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10 April 2024
Federal Jury Convicts South Portland Man of Possessing a Firearm After Conviction for Assaulting His WifeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Portland man was found guilty yesterday of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Portland.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in June 2010, Willie Richard Minor, 63, formerly of Auburn, was convicted in Maine Superior Court of assaulting his then-wife. As a result of that conviction, Minor was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. In November 2016, Minor admitted to having a gun in an interview with the Auburn Police Department. The police recovered the gun from his apartment in Auburn.
Minor was originally convicted and sentenced on the federal charge after a trial in December 2017. While the case was pending on appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision, Rehaif v. United States, that changed what the government is required to prove in certain federal firearm possession cases. As a result, the parties agreed to have the original conviction vacated, and the case was remanded for a new trial. Minor was again convicted after a trial in February 2020, and in September 2020, he was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.
In March 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit found that the jury had been incorrectly instructed in Minor’s second trial. The Court of Appeals clarified what the government is required to prove under the Supreme Court’s Rehaif decision. The case then proceeded to trial for a third time.
“This case was particularly important because the new jury instructions given here provide clarity for our future pursuit of such prosecutions against former domestic abusers who illegally possess firearms across Maine,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. “Those convicted of abusing their loved ones should understand that illegal gun possession will not be tolerated in Maine.”
Minor will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Auburn Police Department; the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI investigated the case. The Mechanic Falls Police Department investigated Minor’s earlier assault case.
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False Claims Act Complaint Filed Against Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for Fraudulent Drug Pricing ReportingRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act (FCA) against Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Regeneron), a New York-based pharmaceutical company. Regeneron manufactures and sells Eylea, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat, among other conditions, neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration, a prevalent, usually age-related condition that impairs vision.
The complaint alleges that Regeneron fraudulently inflated Medicare reimbursement rates for Eylea by knowingly submitting false average sales price reports to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that excluded certain price concessions. In particular, the United States alleges that Regeneron knowingly failed to report price concessions in the form of credit card processing fees that Regeneron paid to specialty drug distributors to benefit its customers. According to the complaint, Regeneron paid these credit card fees so that distributors would accept credit cards for Eylea purchases while still charging a lower, cash price for the drug, and so that Regeneron’s customers — typically retina and ophthalmic practices — could receive credit card benefits for their purchases, such as “cash back” and other credit card rewards.
“We will not permit pharmaceutical companies to flout price reporting requirements to maintain high drug prices,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to protecting federal health care programs from improper actions by drug companies or others that drive up the cost of those programs at the taxpayers’ expense.”
“The government alleges that Regeneron manipulated Medicare’s drug pricing process, by knowingly failing to report its payment of credit card processing fees as price concessions to its customers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “By doing so, Regeneron greatly inflated the costs of its drug to Medicare over many years and enhanced its revenues. Falsely reported average sales prices cost the Medicare system hundreds of millions of dollars and we will make every effort to prevent such practices.”
The lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under the FCA, private parties file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. The FCA permits the United States to intervene in and take over the action, as it has done here. If a defendant is found liable for violating the FCA, the United States may recover three times the amount of its losses plus applicable penalties.
The Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General and the FBI. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Does 1-2 et. al. v. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al., No. 20-cv-1401-PBS.
Trial Attorneys Douglas Rosenthal, Asha Natarajan and Samuel R. Lehman of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Seol and Lindsey Ross for the District of Massachusetts are handling the matter.
The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
ComplaintElkhart Man Sentenced to 180 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Marcus Harris, 40 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Harris was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in April 2023, Harris distributed methamphetamine on several occasions between December 2022 and May 2023. On one occasion, Harris and co-defendant Stephen Johnson sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine. At the time of their arrest in May 2023, Harris and Johnson brought more than three kilograms of methamphetamine and 250 grams of heroin to a deal planning to trade for ten kilograms of cocaine.
Co-defendant Stephen Johnson was sentenced in February 2024 to 288 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory with assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
East Lansing Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Sexual exploitation of at least eight young boys
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Ian Jason Lipsky, age 51, of East Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting children.
“Lipsky is a serial offender whose sexual exploitation spanned years, from California to Michigan,” said U.S. Mark Attorney Totten. “Today’s sentence ensures he will never harm another child. Lipsky used the internet and social media to access minor boys. Parents, guardians, loved ones, and anyone online must understand that predators are trolling social media. Candid conversations with our kids are so important: educating them about the threats; keeping them out of harm’s way; and ensuring they have a safe space to share what happened if they are harmed.”
Between 2013 and 2020, Lipsky used Skype, Reddit, Snapchat, and Kik to communicate with at least eight minor boys. His sexual exploitation began in California and continued after he moved to Michigan. From his residence in Daly City, California, Lipsky encouraged minor victims ages 12 to 16 years old to perform sexual acts on camera or take sexually explicit photos of themselves. Lipsky would then screen record these interactions and save them to encrypted hard drives. In at least two separate instances, Lipsky escalated these interactions to in-person sexual exploitation. While living in California, Lipsky persuaded two boys, ages 14 and 17 at the time, to meet him at his residence to engage in sexual activities. In 2018, Lipsky moved from California to Michigan, where he continued to sexually exploit and solicit explicit content from minor victims, ages 15 to 16, online.
“For too long, Mr. Lipsky exploited and victimized young boys from as far away as California to right here in our great state of Michigan,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today's sentencing is a testament to the FBI and our partners' daily work across the country to combat sexual exploitation, particularly against minors. Those who engage in such crimes will face justice.”
The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.
If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. More information is available at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by the FBI.
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Drug Manufacturer to Pay $2.25 Million to Settle Controlled Substances Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A pharmaceutical manufacturer agreed to pay $2.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today.
The manufacturer, Novel Laboratories Inc. (Novel), a subsidiary of Lupin Inc., also reached an administrative resolution with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by entering into a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Manufacturers that work with dangerous and addictive opioids must safeguard the drugs. My office is dedicated to holding every level of the opioid distribution chain accountable for failures to properly handle and account for controlled substances, including manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies, and medical providers to ensure that these drugs are used safely and for legal purposes.”
“Pharmaceutical companies are not exempt from their regulatory responsibilities especially when dealing with controlled substances and the dangerous effects they have when misused,” Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Field Division said. “This settlement reflects DEA’s commitment to making sure measures are in place to safeguard the community and hold DEA registrants accountable. I commend our Diversion Investigators for bringing this matter to a resolution”
According to documents filed in this case and the contentions of the United States contained in the settlement agreement:
From Jan. 1, 2019, to Aug. 31, 2021, Novel committed CSA violations involving its failure to account for approximately 3.1 kg oxycodone, 7.7 kg hydrocodone, and 30 kg Temazepam. DEA discovered these violations during on-site inspections of Novel beginning in the summer of 2021. The MOA requires Novel to improve its operations and remain in compliance with the law, and will remain in effect for three years.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited diversion investigators of DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark, with the investigation leading to the settlement agreement and MOA.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordann R. Conaboy of the U.S. Attorney’s Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
The claims settled by the agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
noveldea.moa_.pdf novel.settlement.pdfDistrict Man Indicted on Two Counts of Felony Murder and Other Related ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Corde Fitzhugh-Clingman, 23, of Washington, D.C., was indicted today on two counts of felony murder and other related charges stemming from the July 8, 2021 slaying of 24-year-old Muntsier Sharfi and the April 25, 2022 slaying of 26-year-old Zekariya Elmi, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Fitzhugh-Clingman was also indicted on charges involving the attempted armed robbery of Mr. Sharfi, Mr. Elmi, and another individual.
Fitzhugh-Clingman was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on multiple charges of first-degree murder while armed (felony murder), with aggravating circumstances, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.
Fitzhugh-Clingman is to be arraigned on April 12, 2024, at a hearing before the Honorable Anthony Epstein. He faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the charges.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
Detroit Business Owner Charged with Possessing over 40 kilograms of Fentanyl in Basement Stash HouseRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit gas station owner has been charged with several federal crimes stemming from his involvement with a Detroit-based stash house that held over 40 kilograms of fentanyl, a pill press, and a variety of other materials used to manufacture fentanyl pills, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Chief Thomas Goralski, Livonia Police Department.
On March 28, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at three locations connected to Barry Willis, 55, a resident of Clinton Township and owner of a Detroit gas station. Officers searched Willis’s primary residence in Clinton Township, his gas station in Detroit, as well as his suspected stash house in Detroit. In the basement of the stash house, officers recovered over 40 kilograms of fentanyl in both pill and powder form, as well as a hoard of materials for manufacturing fentanyl pills such as a pill press, narcotics scales, and drug recipes. Officers further located two handguns at the stash house, one at Willis’s residence, and another at his gas station, as well as over $100,000 in cash from Willis’s Clinton Township residence.
