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27 February 2024
Armed Carjacker who Shot at Victim Sentenced to Eleven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Anthony Porter, 36, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on April 17, 2023, around 8:30pm, Porter had been loitering by the entrance of a local convenience store located at 9852 East 21st Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, when he followed a male customer to his car. Porter approached the victim’s car alone, brandished a firearm, and forced him to leave the car. As the victim was getting out of the car, Porter discharged his firearm at the victim as he fled to safety with his hands in the air. Porter fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.
After a brief search for the victim’s vehicle, Porter was later located, arrested, and interviewed. During a subsequent search of the victim’s vehicle, officers found a 9mm handgun inside of Porter’s fanny pack.
At the time of his arrest, Porter had been previously convicted of two residential entry felonies. The felony convictions prohibit Porter from ever legally possessing a firearm.
“This violent criminal illegally armed himself, carjacked an innocent victim, and fired his weapon at the victim with utter disregard for human life,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Reducing gun violence in our communities is a top federal law enforcement priority, and I commend the FBI and IMPD for their work to hold this repeat offender accountable.”
“The sentence the defendant received demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigate violent crimes, and highlights the teamwork between agencies to protect the public and ensure this predator is behind bars and no longer able to terrorize our community,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton.
The FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Porter be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.
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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Anchorage man charged with multiple firearms crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Court documents allege that on Sept. 7, 2023, Christopher Nickalaskey, 32, possessed multiple firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents and a press release from the Anchorage Police Department, on Oct. 1, 2023, Nickalaskey possessed a firearm during an encounter with police. The release alleges Nickalaskey was contacted by police and began to fight officers. During the altercation, Nickalaskey allegedly reached for a gun in his waistband and pulled the trigger, striking himself and an officer in the lower body.
At the time of both alleged events, Nickalaskey was a convicted felon. Nickalaskey was convicted of a drug crime in the Anchorage Superior Court in 2014 and of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska in 2021.
Nickalaskey is charged with two counts of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Vorndran of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Chief Michael Kerle of the Anchorage Police Department made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers 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.
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Alexander City Man Sentenced to 99 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced the sentencing of an Alexander City, Alabama man for possessing a handgun converted to function as fully automatic by a machinegun conversion device. On February 20, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 23-year-old Alan Lyrenski Sandlin to 99 months in prison. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. Previously, on October 30, 2023, Sandlin pleaded guilty to the offense.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, in April 2023, law enforcement agents conducting a narcotics investigation arrested Sandlin at a residence in Goodwater, Alabama. Agents searched the house following the arrest and found a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are installed on firearms and allow the guns to function as fully automatic weapons capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second. Weapons equipped with these devices pose a significant threat to communities and law enforcement due to their rapid rates of fire. Under the relevant federal statute, possession of a conversion device alone is considered to be possession of a machine gun, meaning that it is illegal to have a machine gun conversion device, regardless of whether the device is attached to a firearm.
This case was prosecuted as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Alexander City Police Department, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.
After Jury Is Seated, Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in $2.6 Million FraudRead the Press Release
Shortly after a jury was seated in his case, a Kennedale, Texas tax preparer pleaded guilty to a $2.6 million tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Anthony “Tony” Floyd, 51, was charged in June 2023 with ten counts of aiding in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns. On the morning of his trial, shortly after a jury was seated, Mr. Floyd pleaded guilty to all 10 charges.
According to court documents, Mr. Floyd filed approximately 400 fraudulent tax returns that included false information designed to increase the amount of refund owed to the taxpayer.
He recruited victim “clients” outside big box stores and through other clients. He obtained their personal information, such as income and deduction information, via text or cell phone conversations, rarely meeting clients in person. Mr. Floyd purposely submitted the returns without reviewing with the taxpayer, then diverted all or most of the refund to his own account.
The resultant tax loss to the United States exceeded $2.6 million.
The tax filings included falsified W2s – filed on behalf of individuals purportedly working in catering, lawn care, event planning, interior décor, and other professions -- and included nonexistent charitable deductions, nonexistent college attendance, and even fictitious relatives.
“Mr. Floyd’s guilty plea shows that tax fraud is not a victimless crime,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “Mr. Floyd took advantage of his neighbors by preparing fraudulent tax returns and trying to steal over $2 million from the U.S. government. Mr. Floyd’s case should remind all tax practitioners to adhere to professional standards and follow the law.”
“Everyone must ensure what is submitted is true and accurate when filing their taxes, even if they are prepared by a professional,” Altemus added.
Mr. Floyd now faces up to three years per count, for a total of 30 years in federal prison.
IRS – Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl, Nancy Larson, and Mark Nicols (fmr) prosecuted the case.
26 February 2024
West Valley Man Sentenced to 27 Months’ Imprisonment After Admitting to Purchasing or Attempting to Purchase Multiple Rifles Intended for MexicoRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Jose Manuel Barbosa-Torres, 36, of West Valley City, Utah, was sentenced to over two years’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release after he admitted to three counts of aiding and abetting false statements during the acquisition or the attempted acquisition of a firearm. Barbosa Torres is the first of four defendants sentenced after their arrest and indictment in October 2023. See former press release here.
According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Jose Manuel Barbosa-Torres, 36, of West Valley City, Utah, provided funding for his co-defendants to purchase or attempt to purchase multiple Barrett .50 caliber rifles in August 2023, in the District of Utah. The purchases were from Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs). The defendants filled out an ATF Form 4473, where they indicated they were the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm and certified the submitted information was accurate, when it was false. Barbosa-Torres further admitted the firearms were acquired on behalf of another individual, who was transporting them to Mexico.
“Barbosa-Torres purchased or facilitated the purchase of at least eight .50 BMG caliber rifles knowing they would be trafficked to Mexico. These weapons have the capacity to inflict massive destruction,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Working with law enforcement, my office will continue to vigorously prosecute firearm trafficking that could lead to violence in our district or anywhere else.”
“ATF is on the frontline of the fight against organized international firearms trafficking, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. We are grateful for the collaboration between ATF and our industry partners which played a significant role in stopping the illegal flow of firearms into the hands of Sinaloa Cartel members in Mexico.”
Barbosa-Torres’ co-defendant Iliana Dennis is scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.3 before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Co-defendants Armando Figueroa Jr. and Cecilio Luis Arriaga are pending trial.The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney, Victoria McFarland of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
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.
West Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A West Springfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to possession of a machinegun.
Angel Vargas, Jr., 35, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun before United States District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni who scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2024. Vargas was indicted by a federal grand jury in Jan. 2023.
On Jan. 5, 2023, a search of Vargas’s residence resulted in the recovery of four loaded firearms, including a privately manufactured firearm, or “ghost gun,” with a Glock-style machinegun conversion device – i.e., a “Glock switch” designed to enable a Glock semi-automatic pistol to fire automatically. Vargas’s cell phone was also recovered which contained additional evidence of Vargas’s possession and trafficking of other firearms, including other Glock switches. At the time of Vargas’s arrest, he was on pre-trial release on a Springfield District Court case in which he was charged with various firearms crimes.
