Western District of Washington
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Relative of Amazon finance employee pleads guilty to insider tradingRead the Press Release
Seattle - A 36-year-old Bothell, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to securities fraud for his insider trading activity, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. VIKY BOHRA admits that between 2015 and 2018, he used Amazon inside information he obtained from his relative to place trades in Amazon stock–making a profit of $1,428,264. BOHRA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on February 8, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, BORHA’s relative worked in the Amazon Finance Department and had access to confidential information regarding Amazon revenue and expenses. Because of that work, the relative was subject to blackout periods during which no stock could be traded by the employee or her immediate relatives. The employee also was advised of insider trading policies making it clear the responsibility to safeguard confidential financial information. Despite those warnings, BOHRA obtained confidential information from the relative and traded in Amazon stock in accounts tied to him and his father. Trades occurred during blackout periods and, from 2015 to 2018, relied in part on information from his relative to make successful trades in advance of Amazon earnings announcements.
As part of the plea agreement, BOHRA agrees to forfeit the proceeds of his trades, $1,428,264 to the United States. On September 28, 2020, BOHRA was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a civil insider trading case. The recoveries in that case will be credited toward the forfeiture owed to the United States.
As part of the plea agreement, BOHRA’s relative will not face criminal charges. The relative is no longer employed at Amazon.
Securities Fraud is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement prosecutors will recommend a sentence of no more than 33 months in prison. The ultimate sentence is up to Judge Robart after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Arnold.
Kent, Washington man charged with sex trafficking of a juvenileRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 26-year-old Kent, Washington man was charged in U.S. District Court in Seattle with sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. AL-PENYO BROOKS, was transferred to federal custody in coordination with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which had originally filed state charges in the case. BROOKS was identified as a suspect in May 2020, when Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies and Seattle Police Department officers worked urgently to recover a 17-year-old girl who had run away from her Pierce County, Washington home. BROOKS made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday.
According to the complaint, the girl has developmental delays, and unbeknownst to her guardian, had set up a Facebook account. Using Facebook Messenger, BROOKS communicated with the girl about her interest in music and writing songs. BROOKS’ communication led the girl to believe he could promote her in the music business. Even after the girl told BROOKS she was seventeen, BROOKS made arrangements to pick her up near her home and told her how to evade her guardian. He picked her up and had an associate change her hair and clothing. He provided her with drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted her while she was impaired. BROOKS then instructed the girl to walk the “track” on Aurora Avenue North, telling her to perform sex acts for money. The girl was ultimately taken to an apartment in north Seattle were police located her when she signed in to Facebook on the IP address listed for the apartment.
Sex trafficking of a juvenile is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum of life imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.
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 Seattle Police Department. The King County Prosecutors Office is working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
Washington man charged with COVID-relief fraudRead the Press Release
SEATTLE – A Washington State man was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today for fraudulently seeking over $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Inspector General J. Russell George of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration, Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA, and Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation, made the announcement.
Austin Hsu, 46, of Issaquah, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint, unsealed today after his initial appearance, in the Western District of Washington with one count of wire fraud. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida.
The complaint alleges that Hsu submitted nine fraudulent disaster loan applications on behalf of five different companies. Hsu, who is the owner and CEO of a company named Blackrock Services P.S. doing business as “Back 2 Health Bellevue” (Back 2 Health), received EIDL and PPP funds for Back 2 Health, and then used the names of Back 2 Health’s current and former employees to apply for additional PPP loans under the names of other companies that he owned and controlled. The complaint also alleges that, in support of the fraudulent PPP loan applications, Hsu submitted fake federal tax filings.
The complaint further alleges that, in support of the fraudulent EIDL loan applications, Hsu made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective business and operations. For example, Hsu incorporated a company named Blueline Capital LLC (Blueline) in June 2020 for the purpose of applying for an EIDL loan in July 2020, and then misrepresented to the SBA that Blueline had been in business since 2017 and that, as of Jan. 31, 2020, Blueline had nine employees and gross receipts of over $1.5 million. In truth, Blueline had no business or operations.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation. Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Masada of the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
hsu_complaint.pdfWashington Man Charged with COVID-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
A Washington man was charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today for fraudulently seeking over $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Inspector General J. Russell George of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration, Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA, and Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation, made the announcement.
Austin Hsu, 46, of Issaquah, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint, unsealed today after his initial appearance, in the Western District of Washington with one count of wire fraud. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida.
The complaint alleges that Hsu submitted nine fraudulent disaster loan applications on behalf of five different companies. Hsu, who is the owner and CEO of a company named Blackrock Services P.S. doing business as “Back 2 Health Bellevue” (Back 2 Health), received EIDL and PPP funds for Back 2 Health, and then used the names of Back 2 Health’s current and former employees to apply for additional PPP loans under the names of other companies that he owned and controlled. The complaint also alleges that, in support of the fraudulent PPP loan applications, Hsu submitted fake federal tax filings.
The complaint further alleges that, in support of the fraudulent EIDL loan applications, Hsu made numerous false and misleading statements about the companies’ respective business and operations. For example, Hsu incorporated a company named Blueline Capital LLC (Blueline) in June 2020 for the purpose of applying for an EIDL loan in July 2020, and then misrepresented to the SBA that Blueline had been in business since 2017 and that, as of Jan. 31, 2020, Blueline had nine employees and gross receipts of over $1.5 million. In truth, Blueline had no business or operations.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 29. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, and Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation. Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Masada of the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces more than $1 million in grant funding for research on criminal justice topics at University of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced the University of Washington is receiving more than $1 million in a Department of Justice grant for a research and evaluation project that identifies data-driven programs for reducing crime and promoting justice. Nationwide, the $43 million in grant awards span research topic priorities such as prisoner reentry, terrorism prevention, human trafficking, and police officer safety and wellness.
The awards are part of a strategic plan developed by Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to advance technology, strengthen scientific research, and translate knowledge to practice. They represent NIJ’s broader effort to include more diversity of disciplines, such as physical and social sciences, to link areas of research that have not previously been connected.
“The more we know about crime—the better we understand its causes and consequences—the greater our chances of finding sustainable solutions to the public safety problems confronting our communities,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The research supported by these awards will expand our knowledge about what works to reduce crime, curb reoffending, and protect our criminal justice professionals, and this new knowledge will put us a step closer to achieving a more just and lawful society.”
The research addresses critical needs such as prisoner reentry, emphasizing innovative strategies to reintegrate offenders into communities, and reduce recidivism. Today’s announcement includes three projects that will study reentry initiatives, including those in rural communities. The research will advance the body of knowledge on promising practices in the field of offender reentry.
“The University of Washington is receiving the largest share of $2.2 million aimed at research and evaluation projects on violence against women,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “The projects receiving grant funding examine a broad range of topics including the crimes of homicide, intimate partner and dating violence, rape and sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking, along with criminal justice system responses, procedures, and policies.”
The total amount coming to the UW for this research is $1,022,215.
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years
Seattle Software Developer pleads guilty to wire fraud for covid-relief fraud schemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Seattle man pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud for carrying out a scheme to defraud several COVID-19 relief programs.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the Western District of Washington, Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General’s (SBA-OIG) Western Region, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George, and Special Agent in Charge Raymond Duda of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
Baoke Zhang, 35, of Issaquah, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida of the Western District of Washington.
As part of his guilty plea, Zhang admitted that he carried out a scheme to defraud several different government and private COVID-19 relief programs intended to assist those facing financial difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic.
Zhang admitted that he submitted four fraudulent applications to three different lenders for forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a SBA program that provided payroll assistance to small businesses. To support the loan applications, Zhang used fake entities for which he created fake payroll and tax records. Two of the fraudulent loan applications sought $600,000 each, a third application sought $325,000, and a fourth sought approximately $41,000. Zhang also submitted a fraudulent application to the SBA for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the name of one of the fake entities for which he also had applied for PPP loans. The SBA paid Zhang a $10,000 EIDL advance before his fraud was detected.
Zhang further admitted that he submitted fraudulent applications to two non-profit organizations providing grants to restaurant workers suffering economic hardship due to the pandemic. Zhang submitted the various applications in the names of Zhang, his wife, and his parents, falsely claiming that each were restaurant workers who had either lost their jobs or lost wages due to COVID-19. To support the applications, Zhang created fake letters from purported restaurant owners regarding employment and fake payroll records. In fact, neither Zhang nor his wife or parents worked in restaurants. Zhang obtained $1,500 from one of the non-profits before his fraud was detected.
Zhang also admitted that he submitted a fraudulent application to a multinational technology company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that was providing grants to qualifying small businesses in the Seattle area. Zhang falsely claimed in his application that he ran a small business in a local shopping center that had suffered economically due to the pandemic. In fact, Zhang did not own any businesses. Zhang obtained $5,000 from the relief program before his fraud was detected.
In total, Zhang admitted to attempting to defraud the various COVID-19 relief programs of more than $550,000.
This case was investigated by the SBA-OIG, the TIGTA, and the FBI. Trial Attorney Amanda R. Vaughn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Werner of the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Seattle Software Developer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for COVID-Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Seattle man pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud for carrying out a scheme to defraud several COVID-19 relief programs.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the Western District of Washington, Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General’s (SBA-OIG) Western Region, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George, and Special Agent in Charge Raymond Duda of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
Baoke Zhang, 35, of Issaquah, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian A. Tsuchida of the Western District of Washington.
As part of his guilty plea, Zhang admitted that he carried out a scheme to defraud several different government and private COVID-19 relief programs intended to assist those facing financial difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic.
Zhang admitted that he submitted four fraudulent applications to three different lenders for forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a SBA program that provided payroll assistance to small businesses. To support the loan applications, Zhang used fake entities for which he created fake payroll and tax records. Two of the fraudulent loan applications sought $600,000 each, a third application sought $325,000, and a fourth sought approximately $41,000. Zhang also submitted a fraudulent application to the SBA for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the name of one of the fake entities for which he also had applied for PPP loans. The SBA paid Zhang a $10,000 EIDL advance before his fraud was detected.
Zhang further admitted that he submitted fraudulent applications to two non-profit organizations providing grants to restaurant workers suffering economic hardship due to the pandemic. Zhang submitted the various applications in the names of Zhang, his wife, and his parents, falsely claiming that each were restaurant workers who had either lost their jobs or lost wages due to COVID-19. To support the applications, Zhang created fake letters from purported restaurant owners regarding employment and fake payroll records. In fact, neither Zhang nor his wife or parents worked in restaurants. Zhang obtained $1,500 from one of the non-profits before his fraud was detected.
Zhang also admitted that he submitted a fraudulent application to a multinational technology company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, that was providing grants to qualifying small businesses in the Seattle area. Zhang falsely claimed in his application that he ran a small business in a local shopping center that had suffered economically due to the pandemic. In fact, Zhang did not own any businesses. Zhang obtained $5,000 from the relief program before his fraud was detected.
In total, Zhang admitted to attempting to defraud the various COVID-19 relief programs of more than $550,000.
This case was investigated by the SBA-OIG, the TIGTA, and the FBI. Trial Attorney Amanda R. Vaughn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Werner of the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Eleven indicted in illegal marijuana trafficking investigationRead the Press Release
Seattle - Eleven defendants were indicted in three separate indictments for their parts in manufacturing, distributing, and profiting from the production and distribution of illegal marijuana across the country and in the Puget Sound region, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. Some of the defendants were arrested today in coordinated searches of 27 locations in the Puget Sound region and additional searches in New York. Many of the locations in Washington were illegal grow houses, and others were businesses that allegedly served as front companies. Those arrested before noon today will make their appearance at 1:00 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
“This criminal group operated outside Washington State’s regulatory scheme for marijuana, distributing thousands of pounds of marijuana to states where marijuana was, or remains, illegal, making huge sums of money,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “Members of the group turned homes in the Seattle area into illegal grow houses, damaging neighborhoods, and competing unfairly with honest buyers who are just trying to afford their first home.”
