
Alston is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two felony convictions, a 2018 residential burglary conviction in Pierce County, and a 2013 residential burglary conviction in King County.
At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren J. King noted Alston was “an intelligent young man engaging in high-risk behavior…. Possessing a firearm while dealing drugs adds to the danger.”
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Casey Conzatti.
Former Active-Duty Soldier sentenced to 22 years in prison for child sex trafficking, producing child pornography, and traveling to the Philippines to sexually assault young childrenRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A former Staff Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 22 years in prison for sex trafficking children, producing images of child sexual abuse, and traveling to sexually abuse children. Moeun Yoeun, 40, of Steilacoom, Washington, pleaded guilty in August 2022, admitting that young girls in the Philippines were threatened with death if they refused his sexual assaults. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle called the crimes “vicious, heinous, and cruel.”
“Mr. Yoeun weaponized his position of trust as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army, to sexually exploit and cause irreversible trauma to impoverished girls in the Philippines,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “He cruelly threatened their lives if they tried to flee from his violent sexual assaults. This lengthy sentence is necessary to deter Mr. Yoeun and others who prey on children.”
In his plea agreement, Yoeun admitted to, over the course of several years, using adult and child residents of the Philippines to recruit more than a dozen other children to produce pornography. Yoeun further admitted to travelling to the Philippines and engaging in sexual acts with at least 6 children in exchange for nominal amounts of money.
Prosecutors cited numerous studies showing the long-term damage suffered by child sex abuse victims, concluding, ”[f]urther research only confirmed and expanded upon this emerging understanding of these insidious effects of childhood sexual trauma. Studies now tell us that the numerous child victims in this case, as a direct consequence of the Defendant’s violent sexual attacks, will face an elevated risk of alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity, and suicide.”
Yoeun will be required to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and will be on federal supervision for 15 years.
The FBI and U.S. Army CID, with the assistance of the Philippine National Police, investigated this case as part of the South Sound Child Exploitation Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Grady J. Leupold and Matthew P. Hampton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Monroe, Washington man indicted for labor trafficking, and three federal crimes for transporting, harboring, and bringing a non-citizen to the U.S. for financial gainRead the Press Release
Seattle – A federal grand jury in Seattle today returned an indictment charging Rangel Ramirez-Manzano with four federal felonies related to his treatment of a victim smuggled into the U.S. at his direction, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Ramirez-Manzano, 55, allegedly paid smugglers $17,000 to bring the female victim to the United States from Mexico. The victim thought that she was moving to Washington to continue a long-distance romantic relationship with Ramirez-Manzano and that she would not be required to repay any costs associated with her travel across the border. Instead, she was abused and forced to work long hours to pay off the smuggling “debt.” Ramirez-Manzano allegedly threatened to kill her children if she did not continue back-breaking work for his landscaping business. Ramirez-Manzano will be arraigned on the indictment on February 23, 2023.
“Mr. Ramirez-Manzano allegedly stripped all human dignity from the victim in this case, forcing her to work long hours while he isolated and abused her,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Human trafficking is often called modern day slavery. I am pleased that our office is a leader in pursuing justice for victims in these difficult cases.”
According to records filed in the case, Ramirez-Manzano had known the victim when she was young in Mexico. He pursued a long-distance relationship with the victim, urging her to move to the U.S. to be his girlfriend. Ramirez-Manzano allegedly paid for her to be smuggled across the border and into southern California. Ramirez-Manzano picked her up from the smugglers and paid them. Almost immediately upon arriving in Washington, he forced her to begin hard labor for his landscaping business and threatened her, assaulted her, and threatened the children she left behind in Mexico.
The case files describe how he isolated her from others, restricted her food, and failed to pay her any wages for months of strenuous work at various landscaping job locations.
The victim was finally able to escape from Ramirez-Manzano’s home and asked a neighbor to call 9-1-1. The Monroe Police responded and took the victim for medical attention for multiple injuries. The FBI joined the Monroe Police in investigating the case. Ramirez-Manzano was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in September 2022. He has remained in federal custody ever since.
The indictment today adds a criminal count for forced labor. Currently trial is scheduled for September of 2023.
Forced labor is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Transporting an alien for financial gain and harboring an alien for financial gain is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain is punishable by a mandatory minimum three years in prison and up to ten years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham. Ms. Crisham is the Western District of Washington coordinator of our efforts to stop human trafficking.
