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28 March 2024
Farmington Man Charged with Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man faces federal charges for engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 16. Daniel Washburn, 29, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance where the Court temporarily detained him pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for April 1, 2024.
The indictment alleges that in February 2019, Washburn engaged in a sexual act with a victim who had not attained the age of 16 and was at least four years younger than Washburn.
Washburn is charged with sexual abuse of a minor. If convicted, Washburn faces up to 15 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eleventh and Twelfth Defendants Plead Guilty in Large-Scale Sacramento Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maurice Bryant, 53, of Antelope, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to traffic at least 5,000 grams of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base, and Steven Hampton, 64, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Bryant and Hampton are among the 15 federal defendants arrested in 2021 and charged in a 45-count indictment for trafficking narcotics as part of a DEA-led multi-agency operation targeting cocaine and heroin traffickers in North Sacramento. Bryant was intercepted during wiretaps in 2018 and 2019 trafficking kilograms of cocaine and cocaine base and was arrested in possession of two firearms and a bullet proof vest. Hampton was intercepted trafficking cocaine, cocaine base, and heroin, and arrested in possession of 949 grams of heroin, 567 grams of cocaine, and 34 grams of cocaine base.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond is prosecuting the case.
Bryant and Hampton are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Bryant faces at least 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Hampton faces at least five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Five defendants have already been convicted and sentenced for crimes related to the conspiracy: Jason Tolbert, 45, of Sacramento; Charles Carter, 36, of Sacramento; Michael Hampton, 57, of Vallejo; Arlington Caine, 48, of Rio Linda; and Bobby Conner, 51, of Sacramento.
Five more defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing in April and May 2024: Andre Hellams, 40, of North Highlands; Jerome Adams, 56, of North Highlands; Dwight Haney, 52, of Sacramento; Tyrone Anderson, 43, of Sacramento; and Mark Martin, 63, of Sacramento.
Charges remain pending against the following defendants: Yovanny Ontiveros, 41, of Sacramento; Alex White, 61, of North Highlands; and Wilmer Harden, 52, of Elk Grove. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.
East Bay Man Pleads Guilty to Selling $3.5M Counterfeit Electronics Used in Sophisticated Military Weapons SystemsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND — Steve H.S. Kim pleaded guilty today to a scheme to defraud the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) by selling over $3.5 million worth of fan assemblies to the DLA that were either counterfeit or misrepresented to be new. The plea was accepted by the Hon. Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., United States District Judge.
“Through his company, Kim delivered counterfeit products to our armed services and tried to pass off non-conforming products with fake invoices,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “Swindling our military is a sure way to find oneself in jail. This office is always on the lookout for fraudsters and will prosecute anyone caught cheating our military by providing products that endanger our service people or compromise our readiness.”
“The defendant sold counterfeit and deficient fan assemblies for use in military systems to increase his profit,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals who cheat the U.S. military by selling deficient or counterfeit goods put our national security at risk. This case demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the military supply chain and Americans’ security.”
According to court documents, Kim, 63, of Alameda County, and Company A sold counterfeit fan assemblies to the DLA, including used and surplus fan assemblies that he claimed were new. To trick the DLA into accepting the fan assemblies, Kim created counterfeit labels – some of which used Company B’s registered trademarks – that he attached to the fan assemblies he sold to the DLA. When the DLA questioned Kim about the origin of the fan assemblies he sold to the DLA, Kim concealed his scheme by giving the DLA fake tracing documents that he created and often signed using a false identity. Some of these counterfeit fans were installed or intended to be installed with electrical components of a nuclear submarine, a laser system on an aircraft, and a surface-to-air missile system.
“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office. “Supplying counterfeit products to the DoD endangers the mission and betrays the public’s trust. This investigation demonstrates DCIS’ ongoing commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who defraud the DoD accountable.”
“NCIS and our law enforcement partners work diligently to thwart attempts to infiltrate the DoD supply chain with potentially damaging counterfeit product,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “This case highlights the efforts of the investigative team to expeditiously shut down such a scheme and prevent possible grievous harm to our ability to conduct effective combat operations.”
“This case reflects HSI’s core mission set of investigating national security threats as well as protecting global trade and government supply chains,” said Special Agent in Charge Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “In this case, the serious risks posed to mission readiness were especially alarming. HSI appreciates the joint efforts of NCIS, DCIS, and Army CID, together with the Justice Department, in bringing the violator to justice.”
“The result of this joint investigation underscores the importance of our federal law enforcement partnerships and shows that by working together we can identify, prosecute, and dismantle businesses that supply the U.S. military with fraudulent parts and services,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (Army CID) Fraud Field Office. “Our army communities and the public can rest assured that we are committed to pursuing anyone that would defraud the U.S. government for their own personal gain and put combat readiness at risk.”
Kim pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods. Judge Gilliam scheduled a hearing for Kim’s sentencing for July 17. Kim and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count and 10 years in prison on the trafficking in counterfeit goods count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
DCIS, NCIS, HSI, and Army CID are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lloyd-Lovett for the Northern District of California, Criminal Division Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kyle C. Hankey, and Trial Attorneys Louis Manzo and David D. Hamstra of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant Chief Adrienne Rose and Senior Counsels Jason Gull and Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section provided substantial assistance with the investigation.
Dubuque Man Who Trafficked Hundreds of Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who trafficked over 300 pounds of ice methamphetamine in the Dubuque, Iowa, area was sentenced today to more than 11 years in federal prison.
Jason Laufenberg, age 39, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 5, 2023 guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that from 2019 to 2021, Laufenberg and co-conspirators trafficked over 300 pounds of ice methamphetamine in the Dubuque, Iowa, area. Each pound cost Laufenberg about $3,500.
Laufenberg was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Laufenberg was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 4-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Laufenberg 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 Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR-1008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Disturbance Call Results in Fort Dodge Man Pleading Guilty to Federal Firearm and Methamphetamine ChargesRead the Press Release
Nicholas Janvrin, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Janvrin pled guilty March 27, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City.
Janvrin was previously convicted of burglary, third degree, in the Iowa District Court for Hamilton County, in 2021. This type of conviction prohibits Janvrin from possessing any firearm.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on August 1, 2023, law enforcement was called to a local hotel in Webster City regarding a disturbance and observed Janvrin. Janvrin was arrested for outstanding arrest warrants. During a search of the hotel room, law enforcement officers seized a Smith & Wesson .22 revolver and drug paraphernalia from a bag in the room. The Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory matched DNA from a known sample of Janvrin to the handle of the firearm and a toothbrush. Evidence further established Janvrin’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from January 2023 through August 2023. Janvrin obtained at least 40 pounds of methamphetamine from a source in Des Moines to distribute in the Fort Dodge area.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Janvrin remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the firearm conviction, Janvrin faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the conspiracy conviction, Janvrin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-3026. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
District Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Connection with 2023 Armed Carjacking in Northeast and Armed Robbery in NorthwestRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Honorable Errol Arthur sentenced Eric Vaughn, 21, of Washington, D.C., to nine years in prison in connection with an armed robbery in Northwest Washington, D.C., an armed carjacking in Northeast Washington, D.C., and a robbery that occurred in Southeast Washington, D.C. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
In February of 2024, Vaughn pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to robbery, carjacking, and attempted robbery. According to the government’s evidence, on November 13, 2023, at approximately 3:57 p.m., Vaughn and three other suspects followed the victim from the Shaw Metro station to the 1700 block of 7th Street, Northwest. Vaughn, and the three other suspects, all of whom were wearing masks, approached the victim and demanded the victim’s shoes, while one or more of the suspects pointed a firearm at the victim. After the victim complied and his shoes were taken, Vaughn and the other three suspects ran down a nearby alleyway.
The government’s evidence also established that at approximately 7:00 p.m. on November 13, 2023, Vaughn and the three other suspects emerged from a dark, wooded area and approached the victim, who was standing at the back of their car in the parking lot of the Costco located at 2441 Market Street, Northeast. When Vaughn and the three other suspects approached the victim and demanded the keys to the victim’s car, one or more of the suspects Vaughn was with, pointed a firearm at the victim. When the victim complied, Vaughn took the victim’s car keys and entered the driver’s seat, while the other three suspects also got into the car. Vaughn then drove the victim’s vehicle out of the Costco parking lot. When police attempted to stop the carjacked vehicle near the intersection of 17th Street, NE and C Street, NE, Vaughn refused to pull over and fled from police. An MPD helicopter followed the vehicle as the vehicle fled from police until the vehicle came to a stop in the 100 block of Chesapeake Street SW. At that point, Vaughn and the other three suspects fled from the scene. Vaughn was apprehended nearby and placed under arrest.