“This type of organized crime has a negative impact on the safety and the quality of life in our local neighborhoods. It cannot be tolerated” said King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht. “I am very thankful for the hard work and long hours our detectives have put in to make this investigation a success.”
Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined marijuana was being shipped to Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, and Missouri. Today, search teams led by investigators and agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation executed search warrants at locations in Skyway, Renton, Kent, Lake Tapps, Maple Valley, Federal Way, Covington, SeaTac, and Snohomish.
In the first indictment, RAYMOND NG, 49, and QIFANG CHEN, 32, are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. NG operates Skyway General Contractors, and the couple is involved in the purchase of multiple properties that have been used as marijuana grows.
The second indictment charges WEI QUAN WU, 46, and DA BIAO WU, 52, with seven federal counts involving conspiracy, manufacturing, and possessing marijuana for distribution at different locations throughout the Puget Sound region.
Finally, the third indictment charges WOBIAO LEI, 35, XINMING WU, 35, YI JUN CHEN, 33, GUO GUI YU, 39, CHEE CHOONG NG, 52, GUOLONG LEE, 31, and LINGFENG LEI, 26, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, as well as possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and manufacturing marijuana with intent to distribute. CHEE CHOONG NG was arrested by Postal Inspection agents today in Brooklyn, New York.
In each of the indictments, the government has filed for forfeiture of properties associated with the conspiracy and other proceeds of the crimes. Due to the amount of illegal marijuana involved, if convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum ten years in prison.
“It's clear the leaders of this organization contributed widely to the illegal marijuana drug trade in the Pacific Northwest,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “Illegal grow operations such as these, with their extensive networks, have a wide reaching and destructive impact to the communities they inhabit. With these arrests and seizures of illegal marijuana grow operations, we bring down one of the largest networks in the region. This should serve as a reminder to the community that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our local, state, and federal partners, continues working diligently to keep any and all prohibited substances out of the US Mail.”
“The alleged members of this interstate drug trafficking organization will be held accountable for their conduct,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell. “Criminal organizations that willfully ignore state marijuana regulations for their own enrichment will be investigated and prosecuted by IRS-CI and our partners.”
The charges contained in the indictments 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 was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the King County Sheriff’s Office. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) assisted with the search warrants.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Manheim and Stephen Hobbs.
lei_et_al_indictment.pdf ng_chen_indictment.pdf wu_indictment.pdfU.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran appoints Election Officer for the Western District of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle – United States Attorney Brian T. Moran announced today that once again Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Arlen Storm will lead the efforts of our Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Storm is a veteran prosecutor who has served as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Washington for more than 10 years. In that capacity he is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“It is a cornerstone of our democracy that citizens be able to vote without interference or discrimination,” said United States Attorney Moran. “It is equally important that our results not be tainted by fraud. The Department of Justice remains vigilant and will act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Arlen Storm can be reached by the public at 253-428-3807.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses during the election period. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 206-622-0460.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., by phone at 800‑253‑3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Seattle man with significant ties to a violent street gang sentenced to 42 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegunRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old member of a violent street gang was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JAYVON GRAYSON was on probation for an armed robbery when he used straw-buyers to obtain various firearms, one of which was converted from semi-automatic to automatic. GRAYSON made a video of himself shooting this machinegun from a moving car. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart referenced the video at the sentencing hearing saying it indicates GRAYSON “was an immediate and serious threat to the community and himself.”
“This case demonstrates how illegally purchased firearms circulate in the criminal community and pose a danger to anyone who is in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “To fire an automatic weapon, loaded with an extended capacity magazine, from a moving vehicle, puts countless people at risk. Stopping the circulation of these firearms in the criminal community is a top priority of the Department of Justice.”
According to the records filed in the case, during 2018, GRAYSON and a friend had the friend’s mother purchase firearms for them from a licensed gun store. The woman falsely claimed she was the person who would purchase and possess the firearms. Instead, she turned the firearms over to her son who shared or sold various firearms with gang associates, including GRAYSON. A second straw-purchaser also provided a firearm to GRAYSON. On social media GRAYSON posted numerous videos of his use and possession of firearms, including the machinegun. GRAYSON posted these images and videos on social media even as he was under state supervision for an armed robbery conviction.
At the sentencing hearing GRAYSON told Judge Robart, “I was reckless…. I was dangerous… Please give me a second chance.” Judge Robart noted that GRAYSON needs to forge a new path, saying, “I don’t know how you get much worse than possessing a machine gun.” The judge imposed a three-year term of supervised release to follow prison and noted that if GRAYSON returned to gang and gun life, the prison sanctions will increase significantly.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. Project Guardian ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. More information about Project Guardian is here.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Division of Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces more than $6.5 million in grants to fight drug abuse and addictionRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced awards of more than $6.5 million in Department of Justice grants to fight drug abuse and addiction in the Western District of Washington. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.
“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”
Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.
“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health, and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”
“As U.S. Attorney one of my most searing memories is meeting with the families who have lost loved ones to opioids – especially deadly fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “As we work to interdict shipments of these drugs, I also welcome DOJ support in enhancing the tools to help those gripped by addiction.”
Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
The following organizations received funding:
- Seattle-King County Health Department - $1,200,000 to expand access to treatment
- Makah Tribe - $591,768 to expand access to treatment
- Confederated Tribes of Chehalis - $339,519 to expand access to treatment
- Puyallup Tribe - $600,000 to expand access to treatment
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services - $438,297 for residential substance about treatment in prisons
- Skagit County District Court - $399,368 to support community courts
- City of Olympia - $400,000 to support community courts
- Lummi Indian Business Council - $827,972 to support family drug courts
- Judiciary of the Courts of the State of Washington -$1,750,000 to support family drug courts
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Seattle man charged with stealing police rifle, setting patrol car on fire during May 30 riot in downtown SeattleRead the Press Release
Seattle - A felon from Georgia, with a domestic violence conviction and no contact order in Washington State, was arrested yesterday charged with arson and weapons crimes for his conduct during civil unrest on May 30, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. TYRE WAYNE MEANS JR will make his initial appearance in federal court at 2:00 today on a criminal complaint charging him with four federal felonies: arson, possession of a stolen firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
“This is just the latest in a series of cases where our office has brought federal criminal charges related to civil disorder, and should be a wake-up call for those who think they can commit crimes hidden by a crowd,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “Federal law enforcement and local police are piecing together publicly available video and photographic evidence to identify and ultimately prosecute those who thought they could escape accountability for their actions. In this case it means a felon, who is legally barred from possessing firearms, now faces tough federal sanctions.”
According to the criminal complaint, just after 4:00 p.m. on May 30, 2020, MEANS JR was captured on video lighting a paper towel and placing it in the back of a Seattle Police patrol car parked outside of Nordstrom on 6th Avenue in downtown. Other persons in the crowd fed the fire with lighter fluid and other accelerants and the vehicle was destroyed by fire. After he lit one patrol car on fire, MEANS JR is observed on video reaching through the destroyed rear window of a different patrol car and removing a rifle bag. MEANS JR opens the bag, and looks inside. MEANS JR is seen fighting with an unidentified man who tries to retrieve the rifle bag before MEANS JR runs from the scene. A subsequent surveillance video on Pine Street, around the corner from where the rifle was stolen, shows MEANS JR in a fight with another man. While MEANS JR and the man are throwing punches, an unidentified man picks up the rifle bag and ultimately walks away. Later that day the rifle was anonymously returned to the Seattle Police West Precinct.
MEANS JR was identified as the suspect in the video by his distinctive clothing, jewelry, tattoos, and association with a female who also had distinctive tattoos and a significant social media presence. MEANS JR was arrested in Bremerton, Washington, where he was meeting with his Washington State Department of Corrections probation officer.
MEANS JR is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two felony convictions in the state of Georgia: serious injury by vehicle and obstructing law enforcement by use of threats or violence. In Washington, MEANS JR has a felony conviction for domestic violence that includes a no-contact order–that order also prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. All three firearms charges are punishable by up to 10 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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the FBI and the Seattle Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
means_complaint.pdfU.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announced nearly $5 million in grants to advance forensic science in the Western District of WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle — U.S. Attorney Brian Moran today announced $4.9 million in Department of Justice grants to the Western District of Washington to fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.
“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”
“As a long-time state prosecutor, I have prosecuted cases where DNA and forensic science is what makes justice in a court of law possible,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “These grants from DOJ will not only help ensure justice for victims and accountability for offenders, it will also help those who are wrongly accused or convicted get justice and reclaim their lives.”
Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement, and forensic science research that provide knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.
The following organizations received funding:
- Washington State Patrol - $1,862,128 to address DNA processing
- Washington State Patrol - $410,715 to improve forensic equipment
- Skagit County Coroner - $250,000 to improve forensic equipment
- Washington State Patrol - $500,000 for post-conviction DNA analysis
- King County Medical Examiner - $125,000 to improve death investigations
- Washington Attorney General - $670,000 to expand the DNA database for sexual assault cases
- Jensen Hughes Inc. - $270,000 - research and development in forensic sciences
- University of Washington - $711,000 - research and development in forensic sciences
- University of Washington - $107,205 - graduate research fellow
For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, see the attached fact sheet. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
final_wrap_fact_sheet_forensics.pdfTwo registered sex offenders plead guilty in separate cases to possession of images of child rape and sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle - In two separate cases, registered sex offenders have pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOHNATHON R. UMPHLETT, 31, of Arkansas, pleaded guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on January 13, 2021. MICHAEL DAVID MATHISEN, 68, of SeaTac, Washington, pleaded guilty on October 9, 2020, and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on January 8, 2021. Because both men have prior convictions for sex offenses, each faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison.
According to records filed in the case, UMPHLETT was contacted by Seattle Police in June 2019, when a witness at a restaurant reported UMPHLETT was viewing what appeared to be child pornography on his smart phone. UMPHLETT provided his phone to the Seattle Police Detective for review, and the detective verified a number of images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. UMPHALETT has a 2014 conviction in Arkansas for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy.
MICHAEL DAVID MATHISEN was contacted by law enforcement in October 2019, following a referral from Microsoft to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that the account later linked to MATHISEN was uploading images and searching on the internet for images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A search of MATHISEN’s electronic devices revealed nineteen files with images of children being sexually molested and abused. MATHISEN has convictions in 1984 and 1994 for sexually molesting children under the age of nine.
These cases were 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
The cases were investigated by the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force led by the Seattle Police Department. Specifically, Seattle Police and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case against UMPHLETT, and the King County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations completed the MATHISEN investigation.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Seattle man sentenced to four years in prison for illegal possession of a dozen firearmsRead the Press Release
Seattle - A two-time federal felon was sentenced to four years in prison today for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. PARK QUAN, 67, was arrested July 29, 2019, after FBI agents investigating one of his roommates in connection with a data theft served a search warrant on his home and discovered a cache of weapons. QUAN has remained in custody since his arrest and pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June 2020. In imposing the four-year sentence, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said he was taking into account QUAN’s age and health challenges diagnosed while he has been in the care of the Bureau of Prisons.
According to records filed in the case, agents investigating the data theft were sweeping the residence for safety when they observed numerous firearms in a bedroom used by QUAN. Agents applied for and got a second search warrant and began collecting the firearms. The cache of weapons included four semi-automatic handguns, six semi-automatic rifles, two of them assault rifles, and two additional rifles. At least one of the semi-automatic rifles was loaded. Law enforcement also seized a variety of ammunition, high-capacity magazines, flare launchers, some containers of explosive powder, and two bump stocks, which QUAN claimed to have purchased before the devices were outlawed.
QUAN has a 1983 federal conviction in Washington for being a felon in possession of explosives and a 1991 federal conviction in Texas for possessing an unregistered machine gun. QUAN also has a military court-martial conviction for soliciting the theft of military weapons. Due to those convictions, QUAN is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada and Andrew Friedman.
quan_sentencing_memo.pdfDOJ charges more than 14,200 defendants with firearms related crimes in FY20Read the Press Release
Seattle–Today, the Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.