Vargas faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Vargas has also agreed to the administrative forfeiture of the firearms, the Glock switch and the ammunition. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the West Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Webster Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Jesse James Bertetto (30, Webster) to 27 years in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Bertetto to register as a sex offender and pay $74,500 in restitution. A federal jury found Bertetto guilty on April 12, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in December 2020, Bertetto possessed child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, including images and videos of minors under the age of 12. The web history on his cellphone revealed that he had searched for child sexual abuse material and had visited websites known to law enforcement as frequently containing child sexual abuse material.
In January 2022, Bertetto possessed images and videos of children on another cellphone, including young children being sexually abused. He also actively traded videos of child sexual abuse material over a social media platform in January 2022.
“Jesse Bertetto perpetuated the abhorrent behavior of sexually exploiting children online, contributing to the severe psychological damage these children will endure the rest of their life,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Alongside partners like the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, our investigators are dedicated to removing this vile content from the dark web and holding these predators accountable for their actions.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Tampa and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
United States Returns Alleged Murderer to MexicoRead the Press Release
On Feb. 20, the United States surrendered to Chihuahua, Mexico, state authorities Saul Luna Villa, also known as Saul Luna and Pantera, 24, a U.S. citizen of El Paso, Texas, charged with aggravated femicide for allegedly murdering his partner, A.M.B.V., in April 2023, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.
Luna Villa was escorted by the U.S. Marshals Service and surrendered to the Government of Mexico at the Lerdo Stanton International Bridge. He now faces justice in Mexico. This action reflects ongoing bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico to investigate crimes and bring those responsible to justice, no matter where they are.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Luna Villa’s return to Mexico. The Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Office in Ciudad Juarez and El Paso sectors, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Attorney General's Office of Chihuahua also provided invaluable support in this case.
U.S. Attorney's Office to Co-Host Panel on Diversifying the Criminal Justice Field at the University of North Carolina at CharlotteRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King will be joined by professionals in the criminal justice field for a panel discussion at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) on the topic of “Diversifying the Criminal Justice Landscape.”
The event is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Black Law Society of UNC Charlotte, as part of ATF’s “Law Enforcement Leaders of America” (LELA) program, which aims to advance diversity in the criminal justice profession.
“The LELA program is focused on introducing college students to a multitude of career paths within the criminal justice field. The goal of the program is to promote diversity in all areas of criminal justice and foster an inclusive workplace that mirrors the communities we serve,” said U.S. Attorney King. “A diverse workforce, defined not only in terms of race and gender, but also religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, culture, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic background, brings a unique understanding and perspective that can help improve public safety and develop creative solutions in our crime reductions efforts. I am looking forward to engaging directly with undergraduate students and stimulating their interest in careers they may not have considered up to this point.”
“Through our LELA program, we’re reaching a number of young candidates early in their job search, highlighting the benefits of public service and encouraging them to consider a very worthwhile career,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our partners have held panel discussions with students at colleges and universities across the Carolinas, detailing the many opportunities available in public safety. This field can be both rewarding and challenging, so we gather a diverse and experienced panel to detail the reason they decided to enter public service and the steps they took to overcome the challenges in their way.”
U.S. Attorney King will be joined in this panel discussion by criminal justice professionals representing federal, state and local government agencies, who will share valuable perspectives on career paths, job preparation, and overcoming challenges and roadblocks. College students attending the event will also receive practical information on a broad range of topics related to the hiring process, internship opportunities, and career advancement. Following the panel discussion, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and network with the panelists.
U.S. Attorney King has participated in multiple LELA events held on college campuses throughout North Carolina, primarily at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Winston Salem State University, and North Carolina Central University, U.S. Attorney King’s alma mater.
Two Men Indicted for Attempting to Sell 25 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington - On February 13, 2024 a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Jesus Birrueta-Mendoza and Germain Reyna Saucedo with one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine.
In January of 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) developed information that Birrueta-Mendoza had access to 50 pounds of methamphetamines and was offering to “front” a sample of the product.
On January 11, HSI agents used a confidential informant to meet with Birrueta-Mendoza. At the meeting HSI agents observed Birrueta-Mendoza give the informant 40 grams of methamphetamines. A few days later, the informant arranged to buy 50 pounds of methamphetamines from Birrueta-Mendoza for $60,000.
On January 18, Birrueta-Mendoza arrived at the Bi-Mart in Sunnyside, Washington to meet the informant. Saucedo was riding in the passenger seat of the vehicle. The informant asked where the drugs were and was told the drugs were in the backseat. Birrueta-Mendoza then said the bag contained half of the agreed amount of drugs.
Agents moved in and arrested Birrueta-Mendoza and Saucedo. Agents located a handgun in a holster on Saucedo’s waistband, along with $1,600 in cash.
The next day, agents obtained a search warrant for Birrueta-Mendoza’s vehicle. Agents opened the bag on the back seat of the vehicle, inside were 25 individually wrapped packages of methamphetamines weighing a total of 25.70 pounds in packaging.
“Over 25 pounds of illegal narcotics were taken off the street thanks to this seizure,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Illicit drugs harm our communities. My office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to protect our neighborhoods from those who distribute this poison.”
This ongoing case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case: 1:24-CR-2007-SAB
Two Gang Members Added to Federal Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Davenport, Iowa, returned a second superseding indictment on February 6, 2024, adding two Rock Island gang members to a racketeering conspiracy, which engaged in a years-long pattern of violence including acts of murder, shootings, robbery, and drug trafficking. As stated in a May 2023 press release, the original indictment charged twelve Quad City gang members.
The following defendants were added to the second superseding indictment:
- Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., 27, of Rock Island, Illinois, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition. Cartwright is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
- Cortez Deangelo Cooper, Jr., a/k/a “Tez”, 30, of Rock Island, Illinois, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and felon in possession of ammunition. Cooper is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment.
As alleged in this second superseding indictment, those charged were members and associates of a criminal organization or enterprise known under multiple titles, including the Arsenal Courts Posse, Zone Fifth, Fifth Street Mafia, Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG), and Money Team, whose members and associates engaged in acts of violence between April 2006 to the present. Further, the second superseding indictment alleges that:
- On September 5, 2012, Cartwright Jr. and another co-defendant shot a firearm at a rival gang member;
- On June 1, 2020, while the City of Davenport was experiencing civil unrest, Cooper Jr., shot several rounds at a person who they believed to be a rival gang member; and
- On July 5, 2020, Cartwright Jr. shot at a rival gang member. The rival gang member died as a result of being shot.
The second superseding indictment may be viewed at the link below.