Man with homes in California and Lacey, Washington pleads guilty to smuggling Indian Nationals across northern borderRead the Press Release
Seattle –A 49-year-old resident of Elk Grove, California, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Certain Aliens for Profit and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Rajinder Pal Singh, aka Jaspal Gill, admits that he took in more than $500,000 as a key member of a smuggling ring bringing hundreds of Indian Nationals across the border from Canada and then to locations in the mid-west and beyond. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour is scheduled for May 9, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, as early as July 2018, Singh and his coconspirators used the ride share app Uber to transport people who had illegally crossed the border from Canada to the Seattle area. Those records detail how trips beginning near the border in the early hours of the morning, would be split between different rides. For example, one Uber trip would be from the border to Sea-Tac airport, and then minutes later the second Uber trip would be from a nearby airport hotel to an address in Lacey, Washington, owned by Singh’s spouse. All told, from mid-2018 to May 2022, Singh arranged more than 600 trips involving the transportation of Indian Nationals who had been illegally smuggled into the U.S.
Once the non-citizens had been smuggled into the U.S., Singh coordinated with other coconspirators who, using one-way vehicle rentals, would transport these individuals to their ultimate destinations outside Washington State. The organization’s fee for their smuggling services was as much as $11,000 per person.
Singh and his coconspirators used sophisticated means to launder the organization’s illicit proceeds. For example, on one instance, Singh and his coconspirators arranged for smuggling fees to be sent via Hawala from India to New York. Once the smuggling fee was received in cash from the New York Hawala, these funds were converted into a check, mailed to a coconspirator in Kentucky, and then were washed through multiple financial accounts. In the plea agreement, Singh admitted that the purpose of this money movement was to obscure the illicit nature of these funds, i.e., money laundering.
The smuggling scheme has been underway since at least 2018. It slowed during the pandemic, when Canada was not admitting non-citizens. However as pandemic restrictions were lifted, the smuggling scheme became active again. In all, the investigation estimates that between July 2018, and April 2022, the 17 Uber accounts tied to this smuggling ring ran up more than $80,000 in charges.
In addition to the search of the home in Lacey, law enforcement searched two of Singh’s residences in California. During the search of one of his homes in Elk Grove, California, investigators found about $45,000 in cash as well as counterfeit identity documents. They also found copies of falsified documents that had been submitted to immigration judges in Washington during bond hearings for non-citizens who had been smuggled into the United States by Singh and his coconspirators, but who had been arrested by immigration authorities after illegally crossing the border.
Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit and Conspiracy to Launder Money are both punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Singh has agreed to forfeit cash and other personal property seized during the search of his residences, as well as a money judgement of $500,000 which represents proceeds he obtained from his criminal scheme.
Both sides have agreed to recommend that Singh serve 45 months in prison. Singh is not legally present in the United States and will likely be deported following his prison term. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Coughenour after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Silvio.
Justice Department Announces over $200 Million in Investments in State Crisis InterventionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today 49 awards to states, territories, and the District of Columbia as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program. This investment of over $231 million will fund state crisis intervention court proceedings, including but not limited to, extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs that work to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. This investment in community safety is authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, historic legislation to address and reduce gun violence.
“The Justice Department is working relentlessly to protect communities from violent crime and the gun violence that often drives it, and the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program is an important part of that effort,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These awards will support the kinds of crisis intervention programs that we know save lives and help protect children, families, and communities across the country from senseless acts of gun violence.”
“The Department of Justice’s strategy to reduce violent crime and gun violence includes prioritizing support for successful, evidence-based programs,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The grants announced today invest in and highlight proven state and local violence prevention and intervention programs, that will make our communities safer.”
These awards, administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provide funding to states for the creation and implementation of extreme risk protection order programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related gun violence reduction initiatives. Extreme risk protection order programs empower family members, health care providers, school officials and law enforcement officers to petition a court to temporarily prevent a person from accessing firearms if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others. Funds can also support interventions like drug, mental health and veterans’ treatment courts, gun violence recovery courts, behavior health deflection and outpatient treatment centers.
“Protecting communities from gun crime is an urgent public safety challenge and a critical part of the Justice Department’s work to ensure that everyone in this country can live free from the fear of violence,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The resources we are announcing today will give communities the tools they need to prevent firearm violence and deliver support to those who are at risk of committing or being victimized by gun crime.”