“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr. “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens. Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime, and offenders face serious consequences. The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms. Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”
“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions. ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”
“In addition to cases involving illegal firearms possession, our office has also placed a priority on prosecuting those who attempt to purchase guns illegally, such as ‘lie and buy’ cases, those who try to import silencers from overseas, and those who illegally manufacture machine guns and untraceable ‘ghost guns,’” said U.S Attorney Moran. “Our work relies on our partnerships with federal agencies as well as local law enforcement working together to defeat gun violence.”
Of the more than 14,200 cases charged, 73 cases have been brought by the Western District of Washington announced U.S. Attorney Moran.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase--or even to attempt to purchase illegally--firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to purchase a firearm lawfully, is also a federal offense. The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses, as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement, such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice, and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the law abiding people of this country safe from gun crime.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Felon sentenced to more than five years in prison for arsenal of ‘ghost guns’ and smuggled silencersRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 70 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. NATHAN BRASFIELD was arrested in February 2020 when agents seized 17 pistols and 24 rifles from his home—most of the firearms had been manufactured at his residence as ‘ghost guns’—guns without any serial numbers or registration. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said he was very concerned about the sheer volume of guns and silencers BRASFIELD possessed. “You have your own perception of the 2nd Amendment. Your perception is completely inconsistent with the law and will continue to land you in prison,” Judge Jones said.
“Undeterred by previous convictions and supervision from federal probation, this defendant built an arsenal of illegal weapons in his home and imported silencers from China,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “It is shocking conduct demonstrating this defendant’s abject refusal to follow the law. I hope this prison time will break his cycle of lawlessness.”
According to records filed in the case, in December 2019 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspected a package from China that was labeled “aluminum tubes.” The package, addressed to BRASFIELD, actually contained five firearm silencers, which are illegal to possess under federal law. In February 2020, agents executed a search warrant at BRASFIED’s residence and seized numerous home manufactured firearms that did not contain serial numbers. These ‘ghost guns’ are illegal for BRASFIELD to possess. Further, BRASFIELD illegally possessed more than 300 pounds of ammunition. Agents also seized the gun manufacturing equipment known as a ‘ghost gunner.’ Ten illegal silencers were also seized.
“Brasfield’s sentencing today is a clear message to those who so blatantly disregard the law,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “Convicted felons who are prohibited from owning firearms and attempt to skirt the law will be caught and prosecuted.”
“Brasfield has a lengthy criminal history and has shown time and time again that he has no regard for the law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Eben Roberts. “A repeat felon, caught in possession of an illegally modified automatic firearm, is nothing short of a recipe for disaster. Brasfield, and criminals like him, should take today’s sentence as a stern warning. HSI and our law enforcement partners, working together, will seek, investigate, and ultimately bring to justice all those who seek to disregard our nation’s laws.”
In 2015, BRASFIELD was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 48 months in prison. He was on supervised release for that crime when he committed the current crimes. Previously, BRASFIELD was prosecuted in state court for crimes ranging from burglary to possession of stolen property. In 2002, he was arrested and prosecuted in state court for sending harassing messages as part of an effort to intimidate a person who was associated with animal research.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods.
Kitsap County guardian sentenced to one year in prison for stealing more than $250,000 from elderly and disabled clientsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – The long-time operator of a guardianship business was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to one year and a day in prison and $256,336 in restitution for Social Security Representative Payee fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. WAYNE JEROME HOUSTON, 61, of Port Ludlow, Washington, owned and operated Cross Point Services LLC, a guardianship organization for disabled and vulnerable adults. Over the last seven years HOUSTON raided the accounts of 21 different clients. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan said, “[T]his is a very sad situation all the way around.”
“This was not only a fraud on the federal benefits system that is designed to provide a safety net for our most vulnerable, it was a fraud on the court which endeavors to protect such vulnerable elders,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “On each of the 240 times he transferred funds, withdrew cash, or wrote checks for his own benefit, this defendant betrayed the trust that had been placed in him.”
According to the plea agreement, HOUSTON and his company were responsible for managing the financial affairs of about two dozen clients a month. HOUSTON had access to the clients’ bank accounts so he could pay rent, utilities, and other bills for them. Social Security benefits were paid into some of the accounts for at least 13 clients who required a representative payee—HOUSTON—to manage their benefits. Beginning in 2010, HOUSTON used his position as guardian to write checks from the victim accounts to himself, to Cross Point Services, or to cash, and used ATMs to withdraw money from client accounts and used it for his own expenses. HOUSTON targeted clients who had significant income or resources so that the theft was less likely to be detected. In all 21 clients suffered thefts, ranging from a low of $200 to more than $66,000 from one of the clients.
As retired Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Anna Laurie told the Court, “…the true victims may never be made whole. At least two have died since his criminal conduct became visible, and many went months without sufficient resources while their successor guardians struggled to pay bills and maintain care.”
The granddaughter of one of the victims told the Court her 90-year-old grandfather “was left with nothing…He got ill and we had to fight for his care…. It was so hard having to tell him that once again he had been betrayed…. That he didn’t have any money to pay his bills because Mr. Houston had taken it.”
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Diggs.
Gun store burglar sentenced to nearly five years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle - The suspect in the theft of nearly 40 firearms from two different gun stores was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 58 months in prison for two counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOEY A. MAILLET, 39, pleaded guilty in February 2020. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones ordered MAILLET to serve three years of supervised release following the prison term.
In May 2019, MAILLET was identified as the suspect in the April 13, 2019, burglary of Fred’s Guns in Sequim, Clallam County, and in the May 3, 2019, burglary of All American Armory in Bow, Skagit County. According to records filed in the case, forensic evidence, including blood and fingerprints, as well as surveillance video, link MAILLET to the crimes. In Sequim, MAILLET used a backhoe to ram the doors of the store and then broke glass display cases to steal 26 firearms. MAILLET cut his arm on the glass case and left blood and fingerprints at that scene. At All American Armory in Bow, surveillance video showed MAILLET used a stolen pick-up truck to back into the doors of the store, shattering them. MAILLET then used a garbage can, stolen from the neighboring post office, to load up 13 rifles from the store and drove away with them in the stolen pick-up.
The pick-up truck was ultimately found abandoned in Birch Bay State Park in Whatcom County, Washington. Shattered glass was in the truck bed, as well as a stolen boat motor and battery. The truck was reported stolen from an agricultural operation not far from the Bow gun store, and the boat motor and battery were reported stolen by a resident of Ferndale, Washington.
On May 10, 2019, a Ferndale Police Officer encountered MAILLET and arrested him on an outstanding warrant for an Everett, Washington, burglary. After obtaining a court-authorized search warrant, investigators determined items in MAILLET’s backpack linked him to the thefts at the Bow gun store. Additionally, video from the boat motor and battery theft clearly showed MAILLET was the thief.
As for the status of the guns, prosecutors noted in their sentencing memo: “To date, seven of the handguns have been recovered by law enforcement agencies in Canada. The government does not have the full information about these recoveries, but is aware that one was recovered from a woman arrested for theft in Vancouver, BC, and another was recovered from two men arrested in Calgary, AB, with about 250 fentanyl pills and several grams of methamphetamine.” None of the rifles taken in the Bow gun store burglary have been recovered.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, MAILLET is to pay restitution to both stores for the damages to the buildings and the value of the guns. MAILLET is also responsible for damages to the businesses from which he stole the truck and backhoe used in the burglaries. He also will pay restitution to the owner of the stolen boat motor and battery.
At the sentencing hearing, the owners of Fred’s Guns told the judge the burglary had severely impacted their business and their family’s sense of security and wellbeing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Sequim Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Ferndale Police Department, and Washington State Parks Rangers.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker.
Veterans Affairs respiratory therapist pleads guilty to stealing and selling COVID-19 respiratory suppliesRead the Press Release
Seattle - A respiratory therapist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to theft of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. GENE WAMSLEY, 41, of Bonney Lake, Washington, admits stealing a ventilator and other respiratory medical equipment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and selling it for his own gain. WAMSLEY faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on January 11, 2021.
According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in January 2020 when VAMC reported two bronchoscopes, used for examining a patient’s airway, went missing from the hospital. A third bronchoscope was reported missing in April 2020. In all, WAMSLEY admits stealing and selling three bronchoscopes worth over $100,000 for just $15,750. WAMSLEY sold the scopes to a Florida resident via eBay. When WAMSLEY’s home was searched in June, law enforcement seized a fourth bronchoscope and a $6,000 sleep apnea device called a WatchPat that had been stolen from the VA Medical Center.
Further investigation revealed that in April 2020, WAMSLEY also stole a $9,950 respirator and sold it via eBay to an Ohio man for just $6,000.
The total loss to the United States from the thefts is $132,291.
The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Two members of notorious videogame piracy group “Team Xecuter” in custodyRead the Press Release
Seattle — Two leaders of one of the world’s most notorious videogame piracy groups, Team Xecuter, have been arrested and are in custody facing charges filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
MAX LOUARN, 48, a French national of Avignon, France, YUANNING CHEN, 35, a Chinese national of Shenzhen, China, and GARY BOWSER, 51, a Canadian national of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, were charged in a federal indictment unsealed today. The indictment alleges the defendants were leaders of a criminal enterprise that developed and sold illegal devices that hacked popular videogame consoles so they could be used to play unauthorized, or pirated, copies of videogames. The enterprise targeted popular consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition, the Sony PlayStation Classic, and the Microsoft Xbox.
“These defendants were allegedly leaders of a notorious international criminal group that reaped illegal profits for years by pirating video game technology of U.S. companies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These arrests show that the department will hold accountable hackers who seek to commandeer and exploit the intellectual property of American companies for financial gain, no matter where they may be located.”
“These defendants lined their pockets by stealing and selling the intellectual property of other video-game developers–even going so far as to make customers pay a licensing fee to play stolen games,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “This conduct doesn’t just harm billion-dollar companies, it hijacks the hard work of individuals working to advance in the video-game industry.”
“Theft of intellectual property hurts U.S. industry, game developers, and exploits legitimate gaming customers. All of which threaten the legitimacy of the commercial video game industry,” said Eben Roberts, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Seattle. “We are committed to working with our international partners to find criminals like these who steal copyrighted material and bring cyber criminals to justice.”
“Imagine if something you invented was stolen from you and then marketed and sold to customers around the world. That is exactly what Team Xecutor was doing,” said Raymond Duda, FBI Special Agent in Charge Seattle. “This is a perfect example of why the FBI has made the prevention of the theft of intellectual property a priority. These arrests should send a message to would-be pirates that the FBI does not consider these crimes to be a game.”
According to court documents, the Team Xecuter criminal enterprise is comprised of over a dozen individual members located around the world. These members include developers who exploit vulnerabilities in videogame consoles and design circumvention devices; website designers who create the various websites that promote the enterprise’s devices; suppliers who manufacture the devices; and resellers around the world who sell and distribute the devices. The indictment alleges that due to the illegal nature of its business, Team Xecuter continuously sought to evade enforcement efforts by victim companies, financial institutions, and law enforcement. Notably, Team Xecuter attempted to protect its overall business by using a wide variety of brands, websites, and distribution channels, according to the indictment. From approximately June 2013 through August 2020, Team Xecuter used a variety of product names for its devices, such as the Gateway 3DS, the Stargate, the TrueBlue Mini, the Classic2Magic, and the SX line of devices that included the SX OS, the SX Pro, the SX Lite, and the SX Core.
According to the indictment, Team Xecuter at times cloaked its illegal activity with a purported desire to support gaming enthusiasts who wanted to design their own videogames for noncommercial use. However, the overwhelming demand and use for the enterprise’s devices was to play pirated videogames. To support this illegal activity, Team Xecuter allegedly helped create and support online libraries of pirated videogames for its customers, and several of the enterprise’s devices came preloaded with numerous pirated videogames. According to the indictment, Team Xecuter was so brazen that it even required customers to purchase a “license” to unlock the full features of its custom firmware, the SX OS, in order to enable the ability to play pirated videogames.