“This case represents the largest law enforcement seizure of fentanyl in the state of Michigan to date. We are incredibly proud of our law enforcement partners who conducted this investigation and recovered these deadly substances before they could harm members of our community.,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
“This amount of fentanyl has the potential to provide nearly two deadly doses to every man, woman and child living in the state of Michigan. We will continue to work with our partners to pursue anyone pushing poisons into our communities and bring them to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Greene.
"This major seizure of fentanyl has saved lives. The great partnerships we have with law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels in southeast Michigan, enable us to make these types of investigations successful,” said Chief Goralski.
Willis has now been indicted for possession of over 400 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted of the charges in the indictment.
An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by the Livonia Police Department, including officers assigned to the Livonia Police Intelligence Bureau, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Michigan State Police and the Clinton Township Police Department also assisted with the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Ramamurthy.
DOJ Releases New “Overview of the Department of Justice Grant Process” to Aid Applicants of GrantsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a new document entitled “An Overview of the Department of Justice Grant Process” that provides a short, useable summary of the DOJ grant opportunities for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to assist law enforcement agencies, local governments, and other organizations interested in applying for DOJ grants.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for law enforcement agencies, local governments, community organizations, and others to apply for Department of Justice grants that can be used to help fight crime and improve lives in Mississippi,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi.
The 5-page document is available on the public website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdms/grant-information.
D.C. Man Charged with Aggravated Assault while ArmedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Owusu-Sakyi, 47, of Washington, D.C., was charged today in Superior Court with aggravated assault while armed for shooting a woman on April 5, 2024, in Southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. The defendant is held pending a preliminary hearing on Friday.
According to court documents, the victim was in the 1700 block of Fairlawn Avenue SE when Owusu-Sakyi approached her from behind and shot her once in the arm. After shooting the victim, the defendant said that he thought she was someone else, and told her to call 911 before he fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital to treat her gunshot wound. Police subsequently obtained a warrant for Owusu-Sakyi’s arrest.
These charges were brought as a result of the D.C. Council’s Secure DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, that went into effect last month. The change in the law recognizes all gunshot wounds as serious bodily injury.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Roberts.
Charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Illegally Purchase A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jason Harris (42, Palm Coast) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Harris faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court documents, Harris completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. On the required paperwork, Harris indicated that he was not a convicted felon. Harris later admitted this was a false statement and he was previously convicted of multiple prior felonies, including robbery, shooting, or throwing a deadly missile, felony battery, and sale of cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Colonial Oil to Pay $2.8 Million Penalty for Failure to Meet Clean Air Act Fuels RegulationsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a settlement today with Colonial Oil Industries Inc. that will require the company to pay a civil penalty of more than $2.8 million and spend an estimated $12.2 million to offset the detrimental human health and environmental impacts of Colonial’s alleged failure to meet obligations under the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and gasoline volatility standards.
Between 2013 and 2019, Colonial excluded certain fuel it supplied to marine vessels from its renewable volume obligations calculations in violation of the RFS regulations. Fuel intended for use only in ocean-going vessels is not required to be included in renewable volume obligation calculations. But not all marine vessels are ocean-going vessels, and volumes supplied to other marine vessels must be included in such calculations. Colonial’s actions resulted in less renewable fuel being used in lieu of gasoline and diesel fuel, causing increased greenhouse gas emissions.
“The creation and use of renewable fuels reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This proposed settlement will hold Colonial to the same renewable fuel requirements that all importers and producers must adhere to.”
“Renewable fuels play a critical role in diversifying our country’s energy mix and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, all while providing good paying jobs and economic benefits to communities across the country,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This settlement once more puts gasoline and diesel refiners and importers on notice that they must meet their obligations to reduce climate- and health-harming pollution and that there will be consequences if they do not.”
Under the RFS program, refiners or importers of gasoline or diesel fuel are required to either blend renewable fuels into transportation fuel or purchase credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) to meet their renewable volume obligations. Between 2013 and 2019, Colonial failed to purchase and retire enough RINs. The settlement requires Colonial to purchase and retire over 9 million RINs within two years at an estimated cost of approximately $12.2 million. The RIN purchase and retirements is estimated to result in over 18,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent reductions which equates to powering 2,386 homes’ energy use or 4,355 gasoline cars for a year.
Colonial also sold over a million gallons of gasoline that failed to meet the applicable volatility standard which is intended to reduce evaporative emissions during the summer season from gasoline that contributes to smog and to reduce the effects of ozone-related health problems such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Attorneys from the Justice Department’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling the case.
The proposed settlement, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Information on submitting comments is available on the Justice Department’s website: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 26 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Torey Franklin, 29, of Grand Rapids, was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison. In December 2023, Franklin pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor in 2022.
“Torey Franklin’s crime – trafficking a minor for sex – was heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Human trafficking of any kind – for sex or for labor, of children and of adults – is a scourge. We are fully committed to protecting survivors and holding traffickers accountable for their crimes.”
Authorities arrested Franklin at a hotel in 2022, after he offered the “services” of an underaged girl to an undercover detective from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Hours before the arrest, investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had discovered an advertisement for the girl on an adult dating website.
FBI agents grew concerned that the girl was under the age of 18. They worked with Kent County officials to arrange a “date” with the victim as part of an interagency, undercover operation focused on combating human trafficking within the Western District of Michigan. That operation culminated in the arrest of Franklin. The girl was safely returned to the custody of her guardian.
Afterwards, investigators uncovered evidence that Franklin had been trafficking his victim for weeks. Franklin would post ads for his victim, negotiate prices and sexual acts with prospective customers, and then transport the minor to multiple locations for the “sex dates” he had arranged. Afterwards, he would receive payment, often through a popular money-sharing application.
“The FBI’s commitment to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking is unwavering, as shown in our nationwide initiatives such as Operation Cross Country,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The outcome of this investigation and sentencing would not be possible without partnerships with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, and the dedicated men and women of this office. For FBI Michigan, the work does not end here, and we will continue to focus our efforts on protecting our children.”
Preventing and deterring human trafficking remains a high priority for the U.S. Department of Justice. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling (888) 373-7888 or by texting “INFO” to 233733. Information is also available on the hotline website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Gun as a FelonRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids man who assaulted a woman and young child was sentenced April 9, 2024, to two years in prison.
Ryan Thomas Beattie, age 31, from Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after an October 30, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information disclosed during the plea and sentencing hearings revealed that on December 14, 2022, Beattie was arrested after an incident where he assaulted a female and toddler. Beattie was arrested and later convicted of child endangerment, assault causing bodily injury, and interference with official acts. Officers located two loaded firearms near where the assault took place. Beattie admitted that the firearms were his and that he had his girlfriend at the time buy them for him since he could not buy firearms. In total, Beattie’s girlfriend bought four firearms, only two of which were recovered with Beattie. The third firearm was recovered during an incident in Iowa City. The fourth firearm has not been recovered.
At the time of the December incident, Beattie was a convicted felon. He has a lengthy criminal history and has previously been to prison for child endangerment resulting in bodily injury.
Beattie was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Beattie was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-52.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lateek White, age 53, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana and money laundering.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
White admitted that he was a member of a marijuana and THC trafficking organization that shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including New York City and the Capital Region, between 2017 and June 2022. He also admitted to laundering marijuana proceeds for the organization.
The packages of marijuana were shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie.” White received the packages of marijuana at, among other locations, his residence in Brooklyn; his sister, Onisha Smith, also received packages of marijuana at her apartment and a neighboring apartment in Brooklyn. In total, White and Smith received 71 packages containing approximately 294 kilograms, or 648 pounds, of marijuana.
White also laundered marijuana proceeds for the organization by depositing cash into a bank account owned by Singletary in the name “Daddy Ds Boutique,” which was a purported clothing business. When he deposited the cash, White knew that Daddy Ds Boutique was not a real clothing business and deposited the cash to conceal the nature and source of the marijuana proceeds and to promote the marijuana trafficking conspiracy.
White faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison; up to $8.5 million in fines; and term of post-release supervision of between 8 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
White was charged in an indictment with Singletary, Coles, Smith and 20 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Singletary, Coles, and Smith have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations.
In addition to White, seven other defendants, Rosemary Coles, Latrice Mumphrey, Sammy Olague, Victor Turner, Kristle Walker, Ruby Ledesma, and Jazell Shuler, previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing.
The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Brockton Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1.5 Million in COVID-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a scheme to submit false applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) funds through the Small Business Administration (SBA) that were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Joao Mendes, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 27 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Mendes was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,542,759 and the forfeiture of assets totaling $1,751,694. In December 2023, Mendes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Beginning in or around June 2020 and continuing until at least in or around September 2020, Mendes submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of several companies, many of which were defunct. Mendes submitted multiple applications for a single entity to successive lenders until a loan was ultimately approved. Those applications contained conflicting information. The fraudulent PPP loan applications misrepresented the number of employees and the average monthly payroll expenses of Mendes’s various fictious businesses. Mendes also submitted false tax records in support of his loan applications. In his EIDL applications, Mendes misrepresented the number of employees, gross revenues and costs of goods sold for each business. Based on the fraudulent applications, Mendes and two of his relatives received over $1.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds. Once Mendes received the funds, he spent them for his own personal benefit—including for the purchase of cryptocurrency.
The United States seized cryptocurrency and fiat currency from over 20 accounts that, with additional funds turned over by Mendes, resulted in the recovery of $1.545 million in cryptocurrency and more than $206,000 in U.S. currency, which will be criminally forfeited.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP. Another is the EIDL, through which the SBA offers loans that can only be used on certain permissible business expenses, which can include payment of fixed business debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other business-related expenses that could have been paid had the COVID-19 disaster not occurred. The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open through forgivable loans for eligible uses.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Mehtab Syed, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office; Weston King, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Western Region; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office; Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office; Christopher J. Gust, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Eastern Region, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division, and Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit, and Trial Attorney Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Attorney Advisor Scott J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided significant assistance.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Bradenton Drug Trafficker Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Pierre C. Marc (37, Bradenton) guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, marijuana, and heroin. The jury also found Marc guilty of possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Marc faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 14, 2024.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Marc was a major drug distributer in the Middle District of Florida. During the trial, a witness testified that Marc supplied him with an ounce of fentanyl and 1 to 2 kilograms of cocaine every week between January and September 2019 for distribution in Pinellas County. In 2021, Marc arrived at a controlled delivery of fentanyl with more than 300 grams of fentanyl and a firearm. Another witness testified that in 2020 and 2021, Marc supplied him with 3 to 5 kilograms of fentanyl for distribution in Manatee County.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
Boynton Beach Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Timothy Burch Morris (45, Boynton Beach) with distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet. If convicted, Morris faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison, and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Morris was arrested near his home by FBI agents on April 1, 2024.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, with assistance from the Boynton Beach Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Boise Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – Michael McClain, 37, of Boise, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in March 2023, McClain and his co-defendant, Sonya Trujillo, sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to another person. Firearms were also present during McClain’s course of drug trafficking. At the time of his arrest, McClain was on probation for a felony drug crime. Although McClain admitted to joining a gang in his youth, he contends he dropped out of the gang during his previous prison sentence.
“This case reflects the public safety results generated by the strong partnerships between our office and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those who bring dangerous and deadly illicit drugs into Idaho.”
“It takes a strong collaborative approach to try and rid our communities of the dangerous drugs that endanger Idahoans’ lives every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “McClain’s sentencing highlights the dedication and tenacity of our Task Force and what can be achieved when we work together to dismantle drug trafficking organizations in our state."
“The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office remains firm in our commitment to hold those accountable who commit crimes in our communities,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “More, we affirm our commitment to the collaborative partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the FBI Metro Violent Crime and Gang Task Force team who work so hard to bring these cases to adjudication.”
“These investigations require teamwork, patience and a tremendous amount of time,” said Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram. “This is yet another victory for Idahoans in our relentless pursuit of justice in the Gem state. Caldwell is proud to be part of the team that continues to fight the war on drugs.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered McClain to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. McClain was indicted as part of a 25-defendant investigation in August 2023 and he was convicted by a federal jury in January 2024. Co-defendant Trujillo pleaded guilty, on November 16, 2023, to distributing fentanyl and was sentenced, on March 14, 2024, to 46 months in federal prison. Judge Brailsford ordered Trujillo to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force for its efforts in this case. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Caldwell Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction.
McClain was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Nafzger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kelsey Manweiler. The Special Assistant U.S. Attorney was hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth.
This case was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Belton, Raymore Brothers Plead Guilty to Drug-Trafficking, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Cass County, Mo., brothers pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and to illegally possessing firearms.
Serjio Diaz, 39, of Belton, and Tony Diaz, 41, of Raymore, pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays. Serjio and Tony Diaz each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine; one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute; and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Tony Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Serjio Diaz also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.
By pleading guilty today, Serjio and Tony Diaz both admitted to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy with others that lasted from approximately January 1, 2019, until June 22, 2021.
On March 18, 2019, a federal agent interdicted and seized a package from Arizona that contained more than 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to Serjio Diaz’s residence. On the same day, a federal agent also interdicted and seized a package from Arizona that contained more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, which was addressed to Tony Diaz’s residence.
During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted 23 controlled transactions with Serjio and Tony Diaz. The transactions occurred between March 26, 2019, and May 26, 2021, and took place in Grandview, Belton, and Kansas City, Missouri. Over the course of these transactions, law enforcement purchased approximately 7,052.1 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 6,036.5 grams of heroin and approximately 468.6 grams of cocaine from Serjio DIAZ and/or his brother, Tony DIAZ, for approximately $243,900.
On June 22, 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Serjio and Tony Diaz. Following a search of Tony Diaz’s residence, officers found approximately 1,128 grams of heroin, approximately 28 grams of cocaine, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, a Romarm Cugir 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle, and $5,461 in cash in Tony Diaz’s bedroom. Officers also found a Remington Arms .22-caliber rifle in a shed. Following a search of Tony Diaz’s vehicles, officers located one pound of suspected marijuana in his Lincoln Navigator SUV, and a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and approximately 3.4 grams of marijuana in his BMW X5. Following a search of Serjio Diaz’s residence, officers found approximately 8,942 grams of heroin, approximately 166 grams of cocaine, 6 bags of round, blue “M 30” pills containing fentanyl, with an approximate, cumulative weight of 78 grams, a metal hydraulic press, also known as a “Big Red”, an electronic scale, a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and $82,250 in cash.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Tony Diaz has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
Co-defendant Maria Jasmin Lopez, 24, of Phoenix, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2023, to 11 years and two months in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Vicente Aguilera, 39, of Kansas City, Missouri pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Under federal statutes, Serjio and Tony Diaz are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Jackson County Drug Task Force and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Armed Security Guard at Manhattan Federal Building Pleads Guilty in Connection with Sexual Assault of Asylum SeekerRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of JIMMY SOLANO-ARIAS, an armed security guard at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building located at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, in connection with SOLANO-ARIAS’s sexual assault of an asylum seeker (the “Victim”) on May 4, 2023. SOLANO-ARIAS pled guilty to lying to federal law enforcement agents following his sexual abuse of the Victim. As part of his guilty plea, SOLANO-ARIAS admitted that while acting under color of law as an armed security guard at 26 Federal Plaza, he engaged in a non-consensual sexual act with the Victim. SOLANO-ARIAS was arrested on May 5, 2023, and pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jimmy Solano-Arias abused the trust and privileges bestowed on him as an armed security officer at a federal building. Instead of working to keep the many federal employees and visitors at 26 Federal Plaza safe, Solano-Arias exploited his position of authority to sexually abuse an individual seeking asylum protection in the United States. This Office is committed to holding all those in positions of public trust accountable when they abuse their power and violate the constitutional rights of others.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, Superseding Information, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings:
On May 4, 2023, SOLANO-ARIAS was employed as a security guard by a company that contracts with the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security to provide armed security services at 26 Federal Plaza. SOLANO-ARIAS wore a black and gray security guard uniform and carried his employer-issued firearm on his waistband.
Early in the morning on May 4, 2023, the Victim went to 26 Federal Plaza for the purpose of submitting an asylum application. Once there, SOLANO-ARIAS offered to assist the Victim with his asylum paperwork. Instead of providing assistance, however, SOLANO-ARIAS led the Victim through non-public areas of 26 Federal Plaza, eventually secluding the Victim in a locked office on the second floor. Inside the locked office, SOLANO-ARIAS demanded that the Victim perform oral sex on SOLANO-ARIAS. When the Victim attempted to resist SOLANO-ARIAS’s demands, SOLANO-ARIAS reached to the company-issued firearm on his person. Fearing that SOLANO-ARIAS would kill the Victim, the Victim performed oral sex on SOLANO-ARIAS, which caused physical pain and injury to the Victim. Following the assault, when the Victim was able to leave the office, he immediately reported the sexual assault to law enforcement.
The following morning, when SOLANO-ARIAS arrived at 26 Federal Plaza for his shift, law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) approached SOLANO-ARIAS and asked to speak with him. SOLANO-ARIAS agreed to speak with the federal agents. During the interview that followed, SOLANO-ARIAS lied to the federal agents about his sexual abuse of the Victim, initially disclaiming entirely that he had engaged in a sexual act with the Victim and then falsely claiming that the sexual act was consensual when it was not. SOLANO-ARIAS was arrested after the interview.
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SOLANO-ARIAS, 42, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Espinosa and Mitzi Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.
Alabama Man Charged with Detonating an Explosive Device Outside of Alabama Attorney General’s OfficeRead the Press Release
An Alabama man was indicted for his alleged role in detonating an explosive device in downtown Montgomery, Alabama.
On April 10, law enforcement arrested Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, on charges of malicious use of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
“Thanks to the work of the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners, this defendant is being held accountable for allegedly detonating an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department has no tolerance for acts of violence targeting those who serve the public.”
“The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners to run down every lead and leverage our forensic capabilities to identify and arrest the person who is allegedly responsible for detonating this dangerous device,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This explosion was very unsettling to the community and we hope today’s arrest provides reassurance that the FBI will investigate those who target public institutions and will hold them accountable for such illegal acts.”
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement agents worked tirelessly to investigate this matter,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama. “The arrest today is a reflection of the way in which close cooperation among law enforcement agencies facilitates the pursuit of justice. I am grateful for the efforts of all involved.”
According to the indictment and other court documents, an explosive device was detonated on Feb. 24 at approximately 3:42 a.m. outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office near the intersection of Washington Avenue and South Bainbridge Street. No injuries or major damage to nearby buildings were reported. Agents and troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, along with special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and officers from the Montgomery Police Department, responded to the scene when remnants of the device were discovered.
The case was unsealed today by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. If convicted, Calvert faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Mobile Field Office, Montgomery Resident Agency Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
9 April 2024
Yakima Man Who Sold Pound Quantities of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl in the Yakima Valley Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jesse Lee Johnson, 36, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 120 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Johnson’s codefendant, Ronald Lee Ralston, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, to 138 months in prison and 5 years supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at trial and the sentencing hearing, the FBI developed information that Johnson and Ralston, were distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Ralston’s home in Selah, Washington.
FBI Task Force members arranged for a confidential informant to set up a controlled buy at Ralston’s house. On May 4, 2023, the informant arrived at the home and tried to purchase methamphetamine from Ralston. However, Ralston said the methamphetamine he had on hand was spoken for and not for sale. While no sale took place that day, Ralston and Johnson were captured on video discussing future drug sales.
On May 16, the informant returned to Ralston’s home and purchased one pound of methamphetamine and 100 pills of fentanyl from Ralston and Johnson for $2,000. Ralston also told the informant he could get any amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl with 24-hour notice.
A search warrant was executed on June 7, 2023, at Ralston’s residence. In Ralston’s trailer, located on the property, law enforcement seized 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and two firearms. In the main residence, law enforcement officers seized another firearm and an additional half-pound of methamphetamine.
“Mr. Johnson and Ralston were distributing large amounts of illicit drugs into our communities. Discovering and dismantling illegal drug supply chains is a main priority for my office,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m grateful for our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, who work closely with federal prosecutors to stop drug distributors and make Eastern Washington safer and stronger.”
“The FBI and our partners are committed to removing deadly drugs from Washington state, which are so often accompanied by violent crime and addiction,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “This sentence should serve as a reminder that we will hold drug traffickers accountable and that these crimes have consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, Customs and Border Protection and the Selah Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Swensen.
Woodbridge fentanyl dealer sentenced to a decade in prison after buyer’s fatal overdoseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2019, Eric Anthony Stokes II, 27, sold fentanyl that later caused the death of the buyer. Stokes and the buyer negotiated the sale via text message before the buyer travelled to Stokes’ residence and purchased two pills for $70. The buyer then returned to his family’s home.
When the buyer didn’t emerge from his bedroom the following morning, his father found him lying on his bed, cold and bleeding from his mouth, nose, eyes, and navel. He had foam around his mouth and nose. The family called 911, and a family member attempted CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive. He was pronounced dead at the scene at only 21 years old. In the victim’s clothing, investigators found a white envelope with a blue powder that lab tests confirmed contained fentanyl. An autopsy showed that the amount of fentanyl found in his system was approximately twice the amount typically considered fatal.
Stokes continued selling fentanyl despite knowing that the buyer had died after taking the pills.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Alito prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-6.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft and Misappropriation of COVID-19 FundsRead the Press Release
A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to theft of public money in connection with a scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
According to court documents, Melissa J. Watson, of Slidell, operated a primary care clinic. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Watson submitted false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of her clinic to obtain PRF funds to which she was not entitled. Watson’s attestations included falsely affirming that such funds would only be used by the clinic to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and to reimburse health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus. Despite the attestations, Watson used the PRF funds for personal purposes, including making numerous cash withdrawals and purchasing, among other items, hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat and trailer, and a time share condominium.
The government seized over $500,000 in bank accounts held by Watson, along with several assets, including a boat and trailer, and a Range Rover Sport vehicle.
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Health Care Fraud Coordinator Nicholas D. Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Waynesburg Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Transporting Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on April 8, 2024, to 120 months of incarceration, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence on James Jordan, 31.
According to information presented to the Court, from January 11, 2022, until January 12, 2022, Jordan transported a minor from Pennsylvania to West Virginia with the intent that the minor engage in criminal sexual activity.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stated that Jordan’s serious crimes were an abuse of trust and that Jordan had violated the youth and naivety of his child victim to cover the tracks of his crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Waynesburg Police Department, and Lewisburg (WV) Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jordan.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Uvalde Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Uvalde man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 151 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, Marco Jesus Perales, 27, distributed approximately 138 videos depicting child sexual abuse material between June 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. In February 2020, Homeland Security Investigations in Eagle Pass received a report from a messaging application regarding the transmission of child pornography.
The report indicated that Perales sent three hyperlinks to multiple users within a group chat on Sept. 9, 2019. Analysis of the recovered hyperlinks revealed that they contained child pornography. One of the recovered hyperlinks distributed by Perales contained a folder with 62 videos visually depicting male and female minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In approximately 60 of the videos, the minors are clearly and obviously prepubescent. The other recovered hyperlink distributed by Perales contained a folder titled "Good Stuff,” which contained 76 additional videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Perales was arrested June 30, 2020 and pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on June 24, 2021.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Two District Men Arrested in Takedown Operation, Indicted in the February Kidnapping and Robbery of a Virginia ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Jaevonn Archer, 20, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Timothy Williams, 30, of Maryland, with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping in the February 25, 2024, abduction of a Virginia-based man.
The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Agents with the FBI arrested Archer and Williams early this morning at two separate residences in Maryland. In addition, Malik Williams, 30, of Washington, D.C., a previously convicted felon, was arrested at a third location and faces a related firearms charge in U.S. District Court.
As part of the takedown operation, law enforcement searched five residences in and around the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. Numerous firearms, vehicles, narcotics, and proceeds from the February 25, 2024, kidnapping were recovered. The arrests follow a coordinated takedown operation led by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department, and Arlington County Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Maryland.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin F. Song and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Defendants Charged with Orchestrating $2 Million Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service (“USSS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging YISROEL HEBER, a/k/a “Scott Heber,” and YECHIEL MESHI-ZAHAV with running an advance-fee loan fraud scheme through which they defrauded dozens of victims of at least approximately $2 million. HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV were arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, to whom this case is assigned.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yisroel Heber and Yechiel Meshi-Zahav allegedly brazenly siphoned funds from the bank accounts of dozens of victims after fraudulently inducing them to provide their bank details. Herberand Meshi-Zahav’s victims thought they were securing loans, but instead they were robbed of large sums of cash. No matter the complexity of the scheme or size of the loss amount, this Office will relentlessly investigate fraudsters who dare to illicitly line their own pockets by victimizing others.”
