Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
8 April 2024
Spotsylvania man pleads guilty to coercing a child to produce pornographic materialRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Spotsylvania man pleaded guilty today to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, in July 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Toronto contacted HSI Richmond regarding a Discord account with username “FairyHunter.” HSI identified Shane Johnston, 46, as the account user. In August 2023, HSI agents obtained a search warrant for five electronic devices belonging to Johnston. The devices contained 7,453 media files constituting child pornography. A review of Johnston’s Discord account revealed a conversation in June 2023 between Johnston and a nine-year-old child during which Johnston induced the child to produce and send to him images of herself engaging in sexual activity.
Johnston is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 13. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Roger L. Harris, Spotsylvania County Sheriff, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Gibbons is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-51.
Southern District of New York Court Employee and Criminal Defense Attorney Sentenced for Decade-Long Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that DIONISIO FIGUEROA, a/k/a “Dionicio,” a former employee of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”) Magistrate Clerk’s Office, and TELESFORO DEL VALLE, JR., a now-disbarred criminal defense attorney who practiced in SDNY and elsewhere for more than 20 years, were sentenced to two years and one year and one day in prison, respectively, following their convictions on conspiracy, bribery, and false statements charges. The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, sitting by designation from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The public relies on attorneys and court employees to maintain and validate its faith in our criminal justice system. Del Valle, a former criminal defense attorney, and Figueroa, a longtime employee of the SDNY Clerk’s Office, betrayed criminal defendants, the public, and those who rely on the court to remain impartial. Through their actions, Del Valle and Figueroa undermined the fair administration of justice and the work of the many good people in the courthouse who serve the criminal justice system with honesty and integrity. Let these sentences serve as a warning to those who seek to pervert justice for personal gain.”
According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial:
As a clerk in the SDNY Magistrate Clerk’s Office since in or about 2002, FIGUEROA was responsible for performing duties that included, among other things, making data entries regarding official case events in criminal cases; making summary entries of documents and proceedings on case dockets; and performing inquiries and furnishing information, either in person or by correspondence, regarding the status of cases. FIGUEROA also played a role with respect to the intake of criminal cases, including by preparing appearance bonds, advising defendants and their family members about the conditions of the bonds, and ensuring that appearance bonds were signed by all parties prior to a defendant’s release.
SDNY District Court personnel policies prohibited FIGUEROA from having outside employment that would pose a conflict of interest; receiving payments, gifts, or other benefits from persons having business before the District Court; and recommending particular attorneys to members of the public. FIGUEROA also was subject to the U.S. Courts’ Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (the “Code of Conduct”), which cautioned judicial employees that “[a] number of criminal statutes of general applicability govern federal employees’ performance of official duties. These include: 18 U.S.C. § 201 (bribery of public officials and witnesses) . . . .” The Code of Conduct likewise admonished that “[a] judicial employee should never influence or attempt to influence the assignment of cases, or perform any discretionary or ministerial function of the court in a manner that improperly favors any litigant or attorney, nor should a judicial employee imply that he or she is in a position to do so.”
DEL VALLE was a private attorney who, over the course of more than two decades, had appeared in numerous federal criminal cases pending before the SDNY District Court.
Between at least 2011 and 2022, FIGUEROA and DEL VALLE engaged in a scheme whereby FIGUEROA used his position as an employee of the SDNY Magistrate Clerk’s Office to encourage criminal defendants to retain DEL VALLE to represent them in pending criminal cases. In return, DEL VALLE paid FIGUEROA a portion of the fees that referred clients paid to DEL VALLE. Over the course of more than a decade, FIGUEROA referred at least 45 SDNY criminal defendants to DEL VALLE, and, in exchange, DEL VALLE paid FIGUEROA tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. DEL VALLE paid FIGUEROA directly and through FIGUEROA’s romantic partner, who would travel to DEL VALLE’s law office and pick up envelopes of cash for FIGUEROA. Many of the clients who retained and paid DEL VALLE based on FIGUEROA’s referral were originally assigned free, court-appointed counsel. Nevertheless, FIGUEROA encouraged those individuals to change counsel, including by vouching for DEL VALLE’s abilities as a lawyer.
In November 2022, federal law enforcement agents separately interviewed both FIGUEROA and DEL VALLE. After agents advised each that lying to federal law enforcement agents is a crime, FIGUEROA and DEL VALLE each made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations in response to the agents’ questions. In particular, FIGUEROA denied making any referrals to DEL VALLE, except on a small number of occasions concerning close relations or friends, and further denied ever having received payments from DEL VALLE for referrals. DEL VALLE, upon being served with a federal grand jury subpoena requiring the production of records from his law firm, falsely denied having any records reflecting client referrals from, or payments to, FIGUEROA or anyone else.
* * *
In addition to the prison sentence, FIGUEROA, 66, of New York, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $40,000. DEL VALLE, 65, of Leonia, New Jersey, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.
Separate Indictments Charge Two Individuals with Possession of A MachinegunRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced federal charges against two individuals charged via criminal indictments with possession of machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “Glock switches.”
A Glock switch, or “auto sear,” is an illegal conversion device that enables a conventional semi-automatic pistol to function as a fully automatic firearm. Federal law prohibits the possession of a machinegun and defines as a machinegun the converted firearm or a device designed or intended for use in converting a firearm into a machinegun. Furthermore, under federal law, the conversion device is illegal and classified as a machinegun whether it is affixed to a firearm or not.
Trevaris Devar Kennedy, 21, of Statesville, N.C., is charged with possession of a machinegun and possession of a firearm by a felon. Kennedy was arrested this morning and will have his initial appearance in Charlotte on Tuesday, April 9, at 10:20 a.m. According to allegations in the indictment, on December 22, 2023, in Iredell County, Kennedy did knowingly possess a machinegun, that is a device intended to convert a semiautomatic handgun into a machinegun capable of fully automatic fire, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The indictment further alleges that, on that date, Kennedy did illegally possess two Glock semi-automatic pistols, knowing he had been convicted of at least one crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
In the second case, a criminal indictment charges Tiquavion Davonta Ervin, 21, of Charlotte, with possession of a machinegun. As alleged in the indictment, on July 25, 2023, in Mecklenburg County, Ervin knowingly and willfully possessed a machinegun, that being a 9x19mm caliber handgun of undetermined origin, also known as a ghost gun, manufactured utilizing a Polymer80 brand kit and affixed with a Glock switch.
The charges contained in these indictments are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Statesville Police Department handled the investigation into Kennedy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shavonn Bennette is prosecuting the case.
The ATF and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department investigated Ervin’s case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Both cases are 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. In July 2022, as part of PSN, the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched Think Again, a local initiative aiming to raise awareness about gun crimes and illegal firearms purchasing or misuse and to increase the reporting of illegal firearms activity to law enforcement.
Second Defendant Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Odessa Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
MIDLAND, Texas – An Odessa man was sentenced in a federal court in Midland to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in the death of a local minor.
According to court documents, law enforcement and medical personnel responded to an Odessa residence for a suspected drug overdose on Oct. 2, 2023. The 16-year-old male victim was found nonresponsive and was transported to the hospital where he later died. Forensic pathologist reports and the medical examiner confirmed fentanyl as the cause of death.
An investigation revealed that Nathaniel Martinez, 18, sold fentanyl pills to the juvenile the night before.
Codefendant Jae Lynn Esparza aka Nova, 22, also of Odessa was identified as the supplier of the pills. Esparza was sentenced on March 7 to 20 years in federal prison for her role in the fentanyl conspiracy causing death.
“The substantial sentences handed down in this case reflect the gravity of it, but the punishment cannot bring back the child who died,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This death of a child is a recurring nightmare for far too many parents and families across this country who are losing loved ones to fentanyl. We will continue to vigorously pursue and prosecute the suppliers and dealers of this deadly drug.”
The Odessa Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney prosecuted the case.
###
Queens Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CHINWENDU ALISIGWE was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy, which resulted in the misappropriation of approximately $4.5 million in victim funds. ALISIGWE was previously convicted by a jury following a trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Over the course of years, Chinwendu Alisigwe used fake IDs to open dozens of bank accounts, which he then used to launder proceeds obtained from victims of business email compromise and other fraud schemes. Alisigwe’s co-conspirators scammed dozens of victims — including individuals, businesses, a county government, and a charity that provides wheelchairs for children — into sending money to Alisigwe’s network of bank accounts. Alisigwe then laundered the money, spending his cut on shopping sprees and sending the rest to his co-conspirators overseas. As today’s sentence demonstrates, money launderers who assist scammers abroad, like Alisigwe, will be held accountable by this Office.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and statements made in public filings:
From approximately 2017 to 2020, ALISIGWE used fake identifications to open 36 separate bank accounts at six different financial institutions. He opened those accounts with over a dozen fraudulent passports and other fraudulent identity documents bearing his photograph but the names of other individuals. In the course of this criminal conduct, ALISIGWE used the names and social security numbers of real people who were completely unaware that ALISIGWE was using them in his fraud.
After ALISIGWE opened the fraudulent bank accounts, the accounts received millions of dollars from a variety of fraud schemes, including business email compromise schemes. The funds came from numerous victims, including a children’s charity, individual bank accounts, a public company, a life insurance company, and a county government. In total, ALISIGWE received approximately $4.5 million of fraud proceeds into his network of bank accounts.
After the fraud proceeds were deposited into the accounts opened by ALISIGWE, he laundered the proceeds through a series of transactions designed to disguise their nature and source. For example, ALISIGWE consistently transferred large sums of the victims’ money from account to account that he had opened in other people’s names. After disguising the nature and source of the fraud proceeds through these transactions, ALISIGWE wired these funds to bank accounts in foreign countries, including China and the United Kingdom. ALISIGWE also spent large portions of the stolen money on clothing and other personal items. For example, ALISIGWE used fraud proceeds to make approximately $100,000 in purchases from retail stores like Zara, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Best Buy, and Rockaway Liquor. He also withdrew approximately $650,000 of the fraud proceeds in cash. Ultimately, the transactions into and out of the 36 accounts opened by ALISIGWE amounted to nearly $6 million.