In September 2020, LOUARN and BOWSER were arrested abroad in connection with the charges in this case. The United States will seek LOUARN’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. BOWSER was arrested and deported from the Dominican Republic and appeared today in federal court in New Jersey.
Each defendant is charged with 11 felony counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiracy and trafficking in circumvention devices are each punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Franze-Nakamura and Brian Werner of the Western District of Washington, and Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, with significant and ongoing assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Department appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by its foreign government counterparts and the Government of the Dominican Republic, and Interpol Dominicana.
louarn_et_al_indictment.pdfTwo Members of Notorious Videogame Piracy Group “Team Xecuter” in CustodyRead the Press Release
Two leaders of one of the world’s most notorious videogame piracy groups, Team Xecuter, have been arrested and are in custody facing charges filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Max Louarn, 48, a French national of Avignon, France, Yuanning Chen, 35, a Chinese national of Shenzhen, China, and Gary Bowser, 51, a Canadian national of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, were charged in a federal indictment unsealed today. The indictment alleges the defendants were leaders of a criminal enterprise that developed and sold illegal devices that hacked popular videogame consoles so they could be used to play unauthorized, or pirated, copies of videogames. The enterprise targeted popular consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo Entertainment System Classic Edition, the Sony PlayStation Classic, and the Microsoft Xbox.
“These defendants were allegedly leaders of a notorious international criminal group that reaped illegal profits for years by pirating video game technology of U.S. companies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These arrests show that the department will hold accountable hackers who seek to commandeer and exploit the intellectual property of American companies for financial gain, no matter where they may be located.”
“These defendants lined their pockets by stealing and selling the work of other video-game developers – even going so far as to make customers pay a licensing fee to play stolen games,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran for the Western District of Washington. “This conduct doesn’t just harm billion dollar companies, it hijacks the hard work of individuals working to advance in the video-game industry.”
“Theft of intellectual property hurts U.S. industry, game developers and exploits legitimate gaming customers, all of which threaten the legitimacy of the commercial video game industry,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Eben Roberts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Seattle. “We are committed to working with our international partners to find criminals like these who steal copyrighted material and bring cyber criminals to justice.”
“Imagine if something you invented was stolen from you and then marketed and sold to customers around the world. That is exactly what Team Xecuter was doing,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond Duda of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office. “This is a perfect example of why the FBI has made the prevention of the theft of intellectual property a priority. These arrests should send a message to would-be pirates that the FBI does not consider these crimes to be a game.”
According to court documents, the Team Xecuter criminal enterprise is comprised of over a dozen individual members located around the world. These members include developers who exploit vulnerabilities in videogame consoles and design circumvention devices; website designers who create the various websites that promote the enterprise’s devices; suppliers who manufacture the devices; and resellers around the world who sell and distribute the devices.
The indictment alleges that due to the illegal nature of its business, Team Xecuter continuously sought to evade enforcement efforts by victim companies, financial institutions, and law enforcement. Notably, Team Xecuter attempted to protect its overall business by using a wide variety of brands, websites, and distribution channels, according to the indictment. From approximately June 2013 through August 2020, Team Xecuter used a variety of product names for its devices, such as the Gateway 3DS, the Stargate, the TrueBlue Mini, the Classic2Magic, and the SX line of devices that included the SX OS, the SX Pro, the SX Lite, and the SX Core.
According to the indictment, Team Xecuter at times cloaked its illegal activity with a purported desire to support gaming enthusiasts who wanted to design their own videogames for noncommercial use. However, the overwhelming demand and use for the enterprise’s devices was to play pirated videogames. To support this illegal activity, Team Xecuter allegedly helped create and support online libraries of pirated videogames for its customers, and several of the enterprise’s devices came preloaded with numerous pirated videogames. According to the indictment, Team Xecuter was so brazen that it even required customers to purchase a “license” to unlock the full features of its custom firmware, the SX OS, in order to enable the ability to play pirated videogames.
In September 2020, Louarn and Bowser were arrested abroad in connection with the charges in this case. The United States will seek Louarn’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. Bowser was arrested and deported from the Dominican Republic, and appeared today in federal court, in New Jersey.
Each defendant is charged with 11 felony counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated jointly by the FBI and HSI.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Franze-Nakamura and Brian Werner of the Western District of Washington, with significant and ongoing assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The department appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by its foreign government counterparts and the Government of the Dominican Republic, and Interpol Dominicana.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Muckleshoot Tribe one of 15 recipients nationwide of grants aimed at combatting Elder Fraud and AbuseRead the Press Release
Seattle — U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced a nearly $500,000 Department of Justice grant to combat elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors in a Western Washington Tribal community. The grant, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), is part of over $9 million in funding to support these efforts throughout the United States. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. Attorney General William P. Barr announced the awards on the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons.
“Predators who target older citizens for fraud, financial scams and physical abuse are particularly despicable, turning the golden years of our nation’s seniors into a period of poverty and suffering,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice is taking aggressive action, pursuing all legal avenues to bring these criminals to justice and supporting law enforcement officials and service providers as they ferret out scam artists, arrest abusers, and bring aid and relief to victims.”
Under the direction of Attorney General Barr, the Department of Justice is attacking elder fraud and abuse from all sides. A National Elder Justice Coordinator oversees the Department’s work to combat elder fraud, and each of the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices has a prosecutor dedicated to addressing elder justice issues. This past March, the Attorney General announced the results of the largest elder fraud sweep ever conducted, with prosecutors charging more than 400 defendants and the charged elder fraud schemes causing alleged losses of over a billion dollars. Also in March, he launched a national initiative to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care and a National Elder Fraud Hotline managed by OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime.
“I’m pleased that the Muckleshoot Tribe will have these additional federal resources to protect their Elders from fraud and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “They join Alaska Native organizations, Universities, and non-profits across the country in developing programs to protect older adults.”
“With lockdowns in place across the country, older adults are especially vulnerable to fraud, neglect and abuse, and criminals have not hesitated to take full advantage,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants, which build on previous Department of Justice investments, will help to turn the tide of deception and predation and restore victims to fiscal security and physical safety.”
The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe received funding in the amount of $499,848.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces more than $17 million in grants to improve public safety and serve crime victims in tribal communities in Western WashingtonRead the Press Release
Seattle – U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today announced more than $17 million in Department of Justice grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, and support youth programs in tribal communities in the Western District of Washington.
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities experience rates of violent crime and domestic abuse that are among the highest in the nation,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The awards announced today underscore the Department of Justice’s deep commitment to improving public safety in tribal communities throughout the United States. This administration will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee that they have the resources they need to combat violence and bring criminals to justice.”
“These grants support a number of important programs in tribal communities, such as community policing, juvenile justice programs, drug treatment programs and services to victims of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “I’m pleased at the number of tribes in our community that successfully competed for these federal resources.”
A total of more than $103 million is being awarded to tribes across the country under the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS). CTAS supports activities that enhance law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. CTAS grants are administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) ($41.5 million), Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) ($39.1 million), and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) ($22.5 million).
An additional $113 million is being awarded to 133 applicants nationwide under the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program. This program, managed by OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime, is designed to help tribes develop, expand, and improve services to victims of crime and promote other public safety initiatives.
“Public safety officials and victim service providers in Indian country face exceptional challenges, but they bring to their work an extraordinary array of skills and resources that enable them to meet and overcome any obstacle,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to help fulfill Attorney General Barr's strong commitment–and the federal government's long-standing responsibility–to our tribal partners in the matter of their citizens' safety and wellbeing.”
In addition to the CTAS and Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside awards, the Office on Violence Against Women is making additional tribal awards of more than $31 million to support a wide range of efforts to address the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
“OVW’s funding supports Native American and Alaska Native communities as they work across their communities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura L. Rogers. “These awards represent the strong commitment that OVW has made to help protect the most vulnerable members of tribal communities.”
Additional awards to support tribal public safety efforts are being made by OJP and the COPS Office. These grants will provide community policing training and other training and technical assistance. Awards will also address the needs of tribal youth, fund tribal reentry efforts, help tribes combat substance abuse and manage sex offenders, and support tribal research. In addition, funds support efforts in 17 tribal communities to address the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Ensuring our nation’s tribal communities have the resources they need is paramount for the COPS Office and the Department of Justice,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “These awards are a critical component to the overall public safety strategy for tribal law enforcement and the COPS Office is honored to provide vital resources to hire more sworn officer positions, advance tribal training, and procure equipment needed to keep communities safe.”
The following tribes in the Western District of Washington received funding under the CTAS program:
Lower Elwha Klallam - $1,431,557
Makah - $122,513
Nooksack - $197,634
Port Gamble S’Klallam - $1,798,712
Puyallup - $399,564
Quileute - $888,057
Skokomish -$669,661
Squaxin -$800,013
Tulalip - $897,977
A full listing of all the announced CTAS awards is available here.
The tribes receiving grants for victim services include:
Tulalip - $1,188,088
Lummi - $898,000
Squaxin - $497,709
Nisqually - $694,581
Nooksack -$505,795
Shoalwater Bay -$417,336
Jamestown S’Klallam -$417,336
Skokomish - $505,795
Suquamish- $694,696
Quinault -$3,000,000
Puyallup -$1,353,631
A full listing of all Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program awards is available here.
Renton, Washington, man who aided former Drainage Commissioner in scheme to defraud taxpayers pleads guilty to lying to FBIRead the Press Release
Seattle — A 63-year-old Renton, Washington, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to lying to federal agents about a fraud scheme carried out by a former Drainage District Commissioner and his wife, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. DARRELL N. WINSTON pleaded guilty to making a false statement and faces up to five years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on December 18, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, WINSTON repeatedly misled FBI agents about his agreement with and work for former Drainage District Commissioner Allan Thomas and his wife. WINSTON operated a business called City Biz and originally told agents he had submitted a bid and been hired by Thomas to clean some of the drainage ditches in the district. In fact, WINSTON and his company did little or no work, but were paid more than $50,000 by King County based on fake invoices. WINSTON paid most of the money back to Allan Thomas and his wife, and the two used the money for their own benefit. WINSTON lied to investigators on multiple occasions.
Last month, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Allan B. Thomas and Joan B. Thomas charging them with 15 federal crimes, including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft in connection with their six-year scheme to divert more than $400,000 in local tax dollars to their own use.
Allan B. Thomas served as Commissioner for Drainage District 5 in King County for more than 35 years. As a Commissioner, Thomas was involved in estimating the costs of drainage maintenance for the district so that the county auditor could set and assess the appropriate taxes. The Commissioners then authorized payment to service providers who were supposed to do maintenance work on the drainage system.
As early as 2012, Joann Thomas set up a joint bank account with Allan Thomas’ son from a previous marriage. The account was a business account for a company called A C Services. Over the next six years, Allan Thomas had $413,323 of local tax dollars paid to A C Services claiming it was for drainage ditch maintenance. However, financial records indicate that over the six years, shortly after the tax dollars were deposited into the A C Services account, the money was quickly transferred to other accounts belonging to the Thomases, or was used to pay their expenses for such things as hay, mortgage payments, or property taxes. More than $70,000 was withdrawn as cash.
In 2018, after the couple became aware of an investigation into their conduct, they began funneling the tax dollars through WINSTON’s company, City Biz.
In all, the indictment alleges the THOMASES defrauded taxpayers of $468,165.
The charges contained in the Thomas 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.
Mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering are punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Conspiracy is punishable by five years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years in prison to follow any sentence imposed on other counts of conviction.
The FBI and IRS - Criminal Investigation are leading the investigation with assistance from the Enumclaw Police Department. The Enumclaw City Attorney initiated the review of the district finances. The Washington State Auditor’s Office also conducted an audit of the district in 2019. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, in consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, determined the case was appropriate for federal prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Arnold and Andrew Friedman.