On February 20, 2024, Cartwright Jr. was arrested after a federal search warrant was executed in the 1300 block of 44th Street in Rock Island, Illinois. During the search, officers seized over 30 pounds of marijuana and gang paraphernalia. Cartwright, Jr., made his initial appearance in federal court on February23, 2024, before United States Magistrate Judge Stephen B. Jackson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Cooper Jr. is already incarcerated with the Bureau of Prisons on a federal drug trafficking sentence and will make his initial court appearance on a later date.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department and the Rock Island Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Rock Island Gang Members Indictment
Tulare County Resident Sentenced to Prison for Counterfeit Treasury Check Conspiracy and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Dugan, 49, of Exeter, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between June 2020 and January 2022, Dugan worked with others to cash counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks throughout California’s Central Valley. These checks were cashed at various locations and were often written to appear to be in the names of other individuals. Dugan caused the cashing of counterfeit Treasury Checks worth over $500,000. While carrying out these crimes, Dugan used the personal identifying information of another person, including their name, date of birth, driver’s license number, and signature.
“Today’s sentence is a reminder that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to aggressively investigating those who commit financial crimes impacting the tax administration and victimizing the citizens of our communities,” stated Special Agent in Charge Rod Ammari. “This case demonstrates the investigative capabilities and dedication of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration special agents. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to protecting the financial infrastructure of the United States by pursuing individuals that abuse the tax administration to further their identity theft schemes.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.
Titusville Man on Federal Supervision Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Carmel Linot (33, Titusville) has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Linot faces up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and a minimum mandatory penalty of 2 year in prison for the aggravated identity theft, which will run consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Linot is currently on federal supervised release in the Middle District of Florida for aggravated identity theft in a separate case. He was previously prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville Division. Linot was arrested on June 12, 2023, and the court ordered him detained on the federal supervised release case and the new indictment involving bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to the plea agreement and public records, Linot obtained the Social Security number (SSN) of a minor victim. Using this SSN, a counterfeit State of Georgia driver license, and false employment documents, Linot opened a bank account under a false identity at a credit union. After opening up the bank account in the false identity, he then obtained a credit card by using the victim’s SSN.
This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to a Decade in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possessing more than 3,000 images and videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In 2017 and 2018, MIGUEL ASCENCIOS, also known as “Allison Wou,” 55, of Burr Ridge, Ill., used social media and a file-sharing service to receive and share computer files depicting child pornography. Among the thousands of files he possessed were videos depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers.
Ascencios pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman on Feb. 20, 2024, ordered Ascencios to pay $7,000 in restitution to four of his victims.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“Defendant was not a passive participant in a victimless crime; rather, he directly contributed to both the victimization of children and demand for further material,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne L. Yonover argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant perpetuated the victims’ abuse and helped to preserve a permanent record of those images and videos.”
The government was represented by Ms. Yonover and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Malgorzata Kozaka.
If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2024 in federal court in Springfield to firearms charges.
Edward Nathan Gale, 24, pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, unlawful firearms dealing and unlawful possession of machineguns. United States District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2024. Gale was indicted by a federal grand jury in Feb. 2023.
Between Feb. 22, 2022, and Dec. 2, 2022, Gale manufactured and distributed approximately 50 privately manufactured firearms (“ghost guns”) to individuals located in Kansas and Massachusetts. Between approximately Oct. 11, 2022, and Dec. 8, 2022, Gale also imported from China approximately 100 Glock-style machinegun conversion devices (“Glock switches”), approximately 60 of which he distributed in Massachusetts and elsewhere, along with other firearms and a silencer. On Jan. 5, 2023, a search of Gale’s residence resulted in the recovery of a Pioneer Arms semi-automatic rifle; numerous rounds of ammunition; assorted tools, parts and accessories used to manufacture ghost guns; and evidence of Gale’s importation and distribution of Glock switches. Gale had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, therefore his possession of the rifle and the ammunition (as well as the Glock switches) was illegal. Gale was not licensed to manufacture or distribute firearms, therefore his manufacturing and distribution of the ghost guns and the Glock switches was also illegal.
Gale faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the charge of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; five years in prison on the charge of unlawful firearms dealing; and ten years in prison on the charge of unlawful possession of machineguns. Gale also faces a maximum of three years of supervised release on each count, and he has agreed to the forfeiture of a Pioneer Arms rifle and various tools, parts and accessories for the manufacture of ghost guns. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Southern California Edison Agrees to Pay United States $80 Million to Resolve Lawsuit Stemming from 2017 Thomas FireRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Southern California Edison (SCE) has agreed to pay the United States $80 million to resolve claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service to recoup costs and damages associated with the 2017 Thomas Fire in the Los Padres National Forest, the Justice Department announced today.
The settlement finalized Friday afternoon is the largest wildfire cost recovery settlement by the United States in the Central District of California. The Thomas Fire burned more than 280,000 acres – approximately 440 square miles – including over 150,000 acres of National Forest System lands in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The Thomas Fire ignited in two locations on the evening of December 4, 2017. The first ignition was in Anlauf Canyon north of the City of Santa Paula. The second ignition occurred at the top of Koenigstein Road in Upper Ojai. The two fires joined and came to be known as the Thomas Fire.
In 2020, the United States filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Forest Service against SCE to recover costs incurred fighting the Thomas Fire and for the extensive damages that it caused to the Los Padres National Forest.
The United States alleged that SCE owned, maintained and operated power lines that caused both ignitions of the Thomas Fire. In Anlauf Canyon, the United States alleged that SCE power lines made contact with each other during a high-wind event, causing heated material to ignite dry vegetation below the conductors. On Koenigstein Road, the United States alleged that an SCE power pole transformer failed and caused an energized power line to fall to the ground, igniting adjacent dry vegetation.
“This record settlement provides significant compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Thomas Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue compensation from any entity that causes harm to our forests and other precious national resources.”
SCE agreed to pay the settlement without admitting wrongdoing or fault. SCE agreed to pay the $80 million settlement within 60 days of the effective date of the settlement agreement, which was February 23.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jill S. Casselman and Matthew Smock of the Complex and Defensive Litigation Section negotiated the settlement in this case.
South Carolina Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime for Killing a Transgender Woman Because of Her Gender IdentityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – After a four-day trial in a federal hate crime case, a jury found a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, guilty of all charges in the indictment, which included one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count, all arising out of the murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman.
“Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people, including transgender women of color like Dime Doe, are on the rise and have no place in our society,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The Justice Department takes seriously all bias-motivated acts of violence and will not hesitate to hold accountable those who commit them. No one should have to live in fear of deadly violence because of who they are.”
“A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The jury’s verdict sends a clear message: Black trans lives matter, bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated, and perpetrators of hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case is historic; this defendant is the first to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identify under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We want the Black trans community to know that you are seen and heard, that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, and that we will use every tool available to seek justice for victims and their families.”