* * *
In addition to his prison term, ALISIGWE, 38, of Jamaica, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $499,949.88 in restitution and $4,463,475.80 in forfeiture.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the course of this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Kinder, Meredith Foster, and Adam Hobson are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Phineas Santello and Olivia Sebade.
Previously extradited Nigerian national pleads guilty for his role in multimillion dollar business email compromise schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Nigerian national previously extradited from the United Kingdom has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorneys Alamdar S. Hamdani and Dena J. King for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) and Western District of North Carolina (WDNC), respectively.
Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo aka John Edwards and John Dayo arrived in the United States in August 2022 after he was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges brought against him by federal prosecutors in Charlotte and Houston. Adeagbo has now pleaded guilty for his criminal conduct in both cases following the transfer of the case in the U.S. District Court in the SDTX to the U.S. District Court in the WDNC.
A business email compromise scheme, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam that often targets individuals, employees or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks operating in the United States and abroad.
There are many variations of BEC scams. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas.
The BEC scheme in the SDTX
According to information contained in court documents, from November 2016 until July 2018, Adeagbo conspired with others to participate in multiple cyber-enabled business email compromises in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victim entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies and a Houston-area college. As with the scheme in North Carolina, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators registered domain names that looked similar to legitimate companies. They then sent emails from those domains pretending to be employees at those companies to clients or customers of the companies they impersonated and deceived those customers into sending wire payments to bank accounts the co-conspirators controlled.
The BEC scheme in the WDNC
According to filed plea documents and court proceedings, from Aug. 30, 2016, to Jan. 12, 2017, Adeagbo, his co-conspirator - Donald Ikenna Echeazu, 42, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom extradited to the United States - and others defrauded a North Carolina university (the victim university) of more than $1.9 million via a BEC scheme.
Court records show that Adeagbo and his co-conspirators obtained information about significant construction projects occurring throughout the United States, including an ongoing multimillion dollar project at the victim university. To execute the scheme, Adeagbo, Echeazu and others registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the university’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company. Using the fake email address, the fraudsters deceived and directed the university to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account controlled by an individual working under the direction of Adeagbo and his co-conspirators. Upon receiving the payment, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the fraud.
Adeagbo remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on each count. According to the plea agreements, Adeagbo will be required to pay a money judgment to be determined by the court and restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is alleged to be at least $14,185,847.42. A sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell in the WDNC sentenced Echeazu to 18 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and ordered him to pay $655,408.87 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney King and U.S. Attorney Hamdani commended the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office for handling the North Carolina investigation and the FBI’s Houston Cyber Task Force for conducting the investigation in Texas with the assistance of the FBI’s Cyber and Criminal Investigative Divisions. They also thanked the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police, and the Crown Prosecution Service for their substantial assistance, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for securing the arrest and extradition of Adeagbo and Echeazu.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Graham Billings of the WDNC in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution. AUSA Rodolfo Ramirez of the SDTX handled the criminal proceedings in Houston, along with Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).
If you suspect you are a victim of a BEC scheme, you can file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Complaint Crime Complaint Cetner (IC3) at bec.ic3.gov. The IC3 staff reviews complaints to detect patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity for potential criminal prosecution.
Previously Extradited Nigerian National Pleads Guilty for His Role in Multimillion-Dollar Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo, 45, a Nigerian national previously extradited from the United Kingdom, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise (BEC) scheme, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina (WDNC), and Alamdar S. Hamdani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX).
Adeagbo, aka John Edwards and John Dayo, arrived in the United States in August 2022 after he was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges brought against him by federal prosecutors in Charlotte and in Houston. Adeagbo has now pleaded guilty for his criminal conduct in both cases, following the transfer of the case in the U.S. District Court in the SDTX to the U.S. District Court in the WDNC.
A BEC scheme, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam that often targets individuals, employees, or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks operating in the United States and abroad.
There are many variations of BEC scams. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas.
The BEC scheme in the WDNC
According to filed plea documents and court proceedings, from Aug. 30, 2016, to Jan. 12, 2017, Adeagbo, his codefendant, Donald Ikenna Echeazu, 42, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom extradited to the United States, and others defrauded a North Carolina university (the University) of more than $1.9 million via a BEC scheme.
Court records show that Adeagbo and his co-conspirators obtained information about significant construction projects occurring throughout the United States, including an ongoing multi-million-dollar project at the victim University. To execute the scheme, Adeagbo, Echeazu, and others registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the University’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company. Using the fake email address, the fraudsters deceived and directed the University to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account controlled by an individual working under the direction of Adeagbo and his co-conspirators. Upon receiving the payment, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the fraud.
The BEC scheme in the SDTX
According to information contained in court documents, from November 2016 until July 2018, Adeagbo conspired with others to participate in multiple cyber-enabled business email compromises in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victim entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies and a Houston-area college. As with the scheme in North Carolina, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators registered domain names that looked similar to legitimate companies. They then sent emails from those domains pretending to be employees at those companies to clients or customers of the companies they impersonated, and deceived those customers into sending wire payments to bank accounts the co-conspirators controlled.
Adeagbo remains in federal custody. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on each count. According to the plea agreements, Adeagbo will be required to pay a money judgment to be determined by the court and restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is alleged to be at least $14,185,847.42. A sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell in the WDNC sentenced Echeazu to 18 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and ordered the defendant to pay $655,408.87 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney King and U.S. Attorney Hamdani commended the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office for handling the North Carolina investigation and the FBI’s Houston Cyber Task Force for conducting the investigation in Texas with the assistance of the FBI’s Cyber and Criminal Investigative Divisions. They also thanked the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police, and the Crown Prosecution Service for their substantial assistance, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for securing the arrest and extradition of Adeagbo and Echeazu.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the WDNC is in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the SDTX handled the criminal proceedings in Houston, along with Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).
If you suspect you are a victim of a BEC scheme, you can file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Complaint Crime Complaint Cetner (IC3) at bec.ic3.gov. The IC3 staff reviews complaints to detect patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity for potential criminal prosecution. The FBI provides a variety of resources relating to BEC scams through the IC3, which can be located at www.ic3.gov. For more information on BEC scams, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise.
Postal Workers Indicted for Destroying MailRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of indictments charging Austin Engler (26, St. Augustine) and Teron Haywood, Sr. (46, Jacksonville) with destruction or delay of mail by a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the indictments, Engler and Haywood were employed by USPS as Rural Carrier Assistants assigned to routes in the St. Augustine and Jacksonville areas, respectively. In June 2023, Engler and Haywood knowingly and unlawfully destroyed or delayed mail which had been provided to them for delivery in their capacity as mail carriers.
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.
These cases were investigated by the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.
Phoenix Police Officer Arrested and Charged for Receiving and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Alaa Robert Bartley, 41, of Gilbert, was arrested on Friday for receiving and possessing child sex abuse images. He was charged by federal criminal complaint on Friday with one count of Knowingly Receiving Child Pornography and one count of Knowingly Possessing Child Pornography. Bartley is an officer with the Phoenix Police Department.
The complaint alleges that, between August 2020 and February 2022, while living in Gilbert, Bartley used a social media platform to communicate with an adult woman, with the two expressing their sexual interest in children and the woman sending Bartley child pornography images. The affidavit alleges that Bartley used a fictitious name, but identified himself as a police officer and sent a picture of himself that showed his face to her. The adult woman has been charged separately in the Eastern District of Michigan in CR-23-20653.
A count of Knowingly Receiving Child Pornography carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. A count of Knowingly Possessing Child Pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; if the offense involved a visual depiction of a prepubescent minor or minor who had not attained the age of 12, the offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.,
Bartley - Complaint
CASE NUMBER: 24-6161MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-047_Bartley# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Owner of Chicago-Area Child Care Centers Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $3.3 Million in State SubsidiesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The owner of Chicago-area child care centers has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain more than $3.3 million in State of Illinois subsidies designed to help low-income families afford child care.
ALEESHA McDOWELL owned child care providers A&A Kiddy Kollege Inc. in Calumet City, Ill., A&A Kiddy Kollege 2 in Calumet Park, Ill., and Kreative Kidz Academy Inc., Kreative Kidz Academy II Inc., and Kreative Kidz Academy III Inc. in Chicago. From 2012 to 2020, McDowell schemed with directors of her centers and others to defraud the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Child Care Assistance Program by submitting applications containing materially false information, including fraudulent paystubs and income verification letters regarding a parent’s eligibility to qualify for state subsidy payments. In many instances, McDowell or the directors falsely represented in the applications that a parent was employed by one of McDowell’s child care centers in order to satisfy IDHS’s requirement that recipients of the funds either be in school or employed and earning less than a certain income threshold.
As a result of the scheme, McDowell and her co-schemers caused IDHS to pay McDowell’s child care centers more than $3.3 million in subsidy payments for services purportedly provided to children who were not eligible to receive such benefits. McDowell spent some of the criminally derived money on a Bentley Bentayga and a house in Mokena, Ill.
McDowell, 44, of Mokena, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah on March 27, 2024, ordered McDowell to pay restitution of $3,339,563.
Seven other defendants charged as part of the investigation also pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.
McDowell’s sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Shantel R. Robinson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate McClelland and Brian Hayes.
OMB Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Trafficking and Fentanyl Distribution Charges to 276 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 276 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, illegally possessing firearms, and the distribution of fentanyl.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Armani Eugene Gates, 20, an OMB gang member, organized for the illegal acquisition of firearms via multiple straw purchasers. Gates then trafficked the guns to other OMB members and associates, in whose possession they were recovered by law enforcement. One of the guns recovered had been converted to a machinegun, and two of the guns had high-capacity magazines. Two of these firearms were determined to have been used in gang-related shootings.
Additionally, Gates led efforts to acquire and distribute over 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Gates employed others to assist him in his drug operation, including at least one minor. He also possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking, as well as utilized residences to store his fentanyl.