Member of timber poaching group that set Olympic National Forest wildfire sentenced to 2 ½ years in prisonRead the Press Release
Tacoma — One of two men charged in a scheme to steal maple wood that resulted in a massive 2018 forest fire on the Olympic Peninsula was sentenced to prison today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SHAWN EDWARD WILLIAMS, 49, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for theft of public property and setting timber afire. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said that “the consequences of your actions . . . resulted in horrendous consequences to the forests.”
According to records filed in the case, between April and August 2018, lead defendant Justin Andrew Wilke conducted an illegal logging operation in the Elk Lake area of the Olympic National Forest, near Hood Canal. In July 2018, just days after his release from state prison, WILLIAMS joined the conspiracy, helping Wilke remove maple from the National Forest and transporting it with Wilke to a mill in Tumwater, Washington. The type of maple harvested by the defendants is highly prized and used to produce musical instruments.
On August 3, 2018, the group decided to cut a maple tree that contained a wasp’s nest near the base of the tree. To remove the nest, the group sprayed insecticide and gasoline on the nest and base of the tree and then lit the nest on fire. The group failed to extinguish the fire, which developed into a wildfire later named the “Maple Fire.” The Maple Fire consumed more than 3,300 acres between August and November 2018 and cost approximately $4.2 million to contain. WILLIAMS did not himself set the fire, but was present when others set the fire.
WILLIAMS pleaded guilty in December 2019.
In their sentencing memo, prosecutors highlighted the danger of Wilke and WILLIAMS’s conduct. “Forest fires present a dire and growing threat in this region. They destroy our forests, poison our air, and endanger responders, local residents, recreationalists, and wildlife. When this fire occurred in early August 2018, the Puget Sound region was (as it is today) already experiencing significant smoke from existing wildfires, and the high risk of fire was evident to everyone in Western Washington. Despite this atmosphere, Williams participated in taking the extreme risk of setting fire to a portion of a tree—deep in the forest, in mid-summer. The consequences of that decision—thousands of acres burned, millions of dollars in containment costs, and the release of huge amounts of smoke—were easily foreseeable.”
The case was investigated by the United States Forest Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Will Dreher.
Six indicted in connection with multi-million dollar scheme to bribe Amazon employees and contractorsRead the Press Release
Seattle - Six people have been indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Washington with conspiring to pay over $100,000 in commercial bribes to Amazon employees and contractors, in exchange for an unfair competitive advantage on the Amazon Marketplace, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. EPHRAIM ROSENBERG, 45, of Brooklyn, New York; JOSEPH NILSEN, 31, and KRISTEN LECCESE, 32, of New York, New York; HADIS NUHANOVIC, 30, of Acworth, Georgia; ROHIT KADIMISETTY, 27, of Northridge, California; and NISHAD KUNJU, 31, of Hyderabad, India, are charged with conspiracy to use a communication facility to commit commercial bribery, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. The defendants will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle on October 15, 2020.
“As the world moves increasingly to online commerce, we must ensure that the marketplace is not corrupted with unfair advantages obtained by bribes and kick‑backs,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. “The ultimate victim from this criminal conduct is the buying public who get inferior or even dangerous goods that should have been removed from the marketplace. I commend the investigators and cybersecurity experts who have worked to identify and indict those engaged in these illegal schemes.”
“Realizing they could not compete on a level playing field, the subjects turned to bribery and fraud in order to gain the upper hand. What's equally concerning, not only did they attempt to increase sales of their own products, but sought to damage and discredit their competitors,” said Raymond Duda, Special agent in charge, FBI Seattle. “This indictment should send a message that the FBI will not sit on the sidelines while criminals try to cheat their way to the top.”
According to the Indictment, since at least 2017, the defendants have used bribery and fraud to benefit merchant accounts on the Amazon Marketplace, resulting in more than $100 million of competitive benefits to those accounts, harm to competitors, and harm to consumers. More specifically, the Indictment alleges that the defendants served as consultants to so-called third-party (“3P”) sellers on the Amazon Marketplace. Those 3P sellers consisted of individuals and entities who sold a wide range of goods, including household goods, consumer electronics, and dietary supplements on Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar electronic commerce platform. In addition to providing consulting services to these 3P sellers, some of the defendants, including NILSEN, LECCESE, and NUHANOVIC, made their own sales on the Amazon Marketplace through 3P accounts they operated.
In the course of the conspiracy described in the Indictment, the defendants paid bribes to at least ten different Amazon employees and contractors, including KUNJU, who accepted bribes as a seller-support associate in Hyderabad, India, before becoming an outside consultant who recruited and paid bribes to his former colleagues. In exchange for those bribes, the corrupted employees and contractors took the following illicit steps:
- Reinstating suspended merchant accounts and product listings on the Amazon Marketplace: The corrupted employees and contractors helped reinstate products and merchant accounts that Amazon had suspended or blocked entirely from doing business on the Amazon Marketplace. The fraudulently reinstated products included dietary supplements that had been suspended because of customer-safety complaints, household electronics that had been flagged as flammable, consumer goods that had been flagged for intellectual-property violations, and other goods. The fraudulently reinstated accounts included accounts that Amazon had suspended for manipulating product reviews to deceive consumers, making improper contact with consumers, and other violations of Amazon’s seller policies and codes of conduct. The Indictment describes a variety of ways in which corrupted employees and contractors misused their positions to reinstate these accounts, including by manually reinstating product listings, and approving baseless and fraudulent merchant appeals that they themselves helped draft. In total, after their fraudulent reinstatement, the products and merchants earned in excess of $100 million in sales revenue.
- Facilitating attacks against competitors: The corrupted employees and contractors facilitated attacks against competitors’ 3P accounts and product listings, by (a) sharing competitive intelligence about competitors’ revenues, customers, advertising campaigns, and suppliers; (b) using their inside access to Amazon’s network to suspend competitors’ 3P accounts; and (c) providing consultants with information about Amazon’s internal algorithms, which allowed the consultants to flood competitors’ product listings with fictitious negative product reviews.
- Misappropriating Amazon’s highly confidential business information: The corrupted employees and contractors also provided consultants and 3P sellers with unauthorized access to Amazon’s highly confidential standard operating procedures and algorithms. These materials provided an obvious, unfair, competitive benefit to 3P sellers, by giving them coveted insight into the systems that power Amazon’s search engine, Amazon’s product reviews, and Amazon’s enforcement processes. The misappropriated data also included the contact information for Amazon employees and consumers, which the members of the conspiracy misused and shared widely.
- Circumventing Amazon’s internal limits on 3P accounts: The corrupted employees and contractors conveyed exclusive benefits that circumvented Amazon’s rules and regulations. In exchange for bribes, they increased 3P sellers’ storage limits in Amazon’s warehouses, facilitated 3P sellers’ otherwise meritless requests to sell products in restricted categories, and provided 3P sellers with inside knowledge about the most successful advertising campaigns and most profitable product listings.
Conspiracy to use a communication facility in furtherance of commercial bribery, and to gain unauthorized access to a protected computer is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud, are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Siddharth Velamoor and Steven Masada.
20cr151_1_reduced-print-color.pdfStatement of U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran regarding report in New York Times:Read the Press Release
Statement of U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran:
“Throughout this lengthy period of civil unrest, I have had multiple conversations with Department of Justice leadership. They have asked for information about protest activity devolving into violence, about federal interests implicated by the Capitol Hill Organized Protest, and about the cases filed in this District regarding federal crimes. At no time has anyone at the Department communicated to me that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is, was, or should be the subject of a criminal investigation or should be charged with any federal crime related to the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP). As U.S. Attorney I would be aware of such an investigation.
My office continues to work collaboratively with state and local law enforcement, including the Seattle Police Department, to prosecute federal crimes such as arson, weapons violations and the use of destructive devices. Those cases are traditionally an area of focus for federal law enforcement. The goal of my office is to strongly deter criminal acts that have no place alongside, and only endanger, those who choose to engage in constitutionally protected speech.”
Auburn, Washington, man charged for being a felon in possession of firearmsRead the Press Release
(Seattle)—A 32-year-old Auburn, Washington, man was arrested today and charged federally with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. AL M. TALAGA was arrested without incident late yesterday. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today.
According to the criminal complaint, on June 1, 2020, Seattle Police officers responded to reports of a break-in and looting at the Sneaker City store on Pike Street in downtown Seattle. When police arrived, various suspects were running away from the store. Witnesses said some of the looters had loaded merchandise into a Dodge Magnum that was parked near the store. In checking the car for suspects, police officers noted a number of items that appeared to have been taken from the store, as well as a firearm in the driver’s side door panel of the car.
Police impounded the car and traced its ownership to TALAGA. A court-authorized search of the car revealed that there were two firearms in the car. In addition to the loaded .40 caliber Glock in the side pocket of the door, investigators found a second loaded handgun under the floor mat on the passenger side of the car. A law enforcement database check verified that the .40 caliber pistol under the floor mat had been reported stolen in 2019 from a residence in Tacoma during a home invasion robbery.
TALAGA is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2005 conviction in King County Superior Court for Second Degree Robbery.
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.
Being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
Renton, Washington, woman pleads guilty admitting she was ‘straw buyer’ for scheme that trafficked guns to violent street gangsRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old Renton, Washington, woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three federal felonies related to a scheme to purchase firearms and illegally provide them to other people, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SHANNON McCALL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Gun Control Act, making a false statement to a government agent, and making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. Sentencing before U.S. District Judge James L. Robart is scheduled for December 7, 2020.
According to records filed in the case, between August 2017 and January 2019, McCALL admitted that she illegally purchased six firearms from Ben’s Loan Inc., a federally licensed firearm dealer in Renton. On purchase paperwork, McCALL lied and said she was the ultimate purchaser of the firearms, when in fact she purchased the firearms for others. Both McCALL and her son were involved in the scheme. In court filings in his case, prosecutors note that her son modified some of the firearms to be automatic weapons and provided firearms to members of violent street gangs, one of whom had just been released from prison. McCALL told investigators that she did not know how the firearms were used after she purchased them for her son. McCALL purchased a firearm for another person, in her name, in exchange for a $200.00 payment.
When McCALL was questioned by agents about her firearms purchases, she initially lied and said the guns were being stored by “Uncle James”–a person she now admits does not exist.
Conspiracy to violate the Gun Control Act and making a false statement to a government agent are each punishable by up to five years in prison. Making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. Project Guardian ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. More information about Project Guardian is here.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca.
Member of Tulalip Tribes sentenced to 37 months in prison for head-on crash while fleeing Tribal PoliceRead the Press Release
Seattle- A 36-year-old member of the Tulalip Tribes was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 37 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury arising from a high-speed crash, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. HERMAN JAMES JOHN III pleaded guilty in February 2020 in connection with the July 8, 2019, high-speed crash into another vehicle on the Tulalip Reservation. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart noted that JOHN was no longer a young man and has a long pattern of criminal conduct. He expressed hope that JOHN would take advantage of the resources available to him and responsibility for turning his life around.
According to records filed in the case, JOHN had been excluded from the Tulalip Reservation because of criminal conduct. JOHN admits he had used methamphetamine and heroin earlier in the day. When Tulalip Tribal Police attempted to pull JOHN over, he raced away at high speed, lost control of his car, and crashed head on into another car. The two Tulalip tribal members in the other car were severely injured and continue to recover from their injuries. The investigation revealed that JOHN had been traveling 78 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone immediately before the crash.
The case was investigated by the Tulalip Tribal Police, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London.
Florida man charged federally with production of child pornography and enticement of a minorRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 39-year-old New Port Ritchey, Florida, man is in federal custody tonight charged with production of child pornography and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SAMUEL AARON LEONARD was arrested July 2, 2020, in Vancouver, Washington, just outside the home of the 14‑year-old girl he had spent months enticing online for sexual abuse. LEONARD had allegedly communicated with the girl on a number of social media platforms and represented to the girl that he was 20 years old. LEONARD will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Tacoma at 2:30 today.