“Years of collaborative work were validated by a jury’s unanimous verdict: guilty. This sends a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted for their gender identity or sexual orientation. As Dime Doe’s loved ones remember her, we hope this verdict provides them some comfort,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI to increase education on federal hate crime statues and how we can, and will, prosecute crimes motivated by bias in South Carolina.”
“Justice has prevailed in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This guilty verdict underscores the importance of upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals. This outcome will never completely erase the pain Doe’s family faces, but it is our hope that it brings a measure of closure to this tragic and heinous crime.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.
Doe faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office, and Allendale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner, and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
This was the first trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for violence against a transgender person. The Shepard-Byrd Act is a landmark federal statute passed in 2009 which allows federal criminal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Additional information about the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is available here.
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Sanostee Man Sentenced to Supervised Probation for AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Melvin C. Smith was sentenced to one year of supervised probation. Smith must also pay full restitution to both victims. Smith, 63, of Sanostee, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to assault by striking, beating, or wounding on November 28, 2023.
According to court records, on October 6, 2022, Smith used a long, hard wooden walking stick to assault his brother-in-law and his brother-in-law’s girlfriend. Smith also punched the girlfriend in the face. Following the assault, the two victims drove to Shiprock for medical treatment. Smith’s brother-in-law suffered a fractured forearm and cuts to his hand. His girlfriend suffered various contusions and a concussion without loss of consciousness. Days later, Smith called his brother-in-law and left an apologetic voicemail.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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Roofing Company Principal Pleads Guilty for Failing to Protect an Employee Who Fell to His DeathRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSE LEMA, a/k/a “Jose Lema Mizhirumbay,” the founder and principal of ALJ Home Improvement, Inc., a New York roofing company, pled guilty to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations, resulting in the death of an employee in New Square, New York, on or about February 8, 2022. LEMA pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy, to whom the case is assigned. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jose Lema endangered the safety of his workers by disregarding regulations and failing to ensure his employees used fall protection systems. This conduct led to the tragically avoidable death of a roof worker at a construction site. Failure of small businesses to comply with safety regulations endangers workers and can lead to unnecessary and preventable tragedy, and this Office will hold them accountable.”
According to statements and filings made in court:
On the morning of February 8, 2022, LEMA sent an ALJ employee (“Victim-1”) and three other employees to install a roof on a three-story multi-family apartment building under construction in New Square, New York. LEMA failed to protect his employees from fall hazards by having them work on the roof at the worksite without fall protection. After ascending a ladder to the roof, Victim-1 fell to the ground and died from his injuries.
Victim-1’s deadly fall was not the first time an employee of LEMA and ALJ fell to their death at one of ALJ’s worksites or were exposed to fall hazards. The first death, on or about February 27, 2019, involved an ALJ employee who slipped off the roof of a newly constructed three-story home in Kiamesha Lake, New York. OSHA investigated and issued citations to ALJ numerous times for failing to ensure employes were using fall protection systems following the 2019 death and once after Victim-1’s death.
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LEMA, 41, of Nanuet, New York, is charged with one count of willful violation of OSHA regulations resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of OSHA, the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margery Feinzig is in charge of the prosecution.
Riverton man sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Gentry Dean Blackburn, age 31, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 53 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Feb. 20 in Cheyenne.
According to court documents, on Jul. 9, 2023, Riverton Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of the Riverton City Park in reference to a report of a discharged firearm. The officers noticed Blackburn, who matched the description given by the reporting party, walking near the park. The officers contacted Blackburn and eventually found a loaded Hi Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol wrapped in a bandana that Blackburn was carrying. The officers also found two spent cartridge casings in the area where witnesses saw Blackburn shoot the gun into the air. Having been previously convicted of a felony, Blackburn is prohibited from lawfully possessing a firearm. Blackburn was charged in federal court and pled guilty.
This crime was investigated by the Riverton Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Case No. 23-00137
Powell man sentenced for defrauding the U.S. Forest ServiceRead the Press Release
Ronald Ostrom, age 54, of Powell, Wyoming, was sentenced to two years’ probation, including six months of home confinement, for 6 felony convictions related to stealing a horse owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The sentence also included restitution in the amount of $11,747, a fine of $2,500, and special assessments totaling $600.
Ostrom was convicted by a federal jury in Nov. 2023 on one count of stealing government property, one count of concealing and retaining government property, two counts of making false documents, and two counts of making false statements. Ostrom is a retired U.S. Forest Service employee. According to evidence presented at trial, and the jury’s verdict, Ostrom stole a government-owned horse when he retired from the Forest Service and made multiple false statements to cover up this theft.
This crime was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
Case No. 22-CR-00060
Poteau Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that David Glen Berryhill, Jr., age 51, of Poteau, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On July 6, 2023, Berryhill pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to investigators, on January 25, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop on Highway 69 near Checotah, Oklahoma, discovered Berryhill in possession of almost three kilograms of methamphetamine.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Berryhill was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Personal Pilot to Billionaire Investor Joseph Lewis Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of PATRICK O’CONNOR to charges of committing securities fraud and conspiring to commit securities fraud through insider trading. O’CONNOR was arrested in July 2023 and pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jessica G.L. Clarke today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As the private pilot for billionaire Joe Lewis — previously convicted by this Office of insider trading — Patrick O’Connor was in the orbit of Lewis’s high-flying lifestyle, and a criminal beneficiary of non-public information provided by Lewis. O’Connor accepted and criminally traded on what he knew to be inside information from his well-connected boss, for his own personal gain. O’Connor has now accepted responsibility and awaits sentencing for his federal crimes.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictments and other filings and statements made in court:
PATRICK O’CONNOR worked as a personal pilot to his co-defendant in this case, JOSEPH LEWIS, for several years. LEWIS is a billionaire businessman and investor who is the principal owner of the Tavistock Group, an international private investment organization. At relevant times, by virtue of LEWIS’s investments in certain companies, he controlled one or more board of director seats at those companies and deputized employees to serve on various company boards. In turn, through these employees, LEWIS received material, non-public information about these companies.
During the course of his employment for LEWIS, on multiple occasions, O’CONNOR received material, non-public information from LEWIS and then traded on the basis of that information. On one occasion, after receiving inside information from LEWIS concerning Mirati Therapeutics, O’CONNOR wrote in a WhatsApp message to a friend that he had “talked with Mr. Lewis,” “we will make much more within the next 6 weeks with Mirati,” and “think we have people who know.” Days later, O’CONNOR wrote to the same friend to buy Mirati and that the “Boss[i.e., LEWIS] is helping us out and told us to get ASAP.” O’CONNOR added that “All conversations on app is encrypted so all good. No one can ever see.” A day later, O’CONNOR added in the same text thread that LEWIS said to buy Mirati stock, that Mirati “should only be short term,” and that the “Boss mentioned around 6 to 8 weeks for [Mirati] to take profit.” Within days, LEWIS wired $500,000 to O’CONNOR, and O’CONNOR then used the $500,000 to purchase Mirati stock. On or about October 22, 2019, O’CONNOR texted his same friend that October 28, 2019, was the “big day for MRTX.” O’CONNOR then added that he thought “the Boss has inside info” and “knows the outcome” because “otherwise why would he make us invest.”