In July 2023, federal search warrants were executed related to this investigation, during which approximately 13,000 fentanyl pills, seven firearms, one machinegun conversion device, and $23,000 in cash were seized. Gates was arrested at that time on the federal charges. The press release regarding those warrants is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/defendants-charged-joint-federal-state-and-local-investigation-firearms-trafficking.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Gates will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Since the inception of ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’, there have been numerous investigations and prosecutions that have had a significant impact on violent crime in Central Iowa,” stated Des Moines Police Chief Dana D. Wingert. “This is simply another example of what success looks like, which should send a clear message to those in our communities who are involved in violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies at all levels are committed to identifying, investigating and prosecuting violent criminals and removing them from our communities. This collective mindset is what underpins our success, yet we will remain diligent in our efforts to keep our citizens safe through the continued work of “Project Safe Neighborhoods.’ ”
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has given ATF additional tools needed to go after straw purchasers and firearms traffickers who flood our streets with weapons that pose a threat to every single person in Des Moines,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “This sentence sends a clear message to those who think they can illegally traffic guns into our communities or straw purchase firearms. ATF’s NIBIN technology has proven to be an invaluable resource for law enforcement in our continued pursuit to reduce violent crime and we will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. This is a huge win for public safety that will reduce the proliferation of illegal guns that represent a grave danger to the public, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin M. Herrera and Mallory E. Weiser prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Des Moines Police Department – Intelligence Division; and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center.
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 prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
North Port Registered Sex Offender Indicted for Attempting to Transfer Obscene Materials to A MinorRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a two-count indictment charging Imran Siddiqi (40, North Port) with attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender. If convicted on all counts, Siddiqi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, including a 10-year minimum mandatory sentence.
According to court documents, between January 31 and March 6, 2024, Siddiqi engaged in a conversation with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 13-year-old girl. During the conversation, Siddiqi repeatedly described his desire to have sex with the child, sending multiple explicit photographs of himself and other explicit images to the undercover officer. Siddiqi is a registered sex offender. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sex Offender Predator System, Siddiqi was convicted in 2016 of traveling to meet a minor to commit an unlawful sexual offense.
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 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
New Jersey man indicted for nationwide scheme to tamper with diesel pollution control systems in violation of the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 43-year-old Columbia, New Jersey man was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with conspiracy and thirteen counts of violating the Clean Air Act for his scheme to interfere with pollution control software on diesel trucks, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jonathan Achtemeier entered pleas of not guilty to all counts. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 10, 2024.
“Working with a laptop from the comfort of his own home, the defendant allegedly remotely tampered with pollution control systems to enable trucks nationwide to cause massive amounts of unlawful pollution. His actions degraded the air in the Western District of Washington and nationwide in a manner that harms us all,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “I am grateful to the employee of a local company who came forward and exposed the fact that trucks in his company’s fleet had been altered by the defendant.”
According to the indictment, Achtemeier conspired with mechanics in garages and operators of truck fleets to disable the anti-pollution software installed on diesel trucks. Achtemeier allegedly disabled the software remotely by connecting to laptops he had provided to various coconspirators. Some of the coconspirators would pass the laptop on to others seeking to have the anti-pollution software disabled on their trucks. Once the laptop was hooked up to the truck’s onboard computer, Achtemeier could access it from his computer and delete the software designed to slow the truck if the pollution control device was missing or malfunctioning. Achtemeier allegedly altered the software after the mechanic had removed the pollution control equipment or in coordination with that process.
Removing the pollution control equipment and disabling the software results in trucks polluting at 30 to 1,200 times the level of a truck with pollution control systems. Tampering with pollution control software is a violation of the Clean Air Act.
Achtemeier charged as much at $4,500 per truck for work that often took him two hours or less. Achtemeier advertised his services on social media nationwide, doing business as Voided Warranty Tuning (VWT) or Optimized Ag. Between 2018 and 2021 his company took in more than $5 million in gross profits.
The coconspirators in this case have service garages or truck fleets in various areas of Washington. The trucks that were altered range from pick-ups such as a Dodge R3500 to Kenworth and Freightliner semi-trucks.
Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Violating the Clean Air Act is punishable by up to two years in prison per count and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar and Seth Wilkinson, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Karla Perrin. Ms. Perrin is an attorney with the EPA.
achtemeier_indictment.pdfMoorpark Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Trying to Entice Sexual Activity from Someone He Thought Was a MinorRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County man was sentenced today to 140 months in federal prison for soliciting on social media platforms sexually explicit photos from an individual he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Thomas Kern Gissell, 29, of Moorpark, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also placed Gissell on 20 years of supervised release when Gissell eventually is released from prison and ordered him to pay $5,100 in special assessments and $27,000 in restitution.
Gissell pleaded guilty on January 5 to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office began investigating Gissell after receiving information that he had contacted undercover law enforcement officers posing as teenage girls. According to the affidavit in support of a complaint filed in this case, Gissell engaged in online chats with the individuals and asked them to send nude photos.
Specifically, in August and September of 2022, Gissell knowingly attempted to entice a person whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Gissell further admitted in his plea agreement to sending the purported 14-year-old girl images of a lingerie gift card and images of the lingerie he wanted her to purchase with the gift card that he provided.
Gissell was originally arrested in February 2023 pursuant to charges filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. The matter was subsequently presented to the United States Attorney’s Office, which filed the federal complaint in late February 2023.
The Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is comprised of investigators and prosecutors with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the Simi Valley Police Department, the Oxnard Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
Members of the Task Force are specially trained in investigating online child sexual exploitation and human trafficking, and they strive to provide rapid responses to the sexual victimization of children. The Gissell investigation is the first criminal case brought by the Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Kellye M. Ng of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Luring Columbia Teen for Illicit SexRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Bay Springs, Mississippi, man was sentenced in federal court today for luring a 16-year-old victim in Columbia, Mo., to meet him at a hotel for illicit sexual activity.
Zachary Wes Buckley, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 16 years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 7, 2023, Buckley pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Buckley admitted that he traveled to Columbia and rented a room at a local hotel, where he had sex with the child victim.
Buckley and the child victim began communicating in an online chat room in January 2023 then moved their conversations to GoogleChat. The chats, which included sexually explicit conversations, photos and videocams, led to plans to meet in person. Buckley traveled to Columbia on Jan. 30, 2023, and met the child victim at a local park. He then drove to a Columbia hotel, where he engaged in sexual intercourse with the child.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Jasper County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
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.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Mexican Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Six TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.
Miguel Araujo-Rocha, age 38, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 8, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Araujo-Rocha admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Araujo-Rocha was previously deported in April 2018, September 2018, October 2019, February 2021, September 2021, and October 2021. On October 6, 2023, immigration officials learned Araujo-Rocha had illegally returned to the United States and found Araujo-Rocha at the Tama County Jail following his arrest on state charges. Araujo-Rocha was previously convicted in the Western District of Texas in August 2018 and in February 2019 of illegally reentering the United States. He was also convicted in the Iowa District Court for Tama County in March 2014 of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment for driving drunk with minor children in the car, including a two-year-old.
Araujo-Rocha also knowingly used a fraudulent Social Security card and alias to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in March 2022 at a business in Grinnell, Iowa. Illegal aliens are not authorized to work in the United States. The name and number on the Social Security card was a real Social Security number assigned to a United States citizen whose name was on the card.
Araujo-Rocha was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Araujo-Rocha 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.
Araujo-Rocha 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-73.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported Two TimesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported two times was sentenced April 5, 2024, to almost three months in federal prison.
Javier Juarez-Cuaquehua, age 35, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cresco, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 15, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported.
At the guilty plea, Juarez-Cuaquehua admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Juarez-Cuaquehua was previously deported in July 2009 and November 2019. On December 19, 2023, immigration officials learned Juarez-Cuaquehua had illegally returned to the United States and found Juarez-Cuaquehua at the Howard County Jail following his arrest on state charges.
Juarez-Cuaquehua was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Juarez-Cuaquehua was sentenced to 81 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Juarez-Cuaquehua is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.
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 24-CR-2001.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
McDowell County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Lansen Sharif Waugh, 44, of Kyle, pleaded guilty today to distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2021, Waugh sold controlled substances that contained cocaine and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a residence in Kyle where Waugh was staying. Waugh admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling cocaine and a controlled substance containing heroin and fentanyl to the confidential informant on two other occasions.
On July 2, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Waugh’s residence in Kyle, and found two firearms and additional quantities of cocaine. Waugh admitted that he intended to distribute the cocaine found during the search.
Waugh is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-121.
###
Marion County Man Indicted for Possessing Methamphetamine and Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Terrance Maurice Washington (41, Ocala) with six counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and fentanyl) with the intent to distribute it. If convicted on all counts, Washington faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Washington is currently detained in federal custody pending the resolution of this case.
According to the indictment, on five separate occasions—October 25, 2023, November 3, 2023, November 20, 2023, January 3, 2024, and January 25, 2024—Washington possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Additionally, on November 8, 2023, Washington possessed 40 grams or more of fentanyl, also with the intent to distribute it.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Local business owner indicted for fraudulently submitting PPP loanRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against a former Houston resident for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conducting a monetary transaction in criminally derived property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
According to the indictment, unsealed upon her appearance in court, Kristen Fenrick, 52, now of Dallas, was the owner of Klearly Kristen Inc., a business engaged in the sale of jewelry and accessories. The charges allege she submitted a fraudulent loan application via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fenrick grossly inflated the number of employees her business purportedly had as well as its average monthly payroll expenses, according to the charges. In support of her application, Fenrick allegedly submitted fraudulent IRS documents to the lender. She also allegedly paid a co-conspirator to assist her in the preparation and submission of the false application.
Based on her misrepresentations, the indictment alleges a third-party lender with delegated authority from the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved a loan to Klearly Kristen in June 2020 for $405,340. According to the allegations, the SBA fully guaranteed and subsequently forgave the loan based on continued misrepresentations about the business’s employee headcount and payroll expenses.
The charges allege Fenrick used the PPP funds for her own personal benefit, such as the lease of a luxury vehicle, and not for the purpose for which the loan was intended.
Both before and after the PPP loan, Fenrick also allegedly made several unsuccessful attempts to secure an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for Klearly Kristen and several other purported businesses.
If convicted, Fenrick faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum of 20 years on each of the substantive wire fraud counts and up to 10 years imprisonment for conducting a monetary transaction in criminally derived property. She could also be ordered to pay up to $250,000 in fines.
The SBA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Lake County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Theft of A Firearm from A Licensed Gun DealerRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Frank Thomas Diviak (23, Altoona) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and stealing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL). Diviak faces up to 35 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Diviak has been convicted of three state felonies, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. On December 4, 2023, Diviak entered a Lake County pawn shop, took a revolver off a display, and put it in his pocket. He then fled from the store on his bicycle, but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. As Diviak raised his hands to surrender to the officers, the stolen revolver fell out of his clothing. As a convicted felon, Diviak is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Eustis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
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.
Kentucky Man and Businesses Sentenced for Roles in 2018 Big Sandy River Oil SpillRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, David K. Smith, 69, of Paducah, Kentucky, was sentenced to one year and six months of federal probation, including six months on home detention, and River Marine Enterprises LLC and Western River Assets LLC were each fined $100,000 and placed on corporate probation for five years for discharge of refuse into navigable waters. The defendants were also ordered to pay $1,856,957.92 in restitution, and the LLC defendants cannot conduct or operate any business while on probation. The defendants admitted to roles in the January 2018 discharge of oil into the Big Sandy River.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith was the sole owner and officer of both River Marine Enterprises and Western River Assets, and was responsible for the operation of both companies. Western River Assets owned a towboat, the Gate City, that docked along the West Virginia shore of the Big Sandy River from at least 2010 until January 2018. River Marine Enterprises operated the Gate City during this time.
On or about January 10, 2018, the Gate City sank while docked, discharging oil and other substances into the Big Sandy River. The oil left a sheen on the river and oily deposits beneath the surface. As a direct result of the Gate City’s sinking and oil spill, the City of Kenova, West Virginia, closed its municipal drinking water intake for three days and various regulatory agencies took actions and expended resources to respond to the spill.
Smith admitted that at the time of the January 2018 sinking and spill, he had yet to comply with an administrative order issued by the United States Coast Guard on December 5, 2017, requiring Smith to remove all oil and hazardous materials from the Gate City. The Coast Guard issued the administrative order following an inspection of the Gate City in or about November 2017. The administrative order said in part that the Gate City presented an “imminent and substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the environment because of a threatened discharge of oil from the vessel.”
Smith further admitted that River Marine Enterprises had contracted with a qualified business to remove oil from the Gate City, but that the contractor was not able to access the Gate City safely to remove the oil prior to January 10, 2018 because of site conditions.
“This crime could have easily been prevented. Instead, Mr. Smith left an unseaworthy vessel moored in the Big Sandy for eight years and took no action to remove the hazard it posed to the water quality of the river,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “This criminal conduct caused real harm to communities downriver and worsened the pollution of an already strained river system. It also cost the Coast Guard over $1.8 million to remediate the damage caused by the sinking of the vessel and the resulting discharge of oil.”
Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID). Thompson also commended the U.S. Coast Guard, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the West Virginia National Guard and other responders for their efforts to contain and clean up the oil spill.
“By failing to maintain the condition of his towboat, the defendant blatantly ignored the environmental impact his actions would cause,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon of EPA’s criminal investigation program in West Virginia. “This sentencing demonstrates that EPA will hold those who deliberately violate the Refuse Act accountable.”
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Perry McDaniel prosecuted the case.
On May 5, 2022, the Department launched the Office of Environmental Justice and announced a comprehensive environmental justice enforcement strategy. Enforcement of this strategy relies upon meaningful engagement and transparency with impacted communities regarding environmental justice issues, efforts, and results.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia enforces federal laws to protect environmental quality and human health in all communities within the district. In coordination with components of the Justice Department, the United States Attorney’s Office will hold polluters accountable for their actions, prioritizing cases that will reduce public health and environmental harms to overburdened and underserved communities. More information is available on the Environmental Justice and Enforcement page of the website for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
The United States Attorney’s Office encourages the public to report suspected environmental violations within the district. Reports may be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency or by email, mail, or phone to the United States Attorney’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-5.
###
Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Lydia Spencer, 33, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty on Friday, April 5, 2023, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Spencer admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $31,250 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
According to court documents and statements made in court, Spencer was the sole proprietor of Les Prints, a custom clothing business that had its principal office in Charleston. Spencer admitted to conspiring with at least three other individuals in April 2021 to obtain fraudulent PPP loans for her business. The PPP offered forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, as part of the emergency financial assistance provided by the CARES Act to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the co-conspirators recruited Spencer to participate in the scheme that spring, and Spencer provided her personal and bank account information to this individual. On April 8, 2021, another of the co-conspirators used Spencer’s information to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of Les Prints to two different lenders. Each lender approved a PPP loan for Les Prints. Spencer received a $15,625 transfer disbursed by one of the lenders on April 30, 2021, and a $15,625 transfer disbursed by the other lender on June 17, 2021. Both transfers were deposited in Spencer’s personal bank account with an Oklahoma-based bank.
Spencer admitted that the PPP loan applications contained materially false information. Businesses applying for PPP loans were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Spencer admitted that the loan applications falsely stated that Les Prints had received $75,000 in gross income in 2020, and included a fraudulent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business reporting that false gross income. Spencer further admitted that this false information qualified Les Prints for a loan amount it otherwise would have not been qualified to receive.
Between May 3, 2021, and June 21, 2021, Spencer used a mobile payment service app to transfer a total of $4,000 from the fraudulent loan proceeds to one of the co-conspirators. Spencer admitted that she attempted to obscure the nature of these transfers by labeling them as marketing expenses for her business. Spencer further admitted that she spent the remainder of the fraudulent loan proceeds on personal expenses. Spencer also admitted that she was aware that her co-conspirators had obtained additional fraudulent PPP loans in the names of other individuals.
Spencer is scheduled to be sentenced on July 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Spencer also owes at least $31,250 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-53.
###
KCK Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kan., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm after leading police officers on a high-speed chase.
Joshua L. Alley, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to twenty-one years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 30, 2023, Alley pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon and an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Independence, Mo., police officers located a stolen 2013 Hyundai Accent parked at a local convenience store on May 18, 2023. They maintained surveillance of the vehicle until Alley came out of the store and got into the driver’s seat.
Despite the deployment of pursuit termination devices, Alley led police officers on a high-speed chase. Alley drove through a line of trees and drove the vehicle down the embankment of a small creek, disabling the vehicle. Alley climbed out of the driver’s side window of the vehicle, which was still running and in drive. The vehicle was lying vertically in the creek bed. Alley fled on foot through the woods, discarding a bag of methamphetamine as he ran, but was taken into custody.
Officers recovered the bag that had been discarded by Alley, which contained 84.8 grams of methamphetamine. An officer returned to the car, where he found a loaded Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger magazine that contained five rounds of hollow point ammunition.
Alley admitted that he used methamphetamine a couple of times a day, and that he had been using methamphetamine for the past six months.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Alley has four prior felony convictions for armed criminal action, three prior felony convictions for burglary, and prior felony convictions for robbery, stealing, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, assault, domestic assault,
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications (apps) for people with disabilities. This final rule clarifies the obligations of state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. Every day, people across the country use the web and mobile apps to access public programs and services, including emergency information, courts, healthcare providers, schools, voting information, parking, permit applications, tax payments, and transit updates. If these technologies are not accessible, it can be difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to access critical services. Consequently, individuals with disabilities may be excluded from accessing public services that other people routinely use.
“This final rule marks the Justice Department’s latest effort to ensure that no person is denied access to government services, programs, or activities because of a disability,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “By issuing clear and consistent accessibility standards for state and local governments’ digital content, this rule advances the ADA’s promise of equal participation in society for people with disabilities. I want to thank the many public servants across the Department, led by the Civil Rights Division, for their tremendous work on this rule.”
“This rule affirms the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to achieving the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act — ensuring that people with disabilities can fully and equally participate in our society,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The rule, which clarifies the standards for making mobile apps and websites accessible, is vital to people’s ability to use and benefit from public programs and services.”
“This rule is truly historic and long overdue as it will help break down barriers that have kept people with disabilities from fully participating in American life,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The rule will help ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to a full range of government services including critical activities like voting, taking online courses, applying for public benefits, filing taxes and more. For far too long, people with disabilities have been left behind as we've witnessed more services and government activity increasingly move online. This rule is helping to usher us into a new era by bringing an end to the discrimination faced by millions of Americans with vision, hearing, cognitive and manual dexterity disabilities across our country.”
The rule will provide much-needed standards for addressing a wide variety of barriers. For example, the rule will help ensure blind individuals can access information about public transportation on a city’s mobile app or website, enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate in university lectures online and allow individuals with manual disabilities affecting their ability to use a mouse to access web information about voter registration. Ensuring that people with disabilities can access web content and mobile apps and fully participate in public programs and services will improve the day-to-day lives of individuals with disabilities in communities throughout the country.
The final rule mandates technical standards for state and local governments to help ensure the accessibility of their programs and services provided through the web and mobile apps. By providing clarity on how to make sure these platforms are accessible for people with disabilities, this final rule advances the ADA’s promise of a more inclusive society. The final rule will soon be available for review on the Federal Register’s website at www.federalregister.gov. A fact sheet detailing information about the final rule is available here.
For further information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the department’s website at www.justice.gov/crt. For inquiries regarding the ADA, please contact the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or visit the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
View ASL translation here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Michigan Rental Property OwnerRead the Press Release
DETROIT— The Justice Department announced today that Michigan landlord, Mohamad Hussein, has agreed to pay $185,000 in damages and a civil penalty to the government to resolve the Fair Housing Act (FHA) lawsuit concerning Hussein’s sexual harassment of actual and prospective female tenants. Hussein has owned and managed over 15 rental properties in and around Dearborn Heights, Michigan, since 2013.
“No one should be denied the opportunity to live in safe and affordable housing because of their refusal to submit to a landlord’s sexual demands,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When landlords sexually harass their tenants, they deprive tenants of the ability to feel safe and secure in their own homes. The Justice Department is committed to holding predatory landlords accountable to ensure that all tenants are protected from unlawful discrimination.”
“Housing is one of our most basic needs, and no one should have to endure sexual harassment in order to keep a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “My office is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act to prevent all forms of harassment in housing. We appreciate the partnership and support of the Civil Rights Division to advance those efforts here in the Eastern District of Michigan.”
The lawsuit, filed in March 2023, alleged that Hussein subjected actual and prospective female tenants to sexual harassment by making unwelcome comments and advances and offered actual and prospective female tenants housing-related benefits in exchange for engaging in sex acts with him.
Under the terms of the proposed consent decree, approved today by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Hussein will pay $185,000 in damages to eight former and prospective female tenants harmed by the harassment and a civil penalty to the United States. Hussein will be required to take steps to vacate any retaliatory eviction judgments obtained against these tenants. He will be permanently enjoined from personally managing rental properties in the future and will be required to retain an independent property manager to manage any rental properties he owns. Finally, the consent decree will require Hussein to implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at his properties in the future and to take fair housing training.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The goal of the department’s initiative is to address, deter and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 39 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered more than $12 million for victims of such harassment.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the FHA, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online
Justice Department Secures Agreement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Michigan Rental Property OwnerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Michigan landlord, Mohamad Hussein, has agreed to pay $185,000 in damages and a civil penalty to the government to resolve the Fair Housing Act (FHA) lawsuit concerning Hussein’s sexual harassment of actual and prospective female tenants. Hussein has owned and managed over 15 rental properties in and around Dearborn Heights, Michigan, since 2013.
“No one should be denied the opportunity to live in safe and affordable housing because of their refusal to submit to a landlord’s sexual demands,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When landlords sexually harass their tenants, they deprive tenants of the ability to feel safe and secure in their own homes. The Justice Department is committed to holding predatory landlords accountable to ensure that all tenants are protected from unlawful discrimination.”
“Housing is one of our most basic needs, and no one should have to endure sexual harassment in order to keep a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “My office is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act to prevent all forms of harassment in housing. We appreciate the partnership and support of the Civil Rights Division to advance those efforts here in the Eastern District of Michigan.”
The lawsuit, filed in March 2023, alleged that Hussein subjected actual and prospective female tenants to sexual harassment by making unwelcome comments and advances and offered actual and prospective female tenants housing-related benefits in exchange for engaging in sex acts with him.
Under the terms of the proposed consent decree, approved today by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Hussein will pay $185,000 in damages to eight former and prospective female tenants harmed by the harassment and a civil penalty to the United States. Hussein will be required to take steps to vacate any retaliatory eviction judgments obtained against these tenants. He will be permanently enjoined from personally managing rental properties in the future and will be required to retain an independent property manager to manage any rental properties he owns. Finally, the consent decree will require Hussein to implement non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures to prevent sexual harassment at his properties in the future and to take fair housing training.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The goal of the department’s initiative is to address, deter and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 39 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered more than $12 million for victims of such harassment.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the FHA, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Gun and Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Diandre Caesar, 30, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today by a Superior Court jury of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict follows a five-day trial.
According to the government’s evidence, at around 1:00 p.m., on June 28, 2022, Caesar got into a verbal argument with the victims, who were trying to drive out of the McDonald’s parking lot on New York Avenue in Northeast Washington D.C. As the victims turned onto New York Avenue NE to leave, with their infant child in a car seat in the backseat, Caesar followed them and, after trying to open the front passenger door, kicked the rear door multiple times. The victims continued driving, at which point Caesar pulled out a firearm and fired at the car several times, striking it at least four times. Police later arrested Caesar on a warrant on August 24, 2022.
The Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2024.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Michael Toogun prosecuted the case at trial.
Jacksonville Postal Service Employee Indicted for Stealing from the MailRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Rekisha Duckworth (43, Jacksonville) with embezzlement of an article contained in the U.S. Mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. If convicted, Duckworth faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on March 1, 2023, Duckworth, who was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, stole from a mail item a retail store gift card and a bracelet. The mail item had come into her possession because it had been sent via U.S. Mail.
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 United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.
Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Weapon at FCI McDowellRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – William Williams, 24, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell, pleaded guilty today to possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 12, 2022, an FCI McDowell staff member conducted a random pat-down search of Williams and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in his left front pants pocket. The shank was a piece of metal approximately five inches long with a sharpened point on one end and a cloth handle. Williams admitted to possessing the shank, and further admitted that it was designed and intended to be used as a weapon.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-52.
###
Illinois Family Members Sentenced for Kidnapping, Forced Labor and Conspiracy for Coercing Two Minors and a Third Victim in Years-Long SchemeRead the Press Release
Domingo Francisco-Juan, 44, was sentenced today to life in prison for kidnapping, forced labor and conspiracy to commit kidnapping and forced labor. The court also ordered Francisco-Juan to pay $50,000 in restitution to a victim. His codefendant Lorenza Domingo-Castaneda, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and also ordered her to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims.
A third defendant, Catarina Domingo-Juan, 41, was previously sentenced on Dec. 18, 2023, to 240 months in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and was ordered to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims. All three defendants are siblings and Guatemalan nationals.
“Forced labor crimes exploit children and some of the most vulnerable members of society and strike at the heart of human dignity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Francisco-Juan’s sentence is historic, marking the first life sentence in over a decade in a forced labor case under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. These victims, two of them children, were subjected to physical and sexual abuse to compel them to work as domestic servants, hotel maids and factory laborers. We are grateful to the survivors of these crimes for their tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting the violence and abuse they suffered. The sentences imposed in this case should send a message to human traffickers everywhere that there will be severe consequences for their actions and the Justice Department stands ready to hold them accountable for their violent and coercive schemes.”
“The partnerships across all levels of government were imperative in bringing these individuals to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “We appreciate the dedication and time that all the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved have committed to this case. We also commend the various victim services organizations, both private and public, who provided support and services to the victims in this case. Labor traffickers are insidious in the way they control their victims, and we will continue the fight to protect endangered members of our society from these horrific crimes.”
“Today’s sentences shine a bright light on the very real presence of forced labor crimes in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago. “HSI special agents will continue to fight against the exploitation of the vulnerable and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents and our law enforcement community partners for bringing these predators to justice.”
According to court documents, the defendants, who are siblings, conspired to bring one minor victim from Guatemala to the United States to work in Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan’s homes between December 2015 and January 2021. Francisco-Juan accompanied the minor victim into the United States after falsely assuring the victim’s mother that the victim would receive a better education and opportunities within the United States if permitted to travel with him. Domingo-Juan took custody of the minor victim after falsely claiming to government officials that she was the minor victim’s relative.
Instead of providing the minor victim with access to an education and better opportunities within the United States, the defendants cut off the minor victim from her family and compelled her into working around the clock for their benefit. Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan took the money that the minor victim earned working outside of their homes, and Francisco-Juan benefitted by receiving the victim’s domestic services around the homes.
Court documents also show that Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan conspired to compel the labor and services of a separate minor victim and an adult victim in their homes and in area businesses between December 2018 and March 2021. Similar to the first minor victim, Domingo-Castaneda used false promises of a better life and education within the United States to lure the minor victim away from her mother and entice her into traveling to the United States. Instead of following through with her promises, Domingo-Castaneda, along with Domingo-Juan, compelled the minor victim and the adult victim to provide domestic services around their homes and required both victims to give them all of the earnings they made while working at area businesses.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the Champaign Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres for the Central District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Illinois Family Members Sentenced for Kidnapping, Forced Labor and Conspiracy for Coercing Two Minors and a Third Victim in Years-Long SchemeRead the Press Release
Domingo Francisco-Juan, 44, was sentenced today to life in prison for kidnapping, forced labor and conspiracy to commit kidnapping and forced labor. The court also ordered Francisco-Juan to pay $50,000 in restitution to a victim. His codefendant Lorenza Domingo-Castaneda, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and also ordered her to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims.
A third defendant, Catarina Domingo-Juan, 41, was previously sentenced on Dec. 18, 2023, to 240 months in prison for forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, and was ordered to pay over $80,000 in restitution to three victims. All three defendants are siblings and Guatemalan nationals.
“Forced labor crimes exploit children and some of the most vulnerable members of society and strike at the heart of human dignity,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Francisco-Juan’s sentence is historic, marking the first life sentence in over a decade in a forced labor case under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. These victims, two of them children, were subjected to physical and sexual abuse to compel them to work as domestic servants, hotel maids and factory laborers. We are grateful to the survivors of these crimes for their tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting the violence and abuse they suffered. The sentences imposed in this case should send a message to human traffickers everywhere that there will be severe consequences for their actions and the Justice Department stands ready to hold them accountable for their violent and coercive schemes.”
“The partnerships across all levels of government were imperative in bringing these individuals to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “We appreciate the dedication and time that all the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved have committed to this case. We also commend the various victim services organizations, both private and public, who provided support and services to the victims in this case. Labor traffickers are insidious in the way they control their victims, and we will continue the fight to protect endangered members of our society from these horrific crimes.”
“Today’s sentences shine a bright light on the very real presence of forced labor crimes in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago. “HSI special agents will continue to fight against the exploitation of the vulnerable and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents and our law enforcement community partners for bringing these predators to justice.”
According to court documents, the defendants, who are siblings, conspired to bring one minor victim from Guatemala to the United States to work in Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan’s homes between December 2015 and January 2021. Francisco-Juan accompanied the minor victim into the United States after falsely assuring the victim’s mother that the victim would receive a better education and opportunities within the United States if permitted to travel with him. Domingo-Juan took custody of the minor victim after falsely claiming to government officials that she was the minor victim’s relative.
Instead of providing the minor victim with access to an education and better opportunities within the United States, the defendants cut off the minor victim from her family and compelled her into working around the clock for their benefit. Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan took the money that the minor victim earned working outside of their homes, and Francisco-Juan benefitted by receiving the victim’s domestic services around the homes.