“Washington state is a leader in the development of Extreme Risk Protection Orders – and this DOJ funding will improve implementation and knowledge of the program in courts and communities across the state,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Just today the shooting at Michigan State brings home to need to keep firearms away from those who are troubled and pose a risk to themselves or others. I’m pleased to see DOJ getting these funds out where they can make an impact.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also seeks to ensure that extreme risk protection order laws and programs are implemented in accordance with the Constitution and provide for adequate due process protections. Projects funded under this program will need to demonstrate that they have taken measures to safeguard the constitutional rights of an individual subject to a crisis intervention program or ERPO initiative. The Justice Department has long supported state efforts to increase the use of ERPOs and in 2021 the Department released model legislation to help states create their own extreme risk protection order systems and provide for intervention before warning signs turn into tragedy.
Signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is the most significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in almost three decades and comes as a response to recent mass shootings and to the far more common, but no less tragic, incidents of community gun violence. Including the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, the law allocates a total of $1.4 billion to OJP over five years to develop, implement, and sustain meaningful investments in safer communities.
“These awards will help meet two monumental public safety challenges — the alarming proliferation of gun violence in our country and the clear need for front-end interventions to slow the cycle of violence and victimization in our most underserved communities,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “The Bureau of Justice Assistance is proud to make these resources available to states as a critical part of its mission to reduce and prevent crime and to promote a fair and effective criminal justice system.”
For a full list of awards, please visit: https://data.ojp.usdoj.gov/stories/s/O-BJA-2023-171458/b5xz-as5z/. These awards are the latest effort from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to implement this historic legislation.
Renton, Washington man sentenced to 11 years in prison for huge stash of guns and drugsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 44-year-old Renton, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 11 years in prison for federal drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. David Christopher Pitts was arrested in December 2021, following an undercover investigation of his drug trafficking activities. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones urged Pitts to recognize the damage drug addiction does in our community saying, “Look at all the people you see in our city clutching foil and a straw… You are feeding their addiction every day… They can’t pay their rent, they can’t feed their children… They may have an addiction because of what you put into the community… I want you to develop a conscience beyond the money you put in your pocket.”
“Mr. Pitts has consistently shown that he cannot live in the community without endangering others,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Firearms are destroying countless lives, and Mr. Pitts’ possession of 25 firearms, combined with his extensive drug trafficking activity, is alarming. I hope that this sanction will convince him to change his ways.”
According to records filed in the case, in November and December 2021, a person working with law enforcement purchased fentanyl from Pitts at his residence in Renton. After obtaining a search warrant, Seattle Police officers arrested Pitts without incident and searched his residence. In the main bedroom, officers found three different handguns – one of them stolen. In the closet of the bedroom, there was a hard-shell case containing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and Xanax bars. In a safe, in that same closet, investigators found heroin, cocaine, suboxone, ketamine, fentanyl pills, and medical grade fentanyl. There was also more than $55,000 in cash.
In a second bedroom, which Pitts had been using as a storage space, officers found fifteen handguns, four semiautomatic assault rifles, two bolt action rifles, and a 12-guage shotgun. Throughout the residence, there were numerous items that appeared to be stolen goods, such as power tools, computer equipment, laptops, and camera gear. Many of these items are often traded for drugs.
Pitts is prohibited from possessing guns due to two prior state convictions for possessing firearms while dealing drugs.
In asking for a 12-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker wrote to the court, “Looking just at his fentanyl powder and pills, the defendant intended to enrich himself by distributing more than 470,000 lethal doses. Worse, many of the doses were disguised as pharmaceutical pills that would not put the user on notice that he was ingesting such a potentially dangerous substance…. In addition, the defendant possessed 25 firearms. Several of these guns were loaded, at least one was stolen, two had extended magazines, [and] all of them were possessed to facilitate his drug trafficking.”
“One fentanyl dose may be one too many” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Considering the amount of fentanyl found in his residence, as well as the number of weapons and cash, Mr. Pitts posed an immediate and significant threat to the safety and security of our community. This case illustrates how, working with our partners, the FBI is committed to getting fentanyl off our streets.”
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department as part of the FBI’s Violent Crime, Gang and Organized Crime Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker.