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Friday 5 January 2024
Chicago Man Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Federal Prison for $2.9 Million Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to five and a half years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $2.9 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
From April to November of 2020, QUAMDEEN AMUWO, 41, participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The EIDL program was intended to provide loan assistance and grants to cover working capital and other operating expenses for legitimate businesses suffering the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the scheme, Amuwo submitted to the SBA numerous applications for loans on behalf of businesses that he and others purportedly owned. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning the purported entities’ owners, employees, revenues, costs, and dates of establishment. In support of his applications, Amuwo provided false business registration forms and bogus personal identifying information of the purported owners.
Amuwo led and organized a sophisticated fraud scheme that caused the SBA to disburse at least $2.9 million in EIDL loans and grants into bank accounts that he and others controlled. He used the money to make cash withdrawals, transfers, and purchases for his personal benefit.
A federal jury in June convicted Amuwo on all twelve wire fraud counts against him. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang on Wednesday ordered Amuwo to pay more than $2.9 million in restitution.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA’s Office of Inspector General. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heidi Manschreck and Matthew Moyer.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, or by filing a complaint online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon and Drug ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antonio Lorenzo Huggins, 40, of Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Charleston Police Department contacted Huggins on Oct. 3, 2021, because he had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Huggins fled from officers and tried to take off his pants during the chase. Police caught Huggins and located three bags in his pocket containing over 30 grams of crack cocaine and two grams of cocaine. Police recovered Huggins’ pants and located a loaded firearm that was stolen, $600 cash, and a cell phone. Huggins admitted possessing the firearm to the officers.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Huggins to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Huggins faced an enhanced sentence due to previous federal convictions of a similar nature.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department (CPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Castine Man Who Used Snapchat to Send Obscene Images to 12-Year-Old in Sexual Exploitation Attempt Sentenced to 7 YearsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Castine man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for transferring obscene material to a minor, attempting to possess child sexual abuse material, and obstructing a federal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Nicholas Wood, 26, to 84 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Wood pleaded guilty on April 24, 2023.
According to court records, in late July and early August 2018, Wood used Snapchat to send a series of obscene images of himself to a 12-year-old child. Wood attempted to manipulate the young victim into engaging in sex acts with him and asked her to send him sexually explicit images. After being informed by federal agents that they were investigating the use of his Snapchat account to send obscene images to minors, Wood deleted the application and associated data from his phone to prevent its use in the investigation.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Reports of child sexual exploitation are increasing: In 2022, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline received 32 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation. That included more than 80,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts, an increase of 82% from 2021 to 2022, and more than 31 million reports of child sexual abuse material. Victimization can take place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. To make a CyberTipline Report, visit https://report.cybertip.org/. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Brothers Charged with Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Dustin Roy Rockmen and Kenzie Roy Rockmen appeared in federal court on an indictment charging them with coercion and enticement of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, sexual abuse of a minor, and sexual abuse. Dustin Roy Rockmen is also charged with the distribution of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography. Dustin Roy Rockmen, 32, of Navajo, New Mexico, and Kenzie Roy Rockmen, 24, of Hunters Point, Arizona, will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing.
According to the indictment, between Oct. 16, 2020, and Jan. 10, 2022, Dustin Roy and Kenzie Roy coerced Jane Doe, a minor, into engaging in sexual activity with both men using threats and by placing Jane Doe in fear of her life. Subsequently, Dustin Roy Rockmen transferred and distributed obscene material depicting him engaging in sexual activity with Jane Doe.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dustin Roy Rockmen and Kenzie Roy Rockman face up to life in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment# # #
24-11
Billings man admits making threats to kill Montana U.S. Sen. Jon TesterRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man admitted today to threatening to kill Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester in voicemail messages, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Anthony James Cross, 30, pleaded guilty to threats to injure and murder a United States Senator. Cross faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for May 1. Cross was detained pending further proceedings.
Under the terms of a plea agreement in the case, if the court accepts the agreement at sentencing, the government will seek to dismiss count two of the indictment, which charges Cross with threats against the president.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 17, 2023, at 5:34 a.m. and 5:37 a.m., two voicemails were left at Sen. Jon Tester’s Billings, Montana and Washington, D.C. offices. In the first voicemail, the caller stated that “Jon Tester…is gonna die a horrible death and so is your family…you’re not gonna do anything about this.” In the second voicemail, the caller stated, “I swear to God, you and your family will suffer such a horrendous death. And its not going to be by some white boy, no its gonna be by some Indian like me…I’m gonna kill every single one of your (obscenity) family members.” Law enforcement determined that the phone number associated with the calls was attributed to Cross.
The government further alleged that on April 25, 2023, Google contacted the FBI regarding multiple comments made to YouTube videos flagged as threatening. The comments were attributed to Cross’s YouTube account. Some of the comments made in April 2023 included:
- “I’m going to kill every trans I see.”
- “We are actively hunting down and killing any trans in our major cities. You won’t hear about it until trump overcomes his ‘indictment’ and Biden loses the ‘re-election.’”
- “I will personally kill Joe Biden.”
During an interview with law enforcement, Cross admitted to making the comments posted on YouTube and to using his cellular phone to make the comments.
The FBI and United States Secret Service conducted the investigation.
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Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Abuse with a Child Under the Age of 12Read the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 5, 2024, Robert Houle, age 35 of Belcourt, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to Life in federal prison, for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. Houle pleaded guilty to this offense on July 7, 2023.
As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Houle sexually abused a Native American child under the age of 12, from the ages of 6 to 11, from about 2016 until approximately 2020.
Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement responded to a residence on Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, ND, for a physical altercation. Houle was arrested and a child at the residence reported feeling unsafe due to physical and sexual abuse.
The child was forensically interviewed by the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center and disclosed years of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse by Houle. The child was fearful to disclose the sexual and physical abuse sooner because the child feared being removed from the home if noncompliant with Houle’s demands.
“This is a strong sentence that protects children,” Schneider said. “It is also a real credit to our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors who worked hard to ensure this individual faced justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to play its part in keeping kids safe by vigorously prosecuting crimes against children.”
“Today’s sentencing of Robert Houle demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to protecting children from those who seek to exploit their innocence,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Minneapolis Alvin M. Winston Sr. “These types of crimes cause profound harm to both the child victims and their families, leaving behind a trail of destruction and brokenness. The FBI and our partners remain committed to pursuing justice for our most innocent victims and holding offenders accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dawn M. Deitz, District of North Dakota.
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Belchertown Man Sentenced for Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Belchertown man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Kenneth Pontz, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Restitution and forfeiture will be determined at a hearing on March 5, 2024. In August 2023, Pontz was convicted by a federal jury of one count of theft of public funds after a four-day trial.