Court documents also show that Domingo-Castaneda and Domingo-Juan conspired to compel the labor and services of a separate minor victim and an adult victim in their homes and in area businesses between December 2018 and March 2021. Similar to the first minor victim, Domingo-Castaneda used false promises of a better life and education within the United States to lure the minor victim away from her mother and entice her into traveling to the United States. Instead of following through with her promises, Domingo-Castaneda, along with Domingo-Juan, compelled the minor victim and the adult victim to provide domestic services around their homes and required both victims to give them all of the earnings they made while working at area businesses.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the Champaign Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorney Kate Alexander of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres for the Central District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Idaho Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Alexander Scott Mercurio, 18, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was arrested Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Coeur d’Alene for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Mercurio pledged his allegiance to ISIS and intended to commit attacks on its behalf. He planned to attack individuals at churches in Coeur d’Alene on April 7 using weapons, including knives, firearms, and fire.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation and thwarted Mercurio’s violent plot. Mercurio is currently in custody awaiting his initial appearance which will be set by the Court.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant swore an oath of loyalty to ISIS and planned to wage an attack in its name on churches in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Thanks to the investigative efforts of the FBI, the defendant was taken into custody before he could act, and he is now charged with attempting to support ISIS’s mission of terror and violence. The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who would commit acts of terrorism against the people and interests of the United States.”
“The defendant allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS and sought to attack people attending churches in Idaho, a truly horrific plan which was detected and thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who wish to commit acts of violence on behalf of – or inspired by – foreign terrorist groups.”
“Across the Department of Justice, and in my office, we have no higher calling than to protect our nation and our communities from terrorism. Along with our law enforcement partners, my office will always remain laser-focused on this part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. “I want to thank the FBI for its tireless work on this investigation and its thorough efforts to prevent violence. The support from local law enforcement was also integral to successfully disrupting the alleged plot.”
“This case should be an eye-opener to the dangers of self-radicalization, which is a real threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Protecting the American people from terrorism remains the FBI’s number one priority, and we continue to encourage the public to report anything suspicious to the FBI or your local law enforcement.”
Mercurio is charged by a federal complaint with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. If convicted, Mercurio faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather S. Patricco and David G. Robins and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Whatcott for the District of Idaho, and Charles Kovats and Andrea Broach of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ComplaintHarrodsburg Man Convicted of Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking in Johnson CountyRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Harrodsburg, Ky., man, Aristotle White, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 181 months in prison, for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.
White was convicted of the charges after a two-day trial in November 2023. According to evidence presented at trial, on May 11, 2022, officers with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was being driven by White. During the search of the vehicle, law enforcement located nearly 300 grams of methamphetamine, two loaded firearms, and over $2,500 in United States currency. Witness testimony revealed White to be regularly obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine and importing it into, among other places, Johnson County.
Under federal law, White must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; Sheriff Scott Hazelette, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department; and Sheriff William Meade, Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announce the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, and Operation UNITE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
— END —
Fourteenth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Prison Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A fourteenth defendant pled guilty today in federal court for his role in a prison drug conspiracy.
Trae Short, 39, pled guilty to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by conspiring to introduce contraband into a federal prison.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in 2018, agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency received information from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that drug laced letters and greeting cards were being sent to inmates in BOP from the Southern District of Mississippi. The drug laced letters and cards were intercepted at prisons in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
DEA and BOP officials were able to determine that inmates were ordering the drug laced letters and cards from Johnson Tran, 46, via prison email accounts and jail calls. The inmates would typically order the drugs using coded language. The letters or greeting cards were laced with FUB-AMB and 5F-MDMB-PICA, which are Schedule I controlled substances and synthetic cannabinoids. Many of the letters and greeting cards were sent through the postal service in Gulfport. Tran’s base of operation was located in Harrison County, Mississippi.
Agents were also able to determine that Tran would ultimately receive payment for the drugs that he sent into prison via U.S. Department of Treasury checks drawn from the inmate’s prison accounts and/or peer-to-peer money transfers from associates or family members of the inmates. When Tran’s associates would receive funds on Tran’s behalf, Tran would give them a portion of the funds they received as payment for their services.
On April 18, 2023, twenty defendants were initially charged as part of the prison drug and money laundering ring. Johnson Tran and fourteen of the defendants have now pleaded guilty. Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. William Hernandez and Chaze Lowery pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and they each face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Ryan Schmittaur pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Defendants Jorge Pena, Bobby Huneycutt, Clarence Plato, Ryan Douglas, Bryan Simmons, Salomon Alaya, Stanley Spriggs, Corderius Trammell, and Jonathan Estrada have all pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States by conspiring to introduce contraband to a federal prison. They each face a maximum of five years in prison.
Four remaining defendants are scheduled for trial in June 2024. A fifth defendant has been arrested, and is scheduled to appear on April 9, 2024, in the Southern District of Mississippi; and a sixth defendant has indicated that he intends to plead guilty and is awaiting his change of plea hearing.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Prisons, is investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
Four Individuals Indicted for Drug Trafficking over 2,300 Kilograms of Cocaine Aboard a Semi-Submersible VesselRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging four individuals: Juan José Castaño-Palomo (a dual French and Colombian national) and Colombian nationals Carlos Alberto Bravo-Sarasty, Gustavo Rodríguez-Salazar, and Emilson Yordao Quiñonez-Hachito, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States in violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA), as well as violations of the Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act (DTVIA).
According to court documents, on March 21, 2024, while patrolling the Caribbean Sea, a United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment Team embarked on the United States Navy vessel USS Leyte Gulf located a semi-submersible approximately 132 nautical miles northeast of Trinidad and Tobago in international waters. USCG law enforcement officers boarded the vessel. The boarding led to the arrest of the four individuals and the seizure of approximately 2,370 kilograms of cocaine (almost 6,000 pounds).
The four defendants made their initial court appearances on April 2, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. Lopez of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug trafficking charges and a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison for violations of the DTVIA.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Denise Foster, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Caribbean Division made the announcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena B. Daniel and Max Pérez-Bouret, Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. 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-coordinated, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Former Venezuelan General Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Providing Material Support to the FARCRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CLÍVER ANTONIO ALCALÁ CORDONES was sentenced to 260 months in prison for providing material support, including firearms, to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the “FARC”). ALCALÁ CORDONES pled guilty on June 29, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a high-ranking member of the Venezuelan military and the Cártel de Los Soles, Clíver Antonio Alcalá Cordones and his co-conspirators sought to weaponize cocaine as they helped the FARC arm its members and ship tons of drugs to the United States. Alcalá Cordones corrupted the vital institutions of his own country as he helped the FARC flood this country with cocaine — but no longer. Instead, he will now spend more than two decades in a United States prison.”
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings:[1]
ALCALÁ CORDONES, a Venezuelan citizen and a former general in Venezuela’s military, along with other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, acted as leaders and managers of the Cártel de Los Soles, or “Cartel of the Suns.” ALCALÁ CORDONES and other Cartel members abused the Venezuelan people and corrupted the legitimate institutions of Venezuela — including parts of the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and judiciary — to facilitate the importation of tons of cocaine into the United States in partnership with the FARC, a violent organization based in Colombia that was dedicated to the overthrow of the Colombian government and responsible for the production and distribution of the majority of the cocaine that eventually reached the United States. The Cártel de Los Soles sought not only to enrich its members and enhance their power but also to weaponize cocaine by inflicting the drug’s harmful and addictive effects on users in the United States.
Beginning in or about 2006, ALCALÁ CORDONES took advantage of his position in the Venezuelan military, including his command of thousands of heavily armed military officers, to provide support to the FARC as the FARC distributed tons of U.S.-bound cocaine. Among other things, ALCALÁ CORDONES (i) prevented FARC members and associates from being arrested by Venezuelan law enforcement or being engaged by the Venezuelan military; (ii) provided protection, including freedom of movement and freedom from interference, for FARC members and associates that the defendant knew trafficked cocaine; and (iii) provided high-powered weapons to the FARC, including directly to high-ranking FARC leaders such as Luciano Marín Arango, a/k/a “Iván Márquez,” and Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri, a/k/a “Timochenko.” ALCALÁ CORDONES also directly participated in the FARC’s cocaine distribution. Among other things, ALCALÁ CORDONES participated in meetings with some of the largest drug traffickers in South America, during which they discussed how ALCALÁ CORDONES and other members of the Cártel de Los Soles could assist in their cocaine distribution. ALCALÁ CORDONES also personally intervened to ensure that large shipments — over thousands of kilograms of cocaine — were not interdicted by law enforcement in Venezuela. In exchange, ALCALÁ CORDONES received millions of dollars in cocaine-fueled bribes.
* * *
ALCALÁ CORDONES, 62, of Caracas, Venezuela, pled guilty to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the FARC, and for knowingly receiving and transferring firearms, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that such firearms would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism, namely, the provision of material support and resources to the FARC. In addition to the prison term, ALCALÁ CORDONES was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“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.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, Miami Field Division, the OCDETF New York Strike Force, and the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Kaylan E. Lasky, Kevin T. Sullivan, and Kyle A. Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] Communications, conversations, and statements discussed and quoted herein are described in substance and in part.
Former Office Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling over $8.5 MillionRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Sonya Hesenius, a former office manager and executive assistant for a company in Alpharetta, Georgia, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $8.5 million between 2015 and 2020.
“Hesenius will now be held accountable for her flagrant theft of millions of dollars from her employer to support a lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Hesenius was entrusted with handling the financial responsibilities for the company where she worked. But she chose to steal from the company, blatantly using company funds to pay for expensive, overseas vacations for herself and family members, plastic surgery, shopping binges at exclusive retail stores, and other exorbitant purchases.”
“Hesenius worked in a position of trust for a company that expected her to honor that trust,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Instead, she chose to abuse it and her personal greed not only hurt the company, but everyone who worked for them. This sentence should send the message that the FBI takes wire fraud extremely seriously and will work to hold offenders accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between 2015 and 2020, Sonya Hesenius was employed as an office manager and executive assistant at a company in Alpharetta, Georgia that provides third-party yard management services. During her employment, Hesenius made fraudulent charges on corporate credit cards and caused the company to reimburse her personal credit card for personal expenses. To conceal her scheme, she coded and approved all the charges herself, withheld supporting documentation from the company, and disguised the unauthorized expenditures in the company’s accounting system as legitimate expenses such as newspaper advertisements. Hesenius further spread the expenditures among different job sites to further conceal the fraud.