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O’CONNOR, 67, of Preston Hollow, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison, and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
LEWIS, 87, a British national, pled guilty on January 24, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison, and two counts of securities fraud, which each carry a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. O’CONNOR is sentenced to be scheduled on May 29, 2024.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also expressed appreciation for the Securities Exchange Commission, which previously initiated civil proceedings against O’CONNOR.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Roos and Jason A. Richman are in charge of the prosecution.
Owatonna Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography, Threatening to Carry Out a Murder PlotRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – An Owatonna sex offender has pleaded guilty on the first day of trial to producing sexually explicit images of a minor and sending graphic threats detailing a murder plot against his former child sexual abuse victim, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in March 2021, law enforcement in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, began investigating Michael Lee Kurkowski, 28, regarding the communication and exchange of sexually explicit images of a minor. The investigation revealed that Kurkowski traveled to Pennsylvania to locate the minor and to try to continue a “relationship” after the minor attempted to end the online communications. In April 2021, Kurkowski was charged with multiple felonies and convicted in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, of corruption of a minor related to the sexual exploitation of the minor and was sentenced to 142 days in prison followed by probation. Kurkowski’s probation conditions required him to register as a sex offender, not to contact his victim, to refrain from behavior which may present a danger to others, and not to possess any weapons.
According to court documents, in November 2021, law enforcement began investigating Kurkowski’s online communications and sexual exploitation of another minor victim. Investigators reviewed several messages from Kurkowski to the minor describing in graphic detail a plan to travel to Pennsylvania where Kurkowski would murder the parents of his former victim, rape his sister, and then kill her in front of his former victim.
According to court documents, on February 4, 2022, law enforcement learned that Kurkowski had purchased a Greyhound bus ticket and was currently en route to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the general location of Kurkowski’s former victim and his family. FBI investigators tracked Kurkowski to a bus stop in Toledo, Ohio, where authorities took him into custody. According to court documents, when he was arrested, Kurkowski had with him a bag containing 16 heavy flex cuffs, electrical tape, a taser, a knife, rubber gloves, handcuffs, and hooded facemasks.
Kurkowski pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Joan N. Ericksen to one count of threatening interstate communication and one count of production of child pornography. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Owatonna Police Department, Steele County Community Corrections, the Upper Allen Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department, the East Peoria (Illinois) Police Department, Watertown (Wisconsin) Police Department, Toledo (Ohio) Police Department, and the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Laura M. Provinzino are prosecuting the case.
Additionally, NCMEC’s peer support network, Team HOPE, can provide support, empowerment, and resources to families of missing or exploited children from people who have experienced a similar trauma. If you’d like to connect with someone for emotional support, email: [email protected] or call: 1-877-446-2632 ext. 6117.
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – John Paul Loudermilk, 61, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Loudermilk admitted to his roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2023, Loudermilk conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine by helping co-defendant Karl Lamont Funderburk distribute methamphetamine to other customers. Loudermilk sometimes received fentanyl from Funderburk in exchange for doing this.
Loudermilk admitted to usually meeting with Funderburk in the Charleston area to obtain methamphetamine and fentanyl. Loudermilk further admitted that he generally received between one-half ounce and one ounce of methamphetamine at a time from Funderburk along with one gram of fentanyl, delivering the methamphetamine to customers, and collecting money from customers in exchange.
Loudermilk and Funderburk are among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.
Funderburk, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on December 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute a quantity of fentanyl. He awaits sentencing. Loudermilk and Funderburk are among 27 defendants who have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-33.
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Omaha Man Sentenced to 16 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Nathan Scott Jandreau, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Jandreau to 192 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jandreau’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
On February 10, 2023, law enforcement were conducting surveillance on a South Omaha residence looking for Jandreau who had a warrant for his arrest for violating the terms of his supervised release. Officers observed Jandreau exit the residence and leave in a car that officers stopped at a nearby location. After Jandreau was taken into custody, he advised officers that a backpack in the car was his. A search of the backpack revealed 335 grams of meth, and evidence of drug distribution consisting of digital scales and small plastic baggies.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jason Felder, age 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for bank robbery. Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Jason Felder to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Felder’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
On August 10, 2022, Jason Felder took a note that contained a bomb threat into the victim bank and then walked outside the bank. The victim teller reported it to the security guard working inside the bank, who happened to be an off-duty Wahoo police officer. The off-duty officer walked outside the bank to speak with Felder, and Felder got into a struggle with the officer. Felder fled into the residential area around the bank because Felder’s driver abandoned the scene.
Once Felder was in the residential area, he tried to get into several people’s vehicles but was unsuccessful. He also tried to enter several homes. Felder found a home with an unlocked door and went inside and forced a grandson inside the residence owned by his grandmother to accompany him upstairs in the house. Felder then directed the grandson to get Felder a glass of water but warned the grandson to keep quiet. The grandmother was downstairs when the grandson came down and could tell by looking at the child that something was not right. She asked him about it, and the grandson told her about Felder hiding upstairs. The grandmother then yelled at Felder to come downstairs.
Once downstairs, the grandmother insisted Felder leave the house. Felder refused. The grandmother tried to push past Felder. He pushed her and locked the door with all of them inside the residence. The grandmother again resisted and got past Felder with her grandson and made it outside. Once outside, she saw her son and his girlfriend and told her son about what happened inside the home. The adult son went inside the house in pursuit of Felder.
Police officers arrived on scene shortly thereafter as they were tracking Felder’s movements from the scene of the attempted bank robbery. Officers entered the home and ultimately a K-9 located Felder hiding in the basement of the residence. Felder refused to comply with demands, and the dog forcibly obtained custody of Felder so that officers could arrest him. He was wearing the same clothing as the man in the bank robbery video.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Thomas V. Ratcliff, also known as “Twin,” 32, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 7, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Ratcliff at a Marcum Terrace residence in Huntington on an outstanding Wayne County Circuit Court arrest warrant. Following the arrest, officers executed a search warrant of the residence and found approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol. Ratliff admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine and intended to sell it for money.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted 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. 3:23-cr-2.
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Nicaraguan National Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Transporting 550 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
St. Croix, USVI – U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that a Nicaraguan national, Jorge Adalberto Gutierrez-Picado, age 27, was sentenced by Judge Wilma A. Lewis on federal drug charges relating to the seizure of bulk cocaine off the coast of Colombia. On February 21, Judge Lewis sentenced Gutierrez-Picado to 70 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on March 5, 2022, during its patrol in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Legare observed a go-fast style vessel, “La Bendecida Leo”, 140 nautical miles, southwest of Isla de Malpelo, traveling at a high rate of speed with bundles and fuel barrels observed on deck. The USCG crew next observed occupants of the La Bendecida Leo throwing bundles of suspected narcotics overboard. Crew members then launched an over-the-horizon vessel and helicopter to intercept.