Over a span of 16 years, Pontz repeatedly made false statements to the Social Security Administration to obtain over $114,000 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled by concealing that he lived with his wife, whose income would have been used in calculating his monthly benefit payment for the needs-based program. Pontz further concealed his living arrangements by reporting that he lived at a vacant lot, rather than the residence he shared with his wife. Additionally, Pontz provided a fraudulent rent receipt that overstated his actual rent by $575 per month.
Also during this time frame, Pontz embezzled approximately $46,000 from his trailer park association in his capacity as treasurer.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Belchertown Police Chief Kevin Pacunas made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Mariah Diane Keffer, 25, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 12, 2022, Keffer sold approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at her Robert C. Byrd Drive residence in Beckley. Keffer admitted to this transaction and further admitted to selling a total of approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine to the confidential informant for a total of $900 during separate transactions on December 22, 2022, and January 9, 2023.
On January 10, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of Keffer’s residence. Officers seized 71.5 grams of methamphetamine, 20.5 grams of fentanyl and various amounts of marijuana, oxycodone pills, alprazolam pills, suboxone, diazepam pills and psilocybin mushrooms. Officers also seized a Taurus model G2c 9mm pistol, a Ruger LCP .380-caliber pistol, and $2,011. Keffer admitted that she intended to distribute the seized drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia.
Keffer is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-116.
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Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Zackery Dale Jenkins, 30, of Beckley, was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2023, Jenkins sold a controlled substance containing fentanyl to a confidential informant in a Beckley residence. Jenkins admitted to that transaction and to selling controlled substances containing fentanyl to the confidential informant on four other occasions in the Beckley area.
On June 1, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jenkins’ residence and seized additional quantities of fentanyl and several firearms. Jenkins admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:23-cr-90.
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Armed fentanyl dealer sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking in Great FallsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — An armed fentanyl trafficker from Washington who admitted to distributing the drug in the Great Falls community was sentenced on Jan. 4 to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Jerry Scot Saunders, 35, of Houkem, Washington, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Saunders was a significant drug dealer in Great Falls and that in early 2022, law enforcement searched for him because he had absconded from his state probation officer. Detectives learned Saunders was distributing fentanyl in Great Falls and located him in a motel room. Law enforcement found Saunders in possession of two firearms and more than 600 fentanyl pills. The investigation determined that Saunders had been driving to Spokane, Washington, to purchase fentanyl pills to sell in Great Falls. Saunders had a prior felony conviction from 2018 in Flathead County and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Albany Man Admits Stealing Nearly $1 Million in Federal FundsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Asjid Parvez, age 37, of Albany, pled guilty today to stealing nearly $1 million in federal funds from a program that helped struggling farmers pay off their loans.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act authorized the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to financially assist certain distressed borrowers who had fallen behind on repaying their federally guaranteed farm loans. Parvez was one such borrower, having defaulted on a loan that he had used to purchase a Maryland chicken farm in 2014.
In pleading guilty, Parvez admitted that in May 2023, the FSA sent him a United States Treasury check in the amount of $972,564.61. Parvez knew that he needed to use these funds to pay off the federally guaranteed farm loan on which he had defaulted. But instead, he stole the money, and used the funds to pay personal expenses and to fund real estate investments. Parvez stole the money by opening a bank account in the name of his lender, Horizon Farm Credit; depositing the Treasury check – which was jointly payable to the defendant and the lender – into that account; and then quickly transferring the Treasury funds to other accounts that he controlled.
Parvez pled guilty to one count of theft of government property. He faces up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, when United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci sentences him on May 2, 2024. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Parvez has also agreed to pay $972,564.61 in restitution to the FSA.
Additionally, the FBI has already seized $516,974.54 traceable to the federal funds that Parvez stole, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery Unit has filed a civil action seeking the forfeiture of a residential property in Albany that was purchased using approximately $202,675 in stolen funds.
The FBI investigated this case, with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is prosecuting this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Conger is representing the United States in the asset forfeiture action.
20-Year-Old Peoria Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Tajurie Amir Bennett, 20, was sentenced on January 4, 2024, to 41 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a machinegun. He was also ordered to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition involved, including a 9mm “ghost gun” pistol with no serial number.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that on Saturday, February 24, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Bennett, along with another person, committed a drive-by shooting of a residence located on West Gift Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. A ShotSpotter gun detection system alert identified 15 rounds of fully automatic gunfire. Police responded to the scene and located gunfire damage on the front of a house and on a gas utility line of a separate residence nearby, along with bullet holes on a car on the adjacent street.
Peoria Police were able to locate the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle, then occupied only by Bennett, fled from marked squad cars, driving at times into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed. Police officers in covert vehicles maintained surveillance on Bennet’s vehicle as it traveled through Peoria at high speed. When his car came to a stop at a red light at the intersection of War Memorial Drive and Allen Road, officers in covert vehicles boxed in the vehicle from all sides. Bennett rammed his vehicle into police vehicles, nearly striking an officer attempting to conduct an arrest. After police extricated Bennett from the car, officers located a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” on the floorboard. The pistol was loaded and equipped with a high-capacity extended ammunition magazine. The gun was further equipped with an auto-sear, commonly referred to as a “switch”. The switch enabled the pistol to fire as a fully automatic machinegun.
A federal criminal complaint was filed against Bennett in February 2023, followed by a one-count indictment in March 2023. Bennett entered a guilty plea with no plea agreement in June 2023. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
The statutory penalties for possession of a machinegun are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Bennett 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.
Thursday 4 January 2024
Two Women Sentenced for Murder Committed in the Talladega National ForestRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two women were sentenced today for crimes committed in the Talladega National Forest, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.
U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Yasmine Marie Hider, 21, of Edmond, Oklahoma, to 35 years in prison and Krystal Diane Pinkins, 37, of Memphis, Tennessee to life in prison. Hider accepted responsibility and pled guilty to murder, kidnapping, and robbery in October 2023. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Hider cooperated in the prosecution and testified against Pinkins at trial. Pinkins was convicted of murder, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence in September 2023.
“My sincere hope is that these convictions and sentences bring justice to the victims and the victims’ families, reassuring them that these defendants have been held accountable for their actions,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I want to thank our local, state, and federal partners for their tireless efforts in this investigation.”
According to court documents, on August 14, 2022, college students from Florida, were driving to Cheaha State Park, in Clay County, Alabama, to hike to the waterfalls. The couple was flagged down by Hider to help “jump start” Pinkins’s car, which was broken down. Hider robbed the young male and female and shot the male as he attempted to defend himself and his girlfriend. Officers found Hider with four gunshot wounds several feet away from where the murder occurred. Pinkins provided the firearm and assisted in the planning of the robbery. She watched from the woods as the robbery and murder took place. Pinkins was found six hours later at a secluded campsite.
The FBI and the Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigations - U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the cases, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama State Park Rangers, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, St. Clair Correctional Facility K9 Tracking Team, District Attorney of the 40th Judicial Circuit of the State of Alabama- Joseph “Joe” D. Ficquette (which includes Clay County), Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, Lineville Police Department, Ashland Police Department, Clay County Rescue Squad, Shinbone Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center, and Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and John B. Felton are prosecuting the case.
Two Charged with Stealing Identities, Cash from Credit Union CustomersRead the Press Release
NEW MARTINSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been indicted for stealing the identities of West Virginians and withdrawing cash from their credit union accounts.
Benjamin Britford, 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Brandon Watkins, 29, of Douglasville, Georgia have been charged with making unauthorized transactions from accounts at Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union in New Martinsville. In July and August of 2023, Britford and Watkins obtained the personal identifying information and account numbers for numerous credit union customers and then withdrew cash from those accounts. The defendants withdrew more than $10,000 in cash from accounts in West Virginia and withdrew additional funds from accounts of Bayer customers in South Carolina during the same time period.
Britford and Watkins are each charged with bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank larceny. Watkins faces an additional charge of aggravated identity theft.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer T. Conklin is prosecuting the case.
The FBI investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tucson Man Fined and Ordered to Pay $180,000 in Restitution for Molino II FireRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael J. Sobcynski, 64, of Tucson, was ordered last week by United States Magistrate Judge Michael A. Ambri to pay a fine and $180,000 in restitution to the United States Forest Service for his role in the fire dubbed as the “Molino II Fire.” Sobcynski pleaded guilty to Use of Incendiary Ammunition.
On April 30, 2023, Sobcynski was target shooting in the Molino Basin target shooting area of the Coronado National Forest. His shotgun was loaded with incendiary rounds, which ignited multiple small fires and ultimately caused a wildfire that burned within the Coronado National Forest. Fire suppression costs exceeded $200,000.
Investigators from the United States Forest Service conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 23-mj-09176-MAA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-001_Sobcynski# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tohatchi Man Sentenced to 13 Months in Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead 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 that Donavan Henry was sentenced to 13 months in prison, with restitution to the Crime Victim’s Reparations Commission for funeral expenses, and additional restitution to his living victim and to his deceased victim’s next of kin. Henry, 40, of Tohatchi, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country on July 14, 2023.
According to court documents, on November 2, 2022, Henry was driving east on Route 134 in Sheep Springs, New Mexico, with two passengers when he lost control of his vehicle. The car went off the two-lane road and flipped when it hit a boulder. All three occupants were ejected. A Navajo Police officer arrived to find Henry underneath the vehicle and his two passengers lying on the ground near the vehicle.
Henry was airlifted to San Juan Regional Medical Center. The front-seat passenger, John Doe 1, also a member of the Navajo Nation, was placed in an ambulance bound for Northern Navajo Medical Center. The back-seat passenger, John Doe 2, was placed in an ambulance going to Gallup Indian Medical Center. John Doe 1 died of his injuries while in the back of the ambulance before it left the scene. Henry’s blood-alcohol content, which was drawn at the hospital following the wreck, was .16.
Upon his release, Henry will be subject to mandatory alcohol treatment and three years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement# # #
24-9
Three Charged with 2020 Murder and Kidnapping of Zuni ManRead 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Camille Damon, Ronald Belone and Tyran Begay appeared in federal court on an indictment charging them with first degree murder and kidnapping resulting in death. Begay, 38, of Teec No Pos, Arizona, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Damon, 44, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, Belone, 40, of Yahtahey, New Mexico, will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Friday, January 5, 2024. All 3 defendants are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.
According to the indictment, between Feb. 6 and Feb. 15, 2020, Damon, Belone and Begay kidnapped John Doe before killing him in a remote location near Smith Lake, New Mexico. John Doe was restrained, beaten, and strangled with a ligature.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Damon, Belone and Begay face mandatory life imprisonment.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Probasco is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment# # #
24-8
Thief Ordered to Pay Back Gun Lake Casino over $80,000 in Stolen FundsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jordan Lewis Cook, 26, of Hopkins, Michigan, was sentenced to four months in prison and two years of supervised release for theft from a tribal organization. He was also ordered to pay $84,564 in restitution.
“This case reflects my office’s strong commitment to working in partnership with tribal leadership and law enforcement to prosecute crimes that occur on tribal lands, including theft from tribal businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Together we will hold criminals accountable for their wrongdoing.”
Between September 2021 and November 2022, Cook stole over $100,000 from the Gun Lake Casino, which is owned and operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe). During his theft scheme, Cook was employed at the Gun Lake Casino. Shortly after being hired, Cook began stealing cash from the cash-out kiosks located around the casino gaming floor. An internal casino audit and security surveillance video footage showed Cook pocketing large amounts of cash when he was supposed to be clearing jammed cash-out machines. Cook’s bank records also revealed a large influx of cash deposits around the same time that the money was being stolen from the casino kiosk machines.
“The Gun Lake Tribe is committed to the safety and well-being of all persons within its jurisdiction and welcomes and appreciates the strong commitment and partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and local law enforcement,” said Gun Lake Tribe Interim Director of Public Safety Seth Carter. “The Gun Lake Tribe is committed to building a safe community and supports comprehensive law enforcement, prevention, intervention, and support services.”
"The defendant's alleged theft and fraud actions against the tribal community is disturbing," said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. "Through our local partnerships, the FBI is uniquely poised to investigate cases like those documented in this case. We continue to request the help of the public by reporting violations to 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting tips online to http://tips.fbi.gov."
This case was investigated by the Gun Lake Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The FBI and tribal police across the Western District of Michigan work closely together to prevent, investigate, and refer for prosecution certain crimes that occur on tribal lands.
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Texas Woman Sentenced to 80 Months for Money Laundering and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A San Antonio woman, Shimea Maret McDonald, 25, was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,690,870.81.
According to her plea agreement, McDonald conspired with Nana Kwabena Amuah to launder the proceeds obtained from business email compromise scams. Specifically, their coconspirators targeted business or municipal entities, which had ongoing financial relationships with other vendors who were owed current or future payments by the entities. Then, these coconspirators impersonated the vendors in email communications with the targeted entities and requested wire payments to a new bank account. McDonald opened these bank accounts, using fake identity cards in the names of real people and the names of fake companies she established with secretaries of state. McDonald would then attempt to withdraw the funds in a variety of payment methods, to quickly move the funds elsewhere at the direction of Amuah, retaining a sizeable cut for herself.
Also, in her plea, McDonald admitted that she laundered money arising out of a business email compromise scam targeting the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (the “City”) in August of 2022. In the course of this scheme, coconspirators impersonated a nonprofit organization having business with the City through email and convinced a City official to wire funds owed to the nonprofit organization, to a bank account at Truist Bank in the name of Gretson Company LLC. The City wired a total of $3,905,837.05 to the Gretson Company LLC bank account at Truist Bank. Prior to the August 2022 wire transfer, McDonald, using the identity of K.N., had requested eight counter checks from Truist Bank, which would be funded from wires fraudulently received from the City. Then, when the money was placed in the Gretson Company account at Truist Bank, McDonald assigned payees and amounts to the counter checks and forged the signature K.N., and attempted to deposit a portion of these funds herself, while sending the remaining counter checks to other members of the conspiracy. Ultimately, Truist Bank and the City were able to recover all the funds that were transmitted.
In total, court records show that 70 businesses and individuals fell victim to the business email compromise scheme conducted by this conspiracy, with 40 of those victims suffering financial losses they have yet to recover. An additional 24 victims had their identities stolen by McDonald.
McDonald’s co-defendant, Nana Kwabena Amuah, was sentenced in November 2023 to 86 months in prison and was ordered to pay $4,695,442.81 in restitution.
Under federal law, McDonald must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence; and upon their release, both McDonald and Amuah will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentences.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and Lexington Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf.
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St. Louis County Bankruptcy Attorney Accused of Mail, Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A bankruptcy attorney appeared in U.S. District in St. Louis Wednesday to answer charges accusing him of defrauding the state of Missouri and lending institutions.
Michael Toscano, 42, was indicted Dec. 20, 2023, in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on three counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. He turned himself in Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The indictment alleges that from roughly April 1, 2018, though Dec. 19, 2023, Toscano devised a scheme to defraud the state of Missouri and lending institutions by falsely claiming bankruptcy filers’ vehicles had been abandoned, and then selling some through his used car dealership. Toscano also obtained referrals from other bankruptcy attorneys whose clients sought to surrender their vehicles to creditors rather than to continue to pay their vehicle car loans, according to statements made in court Wednesday.
Toscano told debtors to deliver their vehicles to his office in Creve Coeur or to a St. Charles County storage facility, the indictment says. He also picked up some vehicles that were inoperable, it says. Toscano then mailed documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue and the holders of liens on the vehicles falsely claiming that they had been abandoned and that he’d incurred towing and storage fees, the indictment says. He demanded payment, writing that he would seek an abandoned motor vehicle title or mechanic’s lien if the fees were not paid within 30 days, the indictment says. In some cases, Toscano delayed notifying lienholders for as long as 45 days, causing storage fees to exceed $2,300, the indictment says.
If payment was not made, Toscano submitted false and fraudulent documents to the contract license offices of the DOR seeking the issuance of abandoned vehicle titles or mechanic lien titles and then offered the vehicles for sale through his used car dealership, the indictment says. The vehicles referenced in the indictment are a 2006 Audi A8, a 2018 Chevrolet Impala and a 2017 Kia Forte.
The mail fraud and wire fraud charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Missouri Department of Revenue and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
St. Joseph Man Sentenced to 23 Years for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man who produced pornographic images of three child victims and shared them online was sentenced in federal court today for producing and possessing child pornography.
Tyler B. Wirth, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 23 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wirth to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration, and ordered him to pay $14,381 in victim restitution.
Wirth will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On Jan. 17, 2023, Wirth pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Wirth admitted that he produced pornographic images of three children, which he distributed to multiple users on the Kik application during his sexual conversations with them.
Wirth admitted that he communicated extensively with others over the Kik application in July and August 2020 about his desire to sexually abuse children. Wirth produced child pornography to distribute to other users within these Kik chats, taking pornographic photos of three child victims. He also discussed with numerous Kik users his desire to sexually abuse the child victims, and repeatedly asked for guidance from other Kik users on how he should go about sexually abusing them.
Wirth received hundreds of images and videos of child pornography from other Kik users, and distributed numerous other images and videos of child pornography from his possession of child pornography, which included over a thousand images and videos of child pornography.
Wirth entered chat rooms on Kik, which provided a forum for users to discuss the sexual exploitation of minors, as well as trade and shares images and videos of child pornography. He fully participated in these chat rooms and then engaged in private communications with other like-minded individuals where he discussed his desires to sexually exploit children. He routinely asked for advice on how to go about sexually abusing minors, and whether those other Kik users had any tips for how he could do so.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wirth’s residence on Aug. 10, 2020. Officers seized Wirth’s electronic media and cell phone. Wirth possessed hundreds of other videos and images of child pornography on his cell phone.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Borgnino. It was investigated by the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
St. Clair County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempted Online CoercionRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A St. Clair County man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to coerce a minor into producing sexually explicit images online, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Division.
Raymond Alexander Elliott, 35, of Columbus, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. In 2021, Elliott engaged in a pattern of sexual exploitation online, requesting sexually explicit images of a 13-year-old boy who resided in Missouri.
The FBI began investigating Elliott after the victim disclosed abuse and gave agents his cellphone to use to communicate with those contacting him. Elliott reached out to the victim—not knowing it was an FBI agent with whom he was now communicating—requesting that the 13-year-old resume their sexual conversations and send him additional sexually explicit images. The FBI was able to track Elliott down to his home in Columbus, Michigan, after identifying him from the social media accounts through which he was attempting to communicate with the victim.
In January 2022, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Elliott’s home. They recovered his electronic devices, which contained numerous files of child pornography and communications with other online users in which Elliott discussed sexually exploiting children and shared and distributed child pornography. Elliott was arrested and admitted to possessing and distributing child pornography online and communicating with the 13-year-old victim in Missouri.
“Thanks to the victim’s bravery in coming forward to authorities to disclose his abuse at the hands of online predators like the defendant, the FBI was able to identify and arrest Raymond Elliott and stop his cycle of online exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Ison stated.
"The FBI prioritizes the protection of children from dangerous predators and is fully committed to investigating those who seek to harm the most vulnerable members of society,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Those who make the unconscionable decision to victimize innocent children will be brought to justice. We would like to extend our appreciation to our wide network of law enforcement partners for their critical support. The FBI urges the public to report alleged crimes of child sexual or physical abuse by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting tips online to http://tips.fbi.gov."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Princ.
South Texas dealer admits to selling fentanyl to teenager resulting in deathRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year old resident of Laredo has admitted to providing fentanyl to a 15-year-old, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Antonio Carlos III aka Jose Carlos entered a guilty plea to distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
On May 17, 2023, authorities responded to an overdose call at a home in Laredo. Once on scene, they found the victim laying in his bed unresponsive and holding a rolled-up dollar bill with a white powder on it. The white powder later tested positive for fentanyl. A toxicology report and autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.
The investigation revealed text messages which showed the victim wanting to buy “pase” from Carlos. “Pase” was code for cocaine. Carlos indicated the price and provided an address off Longoria Loop.
On the evening of May 16, 2023, an individual drove the victim to that address. There, a person later identified as Carlos handed the victim a small baggie with a white powder inside it. The driver then dropped off the victim at his home, a home he shared with his aunt.
The next morning, the victim’s aunt heard her nephew’s phone ringing. She thought the victim overslept, so she knocked on his door but heard no response. She then tried to open the door to the victim’s bedroom but was unable to, so she climbed in through one of the bedroom windows.
Once inside the room, she noticed her nephew laying face down on the bed. When she touched him, his body was stiff and cold. Law enforcement responded to the residence and pronounced the victim dead on-scene.
As part of his guilty plea, Carlos admitted to selling “pase” to the victim. He also acknowledged sending a text to the victim May 17, 2023, asking “What’s up was it good or no[?].”
“Carlos’ decision to sell illicit drugs caused the death of a 15-year-old child,” said Hamdani. “Tragically, this case illustrates that no person - regardless of age - is safe from fentanyl’s deadly grip. As long as drug dealers decide to ply their illicit trade, aunts, uncles, fathers and mothers everywhere will continue to discover the cold, lifeless bodies of the children they love and now have lost.”
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Carlos faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $1 million fine.
Carlos will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Webb County Medical Examiner. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez are prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill
Six Individuals Charged in Twin Cities Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Six individuals have been charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between August 2022 and December 2023, Cornell Montez Chandler, Jr., 24, Robiel Lee Williams, 23, Quijuan Hosea Bankhead, 30, Stardasha Christina Davenport-Mounger, 24, Fo’Tre Devine White, 26, and Shardai Rayshell Allen, 24, conspired to distribute fentanyl in Minnesota. Several defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl pills from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals, and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities. Law enforcement in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties became aware of the trafficking and initiated a joint investigation, which resulted in the seizure of six packages containing over 30,000 grams of fentanyl pills.
All six defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. White is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm as a felon and one count of possession of a machinegun.
All defendants made their initial appearances in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the Washington County Drug Task Force, and the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sharon Resident Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Alphonse Johnson was sentenced to 108 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Johnson, age 41, formerly of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Johnson previously pled guilty to (1) conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of heroin, and quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine, between June 2020 and June 2021; and (2) possessing with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine on April 20, 2021. Judge Bissoon also ordered Johnson to serve four years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the convictions and sentence in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Queens Couple Pleads Guilty to $380,000 COVID Unemployment Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – William Taylor, age 33, and Patricia Clarke, age 27, both of Jamaica, New York, pled guilty today to mail and wire fraud conspiracy. Taylor also pled guilty to aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and New York State Inspector General (NYSIG) Lucy Lang.
Taylor and Clarke each admitted that they used stolen identities to fraudulently obtain pandemic unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). They used the names, dates of birth and social security numbers of at least 20 individuals to submit claims to NYSDOL. Based on those false claims, NYSDOL wired funds to accounts controlled by Taylor, Clarke, or both; and NYSDOL directed bank cards to be mailed to the addresses provided by Taylor and Clarke. In total, NYSDOL paid $381,815 on the claims submitted by Taylor and Clarke under the stolen identities.
The conspiracy conviction carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of up 3 to years. For Taylor, the aggravated identity theft conviction carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison that must run consecutively to the prison term imposed on the conspiracy conviction. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Taylor and Clarke agreed to pay $381,815 in restitution to NYSDOL. In addition, Taylor agreed to forfeit $315,723 and Clarke agreed to forfeit $66,092.
USDOL-OIG, HSI, USPIS and NYSIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.
Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for his Involvement in the Distribution of Fentanyl and Heroin that Resulted in DeathRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA — A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to seven (7) years of imprisonment, followed by five (5) years of supervised release, on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Devontay Montaze Green, age 29.
According to information presented to the court, on the morning of Oct. 31, 2018, K.K. was found dead in the basement of an Alison Park, PA, residence. Paramedics and the McCandless Police Department responded to the residence. Paramedics were unable to resuscitate K.K., and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The McCandless Police Department recovered drug use paraphernalia and ripped, empty stamp bags marked “Hurricane Harvey” in red ink and “Burger King” in blue ink near his body. Law enforcement also recovered K.K.’s cellular phone and provided all evidence to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Opioid Task Force. The investigation confirmed that Green distributed the controlled substances that caused K.K.’s death.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti stressed that fentanyl has had a devastating impact on the community and expressed her condolences to K.K.’s family.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Opioid Task Force and the McCandless Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Green.
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Frederick Sayre Anderson, 63, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to concealing, harboring, and shielding an alien from detection.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 10, 2010, Anderson signed and submitted Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancée, to the United States Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Anderson admitted that he filed the petition to obtain a 90-day fiancée K-1 nonimmigrant visa so a foreign national could re-enter the United States.
The foreign national was granted the visa, which required her and Anderson to marry within 90 days. She arrived in the U.S. on January 8, 2011. Anderson picked her up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and transported her to Parkersburg, West Virginia, the following day. The foreign national lived and worked at Anderson’s place of business until May 7, 2021.
Anderson admitted that the foreign national did not receive compensation for the work she performed at his place of business. Anderson further admitted that he did not marry her, and her K-1 visa expired on April 8, 2011, making her ongoing presence in the U.S. unlawful.
In May 2021, federal immigration agents visited Anderson’s place of business on at least three occasions. Anderson admitted that he took steps to prevent government officials from detecting the foreign national. Anderson instructed her to hide behind the business during one of those occasions. Anderson then lied to the federal agents during that visit, falsely alleging that she did not live inside the business, that she had left months prior, and that he did not know where she was.
Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
“Mr. Anderson’s criminal conduct facilitated the exploitation of an individual for more than a decade,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “While human trafficking is not charged in this case, it underscores the importance of learning how to identify, prevent and respond to coerced labor and other forms of human trafficking.”
Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police, and the Parkersburg Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Resources including facts and myths regarding human trafficking are available at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking.
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-187.
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Owner of insurance company in Rosebud County sentenced to more than four years in prison for defrauding customersRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Forsyth businesswoman who admitted defrauding customers through her company, Rosebud County Insurance Inc., by spending their payments for insurance for her own personal expenses was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $155,436 restitution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Kileen Moria Hagadone, 57, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court allowed Hagadone to self-report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
“When we pay our insurance premiums, we expect to have coverage when we need it. Here, Hagadone’s clients, including a community college, logically thought they had coverage because they paid for it. But Hagadone did not just cheat them of coverage, she stole their hard-earned money and spent it for her own personal use. The good news is she did not get away with it, and the only reason she didn’t is because of the diligent and collaborative work of the office of the Montana State Auditor, FBI, and Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“This is a shining example of inter-agency cooperation. In this case the Commissioner of Securities & Insurance (CSI) for Montana and the U.S. Attorney’s office on the federal side. CSI opened this investigation and worked closely with our federal counterparts to bring this to an appropriate and just conclusion. Ms. Hagadone was licensed with our agency in a position of trust. She breached that trust and put her clients in harm’s way. We are pleased to see justice for the victims and consequences to Ms. Hagadone,” said State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing.
The government alleged in court documents that Hagadone’s company, Rosebud County Insurance Inc., was an insurance brokerage business that acted as an intermediary between customers and national insurance companies. Hagadone was to negotiate insurance contracts for her customers and then receive and transmit customer’s payments to the companies for the policies. Hagadone received clients’ premium payments but failed to send the money to the insurance companies, resulting in her customers not being insured. Instead, Hagadone repeatedly lied to her clients and embezzled the money for personal expenses. The scheme ran from about 2020 until April 2023.
The government further alleged that one of the victims was the Chief Dull Knife College of Lame Deer, which paid Hagadone $91,883 in 2021 for a whole year of insurance coverage. Hagadone was supposed to send the money to the insurance company. Instead, Hagadone kept the money and set up a fraudulent premium finance agreement by falsely impersonating an employee of the college. This allowed Hagadone to pay for the college’s insurance premium in installments, but she failed to make the installments and the college’s insurance was canceled in April 2022. Hagadone concealed this cancelation from the college. Hagadone continued the scheme and in November 2022, she created a fictitious insurance policy for the college. She charged the college $98,893, which it paid. Hagadone stole the money and spent it. As a result, the college was unknowingly without insurance from about April 2022 until April 2023.
The government further alleged that Hagadone cheated and lied to other customers in a similar way, although the amounts paid were typically smaller.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case. The Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, FBI and Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Oregon Man Sentenced to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison After Traveling to Oklahoma to Engage in Sexual Activity with a MinorRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, CLAYTON CLEMENT STUBBS, 25, of Oregon, was sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On August 17, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Stubbs, charging him with interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor.
“The despicable behavior of this defendant, coupled with his repeated attempts to continue to abuse a minor, are clear indicators that swift, decisive action was necessary for the public’s safety,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “I applaud the work by Homeland Security Investigations in aggressively pursuing this child predator and bringing him to justice.”
“This lengthy sentence is proof that the predatory behavior of sexually exploiting children will not go unpunished,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Division HSI Dallas. “As result of a tip from the HSI Cyber Crimes Center and exemplary work by HSI special agents and federal prosecutors, this defendant is behind bars, preventing him from ever harming a child again.”
According to public record, in May 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) became aware of images showing what appeared to be an adult male sexually abusing an underage female. Through an investigation, an agent with HSI was able to identify the child. The victim told authorities the adult male in the explicit images was Stubbs, and that Stubbs traveled to Oklahoma from Oregon in 2020 to engage in the illegal behavior. Flight records confirmed to authorities that Stubbs did travel to Oklahoma in October of 2020. The victim further alleged that despite blocking Stubbs from their social media accounts following the 2020 crime, Stubbs found the victim online again and had been attempting to contact them.
On November 3, 2022, Stubbs pleaded guilty and admitted to traveling to Oklahoma with the intent of engaging in a sexual act with a minor.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Stubbs to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, followed by supervised release for life. Judge DeGiusti also ordered Stubbs to pay $10,000 in restitution. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the egregious conduct of the defendant.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force. Members of the Task Force in the Western District of Oklahoma include Homeland Security Investigations, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma City Police Department, and Comanche County Police Department. The Tornado Alley Child Exploitation Task Force is part of the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Operation leader and 10 others plead guilty in prolific human smuggling and money laundering caseRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A Texas woman has pleaded guilty for her role in a scheme to illegally transport hundreds of foreign nationals within the United States and conspiracy to launder proceeds of illicit human smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
According to court documents, Erminia Serrano Piedra aka Irma and Boss Lady, 32, conspired with at least 14 other members of a human smuggling organization Piedra led that facilitated the unlawful transportation and movement of hundreds of migrants within the United States and harbored and concealed the migrants from detection by law enforcement authorities. The migrants were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia, and they or their families paid members of the organization to help them travel illegally to and within the United States.
The organization used drivers to pick up migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border and transport them further into the United States, often harboring the migrants at “stash houses” along the way. Drivers for the human smuggling organization used various methods to transport migrants, including by hiding them in suitcases placed in pickup trucks and by cramming migrants into tractor-trailers, covered beds of pickup trucks, repurposed water tankers and wooden crates strapped to flatbed trailers. The methods the organization used to transport migrants placed their lives in danger as they were frequently held in confined spaces with little ventilation, which became overheated, and were driven at high speeds with no vehicle safety devices. Members of the organization commonly referred to the migrants as “boxes,” “packages” or “pieces.”
Typically, the fee paid to the organization was approximately $8,000, with $3,000 paid upfront to smugglers in Mexico and the remainder paid once the migrants entered the United States. Payments were routed through various accounts all over the United States, and the money from those accounts was then transmitted to the leaders of the organization. According to her plea agreement, Piedra admitted to stating during the course of the conspiracy that she made a lot of money from her involvement in human smuggling and was going to continue making a lot of money in the years to come. She also stated that she had been doing this “for a lifetime already” and was not planning to retire.
Piedra also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership and control of ill-gotten proceeds of illicit human smuggling. The leaders of the organization recruited and utilized straw recipients to accept human smuggling proceeds in the recipients’ bank accounts and then transferred the proceeds to the leaders under the pretense of work payments. The others also incorporated businesses and opened business accounts to transfer the human smuggling proceeds. Additionally, co-conspirators recruited individuals in the construction industry who accepted human smuggling proceeds in the form of cash in exchange for checks from the recruited individuals’ business bank accounts.
The superseding indictment in this case also notices the criminal forfeiture of two properties belonging to Piedra with current estimated values of $2,275,000 and $515,000 that were purchased with the illicit proceeds of human smuggling. Serrano is also agreeing to a money judgment of $942,537.00.
Piedra is scheduled to be sentenced April 10 and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Ten others previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Kevin Daniel Nuber aka Captain, 42, and Laura Nuber aka Barbie, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport aliens, placing in jeopardy the life of any person and conspiracy to harbor aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. Christine Dangler aka Tinkerbell, 46, Lloyd Bexley, 53, Jeremy Dickens, 47, Juan Manuel Hernandez Cordova aka Tio, 46, David Scott Tallant, 54, Katie Ann Garcia aka Guera, 40, and Abraham Geber Lopez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and move aliens, placing in jeopardy the life of any person. Oliveria Campuzano Piedra, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor an alien for profit. The co-conspirators are awaiting sentencing.
The indictments and convictions of these defendants are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities.
JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western District of Texas, Districts of New Mexico, Arizona and Southern District of California. Numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division that are part of JTFA also provided dedicated support which the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) led. Also supporting the efforts are Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), Office of Enforcement Operations, Office of International Affairs and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 260 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 180 convictions; significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband – including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, property, vehicles, firearms, ammunition and drugs.
HSI Laredo, along with Border Patrol - Laredo Sector and DHS Office of the Inspector General led U.S. investigative efforts and received substantial assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Austin, San Antonio, Waco and Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulfport, Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama, West Palm Beach, Florida, and its Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., along with Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations - Austin; Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture; Police Departments in Laredo, Killeen, Elgin, and Round Rock as well as Wiggins, Missouri, and Bogalusa, Louisiana; Webb County Constable’s Office; Webb County District Attorney’s Office; Sheriff’s Offices in Webb, Bastrop and Caldwell Counties, Harrison, George and Stone Counties, Mississippi, Mobile County, Alabama, and Jefferson and Washington Parishes in Louisiana; Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; and Louisiana State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney and JTFA Detailee for the Southern District of Texas Jennifer Day, HRSP Trial Attorneys Christian Levesque and Angela Buckner and MLARS Trial Attorney Daria Andryushchenko are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance from MLARS Financial Investigator Kelly O’Mara and the Department of Justice’s Electronic Surveillance Unit of the Office of Enforcement Operations.
HRSP Trial Attorney Erin Cox previously provided significant assistance in this case.
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Dewayne Miller, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, admitting to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller participated in the conspiracy from in or about October 2022 to in or about January 2023. Miller’s role in the conspiracy involved distributing quantities of methamphetamine provided by co-defendant Alexandria Jasmine Estep, who acquired pound-level quantities of methamphetamine from co-conspirator Jasper Wemh.
Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Estep, 22, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 15, 2023, and awaits sentencing. Wemh, 39, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on March 30, 2023, and awaits sentencing.
Miller, Estep and Wemh 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.
Miller, Estep and Wemh are among 26 defendants who have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other 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 presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting 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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Onslow Drug Dealer Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who committed drug trafficking offenses while on federal supervised release for a prior gun conviction was sentenced on January 4, 2024, to 168 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
Ryan Marshall Thomas Streets, age 44, from Poway, California, received the prison term after a July 10, 2023 guilty plea to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
Streets, who resided in Onslow, Iowa, distributed large quantities of methamphetamine on two occasions in January of 2023 in Maquoketa, Iowa, while he was on federal supervised release for a prior gun offense. In March 2023, Streets’ supervised release was revoked, and he was sentenced to two-years in custody for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Streets was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Streets was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Streets is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Clinton County Sherriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Police.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR- 1011.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati man, James Stratman, 23, was sentenced on Thursday, to 52 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for bank robbery.
According to his plea agreement, on September 26, 2022, Stratman entered a bank in Covington and showed the bank teller a note that indicated he was robbing the bank. The teller gave Stratman $1,583, and after receiving the money, he retrieved the note and fled from the bank on foot. Approximately, one hour after the bank robbery, law enforcement located Stratman in the vehicle, and he led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Covington and into Cincinnati. At sentencing, it was determined that the Defendant created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury during his flight from law enforcement.
Under federal law, Stratman must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Col. Brian Valenti, Chief of Police, Covington Police Department.
The investigation was conducted by FBI and the Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Nicholasville Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Cory Johns, 42, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Johns was identified, in November 2015, when the Lexington Police Department connected with him via a file sharing program and downloaded images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Thereafter, on April 16, 2016, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) also connected with the Johns via a file sharing program and downloaded images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. KSP then obtained a search warrant for the location associated with the IP address from the downloads, which led to the home where Cory Johns was living. A forensic exam of various electronic devices located in his residence uncovered additional images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the KSP, and Lawrence Weathers, Chief of the Lexington Police, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the HSI, KSP, and the Lexington Police. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Roth and Mary Melton.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Nevada Owner of Three Mexican Restaurants Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Nevada restaurant owner was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for skimming $5 million dollars in cash sales and filing false federal income tax returns with an overall tax loss of $1.6 million dollars over a five-year period.
According to court documents, Raul Gil, 64, owned and operated three Casa Don Juan restaurants in Las Vegas. From 2014 through 2018, Gil instructed his manager/internal bookkeeper to create false sales numbers for his restaurants that underreported cash sales at the restaurants by approximately $5.1 million. Then, Gil provided the false sales records to an outside tax return preparer who prepared his federal income tax returns.
In July 2018, during an audit, Gil instructed his accountant to provide to the IRS false profit and loss statements that matched the figures reported on the tax returns. Gil also directed his bookkeeper to provide to the IRS false daily cash and sales reports purportedly printed from the restaurants’ point-of-sale systems. During interviews with the IRS, Gil falsely stated to the revenue agent conducting the audit, and later to IRS-Criminal Investigation special agents, that the falsified daily cash reports and point-of-sale records were accurate. In total, Gil caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1.6 million.
In addition to the prison sentence, United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon ordered Gil to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2,228,943.65 in restitution.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, and IRS CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the IRS CI. Trial Attorney Thomas Flynn of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
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Native of Mexico Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Abel Rodriguez-Moreno, age 43, of Chiapas, Mexico, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on a charge of illegal reentry
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Rodriguez-Moreno was previously removed from the United States on June 27, 2012, through Calexico, California, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on October 29, 2023, Rodriguez-Moreno was encountered in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Chambersburg Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark G. Monroe is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Mississippi man sentenced in Minnesota for multiple gun crimesRead the Press Release
St. Paul, Minn. – An Indianola man was sentenced today in St. Paul to serve more than a dozen years in prison for the armed robbery of a Backyard Burgers restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi, and other gun crimes he committed in Minnesota.
According to court documents, Ladarius Snipes, 27, previously pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence pertaining to the armed robbery of the Backyard Burgers restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi, on August 7, 2021. Snipes further pled guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and to possession of a stolen firearm, both arising in the State of Minnesota. Snipes was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank to serve a total of 155 months in prison, including 120 months in prison for the robbery of the Backyard Burgers and 35 months for the Minnesota firearms charges, to be served consecutively. Upon release from prison, Snipes will be on supervised release for a period of five years. Following sentencing, Snipes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
“This case clearly demonstrates why we endeavor to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We thank ATF and the Cleveland, Mississippi Police Department for their work on this case and will continue to work alongside our federal, state and local partners to combat violent crime and help keep our communities and citizens safe.”
“Sending a repeat offender like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cleveland Police Department investigated the case. AUSA Robert Mims assisted in prosecution of 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.
Memphis-Based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare-Memphis Hospitals Pay $7.25 Million to Settle Allegations that They Violated the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis announced today that Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare-Memphis Hospitals (“Methodist”) have paid $7,250,000 to resolve allegations that Methodist violated the False Claims Act. This settlement resolves allegations that Methodist caused the submission of false claims to Medicare that resulted from improper financial arrangements between Methodist and the West Clinic, PLLC (“the West Clinic”), including kickbacks that Methodist paid to the West Clinic as part of its affiliation with the West Clinic.