Additionally, on June 28, 2023, in the 2500 block of Alabama Avenue SE, Vaughn, acting alone, attempted to rob the victim of their cellphone. Specifically, the victim was seated aboard a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Bus when Vaughn approached the victim and snatched the victim’s cell phone out of their hands. Vaughn then ran off of the Metrobus with the victim’s cell phone.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Rashmika Nedungadi, who investigated and prosecuted this case.
District Man Guilty of Multiple Counts of First-Degree Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping, and AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Bryant Phillips, 53, of Washington DC, was convicted today of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping, and multiple assault counts. The verdict, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), follows a four-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Anthony Epstein scheduled sentencing for June 28, 2024.
According to the evidence and testimony presented at trial, between June 5-8, 2022, Phillips held his intimate partner hostage at his apartment in Northeast Washington DC. While there he physically and sexually assaulted her multiple times causing extensive injuries.
Phillips faces the potential of life imprisonment without the opportunity of release. If he were to be released, Phillips would be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
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. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niki Holmes and Dana Joseph with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Bryan Han.
Dental clinic manager admits to employment tax violationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The son of a local dentist has pleaded guilty for failing to pay taxes withheld from employee wages, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jonathan Louis Lepow was the manager of his father’s dental practice, Kenneth A. Lepow DDS Inc., located in Houston. The clinic had approximately 51 employees during the relevant time period from 2015 to 2017. Lepow was involved in the financial decision making at the clinic. In particular, he was responsible for accounting for and paying employment taxes to the IRS.
As part of his plea, Lepow admitted during the first quarter of 2015, he failed to pay $544,272 in IRS trust fund taxes collected from the clinics’ employees. Instead of paying these amounts to the IRS, Lepow used the money to pay vendors and transferred funds to accounts of other entities he was involved in establishing.
Lepow has agreed to pay $495,847 as part of his plea.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has set sentencing for Aug. 22. At that time, Lepow faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Quincy Ollison prosecuted the case, and Assistant AUSA Adam Goldman handled the plea hearing.
Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Gang-Related Murders of Three Athens ResidentsRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Two metro Atlanta residents who pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for their roles in the gang-related shooting deaths of three Athens, Georgia, residents were sentenced to prison this week.
Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka “Lil Larry,” 29, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy.
Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka “Different,” 37, of Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy.
Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell handed down the sentences on March 27. There is no parole in the federal system.
“These sentences conclude a lengthy investigation and complex prosecution of all those involved in the murderous conspiracy that took the lives of three Athens men whose murders have caused unbearable pain for their families and friends,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.
“While these sentences won’t ease the pain felt by the victim’s families and friends, this does send a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted by violent street gangs,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Dismantling violent criminal organizations is a priority for the FBI, and a goal we share with our law enforcement and prosecution partners across the country.”
“While these sentences will never undo the loss of the affected families, it sends a message that justice will prevail,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “We are grateful to our officers for their continued support of this case and those involved in the prosecution. Our community is safer because of your efforts.”
Three co-conspirators were found guilty on all counts on Aug. 17, 2023, and were sentenced to prison this year:
Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka “Dolla Phil,” 35, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve two consecutive Life terms plus 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on March 20. Chambers was found guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); Carry and Use of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm.
Andrea Paige Browner, aka “Drea,” 29, of Athens, was sentenced to serve two concurrent sentences of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on March 20. Browner was found guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm; and
Lesley Chappell Green, aka “Grip,” 35, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 20. Green was found guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy.
According to court documents, Chambers held a “Position of Authority” within the national Gangster Disciples criminal organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement Team.” Enforcement Teams within the Gangster Disciples are directed to discipline gang members for violations of gang rules through physical assault or murder. Co-defendant Green was a member of the Enforcement Team and held the title of “Assistant Chief Enforcer.” Co-defendant Browner was a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” (SOS), a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciples, and held a leadership position in the gang.
Evidence presented at trial proved that on Dec. 10, 2018, Gangster Disciples member Walter Brown was murdered in Athens, Georgia. Chambers and Browner sought retaliation for Brown’s death and believed three unnamed Athens residents were responsible. On Dec. 14, 2018, Browner met Rodriquez Apollo Rucker, of Athens, at a downtown Athens hotel and learned that Rucker was related to one of the individuals she believed killed Brown. Browner sent text messages directing Chambers to travel to the motel, which he did. Chambers then followed Rucker home and shot and killed him. Browner notified an associate of the Gangster Disciples that she and Chambers would be leaving town because the police would be looking for them.
Browner was taken into custody in Mt. Enterprise, Texas, on Dec. 15, however Chambers, who had been in the vehicle with Browner, fled from law enforcement. Chambers was suspicious that someone was cooperating with law enforcement and focused his suspicions on Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson who were, in fact, not cooperating with law enforcement. Chambers incorrectly concluded that Ruff and Jackson were “snitches” and directed Green, who held a subordinate position on the Enforcement Team, to carry out the murders of Ruff and Jackson.
Text messages and intercepted phone calls between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry revealed that Ruff and Jackson were lured by Green, as directed by Chambers, to drive from Athens to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to break into storage sheds and steal items to send to Chambers as “aid and assistance” as he was hiding out from law enforcement in a Gangster Disciple “safe house” in Killeen, Texas. The ruse worked, and Ruff and Jackson were murdered on Dec. 19 and their bodies concealed in the storage unit until March 17, 2019, when police with the assistance of cadaver sniffing dogs located them. Additional messages between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry showed that they conspired to dispose of the victims’ bodies, which included potentially burning the bodies or dumping the bodies in a landfill. Law enforcement recovered the bodies and made arrests before these plans could be carried out.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Kenneth Kaplan, formerly of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, are prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Walker of the Middle District of Georgia.
Charlotte Tax Preparer Is Sentenced to Prison for Scheme to Obtain $780,000 in Fraudulent Coronavirus Relief Funds and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Zadih Cadyma, 66, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining $780,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief loans and money laundering, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Cadyma was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $762,952.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, andDonald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents, Cadyma was a tax return preparer who owned and operated CFE Tax Services in Charlotte and other registered businesses. From 2020 to 2021, Cadyma applied for 10 fraudulent COVID-19 loans from the Economic Injury Relief Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and three Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for his businesses under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In the loan applications, Cadyma made false representations about his businesses, including gross revenues, monthly payroll expenses, number of employees, and other covered operational expenditures. As a result, Cadyma fraudulently received $550,000 under the EIDL program and $230,000 in PPP loan proceeds. Contrary to claims Cadyma made on the loan applications that the funds would be used for legitimate and permissible business purposes, Cadyma used the loan proceeds for his own benefit and to support his lifestyle, including to purchase a new luxury vehicle.
On April 27, 2023, Cadyma pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and IRS-CI for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Robbery OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANDY MARTE, also known as “AD,” 30, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to a federal robbery offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 28, 2023, Marte and two associates drove to a Bridgeport apartment building where they intended to carry out a robbery at an apartment where they believed they would find drugs and drug proceeds. Marte instructed his two associates, one of whom carried a crowbar, to carry out the robbery while he remained in the car and to serve as a getaway driver. He subsequently contacted a third associate, who arrived to participate in the robbery. After failing to enter the apartment, Marte’s three associates returned to the vehicle, where they were encountered by law enforcement. Officers searched the vehicle and its occupants and seized two handguns, which Marte had brought to the robbery, and the crowbar.
Marte pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for June 20.
Marte has been detained since his arrest on April 28, 2023.
This investigation is being conducted by FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Karen Peck.
Bridgeport Man Charged with Narcotics Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned an indictment yesterday charging JERMEL BATES, also known as “Mel Kitty” and “Kitty,” 28, of Bridgeport, with narcotics trafficking offenses.
As alleged in the indictment, court documents, and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 25, 2023, Bates crashed his vehicle into a parked car in Bridgeport and fled the scene on foot. Law enforcement conducted an inventory search of Bates’ vehicle and found plastic bags containing approximately 550 blue/green fentanyl pills stamped “M/30,” more than 500 wax paper folds containing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, and approximately 78 grams of crack cocaine.
Bates was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 19, 2024. It is further alleged that, in conjunction with his arrest, investigators searched his person and his Newfield Avenue apartment and found plastic bags with thousands of blue-green fentanyl pills, hundreds of wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl, and a bag containing crack cocaine.
The indictment charges Bates with two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, based on the type and quantities of controlled substances identified in each count of the indictment, Bates faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, on each count.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bates has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Norwalk Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.
Brevard County Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced E’Chavion Semaj Flewellen (24, Cocoa) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Flewellen entered a guilty plea on January 4, 2024.
According to court documents, from June through August 2023, Flewellen distributed fentanyl six times – with one transaction involving cocaine – to a confidential source working for the Drug Enforcement Administration. From these controlled buys, Flewellen was responsible for distributing 27.96 grams of cocaine and 187.24 grams of fentanyl mixtures to the DEA confidential source.
Following Flewellen’s arrest, a search warrant was executed on his residence, during which agents located an additional 14.6 grams of fentanyl, over 50 grams of cocaine, and 263 grams of pure methamphetamine. Additionally, agents located a loaded Shadow Systems 9mm handgun, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun, and an unloaded FEG 9mm handgun, as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition. As part of the plea agreement, Flewellen has agreed to abandon all rights to the handguns and associated ammunition that were seized from his residence.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Melbourne Police Department, the West Melbourne Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.
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.
Billings man sentenced to more than nine years in prison for fentanyl trafficking, firearm possessionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man convicted of armed trafficking of fentanyl in the community was sentenced today to nine years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Cameron Dimich-Laster, 27, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in September 2023, law enforcement received information that a male person named “Cam” was selling large amounts of fentanyl. Law enforcement believed the person could be Dimich-Laster, who was on state felony probation and had an active arrest warrant for being a probation absconder. Agents observed Dimich-Laster coming and going from a Billings residence over an extended period and driving a BMW. Officers made a traffic stop on Dimich-Laster, who was detained and handcuffed. In a probation search of his vehicle, officers located a .380-caliber handgun, a loaded magazine, a single live round of .380 ammunition, fentanyl pills and $755 in U.S. currency. Law enforcement also searched the residence and located cocaine, a digital scale, ammunition, $1,075 in U.S. currency in the bedroom where Dimich-Laster had been staying. In a search of a small secondary residence Dimich-Laster had been using on the same lot, officers located fentanyl pills, $440 in U.S. currency and a digital scale.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
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.
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Belen Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Six BusinessesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty in federal court to committing armed robberies of six Albuquerque businesses over a span of six days in 2023. At the time of the offenses, the defendant was wanted for a violation of the terms of his federal supervised release.
Brandon Sanchez, 30, of Belen, pleaded guilty to six counts of interference with commerce by threats and violence by robbing six Albuquerque businesses:
- Jan. 4, 2023: Little Caesars at Montgomery and San Pedro.
- Jan. 4, 2023: Subway at San Mateo and McLeod.
- Jan 8, 2023: Little Caesars at Montano and Fourth Street.
- Jan 9, 2023: Starbucks at San Mateo and Pan American.
- Jan. 9, 2023: Big 5 Sporting Goods at Wyoming and Paseo.
- Jan 9, 2023: Domino’s at Holly and San Pedro.
At the time, Sanchez was on federal supervised release for a 2022 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, for which he served 27 months in prison.
The Court ordered that Sanchez remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Sanchez faces up to 20 years in prison as to each count, followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and Albuquerque Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Algie Kenya Scales, 50, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 23, 2023, Scales sold approximately 2.7 grams of fentanyl in Beckley for $300. Scales admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling approximately 5 grams of fentanyl for $625 on March 2, 2023, and to selling approximately 4.7 grams of fentanyl for $600 on March 8, 2023. Both of these additional transactions occurred at a predetermined location in Beckley.
Scales is scheduled to be sentenced on July 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon 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. 5:23-cr-167.
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Bear Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Second Conviction Involving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – A Delaware resident was sentenced on March 25, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), announced David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Following his time in prison, he will spend 10 years on federal supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence.
According to court documents, a task force consisting of Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated James Pickett, 26, of Bear, Delaware, after receiving a cyber tip indicating he uploaded a video of CSAM to the Internet in August 2021. Law enforcement later found approximately 4,468 media files suspected to contain CSAM on Pickett’s electronic devices. The files found on Pickett’s devices included images and videos of prepubescent minors and material portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence. Pickett had previously been convicted in October 2019 in the State of Delaware for dealing in CSAM and served two years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Our office is dedicated to protecting children and prosecuting those engaging in the sexual exploitation of minors through the heinous shadow industry that produces, distributes, and collects child sexual abuse material. I thank Homeland Security Investigations and our Delaware law enforcement partners who tirelessly pursued this case.”
“HSI is at the forefront in the fight to end child sexual exploitation. Our global reach, significant Agent experience and extensive knowledge of the cyber domain, allow us to rapidly develop cases such as the one against James Pickett,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “Our outstanding relationship with the Delaware State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware has garnered incredible success and we know that our cooperation will continue to do so as we work to protect our children.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the Delaware State Police, and the Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Briana Knox and Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-1-CFC.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, 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.
Baltimore Woman Admits to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniela Marie Giancoli, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has admitted to supplying fentanyl to dealers in West Virginia.
Giancoli pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Giancoli supplied large amounts of fentanyl to dealers in Grant County and elsewhere. Nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills, weighing more than two kilograms, were found during the investigation. Giancoli and Michael Matthews, co-defendant, worked together out of their Baltimore apartment to sell drugs to more than 10 dealers in the area.
Giancoli is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthews pled guilty in 2023 and will be sentenced in April.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Arizona Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man faces federal charges for engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 12 over a seven-year period. Cedric Martinez, 30, of Round Rock, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court for an initial appearance where the Court temporarily detained him pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for March 27, 2024.
The indictment alleges that between May 2009 and May 2012, Martinez engaged in sexual acts with a child who had not yet reached the age of 12 years. It further alleges that between May 2012 and May 2016, Martinez engaged in sexual acts with a child who had attained the age of 12 years, but had not attained the age of 16, by using force, threats, and instilling fear.
Martinez is charged with five counts of aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, Martinez faces a minimum sentence of 30 years up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting the case.
View the IndictmentAn indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Albuquerque Man Convicted of Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was convicted by a federal jury, after less than 40 minutes of deliberation, of a federal firearms offense after he shot his wife at her workplace.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 21, 2022, Maurice Lacey, 65, of Albuquerque, entered the employee breakroom at the Walmart Neighborhood Market located a 4700 Cutler Ave NE in Albuquerque and shot his wife in the back of the head. Lacey then walked to the customer service desk near the front of the store, tossed a black handgun on the counter, and said “I just shot my wife.”
Lacey had been previously convicted of seven felony offenses, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking controlled substances. The evidence presented at trial proved Lacey knew that he was a convicted felon and therefore he could not legally possess a firearm and ammunition.
The Court ordered that Lacey remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Lacey faces up to 15 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting the case.
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27 March 2024
testRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Merwin J. “Pete” Wynos (age: 36), a former resident of Keshena and enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, received a sentence of 30 months following a conviction for theft in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 661 and 1153(a).
The sentence, imposed on March 20, 2024, by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach, was the result of a guilty plea entered by the defendant on January 16, 2024. Wynos will also face three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.
On September 25, 2023, several companies reported thefts of equipment from the site of the new Menominee Indian High School in Keshena. The resulting investigation by the Menominee Tribal Police Department and Menominee County Sheriff’s Office led to Wynos, who was found to have entered the closed, fenced, and locked construction site during nighttime hours. Wynos used a utility vehicle on the site to transport construction tools and electronics he took from construction trailers to his residence. Wynos attempted to sell some of the items at local pawn shops, which reported their suspicions to the police. Wynos was arrested after being caught with others in a car full of stolen construction tools and, after being released from tribal custody, entered the construction site again on November 25, 2023. Wynos was caught on the site in the middle of taking additional items and was re-arrested. Wynos admitted in court to being responsible for three separate theft incidents on the construction site and will pay over $29,000 in restitution to the victims.
In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the need to punish Wynos for the persistent nature of his crimes. Judge Griesbach said “Stealing from hard working people, especially those building a new school that will help your community, shows a persistent willingness to violate the law” requiring punishment. Judge Griesbach noted the need to show the community that there is a punishment for this sort of behavior.