Upon intercepting the vessel, USCG crew members observed that the La Bendecida Leo had no registration and the occupants claimed Nicaraguan nationality for the vessel. Nicaragua could neither confirm nor deny nationality of the vessel to the USCG. A search of the La Bendecida Leo, including the bundles of suspected narcotics recovered from the ocean, resulted in the seizure of approximately 550.6 kilograms of cocaine and 136 pounds of marijuana.
The USCG, Homeland Security Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case.This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of White Plains, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to 38 months of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction for use of unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Erick Cottrell, 54.
According to information presented to the Court, in August 2022, Cottrell used a counterfeit Pennsylvania Driver’s License in the name of a victim to make withdrawals of approximately $23,000 from the victim’s bank account. In September 2022, Cottrell was arrested by the Baltimore City Police in connection with another attempt to use the same counterfeit driver’s license to steal money from the victim’s bank account. In April 2023, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives tracked Cottrell and others to a hotel on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, where they had fraudulently rented three rooms, including one by Cottrell in the name of the same victim. Further investigation by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the United States Secret Service revealed that Cottrell used the personal identification information of that victim and other victims at various places to rent hotel rooms and make fraudulent purchases in the Pittsburgh area.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Weigand noted the seriousness of the crimes and Cottrell’s extensive criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Secret Service, Baltimore City Police, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cottrell.New Orleans Woman Guilty of Staged Automobile Accident ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHIRLEY HARRIS (“HARRIS”), age 38, of New Orleans, pled guilty on February 20, 2024, to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Today’s guilty plea brings the total number of defendants convicted in “Operation Sideswipe” to 48.
According to court documents, HARRIS, and others, conspired to fraudulently stage an automobile collision to obtain money. HARRIS, Antoine Clark “Clark,” and other co-conspirators intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer on April 24, 2017, in the area of Interstate 10 near the Crowder Boulevard exit in New Orleans. HARRIS and Clark made false police reports, filed fraudulent lawsuits, lied during deposition testimony, and sought unnecessary medical treatment to further their fraudulent claims. As part of her plea agreement, HARRIS agreed to pay $10,000.00 in restitution to the insurance company. The Honorable Sarah S. Vance set sentencing in this matter for June 12, 2024.
HARRIS faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment; up to three (3) years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $250,000.00. A $100 mandatory special assessment fee is also applicable.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Carboni, and Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Robbery and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on February 21, 2024, COREY LEWIS, a/k/a “Co,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for violations of the Federal Gun Control Act and Hobbs Act Robbery.
LEWIS previously pled guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to interfere and interference with commerce through robbery (Hobbs Act Conspiracy and Hobbs Act Robbery), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. LEWIS additionally pled guilty to Count 3, charging him with possessing firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). For Counts 1 and 2, LEWIS was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. As to Count 3, LEWIS was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, which must run consecutively to the sentences in Counts 1 and 2, as well as five years of supervised release. In total, LEWIS received a sentence of 156 months. LEWIS must also pay a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee for each count.
According to court documents, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated a group responsible for committing violent crimes and illegal drug trafficking, primarily in New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward area of New Orleans. LEWIS, along with nine others, were indicted for conspiring to possess firearms, traffic drugs and commit armed robberies of drug dealers. LEWIS committed a Hobbs Act robbery with his co-conspirators, during which they victimized a mother and her two-young children by breaking into their house, brandishing firearms, tying up the mother, and ransacking the house.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Elizabeth Privitera, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
Nashville Man Found Guilty of Federal Narcotics and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – On February 20, 2024, a jury in the Middle District of Tennessee found Michael Davis guilty of attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis.
According to evidence presented at trial, in October 2020, Davis met with two confidential informants at a restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss purchasing large amounts of cocaine. The following day, Davis brought a loaded handgun and more than $300,000 in cash to a Pilot Travel Center to purchase over five kilograms of cocaine from the informants. Federal agents arrested Davis on the scene after a brief foot chase.
“We are committed to fighting drug trafficking in Middle Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “The verdict in this case underscores that commitment and ensures this defendant will be held accountable for his crimes.”
Davis will be sentenced on June 24, 2024, by United States District Judge William L. Campbell, Jr. Davis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Hinkle and Robert Levine prosecuted the case.
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Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Six FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael C. McDermott, age 30, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for stealing six firearms from a Walmart, a federally licensed firearms dealer. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Bethlehem Police Chief Gina F. Cocchiara made the announcement.
When pleading guilty last October, McDermott admitted to forcing his way into the Walmart in Glenmont, New York, while it was closed overnight, smashing the glass gun case, and stealing five shotguns and one rifle. McDermott also admitted that when employees chased him into the woods, he pointed a firearm at them.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release, which includes a special condition of supervision barring McDermott from any association with members, associates and/or prospects of the Suicide Squad motorcycle gang.
The ATF and Bethlehem Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.
More Than A Dozen People Sentenced in Federal Investigation Targeting the 4k Street Gang in Alachua FloridaRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – The last of 12 federal defendants was sentenced for drug-trafficking and firearm charges related to a joint federal and state investigation into the 4K criminal street gang in the city of Alachua, Florida. The sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our law enforcement partners’ concerted investigation and prosecution of violent crime – here acts of murder and retaliatory gun violence by rival gang members – is central to our mission to protect the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “The sentences imposed in this investigation, some spanning multiple decades, illustrate our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with gun violence by gang-affiliated drug traffickers.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force began an investigation of the 4K gang following a number of gang-related shootings in the city of Alachua in 2018. The FBI worked with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Alachua Police Department to investigate the initial shooting and numerous other shootings thereafter. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) aided through investigation of 4K’s drug-trafficking activity. Between February 22, 2020, and May 20, 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, and DEA obtained six court-authorized Title III wiretaps on cellphones used by members of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. On May 20, 2020, federal search warrants were executed, and four individuals were federally arrested, with others being indicted in June and August 2020.
The federally sentenced defendants, which included 4K gang members and associates, as well as people selling drugs to the 4K gang, were:
- Roddrae Antonio Williams, 32, Alachua, Florida, 480 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
- Elboric Quadarius Robinson, 32, Alachua, Florida, 336 months in prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release.
- Decoda Kadarrell King, 36, Williston, Florida, 168 months in prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release.
- Eric Jermaine Williams, 42, Gainesville, Florida, 104 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Daniel Heath Willis, 30, Alachua, Florida, 96 months in prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release.
- Morris Cordell Robinson, Jr., 58, Alachua, Florida, 78 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
- Gregory Lavough Williams, Jr., 44, Yorba Linda, California, 48 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
- Rakeidra Alexandria Neal, 33, Gainesville, Florida, 14.5 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Rayme Herhandez, 47, Morriston, Florida, 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release.