According to the criminal complaint, LEONARD contacted the girl via a social media platform around April 1, 2020. Over the next few months, LEONARD communicated with the girl on various social media sites and sent her a cell phone so that they could communicate by text and telephone. Unbeknownst to the girl, LEONARD had installed tracking and surveillance software in the phone so that he could monitor her location and read her texts and emails. LEONARD turned the conversations with the girl to a sexual nature and convinced her to send various sexually explicit photos. The girl’s guardians became aware of the communication and contacted Kalama Police in late June 2020. Law enforcement immediately seized both phones that the teen had been using to communicate and had an undercover officer take over the communication. Analyzing the communications and the cell phone information, the investigation revealed that LEONARD had traveled from Florida to the Vancouver area via bus and was within a short bike ride of the girl’s home. When the officer, posing as the girl, revealed that the girl’s guardian had taken the phone LEONARD had sent to her, LEONARD said he would get her a new one. Police surveilled LEONARD as he took a newly purchased phone, hid it in a package, and tossed the package over the fence to the girl’s backyard. LEONARD was arrested shortly afterwards.
A search of LEONARD’s hotel room revealed that he had a firearm and ammunition, four folding survival knives, a survival axe, and a number of items used to restrain someone, such as ten sets of flex cuffs and two sets of metal handcuffs, as well as duct tape and electrical tape. He also had various sex toys and lubricants.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. Enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and up to life 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Vancouver Police Department, and Kalama Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams with assistance from the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Edmonds, Washington, man charged with arson and unlawful possession of a destructive device in connection with May 30 protestRead the Press Release
Seattle - A 20-year-old Edmonds, Washington, man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Seattle with two counts of arson and two counts of unlawful possession of a destructive device for his activities at a protest that turned violent in downtown Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. KELLY THOMAS JACKSON was arrested this morning and will appear in U.S. District Court at 2:00 today.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work closely with state, local and federal law enforcement to prosecute those who turn protected speech into violent criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “Not every criminal act will implicate a federal interest, but where there is federal jurisdiction we will use our tools to hold law-breakers accountable.”
“These individuals are hijacking legitimate First Amendment protected activity. By investigating this violent activity, the messages of peaceful protests have a better chance of being heard,” said Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge FBI Seattle.
According to records filed in the case, following a May 30, 2020, demonstration in downtown Seattle, law enforcement was investigating a number of criminal acts, including the arson of a number of Seattle Police vehicles. Law enforcement has various videos of a white male suspect in distinctive clothing using glass containers with a flammable material and a wick to burn or attempt to burn two police vehicles. JACKSON was identified as a potential suspect in the case after an anonymous tip to law enforcement. A detailed review of videos from the scene confirmed the suspect resembled JACKSON. Further, a court-authorized analysis of cell phone records placed JACKSON in the area at the time of the fires. JACKSON was observed wearing the same distinctive clothing as in the videos. Finally, additional evidence obtained by law enforcement includes a video of the suspect (JACKSON) throwing one Molotov cocktail into a police vehicle, another video of a glass bottle with a wick, and information that JACKSON accessed web-based information on how to construct Molotov cocktails. The second Molotov cocktail was thrown at the windshield of a police vehicle, bounced off, and exploded in flames on the sidewalk outside the Nordstrom store.
Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. Possession of a destructive device is punishable by up to ten 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 FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Seattle Police Department, the Edmonds Police Department and the Mountlake Terrace Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
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Everett, Washington, man charged federally for possessing firearm stolen from Seattle Police Department vehicle during May 30 riotRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 24-year-old Everett resident appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today charged with possession of a stolen firearm in connection with a high-powered rifle taken during a downtown Seattle riot on May 30, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JACOB D. LITTLE was captured by both Seattle Police surveillance photos and images posted online with the large bag used to store the Colt M4 rifle with a suppressor. The rifle still has not been recovered.
Using not only the images captured of the riot scene, but tips from the public, Seattle Police investigators linked LITTLE to the stolen firearm. Images show a man that appears to be LITTLE removing the heavy bag from a Seattle Police vehicle parked outside the downtown Nordstrom store. The vehicles were heavily damaged and ultimately burned by rioters. The investigation reveals that in electronic messages following the theft, LITTLE appears to be negotiating the sale of the firearm. He states in the messages that he has removed the sling and suppressor and the “red dot” (a type of optical sight) from the rifle. All those accessories were present on the rifle when stolen from the Seattle Police vehicle.
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.
Possession of a stolen firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Snohomish County Violent Offender Task Force and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
Former Tacoma resident pleads guilty to production of images of child rape and abuseRead the Press Release
(Tacoma) - A former Tacoma resident, who was residing in South Bend, Indiana, at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SAMUEL PHILLIPS, 27, faces a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle on December 7, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, in March 2018, PHILLIPS was residing in a Tacoma apartment with a child under the age of 5, when he made video recordings of the sexual abuse. PHILLIPS relocated to Indiana in early 2019. His spouse discovered the videos on his phone. PHILLIPS was arrested by South Bend Police, who alerted the Tacoma Police Department. PHILLIPS was charged federally with production of child pornography on April 30, 2019. He is charged in state court with sexual abuse of the child.
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.
The case was investigated by the Tacoma Police Department and FBI, with assistance from the South Bend, Indiana, Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams.
Seattle man arrested for making bomb threat to Portland, Oregon, Police precinctRead the Press Release
(Seattle) - A 36-year-old Seattle man was arrested today and appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle for making a threat to damage or destroy a building–in this case a Portland, Oregon, police precinct, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. KYLE ROBERT TORNOW is accused of using an online communication system to claim he had planted explosives at a Portland, Oregon, Police precinct.
According to records file in the case, on July 24, 2020, TORNOW allegedly used the Portland Police TrackIT system to send a message claiming he had planted an explosive at one of the city’s police precincts. Using an alias, TORNOW claimed he had planted a bomb that was “undetectable” to canine searchers and that if he were caught, “others will take my place and immediately detonate the bomb.” The communication claimed it was a “felony threat” and needed to be taken “seriously to avoid death.”
FBI agents were able to trace the communications back to TORNOW, and he was arrested without incident this morning.
Making a threat to damage or destroy a building is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods.
Third major takedown of drug trafficking ring nets 14 arrestsRead the Press Release
(Seattle) - The third major drug ring takedown in as many months resulted in 14 arrests today of members of the drug trafficking network. U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran and DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis announced the culmination of these three wiretap investigations. Those arrested today will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00.
“With this third law enforcement takedown in six weeks, we continue to root out those who seek to poison our communities with fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “Despite the challenges of tracking criminal activity during a pandemic, the dedicated men and woman of law enforcement continue to investigate and interdict drug shipments while building legal cases against these defendants.”
“Even during this Covid-19 crisis, these alleged drug traffickers preyed on Washingtonians, using extraordinary violence to increase their wealth and power,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea. “However, as this operation shows, DEA and our law enforcement partners will never stop working – even during a global pandemic – to protect the communities we serve. Operation Lockdown successfully removed a number of violent drug traffickers from the streets of the Seattle-Tacoma area, and will enable these communities to focus on what matters most – the health and safety of their loved ones.”
“With today’s operation we have surpassed 60 arrests of members of highly organized transnational groups with tentacles reaching from Mexico to Puget Sound. They profit by pushing extremely dangerous narcotics such as methamphetamines, heroin and the worst of the worst – fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. “With our partners, even before today’s action, we took over 300 pounds of methamphetamine, 55 pounds of heroin, 41,200 fentanyl pills, 30 firearms; and more than $1. 3 million in drug trafficker assets off the streets. The dealers of these drugs are responsible for increasing levels of violence, addiction and overdose deaths in our communities.”
Today’s arrests come on the heels of two other major drug takedowns: On August 5, 2020, law enforcement rolled up a drug trafficking ring that distributed large amounts of fentanyl, heroin and meth in the Seattle area and North Puget Sound region. During that investigation law enforcement seized more than14 pounds of heroin and 15 pounds of methamphetamine.
On July 28, 2020, law enforcement arrested 13 people named in an indictment for drug trafficking connected to the violent CJNG Mexican cartel. Much of the drug trafficking activity in that case was in the South Sound region, including the Kitsap Peninsula. More than 100 pounds of meth were seized in that investigation, and law enforcement had to intervene at times when they heard threats being made over the wire to enforce cartel rules with violence.
Today’s takedown involves drug defendants who distributed fentanyl, meth and heroin in Seattle and North Puget Sound communities. They discussed or conducted their drug deals in a wide variety of locations, such as a Mexican restaurant in Kent, a bank parking lot at the Northgate shopping mall and a 7-11 in Snohomish County. The members of the drug distribution ring were frequently armed – one was pulled over after waving a firearm at another vehicle on I-5 North near Bellingham. In December 2019, law enforcement seized 10 kilos of methamphetamine, 1,000 fentanyl-tainted pills and a loaded firearm from the lead defendant in this case.
Those named in the indictments or taken into custody on criminal complaints week include:
Gonzalo Villasenor, 23, Lynnwood
Julio Cesar Ramirez-Meneses, 32, Kent
Jocelyn Leyva-Castellanos, 21, Lynnwood
Edgar Efren Olivas-Armenta, 43, Edmonds
Rozzy Marie McGee, 34, Everett
Emanuel Campos-Pantoja, 23, SeaTac
Francisco Javier Carrillo, 33, Marysville
Anthony Michael Shepherd, 33, Marysville
Julius B. Supnet, 27, Edmonds
Jesus Israel Tapia-Alvarado, 24, Bellevue
Bryan Michael Pollestad, 33, Everett
Travis Eugene Keel, 52, Everett
Laura Rodriguez-Moreno, 44, Marysville
Jose Morales-Flores, 39, Marysville
Omar Israel Morales, 18, Marysville
Joaquin Guerrero-Serrano, 34, Marysville
Gerardo Arias-Garcia, 32, Renton
Samantha Hernandez, 38, Lynnwood
Lionel Gonzalez-Torres, 24, Burlington
Jesus Daniel Lerma-Jaras, 40, Everett
Prior to today’s takedown law enforcement seized more than 8,000 pills tainted with suspected fentanyl, 22 pounds of heroin, 70 pounds of methamphetamine, one kilo of cocaine, two firearms and approximately $500,000 cash in drug proceeds. Today, law enforcement seized: 36 pounds of heroin, 1,600 suspected fentanyl pills, a pound of methamphetamine, and seven firearms.
“I’m grateful for the dozens of arrests and the seizure of many pounds of illegal drugs, including thousands of pills likely tainted with fentanyl,” Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said Tuesday. “What’s far more difficult to count; the number of lives saved and the number of parents who have been spared the trauma of burying their child, thanks to the on-going partnerships between local and federal law enforcement agencies.”
“The Skagit County Interlocal Drug Task Force is pleased to have played a small role in this larger multi-jurisdictional law enforcement effort that will have a significant and sustained impact on the organized drug trade in Washington State,” said Tobin Meyer, Chief Criminal Deputy, Skagit County Sheriff’s Office
Due to the amount of narcotics involved in this case, some defendants face a mandatory minimum ten years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictments and complaints 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 was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, Seattle Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Skagit Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit. The investigation was supported by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
In addition, to the agencies listed above, these law enforcement agencies assisted with arrests and search warrants executed today: Snohomish County Sherriff’s Office, Everett Police Department, Marysville Police Department, Skagit County Sherriff’s Office, Valley SWAT, Region 1 SWAT, North Sound Metro SWAT, Olympic Peninsula Narcotic Enforcement Team, Washington State Patrol, King County Sherriff’s Office, Auburn Police Department, Kent Police Department, Federal Way Police Department, Shoreline Police Department, Renton Police Department, Bothell Police Department, Lake Stevens Police Department, Mountlake Terrace Police Department, Arlington Police Department, Snoqualmie/North Bend Police Department, Burien Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, DEA Special Response Team, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Hobbs and C. Andrew Colasurdo.