The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.
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Woman Accused of Possessing 11,700 Fentanyl Pills and Other Illicit Drugs with Intent to Distribute is Arrested and IndictedRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today, charging a foreign national living in Utah with multiple drug crimes. The woman allegedly possessed and intended to distribute large amounts of narcotics including heroin, methamphetamine and 11,700 fentanyl pills.
According to court documents, Martha Isela Navarro Chapas, 31, of West Jordan, Utah, and other members of a drug trafficking organization were believed to be distributing large quantities of narcotics in the District of Utah. On March 21, 2024, federal agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force arrested Chapas. Agents advised Chapas they had two search warrants for her residences in West Jordan, Utah. During the arrest, agents also seized approximately 23.35 (package weight) grams of suspected fentanyl pills, approximately 2.05 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive cocaine, and $1,318, that Chapas possessed.
Shortly thereafter, during the execution of the search warrant at the first residence, agents seized 2,287 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive methamphetamine, 953 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive fentanyl, which included an estimated 9,500 pills, and 417 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive heroin.
During the execution of the search warrant at the second residence, agents seized 219 grams (package weight) of suspected fentanyl pills, which contained an estimated 2,200 pills. Agents also seized $25,598.
Navarro Chapas is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Her initial court appearance on the indictment was March 27, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Seth Nielsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Williston, ND, Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Several Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
Bismarck – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Nicholas Anfin Nesdahl, age 29, from Williston, ND, appeared in Federal court on March 27, 2024, in Bismarck and pleaded guilty before District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor to seven counts of producing or attempting to produce images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors charged in the District of North Dakota and two counts related to producing or attempting to produce and receiving images and videos of minors that were charged out of the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Nesdahl is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2024, is facing 360 to 3,240 months in Federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of 180 months.
Nesdahl’s conduct consisted of himself friending minors using various social networking platforms on the internet. Once his friend request was granted, Nesdahl would begin to groom the minors to produce images and videos of themselves nude or engaging in sexual activity. The activity was first discovered and reported to law enforcement by a parent of two victims located in Pennsylvania, which then resulted in a search of Nesdahl’s residence in Williston, North Dakota. As a result of that search, it was discovered that Nesdahl had victimized at least seven other victims that were located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Maryland, Texas, and New Jersey. The victims ages ranged from 6 to 15 years of age.
“Without the teamwork between our career prosecutors and their partners, this defendant would still be in the community preying on kids,” Schneider said. “While this guilty plea will increase public safety, it is also a reminder of the need to stay vigilant in the effort to protect children. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with state and federal law enforcement to aggressively pursue child predators.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Nesdahl,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the HSI special agents in North Dakota and our law enforcement community partners for bringing Nesdahl to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the nation, Project Safe Childhood, in conjunction with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), help federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to offenders who use the Internet, online communications systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces engaging in proactive investigations, forensic investigations, and criminal prosecutions. Project Safe Childhood also helps to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For additional resources for survivors or victims, help is available at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and CyberTipline URL https://report.cybertip.org.
This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Delorme, District of North Dakota.
# # #White Swan Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Carjacking and Violent Assault on the Yakama NationRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Sundron Larsell Miller, age 37, to 25 years in federal prison for Carjacking, Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Assault with Intent to Commit Murder. The Court also sentenced Miller’s codefendant, Paula Eulojia Cantu-Lopez, age 28, to 17 years in federal prison for Carjacking, Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. Chief District Judge Bastian imposed 5 years of federal supervision on both defendants upon their release from custody. Miller and Cantu-Lopez are each from White Swan, Washington.
According to court documents and information presented at trial and the sentencing hearing, Miller and Cantu-Lopez were romantically involved. On December 28, 2021, the victim was with both Miller and Cantu-Lopez driving in the area of Fort Simcoe Road on the Yakama Reservation. The victim was driving her pickup, and Miller began assaulting Cantu-Lopez. When the victim tried to intervene, both Miller and Cantu-Lopez turned and assaulted the victim, who is an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation.
During the assault, the victim was pulled out of her own truck, and Miller attempted to shoot the victim with her own rifle. Miller pointed the rifle at the victim’s face, and the victim saw Miller pull the trigger and heard a “clicking “sound. Fortunately, the rifle was unloaded. After attempting to kill the victim, Miller and Cantu-Lopez beat the victim, threw her in the back of the truck and drove her to a residence in White Swan. After arriving at the residence, the victim was again beaten by Miller and Cantu-Lopez.
Ultimately, the victim was able to break away and run for her life. The Yakama Nation Police Department quickly responded and collected evidence of the crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also assisted in the investigation.
Chief District Judge Bastian presided over the trial which began on August 7, 2023. A jury returned verdicts on August 11, 2023.
“The victim in this case suffered horrifying acts of violence. I applaud her bravery in escaping, and her courage to come forward and engage with law enforcement to seek justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for our strong partnerships with the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department, the FBI, and community members. By working together, we can continue to build trust and foster safer and stronger communities on Tribal lands and throughout Eastern Washington.”
“The victim in this case was trying to break up an altercation when she became the target of a violent assault.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Fortunately, she was able to escape before being killed by Mr. Miller and Ms. Cantu-Lopez. The FBI is dedicated in working with our partners to put an end to this type of violence on our state’s reservations.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Michael Murphy, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to federal drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Marcus Valenzi, 35, pleaded guilty before United States Senior District Judge David S. Cercone to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Valenzi was identified as a member of a drug trafficking organization operating within the Western District of Pennsylvania during an investigation conducted by federal and state law enforcement between August 2022 and November 2023. Federal search warrants executed upon residences used by the conspirators in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, firearms, and cellphones. A subsequent federal search warrant executed upon Valenzi’s residence on November 15, 2023, resulted in the seizure of over $16,000, multiple cellphones, and xylazine, a substance used as a cutting agent for fentanyl. A search of Valenzi’s phones revealed communications with a drug customer seeking the return of his firearm. Valenzi, who had a previous felony conviction in Florida for robbery, replied that he had thrown the gun in the river after the raids in McKees Rocks. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2024. The maximum penalty for the drug conspiracy charge is up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1 million fine, or both. The maximum penalty for the firearm charge is a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Valenzi.
Virginia Businesswoman Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A Virginia woman pleaded guilty last week to willfully failing to pay employment taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gail Jones, of Dumfries, Virginia, served as Director, Vice President and President of S&G Property Management Inc. (S&G), a parcel delivery service. Between 2013 and 2018, Jones caused income, Social Security and Medicare taxes to be withheld from S&G’s employees. However, Jones did not pay those withholdings to the IRS as she was required to do. Moreover, to thwart potential IRS levies and other collection activities, Jones opened new bank accounts using new Employer Identification Numbers and variations of her business’ name.
In total, Jones caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $950,000.
Additionally, Jones fraudulently applied for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which were part of a COVID-19 relief program intended to provide loans to certain businesses to help them retain their employees or stay afloat during the pandemic. Jones applied for the loans even though S&G was no longer operating. She fraudulently received $20,800 in loans.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Marissa Brodney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
Violent offender sentenced for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Sept. 3, 2022, Richmond police officers stopped a car for speeding and running a stop sign. An officer observed an open liquor bottle in the backseat and asked the driver to step out of the car. As the driver got out of the car, she told the officer she was sitting on a firearm. The officers asked John Edward Mason III, 36, who was in the passenger seat, to get out of the car. During a protective sweep of the car, the officers found a loaded 9mm handgun under Mason’s seat.
In 2009, Mason was convicted of hit and run resulting in personal injury after driving into a man with his car. In 2011, Mason was convicted of malicious wounding after hitting a man in the face with a brick. As a previously convicted felon, Mason cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Mason’s release from supervised probation was less than six months from the date officers found him in possession of a firearm.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Peter Duffey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-78.
UPS employee heads to prison for concealing cocaine in packagesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 50-year-old Edinburg man has been sentenced following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Orlando Candelario Almanza pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Almanza to serve a total of 75 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about Almanza’s high ranking position at UPS. He was not only a driver but was also responsible for delivering packages directly to UPS carrier airplanes for outbound delivery. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Almanza played a key role in the drug trafficking organization.
“Almanza chose to break not only the trust of his company but that of the community,” said Hamdani. “These men chose to help drug traffickers, in the end causing them to trade their brown uniforms for orange jumpsuits.”
Almanza was a UPS employee of over 20 years and used his knowledge to help circumvent security protocols and ship the cocaine filled packages on behalf of drug traffickers.
Law enforcement seized several packages of cocaine from across the country which were traced back to the McAllen UPS facility and to Almanza and another employee - Fidencio Salinas Jr.
In October 2022, after several months of investigation, authorities observed Almanza receive a package from drug traffickers while on shift. The package was destined for Tennessee and contained 10 kilograms of cocaine.
Drug traffickers paid Almanza approximately $300-$500 dollars per cocaine-filled package shipped.
Salinas Jr., 51, Pharr, a UPS employee for over seven years, previously received 27 months in federal prison.
Almanza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration along with FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Resolves Disability Discrimination Investigation of Public Swimming PoolRead the Press Release
DETROIT –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan resolved its investigation of the City of Trenton’s Kennedy Aquatic Center. The U.S. Attorney’s Office received a complaint alleging that the Kennedy Aquatic Center staff did not allow an individual who has a disability to use a water slide. The complainant is a capable swimmer; however, she has a disability that affects her stature. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the complaint and successfully reached a settlement with the City of Trenton.
In the settlement agreement, the City of Trenton agreed to fully comply with the non-discrimination requirements of Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The ADA protects the rights of all individuals, regardless of disability, to fully and equally enjoy the benefits of the services, programs, or activities offered by public entities, which includes recreational centers and programs operated by state and local governments.
The settlement agreement requires the Kennedy Aquatic Center to adopt ADA policies to ensure that accommodations and modifications are made to allow people who have disabilities access to the recreational services offered at the Aquatic Center. For example, the settlement agreement requires the Aquatic Center to allow individuals who cannot meet the slide’s height requirement because of a disability to use the slide so long as they can demonstrate appropriate water safety skills.
“My office will vigorously protect the rights of individuals who have disabilities, especially children, to fully participate in our communities. Here, a child who simply wanted to enjoy all aspects of the local pool with friends and family was denied that opportunity because of a disability,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “I applaud the City of Trenton for its willingness to protect those opportunities in the future.”
The investigation was led by AUSA Michael El-Zein of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, a member of the Civil Rights Unit. The full and fair enforcement of the ADA is a priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan was established in 2010 with the mission of prioritizing federal civil rights enforcement. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, including a copy of the agreement, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or experienced a civil rights violation can submit a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s Office by email at [email protected] or by phone at (313) 226-9151. Complaints can also be submitted to the Civil Rights Division through its complaint portal.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Joins State and Local Officials to Highlight Efforts to Combat the Fentanyl EpidemicRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This morning, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joined North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, local law enforcement officials and other partners to raise awareness about the fentanyl epidemic and highlight efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our communities.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center in Charlotte, U.S. Attorney King said that federal prosecutors are focusing on disrupting and dismantling large trafficking organizations responsible for supplying the bulk of fentanyl distributed throughout the Western District of North Carolina, and holding accountable individuals who sell lethal substances like fentanyl, causing serious bodily injuries, drug poisonings, and overdose deaths. U.S. Attorney King emphasized the importance of working with government agencies, law enforcement, and organizations dedicated to the provision of services for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery to support communities across Western North Carolina.
“Families should not have to face this crisis alone,” said U.S. Attorney King. “My Office is committed to supporting our communities and our law enforcement partners through this crisis and bringing to justice those responsible for poisoning our friends, our neighbors, and our loved ones. Together, we will fight against this epidemic to free our communities from its deadly grip and make funding available to support vital prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.”
“The fentanyl crisis is devastating our people, and we need everyone at the table working together to combat fentanyl trafficking,” said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. “I’m grateful to U.S. Attorney King and her office for their partnership in the Fentanyl Task Force and other efforts to hold drug traffickers accountable.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of 10 pills seized by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. According to the DEA, in 2023, the agency seized more than 79.5 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. That’s equivalent to more than 376.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl - enough to kill every American across the country. So far this year, the 2024 fentanyl seizures represent over 82.6 million deadly doses.
For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator.
U.S. Attorney Cunha Appointed to Serve on Attorney General’s Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC).
The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the nation’s 94 U.S. Attorneys Offices, and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys on essential matters facing the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorney Cunha is the third United States Attorney for Rhode Island to have been asked to serve in this role, following former Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Lincoln C. Almond, who served on the AGAC at the time of its creation, as did former U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha during his tenure in office.
“I am deeply honored to be asked to serve alongside my distinguished colleagues on the AGAC,” said United States Attorney Cunha. “The work of the United States Attorneys is critical to the safety and vitality of the districts in which we serve, and I am grateful for the opportunity to advise the Attorney General and engage with the Department of Justice’s senior leadership on the ways in which we can best deliver justice in and for all of our communities.”
U.S. Attorney Cunha will serve alongside chair Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York, vice chair Gary Restaino of the District of Arizona, and members Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York, Matthew Graves of District of Columbia, Kenneth Parker of the Southern District of Ohio, Natalie K. Wight of the District of Oregon, Eric G. Olshan of the Western District of Pennsylvania, Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia, Rachelle Crowe of the Southern District of Illinois, Alamdar S. Hamdani of the Southern District of Texas, Alexander M.M. Uballez of the District of New Mexico, Jill Steinberg of the Southern District of Georgia, and Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota.
President Biden nominated Cunha to serve as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island on September 28, 2021, on the recommendation of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on Dec. 7, 2021, and he was sworn into office on Dec. 13, 2021. As U.S. Attorney, Cunha serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in Rhode Island, responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in the federal court.
Mr. Cunha has served in the Department of Justice since 2005, when he was appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York; he later served as a prosecutor in the District of Massachusetts before joining the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2013, where he held various roles, including Chief of the Civil Division, prior to his appointment as U.S. Attorney in 2021.
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Two sent to prison after drug trafficking in local parking lotRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Mission men have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Eddie Perez, 29, and Juan Alberto Mendez Jr., 29, pleaded guilty April 24, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 20 kilograms of cocaine.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment for Perez, while Mendez received 96 months. Both must also serve five and three years of supervised release, respectively, following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about the criminal history of Perez including his three prior felony convictions.
In October 2022, Perez was to deliver narcotics to another individual on behalf of his friend Mendez.
Authorities conducted surveillance at a Best Buy parking lot in McAllen in anticipation of the narcotics deal. They saw vehicles approach, after which Perez removed bags containing bricks of cocaine from the trunk of his vehicle.
Mendez was parked in another vehicle with his wife and six children observing the transaction.
Law enforcement approached arrested Perez and Mendez and immediately seized a total of 20 kilograms of cocaine.
A subsequent search of Mendez home yielded another kilogram of cocaine.
Mendez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Perez has been and will remain in custody.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Two Peruvian Nationals Charged with Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft Offenses Related to Distraction Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging ANGEL GIANCARLO BELLIDO COSIO, also known as “Jesus Requejo,” 34, a citizen of Peru last residing in Paterson, New Jersey, and ANGEL EUGENIO BANCES CHAPONAN, 60, a citizen of Peru last residing in Queens, New York, with credit card fraud and identity theft offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in Connecticut and elsewhere have been investigating a series of distraction thefts of wallets from victims at Trader Joe’s grocery stores and other retail stores. The investigation revealed that Bellido Cosio and Bances Chaponan rented vehicles using a fraudulent passport, traveled throughout the U.S., stole wallets from unwary victims at Trader Joe’s and other stores, and then used the victims’ credit and debit cards to purchase electronic devices and other items.
Bellido Cosio and Bances Chaponan were arrested on March 13, 2024, and are currently detained.
The indictment charges Bellido Cosio and Bances Chaponan with access device fraud, and offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and with aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manchester (Conn.) Police Department, the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department, the Spartanburg County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Spartanburg Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Nathan J. Guevremont.
Three sentenced in deadly home robberyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas - Three South Texas men have been sentenced following their conviction for a home invasion that led to the death of a homeowner, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Juan Antonio Moreno, 41, and Jesse Joe Mata, 32, both of Donna; and Alberto Vela, 43, Mercedes, pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Moreno to serve a 115-month-term of imprisonment for the drug charge in addition to another 120 months for the firearms offense which must be served consecutively for a total 235-month federal prison sentence. Mata received a total of 212 months, while Vela was ordered to serve 12 years. His prison sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release while the other two serve four years.
“For most of us, our homes are our sanctuaries,” said Hamdani. “We could never imagine, not for one moment, armed gang members breaking down doors and shooting us to death in such a sacred place. This case illustrates how the dirty, greedy and violent business of drug trafficking takes no prisoners and has no redeeming value. Our office will not rest until we can put drug traffickers out of business and eradicate this type of violence from our communities.”
“Our citizens deserve to feel safe in their homes, and the violent acts committed by the defendants in this case deprive everyone in the community of that right,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. “We would like to thank our partners with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), McAllen Police Department (MPD), Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) for their collective efforts to ensure every person has the opportunity to live and work in a safe community.”
Moreno had contacted members of the Tri-City Bombers, a violent criminal enterprise, to assist him and the others a home invasion to steal marijuana he believed was stored in the home.
On April 12, 2012, Moreno, Mata, Vela and others broke into the Edinburg residence. The homeowner was present and confronted them with a firearm. A struggle ensued and the homeowner was shot and killed. Vela was also shot.
FBI led the OCDETF investigation with the assistance of TABC, MPD and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald prosecuted the case.
Thoreau Woman Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Second defendant pleads guilty to the brutal 2020 murder of a Gamerco, New Mexico woman. Stacey Yellowhorse, 53, of Thoreau, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to second degree murder.
Yellowhorse’s co-defendant, Timothy Chischilly, pleaded guilty in federal court to second-degree murder on Feb. 6, 2024.
According to court documents, on Jan. 23, 2020, Yellowhorse and her then boyfriend, Chischilly, invited Jane Doe over to their house in Mexican Springs, New Mexico. During the night, Yellowhorse and Chischilly restrained Jane Doe and bludgeoned her to death. Afterwards, Yellowhorse and Chischilly burned Jane Doe’s remains.
The Court ordered that Yellowhorse remain in detention pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Yellowhorse faces up to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Per the terms of her plea agreement, Yellowhorse faces 10 to 20 years at sentencing.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Brawley and Tavo Hall are prosecuting the case.
View the Plea Agreement# # #
Tennessee Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that BART GREEN, age 62, of Nashville, Tennessee, was indicted on March 22, 2024 for Bank Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a).
According to the indictment, on or about March 1, 2024, GREEN robbed a Regions Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana. GREEN obtained approximately $2000 in the robbery.
If convicted, GREEN faces up to twenty years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams on the Convictions of Three Lev Tahor Leaders of Child Exploitation and Kidnapping OffensesRead the Press Release
“Yoil Weingarten, Yakov Weingarten, and Shmiel Weingarten, leaders of Lev Tahor, an extremist Jewish sect based in Guatemala, have been found guilty of kidnapping a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl and transporting the 14-year-old girl outside the United States to continue a sexual relationship with her adult male ‘husband.’ With this verdict, all nine Lev Tahor leaders and operatives charged for these heinous crimes have been held accountable. The defendants’ conduct — which included forced child marriages, physical beatings, and family separations — is unthinkable and has caused irreparable harm to children in their formative years. Whether in the name of religion or any other belief system, subjecting children to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse will never be tolerated by this Office.”
Seventh Correctional Officer at Federal Facility in Dublin, California, Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Female PrisonersRead the Press Release
A former correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin (FCI Dublin), where he supervised prisoners, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for sexually abusing five inmates at FCI Dublin. This is the seventh correctional officer to be sentenced in connection with the wide-ranging investigation into sexual abuse of the inmates in the prison.
Nakie Nunley, 48, of Fairfield, California, pleaded guilty on Sep. 5, 2023 to four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, five counts of abusive sexual contact, and one count of making false statements in connection with the investigation into abuse allegations at FCI Dublin. In addition to admitting he was guilty of crimes related to his sexual acts and sexual contacts with five separate women, Nunley also describes in his plea agreement how he engaged in sexual acts with two other inmates and how he lied to Justice Department Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) agents who were investigating allegations regarding his conduct.
“Nakie Nunley egregiously exploited his authority by sexually abusing multiple incarcerated women and then retaliating against those who blew the whistle,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As today’s sentence shows, the Justice Department will hold accountable officials who abuse their authority to harm those they are sworn to protect — and will not tolerate retaliation against victims.”
“Rooting out injustice in prisons is difficult work,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “But we will not shy away from the task. I want to thank the DOJ-OIG and the FBI for their continued partnership in prosecuting this case. With their help, we will ensure that prison personnel who violate the rights of inmates are held accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing holds Nunley accountable for his heinous abuse of his authority by sexually assaulting multiple inmates under his custody and care, and retaliating against his victims by threatening to take away their UNICOR jobs and transfer them to another facility,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. of DOJ-OIG “The DOJ-OIG will continue to aggressively investigate sexual abuse at FCI Dublin and across the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”
"The defendant sexually assaulted multiple female inmates, disregarding their dignity and violating his responsibilities as a corrections officer,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to investigating civil rights violations and holding accountable any corrections officers who abuse their authority."
At the time that Nunley abused his victims, he was assigned to supervise prisoners who worked for UNICOR, a trade name for the federal prison industries. All of Nunley’s victims worked at the UNICOR call center at the time he abused them.
According to his plea agreement, Nunley admitted that, between March 2020 and November 2021, he engaged in sexual acts with two prisoners, including having oral and vaginal sex with one victim and digitally penetrating another victim on multiple occasions. He also admitted that he was guilty of crimes related to his illegal sexual contacts with three other prisoners.
In addition to his conduct with the five victims that resulted in criminal charges, Nunley admitted he sexually abused two additional prisoners and engaged in inappropriate conduct with multiple other prisoners who worked at UNICOR. With respect to one victim, Nunley admitted he digitally penetrated her vagina and caused her to touch his penis under his pants, resulting in him ejaculating in her hand. Further, Nunley admitted he caused another victim to perform oral sex on him. Moreover, Nunley wrote sexual notes to one of his victims and made sexual comments to multiple additional victims.
Nunley’s plea agreement also describes how he retaliated against prisoners who complained about his conduct. For example, the plea agreement describes how one of his victims approached Nunley about his conduct towards another victim. In response, Nunley threatened her by telling her she could get transferred to another facility and that she could lose her job. Similarly, Nunley admitted that he told another victim that if she wanted to keep her job at UNICOR, she needed to pull down her underwear and bend over. When she complied, Nunley slapped her buttocks several times.
In addition to admitting he engaged in illegal and improper conduct towards prisoners, Nunley also admitted in his plea agreement that he lied to federal investigators about sexually abusing his victims and about sending one of his victims sexually explicit notes.
DOJ-OIG and the FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Priedeman and Andrew Paulson for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Legal Assistant Kay Konopaske.
Seventh Correctional Officer at Federal Facility in Dublin California Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Female PrisonersRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Nakie Nunley, a former correctional officer at FCI Dublin where he supervised prisoners, has been ordered to serve 72 months on prison for sexually abusing five inmates at the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin (FCI Dublin). This is the seventh correctional officer to be sentenced in connection with the wide-ranging investigation into sexual abuse of the inmates in the prison. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, United States District Judge.
Nunley, 48, of Fairfield, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charges on September 5, 2023. Specifically, Nunley pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, five counts of abusive sexual contact, and one count of making false statements in connection with the investigation into abuse allegations at FCI Dublin. In addition to admitting he was guilty of crimes related to his sexual acts and sexual contacts with five separate women, Nunley also describes in his plea agreement how he engaged in sexual acts with two other inmates and how he lied to federal investigators who were investigating allegations regarding his conduct.
“Nakie Nunley egregiously exploited his authority by sexually abusing multiple incarcerated women and then retaliating against those who blew the whistle,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As today’s sentence shows, the Justice Department will hold accountable officials who abuse their authority to harm those they are sworn to protect — and will not tolerate retaliation against victims.”
“Rooting out injustice in prisons is difficult work,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey, “but we will not shy away from the task. I want to thank the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the FBI for their continued partnership in prosecuting this case. With their help, we will ensure that prison personnel who violate the rights of inmates are held accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing holds Nunley accountable for his heinous abuse of his authority by sexually assaulting multiple inmates under his custody and care, and retaliating against his victims by threatening to take away their UNICOR jobs and transfer them to another facility. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate sexual abuse at FCI Dublin and across the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” said Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz.
“This sentence is the result of the tireless efforts by the FBI and our partners to bring to justice Dublin FCI corrections officers and personnel who abused their positions to commit deplorable crimes,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “We continue to work with our partners to protect the safety and civil rights of all individuals and hold public servants accountable when they violate the law and betray public trust.”
At the time that Nunley abused his victims, he was assigned to supervise prisoners who worked for UNICOR, a trade name for the federal prison industries. All of Nunley’s victims worked at the UNICOR call center at the time he abused them.
According to his plea agreement, Nunley admitted that between March 2020 and November 2021, he engaged in sexual acts with two prisoners, including having oral and vaginal sex with one victim and digitally penetrating another victim on multiple occasions. He also admitted that he was guilty of crimes related to his illegal sexual contacts with three other prisoners.
Further, in addition to his conduct with the five victims that resulted in criminal charges, Nunley admitted he sexually abused two additional prisoners and engaged in inappropriate conduct with multiple other prisoners who worked at UNICOR. With respect to one victim, Nunley admitted he digitally penetrated her vagina and caused her to touch his penis under his pants, resulting in him ejaculating in her hand. Further, Nunley admitted he caused another victim to perform oral sex on him. Moreover, Nunley wrote sexual notes to one of his victims and made sexual comments to multiple additional victims.
Nunley’s plea agreement also describes how he retaliated against prisoners who complained about his conduct. For example, the plea agreement describes how one of his victims approached Nunley about his conduct towards another victim. In response, Nunley threatened her by telling her she could get transferred to another facility and that she could lose her job. Similarly, Nunley admitted that he told another victim that if she wanted to keep her job at UNICOR, she needed to pull down her underwear and bend over. When she complied, Nunley slapped her buttocks several times.
In addition to admitting he engaged in illegal and improper conduct towards prisoners, Nunley also admitted in his plea agreement that he lied to federal investigators about sexually abusing his victims and about sending one of his victims sexually explicit notes.
In sum, Nunley was charged by information with four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2243(b); five counts of abusive sexual contact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4); and one count of making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). He pleaded guilty to all counts.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Priedeman and Andrew Paulson are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kay Konopaske. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.
Second Kern County Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing ExplosivesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Roy Anglin, 22, of Wofford Heights, entered a guilty plea today to distributing explosives to a non-licensed person, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Vigneault and Michael Roy Anglin, 21, of Wofford Heights, sold and delivered six full boxes and one partial box of Hydromite 880, an explosive, weighing approximately 350 pounds to a non-licensed person. Neither Vigneault, Anglin, nor the buyer were licensed to handle or transport explosives as required by federal law. Anglin knew that the Hydromite 880 was stolen from Austin Powder West LLC. The boxes containing the explosives were labeled “Explosive, Blasting, Type E” and “Blasting Agent.” The sticks of Hydromite 880 were also individually labeled “Danger” and “Explosive.” Hydromite is a high explosive containing ammonium nitrate and is used as a blasting agent.
Austin Powder West LLC, a licensed explosives manufacturer, confirmed that 295 sticks of Hydromite, weighing 702 pounds, went missing from its Lake Isabella storage facility sometime in May 2023. The missing explosives included the boxes that Anglin and Vigneault sold. The value of the unrecovered explosives is $7,603.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Anglin is scheduled for sentencing in federal court on July 29, 2024. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Vigneault previously entered a guilty plea and is scheduled for sentencing on May 20, 2024.
Repeat felon pleads guilty to federal drug and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2023, Richmond Police Narcotics Detectives and the Virginia State Police Tactical Team executed a search warrant at the residence of Errez Tekel Perry, 30. After there was no response when the team knocked and announced, the team breached the door and entered the residence. Perry ran from the front door area toward the rear of the house, ignoring the team’s commands, and was taken into custody.
Investigators recovered two semi-automatic firearms, ammunition, two drum ammunition magazines, approximately 64 grams of cocaine, packages of Suboxone, baggies with numerous pills, several baggies with approximately 200 grams of suspected marijuana, baggies with residue, digital scales, a cash counter, and two cellphones.
Perry had been convicted previously of felony drug trafficking, felony drug possession, possession of a firearm with Schedule I and II controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. As a previously convicted felon, Perry could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Perry is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and a maximum of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 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; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-163.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who is a registered sex offender was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 10 years in prison to be followed by 35 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cell phone.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded a CyberTip to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that a user uploaded 30 files containing CSAM. On September 30, 2021, William Spahr – a sex offender who was convicted of lewdness with a child under the age of 14 in Clark County – was arrested for failing to register his current address which is required under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act. A forensic examination of Spahr’s cell phone revealed that he had a total of 33 images of CSAM on the device.
In October 2023, Spahr pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. An Assistant United States Attorney prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.
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Portland Area Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A local drug trafficker who sourced large quantities of fentanyl from out-of-state contacts with ties to Mexican cartels for redistribution and sale in the Portland area and directed the transport and sale of firearms was sentenced to federal prison today.
Francisco Moncada, 28, who maintained residences in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, in October 2021, special agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Portland District Office began investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in the Portland area and parts of Washington State. In April 2022, investigators learned that Moncada, who was later determined to be a manager within the drug trafficking organization, was communicating with multiple Portland area drug traffickers to discuss fentanyl sourcing.
On April 18, 2022, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle being used by Moncada and several associates to transport approximately 15 pounds of fentanyl. Just under two weeks later, on April 28, 2022, officers stopped Moncada a second time and seized an additional 10 pounds of fentanyl. Within days, investigators also obtained information that Moncada had instructed other members of his organization to sell various firearms.
On May 20, 2022, investigators searched Moncada’s Portland and Vancouver residences and seized seven firearms and two pounds of fentanyl. Between October 2021 and August 2022, investigators located and seized 50 pounds of fentanyl, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, and smaller quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Moncada and his associates, and made 16 arrests connected to their organization.
On May 21, 2022, Moncada and three others were charged my federal criminal complaint with conspiring with one another to possess and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. On June 14, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Moncada and eight associates for conspiring with one another to distribute fentanyl. Moncada was also charged with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On December 20, 2023, Moncada became the tenth member of his organization to plead guilty and, today, becomes the seventh member to be sentenced to federal prison. Four others are awaiting sentencing, and one is a fugitive.
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from the FBI Vancouver Resident Agency, Vancouver Police Department, Oregon State Police, Oregon City Police Department and Washington State Department of Corrections. It was prosecuted by Bryan Chinwuba, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.
Owner of Massage Parlors Offering Commercial Sex Federally ChargedRead the Press Release
A massage parlor owner whose employees offered illicit commercial sex has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Shaoping Wen, 64, and her associate, Xu Wang, 41, were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to use interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises. They were arrested in New Mexico on March 21 and made their initial appearances in Las Cruces Wednesday. They are now awaiting removal to Lubbock to face justice in a Northern District of Texas federal court.
According to the complaint, Ms. Wen allegedly owned and operated at least seven massage parlors where Asian women engaged in commercial sex. Mr. Wang, who identified himself as Ms. Wen’s son, allegedly operated the parlors on her behalf when Ms. Wen was out of state.
On at least 10 occasions between June 2023 and February 2024, undercover officers purchased $60 massages at Ms. Wen’s parlors in Texas and New Mexico. The officers were generally greeted by lingerie-clad women who allegedly agreed to have sex with them for an additional fee of between $140 and $200. Several of the women allegedly used translation apps to negotiate sexual services.
When the women were arrested for prostitution, they identified themselves as Chinese citizens and listed their occupation as simply, “laborer.” On multiple occasions, Ms. Wen or Mr. Wang allegedly showed up to pay the arrested women’s cash bond.
Officers also observed Ms. Wen’s vehicle transporting Asian females directly from the airport to her massage parlors. Neighbors said the women never left the building. Searches of the premises revealed beds placed on the floors, suggesting the women lived at the massage parlors.
On at least one occasion, a passerby heard a woman screaming and entered the parlor to check-in. He reported seeing three women between the ages of 30 and 50 dressed in provocative clothing.
Officers found the massage parlors advertised on sites often used to advertise commercial sex. The ads included photos of partially naked women and promoted “100% sexy” girls who “like to spend time with nice upscale gentlemen.” They advertised the “girlfriend experience,” “porn star experience,” and “fantasy outfits on request.”