- Tomeka Necole Bryant, 44, Gainesville, Florida, 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
- Edward Lashawn Garrison, Jr., 27, Fort White, Florida, 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
- Lorenza Durr, 33, Alachua, Florida, 8 months in prison in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
"The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office recognizes the grave threats posed by drug trafficking and firearm violations,” said Sheriff Emory Gainey. “We understand that multi-agency cooperation is not merely a strategy but an essential approach to addressing these challenges. Together, we stand united in our mission to protect our neighborhoods and uphold the rule of law."
"The sentencing of Roddrae Williams brings to a close a years-long joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement and investigative partners.” “The cooperation between these agencies resulted in the successful prosecution of these 12 individuals who terrorized our local communities,” said Alachua Police Chief Jesse J. Sandusky. “We are thankful for the assistance we received from our partners and hope that this can help bring closure to the victim's families."
Charges by the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office were brought against the following:
- Hakiem Brockman, 25, West Palm Beach, Florida, pled nolo contendere to second degree murder with discharge of a firearm causing death, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and four counts of attempted murder in the first degree with discharge of a firearm. Brockman was sentenced to 35 years in prison, 25 of which will be served day-for-day.
- McKenzley Edwards, 30, Alachua, Florida, pled nolo contendere to six counts of attempted second degree murder with discharge of a firearm and actual possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with a witness, victim, or informant, and one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder (premeditated) and attempted murder. Edwards was sentenced to 25 years in prison, 20 of which will be served day-for-day.
- Kenzel Edwards, 28, Alachua, Florida, pled nolo contendere to three counts of attempted second degree murder with a firearm and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, 10 of which will be served day-for-day.
- Jeffery Robinson, Jr., 29, Alachua, Florida, pled nolo contendere to accessory after the fact to the murder and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
- Roddrae Williams pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder (premediated) and is pending sentencing.
“Each of these violent felony offenders posed a significant risk to the safety of our community. Thanks to the professional, expert work of this task force and our prosecutors, this community will be protected from further violence by these offenders,” said Brian Kramer, State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit.
“These sentencings demonstrate the FBI's relentless determination to eradicate drug-fueled gang violence that is plaguing communities," said FBI Jacksonville Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis. "Disrupting organizations like this one is a critical part of the FBI mission, and we will use every legal means available to hold accountable those who threaten our neighborhoods. The rule of law is not optional, and we want to make clear to other gangs operating in our communities: the FBI and our local, state, and federal partners are coming for you, and the violence won't be tolerated."
“DEA’s top priority is protecting the safety and health of our Florida communities. Drug trafficking and associated violence puts our communities in danger,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The DEA Miami Field Division remains committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime, remove dangerous drugs from our streets, and hold those responsible for distributing this poison in our communities accountable for their actions.”
These convictions were the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Alachua Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, University of Florida Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocala Police Department. The federal cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain, and the state cases were prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Daniel Owen.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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.
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking and Sending Interstate Threats to Fresno BusinessRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — William Lee Robinson, 43, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for five counts of sending threatening interstate communications and three counts of cyberstalking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Robinson worked at a business in Fresno from June to November in 2017. After the business fired him, Robinson began sending threatening messages to his former supervisor and other coworkers in an attempt to extort money from them. Robinson directed his threats at employees of the company and stated his intent to murder, rape, and commit other violent acts against the recipients and their family members. Robinson made the threats because he wanted the company to pay him between $10,000 and $20,000 to cover the cost of relocating to a different city.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
Miami Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Operating Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Feb. 22, Jack Connor Ridall, 29, of Miami, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, for operating an investment fraud scheme.
Ridall defrauded victims out of approximately $735,000, by falsely indicating he would use their money for various investments. Ridall was the founder and sole member of Stratcapital LLC, Guss Capital, LLC, and Guss Actium Manager, LLC. Using these three companies, Ridall succeeded in causing at least three people to provide him money based on his material misrepresentations. The false statements Ridall made to these victims included (a) Ridall’s investing experience and performance, (b) the use of investor funds for purposes other than those that he promised, and (c) the safety of the investment. Ridall also falsely told his victims, among other things, that his companies were investment management companies with substantial assets. Ridall did not invest investor funds in securities or in an investment fund, but instead he misappropriated investor funds to pay for luxury retail purchases, hotel stays, restaurants, and fraudulent transfers to family members. When victims asked Ridall for updates on their investments, he provided forged attorney letters and audit reports indicating that the victims' investments yielded high rates of return.
In Nov. 2023, Ridall pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated the case. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20152.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to Nearly 23 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to federal prison for two carjackings that occurred in February 2022. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Martavious Marr, 20, to 275 months in federal prison for the crimes and ordered Marr to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, at approximately 9:00pm on February 1, 2022, Marr approached a man at a gas station on N. Bellevue Blvd, pointed a gun at him, and demanded the keys to his 2009 Pontiac G6. The victim told Marr that the keys were already in the car. As the man turned to run inside the store, Marr shot him in the back and drove away in the victim’s car. Marr later used his social media page to sell the car for $1,225.00.
On February 13, 2022, Marr approached another man outside a bar on Poplar Avenue at approximately 3:00am. Marr pointed a gun at the victim and demanded the keys to his 2020 Dodge Journey. The victim complied and Marr drove away in the car. Marr also took the victim’s AirPods and gun, as they had been left in the car. The victim tracked the car to Marr’s place of employment and called police.
Marr was later arrested and charged with both carjackings. At the time of his arrest, Marr was carrying the second victim’s gun in his waistband.
In November 2023, Marr pled guilty to discharging a firearm during a violent crime, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, possessing a stolen firearm, and two counts of carjacking.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department.
This case is also 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.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brittany Nicole Mekler, age 31, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charges arose from investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the McAlester Police Department.
On July 18, 2023, Mekler pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to investigators, on August 27, 2022, Mekler was found in possession of 163.18 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $3,774 cash.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Mekler was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Mayes County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jacob Aaron Ward, age 43, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 11, 2023, Ward pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to court documents, a Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputy found Ward in possession of a loaded .38 Special revolver during a traffic stop in August of 2022. The deputy located the revolver in Ward’s back pocket while conducting a pat-down. Ward knew when he possessed the firearm that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Ward was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.
Man Indicted for Decades-long Fraud of Veteran’s Benefits, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted Raymond Kenneth Musgrove, formerly of Grant County, Washington, for fraud in connection with benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Indictment announced today charges Musgrove, formerly of Grant County, Washington, with false representation of a social security number, wire fraud, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. The Indictment alleges that Raymond Kenneth Musgrove posed as J.M.C., a real person and military veteran, for several decades, collecting Veterans Affairs Compensation Payments and receiving healthcare at the VA in the name of J.M.C. According to the Indictment, Musgrove has purported to be J.M.C. since at least 1997, in the process collecting over $825,000 in federal funds from the VA to which he was not entitled. According to the Indictment, the VA terminated benefit payments several times after the real J.M.C. passed away in 2018, but each time Musgrove reached out to the VA purporting to be J.M.C. and requested that benefits should continue. The Indictment alleges that due to Musgrove’s misrepresentations, the VA continued to provide Veterans Affairs Compensation Payments in the name of J.M.C.