USSS Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “These individuals allegedly garnered the trust of victims by posing as lending companies, only to turn around and steal millions from them. This kind of fraudulent activity has a very real impact on people’s lives, and the Secret Service appreciates our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as we work together to deliver justice for these victims.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]
From at least in or about March 2021 through at least in or about December 2021, YISROEL HEBER and YECHIEL MESHI-ZAHAV participated in an advance-fee loan fraud scheme that defrauded dozens of victims of at least approximately $2 million. HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV operated this fraudulent scheme through purported lending companies called Blue Ribbon Funding, Tru Capital Funding, Fund Capital LLC, a/k/a “Fund Cap LLC,” and Ameriquest Capital (collectively, the “Fraudulent Lenders”). During the course of the scheme, HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV, through their control of the Fraudulent Lenders, induced victims to provide their bank account information in order to make payments related to loans that the Fraudulent Lenders promised to issue to the victims. Instead, however, HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV defrauded the victims by withdrawing thousands of dollars from each of the victims’ bank accounts without issuing the promised loans.
* * *
HEBER, 43, of Kings Point, New York, and MESHI-ZAHAV, 32, of Valley Stream, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USSS.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra S. Messiter is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Trio Sentenced to Combined 43 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine from Arizona into EvansvilleRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Marion Duane Taylor, 71, of Illinois, Ricardo Sodari, 49, of Arizona, and Christopher Utley, 52, of Evansville, have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Marion Duane Taylor was convicted by federal jury in 2023 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Taylor had a previous federal conviction for drug trafficking. In 1998, he was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Ricardo Sodari was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Christopher Utley was sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on April 23, 2021, members of the Phoenix DEA observed Taylor meet with Sodari in the parking lot of Taylor’s hotel. Sodari placed a suitcase in the back of Taylor’s vehicle before eventually leaving the area. As Taylor passed through Kingman, Arizona, deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Taylor’s vehicle. After a K-9 unit alerted on the vehicle, officers searched the vehicle and found a duffle bag that contained approximately 24.4 pounds of methamphetamine. The officers also searched Taylor’s pockets and found $24,900 in currency.
During an interview with DEA agents, Taylor identified Sodari as his methamphetamine source of supply. Taylor admitted that he had been distributing methamphetamine for approximately five or six months and paid Sodari approximately $2,000 per pound of methamphetamine when acquiring twenty or more pounds. Taylor admitted that he made numerous trips to the Arizona area to acquire methamphetamine and that he distributed that methamphetamine to one customer in Evansville identified as Christopher Utley. Taylor indicated that he usually “fronted” Utley methamphetamine for $5,000 a pound.
Law enforcement officer searched Taylor’s phone and found his drug ledger for Utley. According to the drug ledger, in early April 2021, Utley owed Taylor $82,500 for previously “fronted” methamphetamine.
On May 3, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a warrant to search Utley’s residence. During the search, officers located approximately 19.3 grams of methamphetamine, numerous digital scales, a pistol, a sawed-off shotgun, and $39,692 in currency.
“Drug trafficking organizations who push deadly drugs like methamphetamine into our communities seek profits without regard for the deaths and lasting trauma they cause,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District for Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Dismantling these criminal networks through comprehensive investigations and prosecutions is a top priority for federal, state, and local law enforcement. The convictions and sentences imposed here demonstrate that trafficking in these deadly drugs carries very serious consequences.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, Evansville Police Department, and Mohave County, Arizona Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. This case is part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kristian Mukoski, Lauren Wheatley, and Matthew Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Traffic Stop Leads to Discovery of Large Quantity of Meth and Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
A woman who possessed over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison. Rebecca Ann Rose, age 36, from La Porte City, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 6, 2023 guilty plea to possessing at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that on December 27, 2022, Rose was driving a vehicle in Tipton, Iowa, when law enforcement officers stopped her. Officers searched her car and found thousands of dollars, over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, and marijuana. Seven months later, on July 15, 2023, Rose was driving a vehicle in Jones County, Iowa, when law enforcement officers again stopped her. This time, officers found over 20 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the car. Rose was transported to a local jail, where jail staff found over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe hidden on Rose’s person.
Rose was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rose was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Rose is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Tipton Police Department, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR-45. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Three Members of Same Family Indicted for Allegedly Kidnapping Victim in Mexico then Traveling to U.S. to Collect Ransom PaymentRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned a four-count indictment against a father, his sister, and his son for an alleged kidnapping scheme in which the father pretended to act as an intermediary between the victim hostage’s family and the hostage takers while his son and sister crossed the border into the United States to collect the ransom money.
The following defendants – all from Rosarito, Mexico – are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and one count of conspiracy to demand a ransom payment:
- Mario Alex Medina, 53, a.k.a. “Shyboy;”
- Jose Salud Medina, 31, a.k.a. “Gordo,” who is Mario Medina’s son; and
- Maria Alejandra Medina, 50, who is Mario Medina’s sister and Jose Medina’s aunt.
Mario and Jose Medina also are each charged with one count of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.
Maria Medina has been in federal custody since March 26 is currently jailed without bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for April 16 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Mario Medina made his initial appearance on Monday in United States District Court in Bakersfield and has a detention hearing scheduled there for April 11. Jose Medina is incarcerated in Mexico.
According to the indictment, on November 5, 2022, Mario Medina directed and helped accomplices break into the house of a neighbor, identified in court documents as “R.V.,” kidnapping the victim at gunpoint, pistol whipping him and firing a gun near his head. The next day, one of the co-conspirators placed a ransom call to the victim’s family in Los Angeles County and demanded $70,000 for his release. The kidnappers, through WhatsApp, also sent a video of the victim being beaten.
On November 10, 2022, Jose Medina allegedly telephoned a relative of R.V.’s and threatened to kill the victim if R.V.’s family did not pay $30,000. Later that day, Mario Medina – pretending to be an intermediary between R.V.’s family and the hostage takers – allegedly told the victim’s family to meet at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, located north of the U.S.-Mexico border, to make the ransom payment.
Jose and Maria Medina allegedly met the victim’s family the next day at the McDonald’s restaurant, where they collected the $30,000 ransom payment, which they took with them back to Mexico.
The hostage takers on November 11, 2022, then left R.V. tied up and alone in a small, subterranean trench, where Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Derek R. Flores of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Thousands of Machine Guns and Sniper Rifles and over 500,000 Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
On April 4, the United States transferred over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, and RPG-7s, and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. These armaments were seized by U.S. Central Command and partner naval forces from four flagless vessels in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran to Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Department of Justice then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a Dec. 1, 2023, order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the United States government is both disrupting Iran’s destabilizing efforts and supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal, unprovoked invasion,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to use our legal authorities, including forfeiture, to support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“As we see Russia and Iran engaging in conduct to undermine global security, the Department of Justice is taking deadly weapons out of the hands of terrorists and putting them into the hands of Ukrainians defending their homeland,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “We will continue to use the full reach of our authorities to disrupt the Iranian government’s efforts to undermine stability and to support the Ukrainian people’s stance against tyranny.”
“Civil forfeiture remains an important tool in our efforts to stop or disrupt terrorist organizations like the IRGC,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Its use in this case demonstrates the power of our counter-threat financing actions to strip legal control of assets from bad actors. We are proud to have been able to work with CENTCOM in this matter, and through them to further the efforts of partners like the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight to maintain freedom.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the weapons from four interdictions of stateless dhow vessels: two from 2021 and two from 2023. These interdictions led to the discovery and seizure of four large caches of conventional weapons, including long arms and anti-tank missiles, and related munitions – all of which were determined to be primarily of either Iranian, Chinese, or Russian origin.
This action followed the government’s successful March 2023 forfeiture action against over one million rounds of ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen, which were also transferred to the Ukrainian armed forces. These forfeiture actions addressed the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The forfeiture complaints alleged sophisticated schemes by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons to entities that pose grave threats to U.S. national security.
The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizures.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys S. Derek Shugert and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.
Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Charles Dean Good, 55, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Good stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in postage stamps from the U.S. Postal Service by passing counterfeit checks in the names of identity-theft victims. He passed the bad checks at numerous post offices in Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. In connection with the postage-stamp-theft scheme, Good possessed and used the name and California Driver’s License number of at least one identity-theft victim. Between Feb. 2, 2012, and Jan. 18, 2019, he passed at least 1,326 bad checks, for a total loss to the U.S. Postal Service of at least $252,631.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case.
Good is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Sept. 10, 2024. Good faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for the theft of government property count, a mandatory consecutive two-year term in prison for the aggravated identity theft count, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
St. Petersburg Felon Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Possessing Firearm and CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Oscar Freemond Fowler III (48, St. Petersburg) to 12 years and 6 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Fowler entered a guilty plea on January 4, 2024.
According to court records, in October 2023, officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Fowler’s residence. During their search, they located cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. On the floor next to Fowler’s bed, agents located a loaded 9mm pistol that contained an extended magazine and 29 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Fowler had multiple prior felony convictions including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
“This is another example of how the ongoing collaboration with our state and federal partners assisted us in removing a dangerous felon and reducing gun violence in our community,” said Anthony Holloway, St. Petersburg Chief of Police.