Hesenius used the fraudulently obtained funds to live a lavish lifestyle, resulting in staggering losses to her employer. Her fraudulent activities included company expenditures for: (1) more than $172,000 on her daughter’s wedding; (2) more than $600,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue on items such as designer handbags; (3) over $460,000 for herself, family members, and friends to travel all over the world; (4) flying herself and her family on private jets to vacations in France, Greece, Hawaii, and Turks and Caicos, totaling more than $145,000; (5) tickets to attend University of Tennessee sporting events, the Kentucky Derby, the Masters, the Stanley Cup Finals, and various concerts, totaling more than $238,000; (6) a recreational vehicle costing more than $100,000, using $40,000 of company money as a down payment; (7) hundreds of thousands of dollars on high-end furniture; (8) plastic surgery and dental expenses; and (9) conversions of company funds into cash through over $1 million in PayPal, Venmo, and Square transfers to herself and family members. In total, Hesenius embezzled $8,614,729.37 over the course of the fraud scheme.
Sonya Hesenius, 60, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced by U.S District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hesenius was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,614,729.37. Hesenius was convicted on these charges on November 29, 2023, after she pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Michigan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive Force on ArresteeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A former police officer with the Warren Police Department in Michigan pleaded guilty today to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Matthew Rodriguez, 49, pleaded guilty to using excessive force against an arrestee while fingerprinting and photographing him at a local detention facility.
“This police officer carried out a violent assault on a man who was doing nothing to harm or endanger him and then tried to cover up his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Police officers are not above the law in our country and will be held accountable when they violate people’s civil and constitutional rights. When law enforcement abuses their authority, it erodes trust between the police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve. The Justice Department stands ready and willing to investigate and prosecute any police officer who unlawfully uses excessive force against those in their custody.”
“The defendant’s actions in this case were shocking and flagrantly violate the standards of conduct we expect of all sworn law enforcement officers,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “This investigation, and today’s guilty plea, reflect my office’s commitment to protecting the rights of every citizen in the community, even those who are accused of committing crimes.”
“It is important for the citizens of Michigan to have faith in law enforcement officers and trust that they are performing their duties with integrity,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This incident should not be considered a reflection of the excellent work performed by the officers in serving and protecting the community every day. Our officers placed their lives on the line, day in and day out, for the citizens of this great state. However, it is important to maintain the highest standards and hold each other accountable as we honor our oaths of office. I would like to thank the city of Warren for their cooperation during our investigation.”
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, then-officer Rodriguez was fingerprinting and photographing an arrestee, identified in court documents only as J.S., who had recently been brought to the Warren Police Department’s jail for processing. After taking J.S.’s fingerprints, Rodriguez struck J.S. multiple times and slammed J.S.’s head against the floor, causing injury to J.S. When Rodriguez began to assault him, J.S. was not physically resisting Rodriguez and posed no immediate threat to anyone.
During the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted that he knew that his use of force against J.S. was unreasonable and contrary to department policy, and that he wrote a report in which he made false statements about the incident and omitted material information. J.S. suffered bodily injury from the beating.
The Warren Police Department publicly released footage of the assault in June 2023.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20. He 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.
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Michigan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive Force on ArresteeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former police officer with the Warren Police Department in Michigan pleaded guilty today to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Matthew Rodriguez, 49, pleaded guilty to using excessive force against an arrestee while fingerprinting and photographing him at a local detention facility.
“This police officer carried out a violent assault on a man who was doing nothing to harm or endanger him and then tried to cover up his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Police officers are not above the law in our country and will be held accountable when they violate people’s civil and constitutional rights. When law enforcement abuses their authority, it erodes trust between the police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve. The Justice Department stands ready and willing to investigate and prosecute any police officer who unlawfully uses excessive force against those in their custody.”
“The defendant’s actions in this case were shocking and flagrantly violate the standards of conduct we expect of all sworn law enforcement officers,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “This investigation, and today’s guilty plea, reflect my office’s commitment to protecting the rights of every citizen in the community, even those who are accused of committing crimes.”
“It is important for the citizens of Michigan to have faith in law enforcement officers and trust that they are performing their duties with integrity,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This incident should not be considered a reflection of the excellent work performed by the officers in serving and protecting the community every day. Our officers placed their lives on the line, day in and day out, for the citizens of this great state. However, it is important to maintain the highest standards and hold each other accountable as we honor our oaths of office. I would like to thank the city of Warren for their cooperation during our investigation.”
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, then-officer Rodriguez was fingerprinting and photographing an arrestee, identified in court documents only as J.S., who had recently been brought to the Warren Police Department’s jail for processing. After taking J.S.’s fingerprints, Rodriguez struck J.S. multiple times and slammed J.S.’s head against the floor, causing injury to J.S. When Rodriguez began to assault him, J.S. was not physically resisting Rodriguez and posed no immediate threat to anyone.
During the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted that he knew that his use of force against J.S. was unreasonable and contrary to department policy, and that he wrote a report in which he made false statements about the incident and omitted material information. J.S. suffered bodily injury from the beating.
The Warren Police Department publicly released footage of the assault in June 2023.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20. He 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.
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Michigan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense for Using Excessive Force on ArresteeRead the Press Release
A former police officer with the Warren Police Department in Michigan pleaded guilty today to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
Matthew Rodriguez, 49, pleaded guilty to using excessive force against an arrestee while fingerprinting and photographing him at a local detention facility.
“This police officer carried out a violent assault on a man who was doing nothing to harm or endanger him and then tried to cover up his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Police officers are not above the law in our country and will be held accountable when they violate people’s civil and constitutional rights. When law enforcement abuses their authority, it erodes trust between the police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve. The Justice Department stands ready and willing to investigate and prosecute any police officer who unlawfully uses excessive force against those in their custody.”
“The defendant’s actions in this case were shocking and flagrantly violate the standards of conduct we expect of all sworn law enforcement officers,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “This investigation, and today’s guilty plea, reflect my office’s commitment to protecting the rights of every citizen in the community, even those who are accused of committing crimes.”
“Police officers are trusted to determine when force is necessary and when it deprives people of their civil rights,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “FBI investigations like these are key to removing abusive officers from law enforcement and a step towards restoring trust with the community.”
According to court documents, on June 13, 2023, then-officer Rodriguez was fingerprinting and photographing an arrestee, identified in court documents only as J.S., who had recently been brought to the Warren Police Department’s jail for processing. After taking J.S.’s fingerprints, Rodriguez struck J.S. multiple times and slammed J.S.’s head against the floor, causing injury to J.S. When Rodriguez began to assault him, J.S. was not physically resisting Rodriguez and posed no immediate threat to anyone.
During the plea hearing, Rodriguez admitted that he knew that his use of force against J.S. was unreasonable and contrary to department policy, and that he wrote a report in which he made false statements about the incident and omitted material information. J.S. suffered bodily injury from the beating.
The Warren Police Department publicly released footage of the assault in June 2023.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20. He 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.
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Jail Corrections Officer, Wife Sentenced for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former corrections officer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center and his wife were sentenced in federal court today to charges related to video recording their sexual assault of a 4-year-old victim.
Paul Emerson Schofield, 35, and his wife, Sara Ellen Schofield, 31, both of Jefferson City, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. Paul Schofield was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison without parole. Sara Schofield was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced the Schofields to spend the rest of their lives on supervised release following incarceration.
On Nov. 7, 2023, the Schofields each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of producing child pornography. The Schofields, who have been in federal custody without bond since their arrests in 2022, admitted they participated in a conspiracy to produce child pornography over a nearly three-year period from July 29, 2019, to June 7, 2022. A 4-year-old victim was used to produce child pornography.
The investigation began when law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on April 25, 2022. Kik, a free online social media platform, reported that a user later identified as Paul Schofield had uploaded multiple videos of child sexual exploitation material.
Paul Schofield was active in the child pornography trading community. Multiple Kik chats were located in which he was distributing and receiving child pornography and discussing child molestation.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Schofields’ residence on June 7, 2022. A forensic examiner conducted a preview of Paul Schofield’s cell phone and located several videos of child pornography, including infants engaged in sexual contact with adults. Examiners later found videos on the phone of both Paul and Sara Schofield sexually assaulting an unconscious 4-year-old victim.
On June 9, 2022, law enforcement officers executed another search warrant at the Schofields’ residence. Officers seized Sara Schofield’s cell phone, which contained another sexually explicit video of the same 4-year-old victim in which the voices of Paul and Sara Schofield can be heard.
At the time of the offense, Paul Schofield was employed as a corrections officer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City.
The Schofields will be required to register as a sex offenders upon their release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout their life.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force and the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
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.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former Hendry County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Using Excessive Force and ObstructionRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Tyler Williams (29, Labelle) with deprivation of civil rights under color of law. Specifically, Williams is charged with unreasonable use of force and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the use of force charge, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the obstruction charge. Williams is a former deputy sheriff from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The indictment alleges that on or about July 4, 2023, Williams, while acting under color of law as a deputy sheriff with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, willfully deprived the civil rights of a man by throwing him to the ground and injuring him. Williams then wrote a false justification for the use of force on the man in an incident report, obstructing justice.
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.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Tampa Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick L. Darcey and Jesus M. Casas.
Former FHP Trooper and DEA Task Force Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Narcotics, Defrauding the United States, and Illegally Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joshua Grady Earrey (45, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute narcotics, one count of conspiring to defraud the United States, and one count of possessing firearms and ammunition while an unlawful user of controlled substances. Earrey faces a combined maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison on these offenses, including a minimum mandatory sentence of at least 5 years for the drug distribution conspiracy. He has further agreed to forfeit the firearms and ammunition involved in these offenses.
According to the plea agreement, while employed as a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper and designated Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Earrey and a co-conspirator engaged in widespread and extensive corrupt activity from 2017 - 2023. These corrupt acts included the theft of money and illegal drugs that were seized as evidence during criminal investigations; providing the illegal drugs to others to distribute on his behalf; and extorting or accepting cash payments from drug dealers in exchange for protecting them from arrest by law enforcement.
Earrey and his co-conspirator stole more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana from evidence and covered up the theft by submitting falsified paperwork showing that the drugs had been destroyed. Earrey, who had an addiction to prescription opiates, also used his corrupt activities to obtain illegal drugs for his own use. On one occasion, he traded cases of ammunition that he had diverted from the Florida Highway Patrol to a convicted murderer in exchange for oxycodone. Despite knowing that his drug addiction made it illegal for him to have firearms and ammunition, Earrey continued to possess these items in violation of federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service -- Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection wish to thank the Florida Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their cooperation during this investigation.