“Military Veterans have given selfless service to this country. Schemes to steal funds set aside to support them are an insult to their sacrifices,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “My office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that federal government programs and missions are protected from fraudulent actions and will hold fraudsters accountable when they seek government funds in order to line their own pockets.”
The fraud charges carry sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison as well as restitution for fraudulently obtained funds. This case was investigated by SSA-OIG and VA-OIG. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frieda K. Zimmerman.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case No: 2:24-CR-00016-SAB
Lutcher Man Sentenced to Twenty-Four Months Imprisonment for Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On February 21, 2024, TROY MALBROUGH, age 48, a resident of Lutcher, La., was sentenced to 24-months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, a quantity of heroin, and a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration began a drug-trafficking investigation into MALBROUGH's organization in 2019. MALBROUGH conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. He also purchased and distributed these same drugs within the district. In 2018, MALBROUGH distributed fentanyl to an individual who later died after ingesting that fentanyl.
After serving his term of imprisonment, MALBROUGH will be supervised by U.S. Probation for 3 years. MALBROUGH must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.
Lockport man previously convicted of endangering the welfare of a child charged with possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Damon Singleton-Spencer, 31, of Lockport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that in September 2023, the New York State Police received a report that an individual had uploaded 184 files of suspected child pornography to a cloud storage application. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Singleton-Spencer, who was previously convicted in 2017 of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. On February 16, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Singleton-Spencer’s Lockport residence. During the search, investigators seized multiple devices including computers, hard drives, and cell phones. A preliminary review of one cell phone recovered multiple images and videos of child pornography.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Possession of Drugs and FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Perrion Bluford, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 23, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska following his conviction for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Bluford to 5 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bluford is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Bluford pleaded guilty to both offenses on July 27, 2023.
Police learned that Bluford was distributing illegal drugs and using social media accounts to advertise the sale of drugs. Police obtained a search warrant for Bluford’s apartment and searched his apartment on January 13, 2021. In Bluford’s bedroom, police located 79 suspected MDMA pills, 3.2 pounds of suspected marijuana, and other suspected prescription medications. Police also found a Masterpiece Arms 5.7 by 288 mm pistol, which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, police located other items consistent with the distribution of illegal drugs, and $8,015 in United States currency.
A sampling of the seized drugs was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory. The first submitted sample tested negative for the presence of controlled substances. A second sample was then submitted for testing. Some of the suspected marijuana was confirmed to be marijuana. Had the cases proceeded to trial, a drug investigator would have explained that those involved in drug dealing sometimes sell counterfeit or fake drugs to unsuspecting customers.
On a separate occasion, police were conducting surveillance of Bluford on November 2, 2022. They saw him leaving a barber shop with another person when the police attempted to contact Bluford. Bluford ran from police. During the foot pursuit, Bluford discarded a handgun, as well as a loaded magazine for the handgun. Shortly thereafter, Bluford was apprehended. The police searched Bluford and found seven grams of marijuana in his pocket. Those drugs were also sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory and were confirmed to be marijuana.
The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of 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.
Lauderdale County Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Making Threats of Violence over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Lauderdale County man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for making threats of violence over the internet.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in May and July 2020, Christian Blake Bunyard, 21, utilized Snapchat to threaten a school shooting, to kill and rape African Americans in Oxford, Mississippi, and to rape another Snapchat user if she did not provide nude photos.
Bunyard was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in November 2020. He entered a guilty plea in April 2021 to making threats in interstate commerce and making an interstate transmission of an extortionate communication.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Keenesburg Man Charged in Two Colorado Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that John Michael Kirby, 56, has been charged by federal complaint in connection with bank robberies in Brighton, Colorado.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, in the month of February 2024, Kirby robbed two banks in Brighton.
The Defendant had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella on February 26.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn is handling the prosecution.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 1:24-mj-00032-KAS
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jerry Dewayne Carroll, 42, of Crown Hill, pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about April 10, 2023, Carroll possessed at least 82 videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Carroll admitted that he uploaded the digital media files over the internet using his cell phone or a computer, and kept them in his encrypted cloud storage account held by Mega LTD. Carroll further admitted that the digital media files included videos depicting minors engaged in actual or simulated sexual intercourse and oral sex and the lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic areas of prepubescent minors.
Carroll is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2024, and faces a penalty of 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Carroll must also register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Holly Wilson and Josh Hanks are prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-122.
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Jury Convicts Oswego County Man of Receiving, Distributing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Austin Tennant, age 29, of Phoenix, New York, was convicted on Friday, after a four-day jury trial, on four counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, three counts of Receipt of Child Pornography, and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. The charges relate to Tennant’s distribution of child pornography he downloaded from the Internet as well as child pornography he received directly from child victims he chatted with online.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The evidence at trial established that, between September 2022 and January 2023, Tennant obtained from the Internet and directly from child victims hundreds of videos and thousands of images of child pornography. The evidence further established that Tennant later redistributed that same child pornography to others, including to other children in an effort to induce them to provide him with sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2024, in Syracuse, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. For each of his convictions on Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, Tennant faces a term of imprisonment between five and twenty years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years on his conviction for Possession of Child Pornography. Tennant also faces a fine of up to $250,000, mandatory restitution to the victims, and a term of supervised release between five years and life. Tennant will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by HSI Syracuse with assistance from the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced for Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FRANKLYN ORELLANO-VELASQUEZ, a/k/a “Rony Aguilera,” “Rochy Gutierrez,” age 19, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on February 21, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance for possession of ammunition by an illegal alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A).
According to court documents, on September 6, 2023, OERLLANO-VELASQUEZ was arrested for possessing 40 live .223 caliber rounds. Judge Vance sentenced ORELLANO-VELASQUEZ to 17 months in prison and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. ORELLANO-VELASQUEZ will be deported following the completion of his sentence.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Hughes County Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kent Matthew Stapp, age 34, of Wetumka, Oklahoma, was sentenced was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
The charges arose from investigations by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On March 13, 2023, a federal jury found Stapp guilty at trial of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to court documents, on February 11, 2022, Okmulgee County Sheriff’s deputies discovered Stapp in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after Stapp attempted to flee during a traffic stop. At trial, Stapp testified that he attempted to flee in order to prevent the discovery of the firearm on his person. The jury found that Stapp knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year while he was in possession of the firearm.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Stapp was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Geizura and Jarrod Leaman represented the United States at sentencing.