Tacoma man charged with unlawful possession of destructive device at Capitol Hill protest that turned violentRead the Press Release
(Seattle)—A 19-year-old Tacoma man who attended a Seattle protest armed with an improvised explosive device is now charged federally, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. SAMI C. HORNER is charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device. HORNER made his initial appearance on the charge today in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
According to the criminal complaint, on Wednesday night, August 26, 2020, HORNER was identified in a group of people that first assembled at Volunteer Park on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. As the group marched on 15th Avenue East, HORNER was observed smashing windows at a bank branch. HORNER was chased down and arrested. In his backpack law enforcement found a glass bottle with a wick, filled with flammable material. HORNER also carried two lighters, a helmet, a mask with filters, and a walkie-talkie. The glass bottle, more commonly referred to as a Molotov Cocktail, fits the legal definition of an incendiary device.
Possession of an improvised explosive device is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 and the Seattle Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Woods.
Alaska man charged federally with setting fire at Seattle Police East PrecinctRead the Press Release
(Seattle) - A 19-year-old Alaska man was charged with arson today for the fire he set Monday, August 24, 2020 at the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. DESMOND DAVID-PITTS was arrested shortly after the fire following a Monday night protest march. DAVID-PITTS appeared today in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
“This is the fourth defendant to appear in federal court after being charged with criminal conduct that went far beyond any peaceful protest,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “Those who go to protest but choose violence and criminal acts over protected speech will face the full weight of federal criminal sanctions. This illegal conduct must end.”
“The intentional fire set Monday evening in an organized, pre-planned attack endangered the lives of our officers and our entire community. This was not a peaceful protest, or demonstration for equity, but an act of lawlessness. We are grateful our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office recognize the criminal nature of these acts and are holding those responsible accountable,” said Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best.
Deputy Chief Adrian Diaz promised to maintain the SPD’s federal partnerships as he takes command of the Department and added “We are hopeful that the federal charges now filed against Mr. David-Pitts will serve as a warning that crimes of violence will not be tolerated in Seattle.”
According to the criminal complaint, DAVID-PITTS had arrived in Seattle from Alaska just three days before Monday’s protest. After marching with the group in downtown Seattle, DAVID-PITTS is seen on surveillance video piling up trash against the sally-port door at the Seattle Police East Precinct. Over an eleven minute period the surveillance video captures DAVID-PITTS not only piling up the trash, but repeatedly lighting it on fire and feeding the flames with more trash. While DAVID-PITTS was lighting the fire, other people who appeared on the surveillance were attempting to use crowbars and cement-like materials to try to disable the door next to the sally-port to prevent officers from exiting the building. At various times DAVID-PITTS appeared to be communicating with the others. Despite efforts to disable the door, officers were able to get outside and extinguish the flames. A similarly equipped group set a second fire around the corner from the DAVID-PITTS arson, and DAVID-PITTS was seen on surveillance working with the others to cut through a chain-link fence that was a barrier around the building. The second fire was extinguished by Seattle Police Officers and members of the Seattle Fire Department.
DAVID-PITTS was identified less than an hour later in the crowd outside the precinct because of the distinctive pink camouflage trousers he was wearing. He was arrested without incident.
Three people have already been charged with federal crimes in connection to civil unrest:
- On July 15, Isaiah Thomas Willoughby was charged with arson in connection with a fire set at the East Precinct.
- On June 11, Margaret Aislinn Channon was charged with arson for setting five Seattle Police vehicles on fire.
- On June 10, Devinare Antwan Parker was charged with possessing a destructive device for bringing an improvised firearm to a protest.
Arson is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to twenty 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.
Registered sex offender pleads guilty to producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
Tacoma - A registered sex offender currently jailed in Skamania County pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. STEVEN LEE McBRIDE, 51, faces a mandatory minimum 15-years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on October 26, 2020. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 25-years in prison, and the defense will recommend no less than 18 years in prison. Judge Settle is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence up to the maximum of 30 years in prison.
According to records filed in the case, in 2007, McBRIDE was convicted in Idaho of molesting two children under the age of 16 and was required to register as a sex offender following a state prison term of up to 15-years. Upon release from prison, McBRIDE moved to a residence in Skamania County. There he moved next door to a distant relative and befriended that neighbor’s child. Between September 2017 and May 2019, McBRIDE made sexually explicit images of the child by hiding a camera in the bathroom, molesting the child while the child slept and ultimately by posing as a school friend of the child online to demand the child send sexually explicit images. McBRIDE threatened to kill the child’s family if the child did not continue to provide the photos.
Law enforcement learned of the production of child pornography when investigators in Queensland, Australia became aware of McBRIDE providing sexually explicit images online in their jurisdiction. An undercover officer contacted McBRIDE and got additional information about the identity of the victim from McBRIDE. The Vancouver Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations moved quickly to alert the victim’s parent and arrest McBRIDE on June 7, 2019.
McBRIDE is charged in Skamania County Superior Court for the hands-on molestation. Under the terms of the plea agreement his state and federal sentences will run concurrently.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department and the Queensland Australia Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams.
DUSA Pharmaceuticals to pay U.S. $20.75 million to settle False Claims Act allegations relating to promotion of unsupported drug administration processRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Massachusetts-based DUSA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (DUSA), a subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. (Sun Pharma), has agreed to pay the United States $20.75 million to resolve allegations that DUSA caused physicians to submit false claims to Medicare and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) by knowingly promoting an administration process for the drug Levulan Kerastick that contradicted the product instructions approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was unsupported by sufficient clinical evidence.
“The department is committed to protecting taxpayer-supported health care programs from fraud and abuse,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ethan P. Davis for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold drug manufacturers accountable when they knowingly promote ineffective uses of their products that undermine patient care or waste program funds.”
“While this scheme to provide false instructions on the use of its product may have resulted in more sales and bigger profits, it also meant customers endured the frustration of being repeatedly subjected to less effective treatments to try to get their skin lesions to clear,” said U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran for the Western District of Washington. “This investigation seeks to restore money to taxpayers and discourage those who put profits over effective treatment.”
“Drug makers that push the inappropriate use of their products undermine the health of patients and the financial integrity of federal health care programs, said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our oversight agency, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to thoroughly investigate those who engage in such schemes.”
“The OPM OIG will always seek to hold accountable those prioritizing profits over patient health and safety,” said Norbert E. Vint, Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) OIG. “This settlement demonstrates the commitment of our investigative staff and partners at the Department of Justice to combat health care fraud against the FEHBP.”
Levulan Kerastick is a prescription topical solution approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratosis (AKs) of the face or scalp. At all relevant times, the “Dosage and Administration” section of the drug’s FDA-approved instructions described a two-stage process involving application of the topical solution to the target lesions and then, following an incubation period of 14 to 18 hours, illumination of the target lesion with blue light.
The United States alleged that, by January 2014, senior management at both DUSA and Sun Pharma knew that administration of Levulan Kerastick employing short incubation periods ranging from one to three hours resulted in AK clearance rates significantly lower than those achieved in clinical trials using 14 to 18-hour incubation. Nonetheless, between January 2014 and December 2016, DUSA allegedly encouraged physicians to use these demonstrably less effective short incubation periods by using, among other things, paid physician speaker programs, paid physician peer-to-peer discussions, promotion by DUSA’s sales force, and the dissemination of incomplete or misleading responses to questions from prescribing doctors. The department further alleged that DUSA failed to inform physicians that administering the drug using short incubation periods resulted in significantly lower AK clearance rates than achieved with the longer incubation period described in the FDA-approved instructions, and, in some instances, the company falsely stated that AK clearance rates were the same for the shorter and less effective incubation periods.
As part of the settlement, DUSA and its parent company, Sun Pharma, have agreed to enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS-OIG. That agreement provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to this matter.
The settlement with DUSA resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The civil lawsuit was filed by Aaron Chung, who formerly worked for DUSA as a sales representative. As part of today’s resolution, Chung will receive approximately $3.5 million.
The settlement with DUSA was the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington and the Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, with assistance from HHS’ Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel, and HHS’ Office of General Counsel.
The settlement was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla Stahman for U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington and Breanna Peterson of DOJ’s Civil Division Commercial Litigation Branch.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The lawsuit is captioned United States of America ex rel. Chung v. DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 16 cv 1614-JLR.
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Three men indicted for selling deadly fentanyl to Navy sailorRead the Press Release
Tacoma - Two South King County men and a former U.S. Navy sailor have been indicted for conspiracy and various drug distribution and firearms charges in connection with their trafficking in counterfeit pills laced with deadly fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. CHASE FRIEDRICH, 28, was arrested April 21, 2020, at his Des Moines, Washington, apartment. His drug supplier, RAOUL V. NORMANDIA, JR., 28, was arrested April 24, 2020, near his Federal Way, Washington, residence. IVAN ARMENTA, 20, was separated from the Navy and taken into federal custody August 7, 2020. FRIEDRICH sold counterfeit Percocet pills to Navy Sailor ARMENTA, who then provided them to another sailor who died of a drug overdose. The pills were tainted with deadly fentanyl.
The investigation began April 18, 2020, when a Navy sailor was found dead in his workspace aboard a Navy ship. In his pocket were two counterfeit pills that were laced with fentanyl. The Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) were able to identify ARMENTA as the sailor who provided the pills to the victim and identified FRIEDRICH as his supplier. A search of FRIEDRICH’s apartment revealed cocaine, a handgun, and a bag of approximately 100 counterfeit pills.
Investigators were able to trace the pills to NORMANDIA. He was arrested a few blocks from his home. In the vehicle was cocaine. During a court‑authorized search of NORMANDIA’s residence, law enforcement recovered cocaine, MDMA, firearms, ammunition, body armor, narcotics, and various signs of the drug trade, including scales, baggies, heat sealers, Moneygram receipts, and twenty cell phones.
NORMANDIA and FRIEDRICH are charged with conspiracy. FRIEDRICH and ARMENTA are each charged with distribution of fentanyl. FRIEDRICH is also charged with possession of cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Finally, NORMANDIA is charged with possession of MDMA and cocaine with intent to distribute and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
All three defendants face a statutory maximum term of up to twenty years in prison. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime calls for an additional consecutive prison term of five years.
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 NCIS and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office as a part of the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WestNET) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsie Schmalz.
Lynnwood, Washington, couple connected to massive fentanyl seizure charged with drug and gun crimes in federal courtRead the Press Release
(Seattle) — A Lynnwood, Washington, couple arrested in late July on Snohomish County drug possession charges is now charged federally following a lengthy undercover investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. JOSE L. CASABLANCA, 38, and JESSIE N. CRUZ, 37, are charged by a federal criminal complaint which details a lengthy undercover investigation which began in March 2020. The pair made their initial appearance on the complaint today.
The criminal complaint details how two detectives with the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) posed as drug and gun buyers to gather information about the pair’s drug trafficking activity. The undercover detectives made purchases of heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills from CASABLANCA and CRUZ. They also purchased a fully automatic firearm, judged an illegal machine gun, and other firearms from the pair. CASABLANCA is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms, so the two discussed how CRUZ transported the guns to the sale location so that CASABLANCA would not be caught with a firearm.
CRUZ and CASABLANCA confided to the undercover detectives where they had hidden a massive amount of fentanyl in their Lynnwood home. On the day they were arrested at a regional airport, they met with yet another undercover officer who was posing as someone who could get them access to a pill press to make fentanyl tainted pills from their large stash of the potentially deadly drug. A court-authorized search warrant at the Lynnwood home resulted in the seizure of large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, multiple firearms, and ammunition, as well as body armor.
At the time of their arrest law enforcement searched the Maserati the couple used in their drug trafficking activities and found both narcotics and a firearm.
CASABLANCA is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms due to his prior convictions for robbery and burglary (Snohomish County 2006) and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (Snohomish County 2011). CASABLANCA and CRUZ are both charged with three additional federal felonies: possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to five years in prison. Given the drug quantities, the drug counts are punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison. The use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime results in an additional five-year sentence to run consecutive to the drug trafficking term.