“This is a major victory for the St. Pete community,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “We’re proud to have contributed to putting this notorious and violent triggerpuller in federal prison for a long time.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Six Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Seven Gang-Related San Francisco Cold-Case Murders and in A Criminal Enterprise That Terrorized the Mission District for YearsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO - Six San Francisco residents have been sentenced to prison for terms ranging from 11 to 32 years for their participation in the criminal activities of the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños enterprise and their respective roles in seven cold-case murders that took place between 2006 and 2013, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The sentences were handed down by the Honorable Richard Seeborg, Chief United States District Judge.
Eddy Urbina, AKA “Rhino,” 35, Weston Venegas, AKA “Cartoon,” 34, Orlando Hernandez, AKA “Chisto,” 41, and Juan Carlos Gallardo, AKA “Huero,” 35, all of San Francisco, were sentenced yesterday, following sentencings for Jonathan Aguilar, AKA “Trompo,” 37, and Mario Reyes, AKA “Shy Boy,” 44, on April 2, 2024, and March 5, 2024, respectively. Each defendant pleaded guilty in October 2023 to offenses related to the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños enterprise and the seven cold-case murders. The sentences imposed were as follows:
Defendant
Date Convicted
Date Sentenced
Sentence Imposed
Eddy Urbina
October 16, 2023
April 8, 2024
32 years
Jonathan Aguilar
October 16, 2023
April 2, 2024
30 years
Orlando Hernandez
October 16, 2023
April 8, 2024
25 years (13 years consecutive to prior 12 year sentence)
Weston Venegas
October 16, 2023
April 8, 2024
25 years (13 years consecutive to prior 12 year sentence)
Juan Carlos Gallardo
October 10, 2023
April 8, 2024
22 years
Mario Reyes
October 16, 2023
March 5, 2024
11 years
In his plea agreement, Urbina admitted to committing a shooting September 4, 2008, in which he and others killed two victims and attempted to kill a third in retaliation for the murder of a fellow Sureño earlier that day. Urbina also admitted that in 2015, he had attempted to reveal the identity of government witnesses to an incarcerated Sureño by sending a letter in coded language and that, as a member of the enterprise, he had sold narcotics in gang territory and participated in robberies.
Aguilar admitted, in his plea agreement, to committing a shooting on March 14, 2006, in San Francisco, in which he and others in the enterprise killed two victims and attempted to kill two others. He also admitted to committing another shooting in September 2007 and to selling narcotics on behalf of the enterprise.
In 2015, Hernandez and Venegas were each previously convicted of participating in a racketeering conspiracy and sentenced to twelve years in prison in United States v. Alvarez et al., case number 14-CR-00120 EMC. In their respective plea agreements in this case, Hernandez and Venegas each admitted to taking part in the March 30, 2013, murder of a victim in San Francisco’s Mission District, planned as a retaliation for the murder of another Sureño two years earlier. According to court filings, the victim was not a rival, but an innocent civilian mistaken for a rival. The thirteen-year prison sentences for both men imposed by Judge Seeborg yesterday will run consecutively to their earlier sentences, resulting in an aggregate twenty-five-year sentence for each man.
In his plea agreement, Gallardo admitted to shooting and killing a victim on February 28, 2009, while at a house party in Richmond, California; the victim was a 16-year-old boy. Gallardo also admitted to participating in robberies with others in the enterprise.
Finally, Reyes admitted in his plea agreement that he, too, was involved in the hunt for victims on March 30, 2013. He pleaded guilty to participating in various racketeering conspiracies and not in the murder itself. Reyes also admitted to selling narcotics in gang territory.
“This Sureño criminal enterprise has terrorized San Francisco’s Mission District for decades through shootings, robberies, and drug dealing,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “The sentences in this case make clear that we will pursue the perpetrators of gang violence and seek justice no matter when that violence occurred. We are pleased to bring closure to the families of these victims and to hold these defendants accountable for the tremendous harm they caused.”
“This sentencing reflects efforts by law enforcement to pursue justice in a long running case that terrorized victims in the Mission District and beyond. We hope this sentence provides some solace and closure to victim families who have suffered for a significant period of time,” said Special Agent in Charge King.
In addition to the custodial sentences, Judge Seeborg also ordered all six defendants to spend five years on supervised release, beginning after their respective prison terms are completed.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Scoble and Richard Ewenstein are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Supervisory Legal Administrative Specialist Madeline Wachs and Paralegal Specialist Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by HSI, with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department’s Community Violence Reduction Team and Homicide Detail.
Six Defendants Charged for Corruption at Rikers IslandRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the unsealing of Complaints charging former Rikers Island correction officers CARLOS RIVERA, CHANTAL DE LOS SANTOS, and STEPHANIE DAVILA; former Rikers Island program counselor SHANEQUA WASHIGTON; former Rikers Island contractor KENNETH WEBSTER; and former Rikers Island inmate KRISTOPHER FRANCISCO with federal crimes arising from their involvement in corruption at Rikers Island. RIVERA, DE LOS SANTOS, WASHINGTON, WEBSTER, and DAVILA were arrested earlier today. RIVERA, DE LOS SANTOS, WASHINGTON, and DAVILA will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court, and WEBSTER will be presented tomorrow in Manhattan federal court. FRANCISCO is currently in state custody.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Rikers Island is less safe, for inmates and officers alike, when corrections officers and others in positions of public trust accept bribes to smuggle contraband. As alleged, the defendants in these cases engaged in corruption for their own enrichment. In our relentless pursuit of justice, we leave no stone unturned, especially within the confines of jails and prisons, where the safety and dignity of all individuals must be safeguarded. We will not tolerate any breach of trust or corruption that jeopardizes the well-being of inmates and staff.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “These defendants allegedly abused their former positions within the Department of Corrections by accepting bribes from multiple inmates - including one charged along with them - to smuggle contraband, including illicit substances, into several jail facilities on Rikers Island. This alleged conspiracy permeated Rikers Island, polluting the integrity of the Department and its institutions, while jeopardizing the trust in other officials with similar job roles. The FBI is committed to pursuing all forms of corruption, especially schemes involving those responsible for safeguarding our corrections system.”
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “As charged, former City Correction officers and employees, and a former employee of a vendor to DOC, used their positions of trust to traffic drugs and cell phones into Rikers Island jail facilities. Contraband in our City’s jails fuels disorder and violence, and DOI has issued recommendations to the Department of Correction intended to improve controls around officers’ and vendors’ entry and access to jail facilities, and to thereby limit the flow of contraband. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their continued partnership and commitment to hold accountable those who undermine the stability and security of the City’s jails.”
According to the three Complaints unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
RIVERA was a correction officer who was assigned to the North Infirmary Command, one of the jail facilities on Rikers Island in the Bronx, New York. From December 2021 through February 2022, RIVERA accepted bribes from an inmate and smuggled contraband, including oxycodone and marijuana, into the jail.
DE LOS SANTOS, a former correction officer who was assigned to the Anna M. Kross Center (“AMKC”), another jail facility on Rikers Island, accepted bribes from multiple inmates to smuggle contraband into the jail from March through June 2022. WASHINGTON, a program counselor at the Department of Correction, also accepted bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into AMKC, conspiring with DE LOS SANTOS from March through April 2022. In addition, WEBSTER, an employee of a contractor that provided services at Rikers Island, also accepted bribes to smuggle contraband and conspired with DE LOS SANTOS from May through June 2022.
DAVILA, a former correction officer who was assigned to AMKC, and FRANCISCO, then an inmate at the facility, conspired to smuggle contraband into AMKC in exchange for bribes between approximately July and August 2021. Specifically, DAVILA and FRANCISCO bribed another correction officer to induce the officer to smuggle contraband, including fentanyl, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids commonly known as “K2,” into AMKC.
* * *
RIVERA, 27, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and conspiracy to distribute narcotics and controlled substances, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
DE LOS SANTOS, 30, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison, and two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, each of which carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
WASHINGTON, 39, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison, and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
WEBSTER, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
DAVILA, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, and FRANCISCO, 29, of Ossining, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison; conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; and conspiracy to distribute narcotics and controlled substances, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and DOI.
The cases are being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Z. Margulies, Jonathan E. Rebold, and Derek Wikstrom are in charge of the prosecutions.