Federal Inmate Indicted for Assault with Intent to Commit MurderRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Shane McMillan (50, Texas) has been indicted for one count of assault with the intent to murder and one count of possession of contraband by a federal inmate. If convicted, McMillan faces up to 25 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, McMillan is an inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. On July 9, 2023, he assaulted another inmate with the intent to commit murder. McMillan was also in possession of a sharp metal object, which is a prohibited item in prison.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
El Departamento de Justicia publicará una norma final para fortalecer el acceso a aplicaciones móviles y la web para personas con discapacidadesRead the Press Release
El Fiscal General Merrick B. Garland firmó hoy una norma final en virtud del Título II de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) para garantizar la accesibilidad de contenido web y las aplicaciones móviles (aplicaciones) para personas con discapacidades. Esta norma final aclara las obligaciones de los gobiernos estatales y locales de hacer accesibles a sus sitios web y aplicaciones móviles.
Cada día, personas por todo el país utilizan las aplicaciones móviles y la web para acceder a programas y servicios públicos, lo que incluye información de emergencia, tribunales, proveedores de atención médica, escuelas, información sobre la votación, aparcamiento, solicitudes de permisos, pagos de impuestos y actualizaciones de tránsito. Si estas tecnologías no son accesibles, puede ser difícil o imposible para las personas con discapacidades acceder a servicios críticos. Como resultado, las personas con discapacidades pueden ser excluidas del acceso a servicios públicos que otras personas utilizan habitualmente.
“Esta norma final marca el esfuerzo más reciente del Departamento de Justicia para garantizar que a ninguna persona se le niegue el acceso a servicios, programas o actividades gubernamentales debido a una discapacidad”, declaró el Fiscal General Merrick B. Garland. “Al emitir estándares de accesibilidad claros y coherentes para el contenido digital de los gobiernos estatales y locales, esta norma promueve la promesa de la ADA de igualdad de participación en la sociedad para las personas con discapacidades. Quiero agradecer a muchos funcionarios públicos de todo el Departamento, liderados por la División de Derechos Civiles, por su tremendo trabajo en esta norma”.
“Esta norma afirma el compromiso inquebrantable del Departamento de Justicia de cumplir con la promesa de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades, garantizando que las personas con discapacidades puedan participar plena y equitativamente en nuestra sociedad”, afirmó el Fiscal General Asociado en funciones, Benjamin C. Mizer. “La norma, que aclara los estándares para hacer accesibles las aplicaciones móviles y los sitios web, es primordial para la capacidad de las personas de usar y beneficiarse de programas y servicios públicos”.
“Esta norma es verdaderamente histórica y pendiente desde hace mucho tiempo, ya que ayudará a romper las barreras que han impedido que las personas con discapacidades participen plenamente en la vida estadounidense”, comentó la Fiscal General Adjunta de la División de Derechos Civiles, Kristen Clarke. “La norma ayudará a garantizar que las personas con discapacidades tengan la igualdad de acceso a una gama completa de servicios gubernamentales, entre ellos actividades críticas como votar, realizar cursos en línea, solicitar beneficios públicos, presentar impuestos y más. Durante demasiado tiempo, las personas con discapacidades se han quedado atrás mientras cada vez más servicios y actividades gubernamentales se están trasladando al Internet. Esta norma nos está ayudando a dar paso a una nueva etapa al poner fin a la discriminación a la que se enfrentan millones de estadounidenses con discapacidades de vista, audición, cognitivas y manuales por todo nuestro país”.
La norma proporcionará estándares muy necesarios para abordar una amplia variedad de barreras. Por ejemplo, la norma ayudará a garantizar que las personas ciegas puedan acceder a información sobre el transporte público en la aplicación móvil o el sitio web de una ciudad, permitir que las personas sordas o con dificultades auditivas participen en conferencias universitarias en línea y permitir que las personas con discapacidades manuales que afectan su capacidad de usar un ratón acceden a información en línea sobre el registro de votantes. Garantizar que las personas con discapacidades puedan acceder a contenido web y aplicaciones móviles y participar plenamente en programas y servicios públicos mejorará la vida diaria de las personas con discapacidades en comunidades por todo el país.
La norma final exige estándares técnicos para los gobiernos estatales y locales ayuden con el fin de garantizar la accesibilidad de sus programas y servicios proporcionados a través de la web y las aplicaciones móviles. Al proporcionar claridad sobre cómo asegurarse de que estas plataformas sean accesibles para las personas con discapacidades, esta norma final hace avanzar la promesa de la ADA de una sociedad más inclusiva.
La norma final pronto estará disponible para su revisión en el sitio web del Registro Federal en www.federalregister.gov (solo en inglés). Pronto estará disponible una hoja informativa que detalla la información sobre la norma final en www.ada.gov (solo en inglés).Para obtener más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles, visite el sitio web del Departamento en https://www.justice.gov/es/crt. Para consultas relacionadas con la ADA, comuníquese con la línea gratuita del Departamento para información sobre la ADA al 800-514-0301 (voz) o al 833-610-1264 (TTY) o bien visite el sitio web de la ADA en www.ada.gov (solo en inglés).
Drug Trafficker Who Participated in the Delivery of Thousands of Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Lawrence, MA, resident arrested in May 2021 by members of the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force after he participated in deliveries of significant quantities of fentanyl-laced pills in Pawtucket, RI, and Dorchester, MA, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Roberto Anibal Nieves Zayas, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence on January 20, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced on April 4, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 84 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years of federal supervised release.
According to charging documents and information presented to the court, in April and May 2021, the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force arranged for deliveries of large quantities of fentanyl-laced pills. On April 29, Nieves Zayas delivered 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for $5,000 in cash. The delivery occurred in a parking lot of a Pawtucket restaurant by one of two men who arrived in a car bearing Massachusetts license plates. Task Force members watched as the delivery was made and quickly seized the drugs, while other agents followed the vehicle to an apartment complex in Lawrence, MA.
On May 24, 2021, the DEA arranged to purchase 25,000 fentanyl pills for $125,000. Two days later, as the delivery of the pills was taking place inside a passenger van in a parking lot of a Dorchester, MA, restaurant, DEA Rhode Island Task Force agents moved in and seized a large plastic garbage bag containing 3.4 kilograms of fentanyl pills. Nieves Zayas and a co-defendant were arrested.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Middletown Police Department; Newport Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; Providence Police Department; Warwick Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; and Amtrak Police.
###
Decatur Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Decatur, Illinois, man, Kevin Dial, 52, of the 5100th block of Hickory Point Frontage Road, was sentenced on April 5, 2024, to 50 years imprisonment for sexual exploitation of minors, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Dial directed the sexual abuse of three minors, including a two-year-old child, and ordered that the abuse be recorded. The government also presented a statement by one of the victims detailing the trauma he suffered because of the sexual abuse he endured at the order of Dial.
During the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce described Dial’s actions as “horrific,” noting the defendant had destroyed the lives of his victims. The Court further described this case as one of the worst cases that had come before him.
Dial was convicted following a three-day jury trial in October of 2023.
At sentencing, Dial faced statutory penalties of 15 to 30 years imprisonment on each count of the sexual exploitation of his children and up to 20 years for receiving and possessing child pornography. Those penalties could be imposed to be served consecutively, which the Court chose to do.
“The acts by this defendant are beyond comprehension.” said United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris, “We commend the complex work done locally and abroad by the dedicated law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us and seek justice for these innocent victims.”
“From Decatur, Illinois, to the Philippines, the FBI’s extensive reach delivered justice to children who were victims of one of the worst child sexual abuse cases we have seen in some time,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The investigation, which resulted in a significant sentence, demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to use the full strength of our authority to protect children.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Philippine National Police, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Ritzer and Nathan Bertrand represented the government in the prosecution.
Crip Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Charge to 180 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on April 3, 2024 to 180 months in federal prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Dominic Gregory Lacava, 27, a convicted felon and Crip gang member, possessed at least four firearms over a six-month time period. Lacava possessed the firearms in connection with other felonies, including the physical abuse of three minor children, the physical abuse of his significant other, the sexual abuse of a child, and drug-related felonies. At the time of this federal offense, Lacava was on state of Iowa supervision for multiple crimes, including drug felonies and assault.
Lacava’s conduct was discovered during a larger federal investigation into firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, as well as gang activity. Two federal search warrants were executed at Lacava’s Des Moines, Iowa, residence, leading to the recovery of three firearms. Two of those firearms were acquired through Lacava’s use of a straw purchaser.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Lacava will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This sentencing today reflects ATF’s ongoing commitment to vigorously combat individuals that commit violent, gun-related crimes in our communities,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “Today’s maximum sentence is justly served to a convicted felon in possession of a firearm who used them to commit acts of violence against women and children. ATF will work swiftly to remove dangerous individuals off our streets and with every arrest, and every successful prosecution, like this case, means that risks to public safety are being removed from our communities.”
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the Des Moines Police Department.
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.
Convicted felon sentenced to 220 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of firearmRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On April 2, a man was sentenced to 220 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance on his drug trafficking crime.
On Sept. 15, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence of Sidney Arnel Flerme, 31, of Boynton Beach, Florida. Prior to executing the search warrant, law enforcement officers saw Flerme leave his residence. Upon noticing the law enforcement officers, Flerme threw a plastic bag onto the ground. Law enforcement officers arrested Flerme shortly after. Law enforcement officers recovered the bag and found inside approximately 26 capsules of fentanyl. Inside Flerme’s residence, law enforcement officers discovered close to 300 grams of fentanyl, multiple zip lock bags containing fentanyl, digital scales, empty capsules, a blender with fentanyl residue and a four-ton pill press. Law enforcement officers also located a loaded semi-automatic pistol on top of the kitchen counter next to the fentanyl and the rest of the stuff.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Chief Joseph DeGiulio of the Boynton Beach Police Department (BBPD) made the announcement.
ATF Miami Field Office and BBPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Stone and Mitchell Hyman handled asset forfeiture.
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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-80001.
###