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Ms. Wen and Mr. Wang face up to five years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Lubbock Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, HSI’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Wolfforth Police Department, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad Police Department, the Roswell Police Department, the Clovis Police Department, the Roswell Fire Department, the Carlsbad Fire Department, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam is prosecuting the case.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dominique Boyd, age 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for failure to register as a sex offender. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Boyd to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Boyd’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
Boyd has a lifetime registration requirement to register as a sex offender due to a 2010 conviction for Attempted Sexual Assault in the First Degree in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. Boyd had previously registered as a sex offender in the state of Nebraska and moved to the state of Michigan in February 2023. Between May 13th and August 8th of 2023, Boyd returned to Nebraska from Michigan and failed to update his sex offender registration as required.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Omaha Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Richard L. Kelly, 61, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for wire fraud. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Kelly to 5 years’ probation and ordered him to pay $196,029.15 in restitution, which reflects the balance remaining after a payment of $9,831.00 was applied before sentencing. As a condition of probation, Kelly must pay at least $1,000 per month toward restitution.
During 2020 and 2021, Kelly, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The applications misrepresented how much Kelly’s business had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue Kelly’s business had received, resulting in applications for significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Kelly sought loans totaling approximately $675,094, and he obtained $189,997.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.
Ocean County Man Admits Conspiring with Convicted Ponzi Schemer and Others to Defraud Investors of Tens of Millions of Dollars and Obstruct JusticeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man today admitted conspiring with Eliyahu “Eli” Weinstein, whose 24-year federal prison sentence was commuted after being twice convicted of defrauding investors of a total of $230 million, and others to defraud investors of more than $35 million in a new fraud scheme and to obstruct justice, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Joel Wittels, 57, of Lakewood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and one count of conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Wittels scammed innocent victims into handing over their money by hiding a twice-convicted fraudster’s identity and capitalizing on the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and even shortages of baby formula. Instead of investing the money in legitimate ventures, Wittels and his conspirators took it and used some of it to pay off other investors in a classic Ponzi scheme.”
Three of Wittels’ conspirators, Christopher Anderson, 47, and Richard Curry, 36, and Alaa Hattab, 35, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and are awaiting sentencing. Charges are still pending against Wittels’ conspirators, Weinstein, Aryeh “Ari” Bromberg, and Shlomo Erez.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Weinstein was convicted twice in New Jersey federal court for defrauding investors. His first case involved a real estate Ponzi scheme, and his second case stemmed from additional fraud Weinstein committed while on pretrial release. For these crimes, which resulted in combined losses to investors of approximately $230 million, Weinstein was sentenced to serve 24 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On Jan. 19, 2021, after Weinstein had served less than eight years, the President of the United States at that time commuted Weinstein’s term to time served, leaving intact the rest of his sentence.
Soon after being released from prison, Weinstein began orchestrating a new scheme to solicit money from investors through a company called Optimus Investments Inc. (Optimus). Using the fake name “Mike Konig,” Weinstein ran Optimus with Bromberg and Wittels.
Weinstein, Bromberg, and Wittels received the bulk of investor money through a second company, Tryon Management Group LLC, which was owned and controlled by Anderson and Curry. Tryon promised these individual investors – consisting mostly of friends and family – lucrative opportunities to invest in deals involving COVID-19 masks, scarce baby formula, and first-aid kits supposedly bound for wartime Ukraine. Posing as Mike Konig, Weinstein provided information for these supposed deals. Based on that information, investors gave money to Tryon, believing the deals were legitimate and not knowing about Weinstein’s involvement. In turn, Tryon transferred those funds to Optimus.
In February 2022, almost immediately after Tryon and Optimus started receiving investor money, Tryon was unable to pay its investors. Rather than reveal this information to investors, the conspirators agreed to pool money from existing investors of both Optimus and Tryon and use it to make monthly payments to other investors in a Ponzi-like fashion. The conspirators concealed this arrangement from investors by falsely telling investors that the payments derived from legitimate investment returns, not other investors’ money.
In August 2022, the conspirators had a series of meetings in which Weinstein revealed his true identity to Anderson and Curry. In these meetings, at least two of which included Wittels, Weinstein also admitted to making various false statements about purported Optimus deals and to misappropriating Tryon investor money. Both during and after these August 2022 meetings, the conspirators agreed to continue concealing Weinstein’s identity from investors and to raise additional money to pay off existing Tryon investors, all in an effort to stop the Ponzi Scheme from falling apart and to cover up the conspirators’ fraud.
In addition to defrauding investors, Wittels also conspired with Weinstein, Bromberg, and others to obstruct justice. They helped hide Weinstein’s assets that should have been used to pay over $200 million in restitution that he still owes his previous victims. They also concealed Weinstein’s myriad business activities, which he was required to disclose to the court and which were expressly prohibited by the terms of his supervised release.
Wittels also engaged in a separate criminal conspiracy with Curry and others to distribute wholesale quantities of prescription drugs, including insulin, on the secondary market without a wholesale license.
The conspiracy charges are each punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, and the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis, with the investigation leading to the charges in this case. He also expressed appreciation for the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the direction of Antonia Apps, Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane, Jonathan Fayer, and Marko Pesce, of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegatioins against Weinstein, Bromberg, and Erez are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
wittels.information.pdfNew Haven Man Admits Stealing and Selling Catalytic ConvertersRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL ALMODOVAR, also known as “Eme ElColorado,” 30, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.
The investigation revealed that Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford, purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Almodovar, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey.
Business records seized during the investigation revealed that, between March 2022 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Almodovar $34,445 for catalytic converters. In one incident, while Almodovar was in the process of stealing a catalytic converter from a car parked in a parking lot, he was interrupted by a witness who used his cellphone take pictures of Almodovar. Almodovar attacked the witness, smashed his car window, cut him with the saw he used to steal the converter, and then fled. The next day, Almodovar sold six converters to Downpipe Depot in exchange for $2,180.
Almodovar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for June 18.
Almodovar was arrested on November 28, 2023. He is detained pending sentencing.
This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.
Nampa Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 10 Pounds of FentanylRead the Press Release
BOISE – Tyler Watson, 40, of Nampa, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possessing ten pounds of fentanyl with intent to distribute it to others, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, Watson was a mid-level fentanyl distributor for a large drug trafficking organization with direct ties to Mexico. Watson locally sold approximately $15,000 worth of fentanyl pills and powder on a weekly basis. When he was arrested on June 7, 2022, he had four and a half kilos (approximately ten pounds) of fentanyl powder, 74.63 grams of fentanyl in pill form (approximately 750 pills), 55 grams of methamphetamine, and $8,608 in drug proceeds.
“With our law enforcement partners, our office will continue to vigorously pursue fentanyl traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “A tiny amount of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose, and in this case, it is estimated that the defendant possessed enough fentanyl to theoretically kill 439,000 people. The magnitude of this threat is sobering, but cases like this demonstrate that, together, law enforcement is rising to the challenge of keeping Idahoans safe.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration and our partners will work tirelessly to stop drug traffickers like Mr. Watson from dealing their poison in our communities,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The lengthy prison term that Mr. Watson received should serve as a warning to those who would seek to destroy others’ lives for their own financial gain because, if they do, we will find them and bring them to justice.”
“Collaboration and teamwork with local, state, and federal partners is necessary to keep the pressure on drug dealers,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff. “These criminals need to understand we’re working together all of the time, and on every level, to keep the Treasure Valley safe. I’m very proud of the work that’s happening in my community.”
“This case illustrates the sheer magnitude of dangerous, illicit drugs with direct ties to Mexico and the Mexican Drug Cartels that are in our communities and on our streets here in Idaho,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “And this is just one example. We must continue working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to enforce the rule of law and stop this blatant criminality. The very safety of our republic depends on it.”
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Watson to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Watson pled guilty to the charge on November 13, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force consisting of officers from the United States Marshals Service, the United States Probation Office, the Nampa Police Department, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Department of Correction Probation and Parole. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Mobile Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 240 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and a consecutive 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, Edward Duran McGee, 42, was arrested by Mobile police in July 2021 during a traffic stop. As officers approached the vehicle, they saw drug paraphernalia in the door pocket and an open bag of white powder on the passenger side floorboard. During an inventory search of the vehicle, officers found a loaded Kahr CW40 pistol. Officers also found a black digital scale, four bags of green plant material, two large bags of powder cocaine, one large bag of crack cocaine, and a large bag of assorted pills.
In addition to the 300-month prison sentence, United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered McGee to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered McGee to pay $200 in special assessments and forfeited McGee’s pistol and four rounds of ammunition to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis F. Peral and Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.