The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaints and the descriptions of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Sacramento County Sex Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher Campbell, 49, of Citrus Heights, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in February 2023, Campbell engaged in an online chat with an undercover officer whom Campbell believed was a 13-year-old girl. As a result of the conversations, law enforcement search Campbell’s residence and seized his iPad and cellphone, which contained approximately 517 images and 45 videos of child pornography. Law enforcement also searched Campbell’s Mega cloud storage account, which contained approximately 169 videos of child pornography, including depictions of toddlers and other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Campbell was subject to an enhanced statutory penalty for possession of child pornography because he had a prior conviction relating to sexual abuse involving a minor.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily G. Sauvageau and Dhruv Sharma prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Rensselaer County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Frye, age 28, of Rensselaer County, New York, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo made the announcement.
During Frye’s change of plea hearing, he admitted that, in October 2019 while required to register as a sex offender due to a 2017 conviction for promoting the sexual performance of a child, he took several sexually explicit photographs of an approximately 5-year-old child. The images that Frye created included depictions of the child’s genitals and of the child’s hand on Frye’s penis. Frye also admitted that, on the same day he created those images, he sent them to another person on social media with whom he had been discussing the sexual abuse of children.
At sentencing scheduled for August 7, 2024, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Frye faces a term of imprisonment of least 25 years and up to 50 years, a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least five years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution to the victim of his offense. Frye also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Remaining Munitions Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – On Apr. 4, the United States transferred more than 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and more than 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. The transfer constitutes enough materiel to equip one Ukrainian brigade with small arms rifles and will help Ukraine defend against Russia’s invasion. These armaments had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from four flagless vessels in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Department of Justice then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a Dec. 1, 2023, order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the United States government is both disrupting Iran’s destabilizing efforts and supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal, unprovoked invasion,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to use our legal authorities, including forfeiture, to support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“Civil forfeiture remains an important tool in our efforts to stop or disrupt terrorist organizations like the IRGC,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Its use in this case demonstrates the power of our counter-threat financing actions to strip legal control of assets from bad actors. We are proud to have been able to work with CENTCOM in this matter, and through them to further the efforts of partners like the Ukrainian armed forces in their fight to maintain freedom.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the weapons from four interdictions of stateless dhow vessels: two from 2021 and two from 2023. These interdictions led to the discovery and seizure of four large caches of conventional weapons, including long arms and anti-tank missiles, and related munitions – all of which were determined to be primarily of either Iranian, Chinese, or Russian origin.
This action followed the government’s successful March 2023 forfeiture action against over one million rounds of ammunition en route from Iran to Yemen, which were also transferred to the Ukrainian armed forces. These forfeiture actions addressed the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The forfeiture complaints alleged sophisticated schemes by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons to entities that pose grave threats to U.S. national security.
The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizures.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys S. Derek Shugert and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.
Registered Sex Offender from Lexington Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempting to Purchase Sex with a Minor and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. man was sentenced today for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl. Defendant told undercover agent that the child should expect a man who looks like Santa Claus.
David Cannon, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
“Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office is committed to prosecuting human trafficking from all angles — the individuals who traffic innocent girls and the men who drive demand for such services.”
“Cannon had previously been convicted for crimes against a child and was just off probation when he was arrested by HSI for attempting to pay to sexually abuse a minor. When he arrived at the hotel to commit this crime, he was met by an undercover HSI special agent instead of a child sex trafficker,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s sentence keeps this serial predator off the streets and away from children. We are grateful to our partners who worked to make this operation possible as we all work together to end human trafficking.”
In November 2022, Cannon responded to an online advertisement offering commercial sex with two young girls. Through an ensuing text conversation with an undercover agent posing as the seller of the two girls, Cannon offered to pay $200 to have sex with either the 12-year-old or 14-year-old girl and indicated that he would purchase whoever was ready first. Ultimately, Cannon agreed to pay $200 to have sex with the fictitious 14-year-old girl.
Shortly thereafter, Cannon went to a greater Boston hotel where he met with the undercover agent posing as the purported seller. There, Cannon confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act and accepted a hotel key. Cannon also said to tell the child to expect a man who looks like Santa Claus. Lubricant and condoms were subsequently found in Cannon’s vehicle.
Additionally, a search of Cannon’s cell phone revealed dozens of photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as text messages discussing his affinity for CSAM. At sentencing, Cannon was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution to the victims whose child sexual abuse material he possessed.
At the time of the offense, Cannon was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2019 of indecent assault of an 11-year-old child on three separate occasions.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact [email protected].
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to Prison for Domestic Assault as Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison as a habitual offender, followed by three years’ supervised release, for violently assaulting another individual, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in the late evening of April 9, 2023, Shawn Rene Lussier, 55, physically assaulted another individual in a hotel room at the Seven Clans Casino on the Red Lake Indian Reservation by repeatedly punching and kicking the individual. The assault caused serious bodily injury to the victim, including a one-inch laceration to the scalp that required stitches and left a scar, a bloody lip, and other body bruises, leaving blood stains throughout the hotel room and causing over $450.00 in property damage to the hotel room. According to court documents, Lussier has multiple Tribal Court convictions for Criminal Domestic Violence involving domestic assaults of several victims committed on separate occasions between May 2017 and December 2021, as well as various alcohol-related offenses.
Lussier was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis on one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.
Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to Eastern Shore, MarylandRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to the Eastern Shore of Maryland on April 8 to continue the division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
In the morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke met with students and faculty at South Dorchester High School. She spoke about the history of the Justice Department’s founding in 1870 and provided an overview of the division’s recent efforts to enforce federal civil rights laws to ensure law enforcement accountability, combat hate crimes, protect the right to vote, and end modern-day redlining. After her remarks, she fielded questions from the students and faculty about local economic justice issues like homelessness and poverty, and highlighted opportunities to pursue careers in federal government and public service.
Later that morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke toured the Harriet Tubman Museum. Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1822. At this museum in downtown Cambridge – just a few miles from where Tubman grew up – dedicated local volunteers work to share Harriet Tubman’s story and preserve her legacy of strength, courage, and determination.
After her visit to the museum, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland visited North Dorchester High School. There, they met with students to discuss various forms of discrimination and the department’s efforts to protect their civil rights.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Barron concluded the trip at the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center for a community meeting with civil rights stakeholders and local leaders, including Cambridge Mayor Stephen Rideout, Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd, Paul Monteiro Jr., Maryland Secretary of Service & Civic Innovation and NAACP Maryland State President Rev. Kobi Little. During the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Barron underscored their commitment to promoting justice and equity across the nine counties of the Eastern Shore, and highlighted the department’s recent efforts to address sexual harassment at a Maryland university, promote policing reform and other efforts including environmental justice, voting rights and more. In addition, they noted recent FBI data concerning hate crimes in Maryland, and underscored the department’s commitment to addressing hate crimes and hate incidents.
As part of this tour, Assistant Attorney General Clarke has traveled to underserved communities in Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina to discuss the department’s efforts to protect civil rights.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke speaks to students at South Dorchester High School. Assistant Attorney General Clarke visits the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron met with local leaders in Cambridge, Maryland.Previously Convicted Sex Offender Indicted for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 9, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against David J. Fuchs (age: 40) of Janesville, Wisconsin.
According to a criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, Fuchs engaged in a conversation with an undercover law enforcement officer from the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, who was posing online as a 12-year-old girl. During the conversation, Fuchs repeatedly described his desire to have sex with the child, sending multiple explicit photographs of himself and requesting explicit photographs from the undercover officer. Fuchs explained to the undercover officer, in explicit terms, how he intended to “teach” the young girl how to have sexual intercourse. During many of the sexually explicit conversations, Fuchs expressed his belief that the 12-year-old girl was in school. He planned to meet the girl at a travel plaza near Madison, Wisconsin, and he promised to bring her art supplies.
On March 15, 2024, Fuchs arrived at the travel plaza and was placed under arrest by U.S. Marshals. In his truck, officers located art supplies and a marijuana pipe.
Fuchs is a registered sex offender, having prior convictions in Wisconsin Circuit Court for attempted second degree sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of an intoxicated victim. Court records indicate that he had been released from state prison in approximately April 2022 and was on supervision at the time of the offenses alleged in the federal indictment. In addition to the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office undercover officer, Fuchs was also communicating with undercover officers from the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison Police Department, who Fuchs believed to be underage girls.
Fuchs faces charges alleging that he attempted to sexually exploit a minor and persuade that minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a). He faces an additional charge of committing a felony offense involving a minor as an individual required to register as a sex offender, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A.