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 Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force and the United States Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
casablanca_and_cruz_complaint.pdfFelon, living in federal half-way house, indicted for attempted sex trafficking of a minorRead the Press Release
(Seattle) — A repeat offender, who had just been released to a half-way house from federal prison, has been indicted by the grand jury for attempted sex trafficking of a juvenile and attempted enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. PRENTICE C. HOLLINGSWORTH, 45, faces a mandatory minimum ten years in prison if convicted of the charges. HOLLINGSWORTH will be arraigned on the charges August 20, 2020.
According to records filed in the case, HOLLINGSWORTH was released to a federal half-way house in Tacoma in December 2019. Less than a month later, he began communicating with an undercover Seattle Police Officer he had contacted via a web application. In these communications, HOLLINGSWORTH attempted to recruit the undercover officer, who presented herself as a 15-year-old girl, to work for him as a prostitute. HOLLINGSWORTH discussed many aspects of the prostitution business, including the fee he would charge the “juvenile” for his services as a pimp and the prices she should charge for various sex acts. HOLLINGSWORTH also advised the “juvenile” that she could earn more money from sex buyers because of her age, and he encouraged her to leave school so she could devote more time to earning money in the sex trade.
In January 2020, HOLLINGSWORTH was arrested at the half-way house in Tacoma shortly after he arranged for the “juvenile” to check into a hotel room in Fife, Washington, for the purpose of prostitution.
Both counts in the indictment are punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. HOLLINGSWORTH is already on lifetime federal supervised release because of prior sex offenses.
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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham.
Three registered sex offenders indicted for possessing images of child rape and abuseRead the Press Release
(Seattle) — Three men, all registered sex offenders, were indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing images of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. In each case, the defendant has served prison time for sex offenses against children and are subject to monitoring by federal probation or the Washington State Department of Corrections. All three will be arraigned on the indictments in the next few weeks.
McKENNA DANILO BERNARDO, 23, of Burien, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on April 30, 2020, following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigation, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Department of Corrections. In 2019, BERNARDO was sentenced in King County Superior Court to fourteen months in prison and three years of probation for possession of child pornography. Under the terms of his probation, BERNARDO’s use of electronic devices is limited and monitored. During a home inspection in February 2019, BERNARDO was found to have unauthorized electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devises revealed that they contained child pornography.
JASON ALLEN LEGG, 44, of Seattle, was charged by criminal complaint on April 30, 2020, with possession of child pornography. LEGG has prior convictions in Georgia (1998) and King County Superior Court (2005). The King County conviction resulted in a ten-year sentence for rape of a child. In November 2018, LEGG’s probation officer received information that LEGG had an unauthorized Facebook page. Further investigation by the probation officer and the Seattle Police Department revealed LEGG had a number of unapproved electronic devices, some of which contained images of child rape and abuse.
DAVID CRAIG MARTIN, 64, of Seattle, was charged by criminal complaint on May 14, 2020, with possession of child pornography. MARTIN has been convicted of multiple sex offenses: Child Molestation 3rd Degree in Pierce County Superior Court (2001); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2009); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2015); and Voyeurism in Clark County Superior Court (2016). In late 2019, Google reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an account later linked to MARTIN had uploaded more than 175 images of child pornography. The Seattle Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Department of Corrections investigated and seized unauthorized electronic devices from MARTIN. Forensic analysis by Homeland Security Investigations revealed they contain images of child rape and abuse.
BERNARDO is currently released on federal pretrial supervision. LEGG is in the custody of the Washington State Department of Corrections. MARTIN is detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment, with ten-year mandatory minimum sentences for those with qualifying prior sexual offenses.
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 cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the Washington State Department of Corrections.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
bernardo_indictment_0.pdf legg_indictment_0.pdf martin_indictment_0.pdfPort Townsend, Washington, man who left overdose victim in car outside hospital emergency room pleads guilty to drug and gun crimesRead the Press Release
(Tacoma) — A Port Townsend, Washington, man who left a heroin overdose victim in a car outside a hospital emergency room pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession charges today, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. ADAM MICHAEL KELLY, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and being a drug user in possession of firearms. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both the prosecution and the defense will recommend a sentence of 66 months in prison. However, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence up to the ten-year maximum allowed by law when KELLY is sentenced on November 2, 2020.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, on March 27, 2019, KELLY and his then-girlfriend left a 43-year-old overdose victim in a car outside the hospital emergency room. They then called the hospital asking staff to check on the victim. The victim died within twenty minutes. Law enforcement traced the phone call to KELLY’s residence. When questioned by police, KELLY admitted that the victim had used drugs in his home, that the victim became unresponsive, and that KELLY had left him at the emergency room entrance when he could not revive him.
Police obtained a search warrant for KELLY’s home and found a sophisticated drug lab in the basement with pill presses, lab equipment, vent hoods, and over 75 pounds of Schedule III controlled substances, primarily steroids. Records seized at the lab indicate KELLY had a lucrative business selling and shipping illegal steroids across the country.
In addition to the drug lab, KELLY had a wide variety of firearms, silencers, and tactical gear. In the lab, KELLY had a .40 caliber Glock fitted with a silencer. In his bedroom, he had six guns, including two Glock handguns, a Bersa .22 caliber, a Winchester shotgun, a Remington 700, and a Bushmaster AR-15. A second silencer was found in the bedroom. Law enforcement seized a variety of ammunition, as well as a tactical vest.
As an admitted drug user, it is illegal for KELLY to possess firearms. When KELLY was arrested, he had both heroin and methamphetamine in his possession.
KELLY is currently serving a 68-month state sentence for controlled substance homicide, a charge arising out of this same investigation. As part of a global resolution of the state and federal charges, the parties will recommend that the federal sentence run concurrent to the state sentence. KELLY has been in custody since his arrest on March 28, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Port Townsend Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from other local and federal law enforcement agencies.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Dreher.
Seattle man charged with transporting minor for prostitution or illegal sexual activityRead the Press Release
(Seattle)—A 32-year-old Seattle man was charged August 5, 2020, by criminal complaint, with Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Prostitution or Criminal Sexual Activity, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. GARY STENSLAND, was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
According to the criminal complaint, in September 2018, STENSLAND traveled to Portland to meet a 13-year-old whom he had contacted via an internet app. STENSLAND returned to Seattle with the minor and paid the minor for sex. STENSLAND then drove the youth back to Portland. The youth just recently disclosed the abuse.
On August 5, 2020, the FBI, as part of the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed a search warrant at STENSLAND’s residence and seized his electronic devices. Law enforcement continues to investigate other sexual contact STENSLAND may have had with minors.
Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Prostitution or Criminal Sexual Activity is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life 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.
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.
The case is being investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.
Twelve arrested in takedown of North Sound drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
Seattle)—Twelve members of a drug trafficking group distributing fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine throughout the Puget Sound region were arrested today following a year-long investigation and two grand jury indictments, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. The members of the conspiracies engaged in trafficking activities from Mexico, through California and Oregon, and into the North Puget Sound region. Those arrested today will make appearances in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington today and tomorrow.
“During the course of this investigation agents seized more than 20,000 pills pressed to look like oxycodone, but actually tainted with fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “I have had heartbreaking conversations with the parents of young people who died from fentanyl overdoses linked to counterfeit pills. We are making it a priority to get these deadly drugs off the streets.”
“While most Puget Sound residents have been in ‘lockdown’ status because of the pandemic, our investigators and prosecutors continued pursuing those endangering our communities with indiscriminate sales of fentanyl tainted pills, heroin and methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis. “The tough job of removing this criminal organization was accomplished through the sheer determination and dedication to our community’s safety by our law enforcement professionals.”
In addition to the fentanyl pills, during the investigation law enforcement seized more than six pounds of heroin and nearly nine pounds of methamphetamine. Some of the drugs were smuggled in hidden compartments in the seats of vehicles.
The indictments charge a range of drug trafficking crimes. Those indicted include:
Delmer VELASQUEZ-Lacuna, 23, Seattle, Washington
Rodrigo ALVAREZ-Quinonez, 31, Selma, California
Elias Neftali MONTES-Sevilla, 30, Federal Way, Washington
Gustavo SANDOVAL-Agurcia, 38, Burien, Washington
Jorge Uriel ESQUIVEL-Mena, 31, Fairfield, California
Francisco Javier ESQUIVEL-Mena, 32, Aloha, Oregon
Wilmer GALINDO-Maradiaga, 26, Seattle, Washington
Jose CRUZ-Hernandez, 31, Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Jose Fernando ESCOTO-Fiallos, 32, Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Jose Alberto RAMOS, 59, Selma, California
Juan HERNANDEZ-Hernandez, 54, Bellingham, Washington
Baldemar MARTINEZ-Rico, 28, Kent, Washington
Saul SUAREZ-Mata, 34, Bellevue, Washington
Due to the drug quantities involved, some of the defendants face potential mandatory minimum ten-year sentences. Today alone, law enforcement seized: nearly 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 8 pounds of heroin, 7,500 pills likely tainted with fentanyl, over $100,000 in cash, 4 firearms, and vehicles outfitted with “traps”—hiding places for smuggling drugs and money.
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 was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, Shoreline Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), Seattle Police Department and the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF). The investigation was supported by the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). In addition, to the agencies listed above, these law enforcement agencies assisted with arrests and search warrants executed today: DEA Oakland Resident Office; DEA Fresno District Office; DEA Portland District Office; DEA Bellingham Resident Office; United States Marshals Service—Seattle, Washington, and Fresno, California; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Seattle; FBI SWAT; Washington State Patrol; Valley SWAT; Puyallup Police Department; and Thurston County Narcotics Team.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Benjamin Diggs.
us_v._velasquez-licona_et_al.pdf us_v_sandoval-agurcia.pdfU.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announces nearly $1.5 million in grants to provide housing to human trafficking victims in Western WashingtonRead the Press Release
(Seattle)–U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the Western District of Washington today announced that three Western Washington non-profit organizations received nearly $1.5 million from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
“The Western District of Washington is a leader in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking, due to key partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “Our relationships with non-profit organizations who provide support to human trafficking victims is key to rescuing victims from this modern day slavery.”
The three grants, awarded to YouthCare, The YMCA of Greater Seattle, and the International Rescue Committee Inc., will provide 6 to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities, or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. YouthCare and the YMCA each are receiving $500,000. The International Rescue Committee Inc., is receiving $499,996. The three non-profits are among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathrine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients, including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
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The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims, and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities ActRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran today highlighted the important work carried on by the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington, as part of the 30thAnniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA). The law, a critical civil rights measure that aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, was signed into law on July 26, 1990.
“Well before the ADA was passed, I grew up with a family member who relied on a wheel chair. I remember the added challenge to daily life this presented to our family, and appreciate how much we have progressed in ensuring access and participation,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “I want to thank the members of the community who have brought complaints to our attention in recent years, allowing us to use the ADA to advance the cause of equal access throughout this District. The more we know about barriers facing members of our community with disabilities, the more we are able to vindicate their rights under this important legislation.”
In recent years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has investigated a number of ADA cases. This includes working with the City of Aberdeen to improve access for people with visual impairments; working with Chateau Ste. Michelle and its concert venue to improve access for people with disabilities; working with childcare centers to improve access for children with diabetes; and working with Highline Medical Center, Overlake Medical Center, and the Washington Health Care Authority to improve access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The promise of the ADA is its wide-ranging efforts to eliminate disability discrimination across the range of services, programs, and activities that most Americans take for granted, but were largely inaccessible to individuals with disabilities prior to the law’s enactment. Whether in employment, areas of civic life, or in the day-to-day activities and access to goods and services that we all enjoy–the ADA ensures that individuals with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in everything this nation has to offer.
Over the past 30 years, the United States has undertaken the challenge of changing perceptions about disability, tearing down barriers to equality, and altering the systems that have historically excluded people with disabilities. The Justice Department commemorates the many ways that the ADA has transformed society—by replacing exclusion with access, segregation with integration, and limitations with self-determination.
For more information about the 30th Anniversary of the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov. To file a complaint with the Department, please visit the Civil Rights Division’s portal at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/. For more information about the ADA, call the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY). For information on filing an ADA complaint in the Western District of Washington visit the civil rights section on our website.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.