If convicted of the charges, Fuchs faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madison Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Oklahoma City Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lebron Earl Samuels, age 41, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On September 7, 2023, Samuels pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 12, 2022, Samuels was discovered in possession of a 9mm pistol and a loaded extended magazine after a high-speed pursuit in which Samuels tried to evade arrest on an outstanding warrant. At the time of the possession, Samuels had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Samuels was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- SAUL REED, age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 2, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 48 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
According to court documents, on March 28, 2023, REED was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) at a residence in New Orleans East. Inside the residence, NOPD recovered a backpack containing distributable quantities of tapentadol and marijuana, a digital scale, latex gloves, and a black ski mask, that belonged to REED. Two months later, REED was pulled over by a Louisiana State Police Trooper. He had another backpack in his car containing a distributable quantity of marijuana and a loaded Sig Sauer firearm. REED has prior convictions for burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEVON FRITH(“FRITH”), age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 3, 2024 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to Carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119 and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
For the carjacking charge, FRITH faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For the Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence charge, FRITH faces a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 5 years, up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each offense also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
Judge Africk ordered a pre-sentence report and scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024.
Court documents reveal that FRITH, while wearing a ski mask, stole a car at gunpoint from the victim as she was attempting to open the driver’s side door. The victim provided the responding New Orleans Police Officers (NOPD) with real time updates, since her vehicle was equipped with tracking capabilities. FRITH crashed this vehicle shortly after the carjacking. The weapon FRITH used in the carjacking, a loaded Glock Model 26, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, was recovered by NOPD officers.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Violent Crimes Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.
Mexican National, Arrested for Illegal Re-entry, to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison Following New Mexico State Prison Sentence for Murder ConvictionRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for one count of illegal re-entry into the United States. The man was previously sentenced by a New Mexico state court for murder.
According to court documents, Luis Antonio Talamantes-Romero, 36, of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was arrested by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) agent who learned Talamantes had illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported multiple times. Talamantes pleaded guilty to the indicted offense in May 2020.
The following year, in June 2021, Talamantes was charged with murder in New Mexico state court. In the murder trial, an accomplice testified that he and Talamantes were breaking into cars in Albuquerque the night of Nov. 19, 2019, when they saw 55-year-old Jacqueline Vigil warming up her vehicle in her driveway. Talamantes said he wanted to rob her and shot Vigil in the head when she honked her car horn. The next day, Talamantes fled Albuquerque for San Antonio, where he would be arrested by ICE. The New Mexico jury found Talamantes guilty of murder and a variety of other offenses. He was sentenced to life in prison, plus 26.5 years to run consecutively.
Talamantes-Romero’s 20-year federal prison sentence will run consecutively to any time he serves in New Mexico. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This maximum prison sentence for Talamantes-Romero will prevent him from further violating our immigration laws and protects the public from his violent acts, which sadly included the senseless murder of an innocent woman,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I deeply appreciate the work of our partners at ICE to apprehend Talamantes and thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District New Mexico for assisting with the prosecution.”
“We are one community, and the loss of one is a loss to us all,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico. “We will fight for justice for New Mexicans, no matter what the charge, no matter where we have to go. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas for their support, and the brave men and women of the FBI and APD for never relenting in their search.”
“This reflects ERO’s ongoing efforts to increase public safety by removing criminals from our communities,” said Director Corey Price for the ERO San Antonio Field Office. “We will continue to identify, arrest and remove noncitizens who pose a threat to our nation.”
ICE-ERO investigated the case. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office provided valuable assistance in the prosecution, along with the Albuquerque Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred J. Federici, Letitia Carroll Simms, Jack E. Burkhead, and James R.W. Braun for the District of New Mexico.
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Mexican Man Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being DeportedRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to more than four years in federal prison.
Sergio Sanchez-Juarez, age 37, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Hiawatha, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after a prior felony conviction. Sanchez-Juarez also received a prison term for violating the conditions of supervised release imposed on his 2019 conviction in the Northern District of Iowa for illegal reentry.
At the guilty plea, Sanchez-Juarez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the country without the permission of the United States government. Sanchez-Juarez was previously deported in February 2007, July 2014, September 2017, November 2017, October 2020, and May 2021. On September 19, 2023, immigration officials learned Sanchez-Juarez had illegally returned to the United States and found Sanchez-Juarez at the Linn County Jail following his arrest on state charges. Sanchez-Juarez was previously convicted in 2019 in the Northern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States, served 24 months in prison, and was deported.
Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment on the illegal reentry conviction and 12 months’ imprisonment for violating the term of supervised release imposed on the 2019 conviction in the
Northern District of Iowa. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sanchez-Juarez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-68.
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Meriden Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Violent Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KENNETH MICHAEL STROTHERS, 27, of Meriden, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to an effective sentence of 168 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a violent armed robbery spree in 2021.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI and several local police departments into a series of armed robberies that occurred across Connecticut in early 2021. The investigation revealed that Strothers committed at least 10 robberies over an approximately two-week period in Meriden, Cromwell, West Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield and New Britain. The robberies typically involved Strothers stealing a vehicle, selecting and entering a store, threatening victims with a firearm, making demands, and, in some instances, beating victims with the gun before robbing them, causing significant injury and trauma.
The robbery spree ended shortly after Strothers robbed locations in Wethersfield and New Britain. On February 9, 2021, Strothers entered the Valero gas station store at 930 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, used a firearm to pistol-whip the store clerk in the head, stole approximately $260 from two cash registers, and fled the scene in a stolen car. The store clerk was hospitalized with a serious head wound. On February 10, 2021, Strothers entered Broad Street Pawn at 210 Broad Street in New Britain, used a firearm to pistol-whip a store employee in the head, stole approximately $2,000, and fled the scene with two associates in a stolen truck. Three children of the store owner hid in a bathroom during the robbery.
Strothers was arrested on February 12, 2021, and investigators seized from him the handgun he used during the robberies. He has been detained in state custody since his arrest.
On February 26, 2024, Strothers pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”).
The 14-year federal sentence includes the more than three years Strothers has spent in state custody since his arrest.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Britain Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the Newington Police Department, the Cromwell Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, the Meriden Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.
Men Admit St. Louis Area Mail Theft, Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted stealing mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes in the St. Louis area to obtain checks that were then used to commit bank fraud.
Dareon Graham, 23, of Ferguson, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday to one count each of conspiracy to commit mail theft, bank fraud and possession of stolen mail matter.
Tyrell Hardin, 21, of Hanley Hills, pleaded guilty on March 4 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail theft and two counts of mail theft.
Both men admitted in their guilty pleas that between roughly January 2022 and October 2022, Graham organized a conspiracy in which Graham, Hardin and other co-conspirators would steal mail from Postal Service collection boxes to obtain personal and business checks. Graham obtained a stolen key used to open collection boxes and gave that key to Hardin. Graham agreed to pay Hardin to steal mail and told him to target specific collection boxes in and around St. Louis County. Hardin then gave the stolen mail to Graham, who opened the mail and removed checks.
Early on the morning of Jan. 10, 2022, Hardin stole mail from collection boxes outside U.S. Post Offices in Clayton, University City and Richmond Heights, using a stolen Dodge Challenger. Later that same morning, St. Louis County Police found the stolen car near Hardin’s home and recovered a large amount of stolen mail in the trunk.
On Jan. 21, 2022, Hardin stole mail from collection boxes outside U.S. Post Offices in Ferguson, Clayton, Brentwood, Richmond Heights and the Gravois location in St. Louis. On Jan. 25, 2022, Hardin texted Graham a photo of ten checks that he had taken from stolen mail that belonged to businesses and individuals located in St. Louis. The ten checks were made out in various amounts totaling $32,792.
On Oct. 7, 2022, Hardin unsuccessfully tried to steal mail from collection boxes in Wildwood and Chesterfield.
In addition, Graham used the stolen checks to commit bank fraud. Graham altered the checks and deposited them into bank accounts belonging to 11 people he had recruited via Instagram and other means. The account holders provided debit cards, PINs and other banking information to Graham in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from the deposits. Graham would either deposit the fraudulent checks himself, typically in amounts ranging from $2,000 to $12,000, or give the account holders the fraudulent checks. These deposits occurred at ATMs and bank branch locations in St. Louis County, St. Louis City and St. Charles County.
During the scheme, Graham deposited or caused the deposit of fraudulent checks totaling at least $103,457 and obtained at least $46,434 in proceeds, his plea agreement says.
Hardin is scheduled to be sentenced June 4. Graham is scheduled to be sentenced July 3. The charges of conspiracy, mail theft and possession of stolen mail matter are each punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The bank fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Maryland Heights Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department, Chesterfield Police Department, Frontenac Police Department, St. Peters Police Department and Town and Country Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.