“Federal law prohibits money from influencing where a doctor refers a patient for treatment to keep doctors focused solely on what is best for the patient,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “We contend that Methodist’s affiliation with the West Clinic ran afoul of that law. When hospitals pay kickbacks to physician practices, regardless of what form those kickbacks take, they can expect to be the focus of our enforcement efforts.”
In its complaint, the United States alleged that, from December 2011 until February 2019, Methodist had a multi-agreement affiliation with the West Clinic and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The affiliation agreements with the West Clinic included an Asset Purchase Agreement, Management Services Agreement, Leased Employee and Administrative Services Agreement, and Professional Services Agreement. According to the complaint, Methodist used these agreements as a vehicle to pay kickbacks to the West Clinic in part to induce the West Clinic to refer Medicare beneficiaries to Methodist. The affiliation ended in 2019 and is no longer ongoing.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Jeffrey Liebman and David Stern. Liebman was a former president of Methodist University Hospital, and Stern was a former Dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The Act also permits the United States to intervene and take over the litigation and receive a portion of any recovery, such as the United States did here. Liebman and Stern will receive a share of the recovery. The qui tam is captioned United States ex rel. Liebman v. Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, et al., Case No. 3:17-cv-00902 (M.D. Tenn.).
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combatting healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Bowden McIntyre.
The claims settled by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron Recognizes the Contributions of Law Enforcement Partners and the Teamwork that Helped to Reduce Violent Crime in 2023Read the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – At a press conference earlier today, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, thanked federal, state and local law enforcement partners in the fight against violent crime in Maryland. The teamwork, community-based partnerships, and strategic law enforcement initiatives helped make a difference in reducing homicides in Baltimore in 2023 by more than 20% percent. Partners at today’s press conference included:
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron;
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach;
ATF Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby;
State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Ivan Bates;
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley; and
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget;
Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock;
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge James Harris;
Acting U.S. Marshal Mathew Silverman
Executive Director Errol Etting of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional
Services Intelligence and Investigative Division; and
Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.“Going forward we will continue investigating and prosecuting large RICO cases, like Triple C, but we will also continue to employ strategic and preventative law enforcement measures—especially by using any legal means necessary to remove those who illegally possess or use guns in our communities,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.
“This past year's almost 20% reduction in Baltimore homicides and 9% reduction in non-fatal shootings is a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for the citizens of this city. Every life saved from senseless acts of gun violence is worth celebrating. But we can't forget that every single life lost to this epidemic is a needless tragedy,” said ATF Director Steve Dettelbach. “Through strong partnerships and utilizing crime gun intelligence, ATF is able to focus law enforcement priorities not on entire communities, but instead on strategically identifying the trigger pullers who are terrorizing those communities. My message for 2024? We are not done by a long shot. ATF is committed to protecting the rights of Baltimoreans to live in peace. Law abiding folks should not live in fear of falling victim to senseless gun violence tragedies that continue to plague our most vulnerable communities.”
“Together, we have achieved significant strides in reducing violent crime throughout the year 2023, and while just one life lost to violence in Baltimore is one too many, we remain optimistic about the collective progress made. The collaborative spirit, tireless dedication, and innovative approaches demonstrated by our prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement colleagues have played a pivotal role in creating safer communities for the residents of Baltimore,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “We have collectively contributed to decreasing violent crime rates through strategic initiatives, community engagement, and diligent prosecution efforts. Our success in this endeavor is a testament to the collaborative strength of our justice system. It reflects the unity and determination that defines us as a community and highlights our shared commitment to public safety and a safer Baltimore for all.”
As one example of holding violent gang members accountable at today’s press conference U.S. Attorney Barron highlighted the case of U.S. v. Correy Cawthorn, where Cawthorn, a member of the violent Baltimore street gang the “Cruddy Conniving Crutballs,” otherwise known as the “Triple C” gang, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison. Cawthorn admitted that he was part of a racketeering conspiracy and participated in three murders, an attempted murder and drug trafficking on behalf of the gang. This investigation led to the guilty pleas of 34 members and associates of Triple C, including Cawthorn. It was investigated by ATF and the Baltimore Police Department as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, using leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), a national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.
“Crime gun intelligence allows ATF and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and incarcerate the most violent and prolific offenders operating in Baltimore. The 35-year sentence for Triple C gang member Correy Cawthorn today and the guilty plea of Black Guerilla Family gang member Wayne Prince yesterday are just two examples of what this investigative approach can do in the hands of law enforcement like our relentless Special Agents and Task Force Officers,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby. “While we take this moment to acknowledge the progress of this past year, we must also remember that any murder or act of violence prevents people from having the sense of security in their own neighborhood that they deserve. ATF Baltimore Field Division is looking forward to another year of serving the citizens of Maryland, creating safer communities so they can thrive.”
“Drugs are directly related to crime through the effects they have on the user’s behavior and by generating violence and other illegal activities including firearms related incidents and homicides. Through DEA’s Operation Overdrive initiative, we have mapped the most dangerous and ruthless drug trafficking organizations that operate in the DMV and have directed our resources towards dismantling and prosecuting these organizations. Our collaborative efforts have led to the seizure of record numbers of illegal drugs to include fentanyl and firearms, as well as many impactful prosecutions and convictions. DEA’s primary focus remains combating drug related violence and fentanyl poisoning in our neighborhoods,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in charge of DEA Washington Division.
“Every day the FBI works closely with our law enforcement partners in Baltimore and the rest of Maryland to identify and combat violent crime and other threats facing our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI'S Baltimore Field Office. “In 2024 and the years to come, we will remain laser focused on partnering together to make our communities safer places for all of us.”
“Through a combination of comprehensive strategies, partnerships, and community engagement, we have made substantial progress in curbing the frequency of gun-related violence in Baltimore,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of HSI Baltimore. “We have fostered relationships among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, as well as our prosecutors. We coordinate efforts, share intelligence, and leverage resources in a unified approach to combat illegal gun trafficking, apprehend violent offenders, and hold perpetrators of gun violence accountable. Our efforts throughout our Maryland communities has resulted in a reduction of homicides in Baltimore, by 19% while non-fatal shootings are down almost 9%. While we celebrate this success, we recognize that our work is far from over. We are committed to sustaining and expanding our efforts to further reduce violent gun crime in and around Baltimore in 2024."
“This past year, the United States Marshals Service has helped our federal, state, and local partners apprehend over 1,300 violent fugitives,” stated Mathew Silverman, Acting United States Marshal for the District of Maryland. “The public can rest assured that we will do everything within our lawful authority to continue to support our partners and help make the State of Maryland a safer place.”
U.S. Attorney Barron also thanked our community partners, such as ROCA Baltimore, whose mission is focused on violent crime prevention and intervention initiatives and highlighted a joint public service announcement, U.S. Attorney Office coordinated community walks, and resource fairs for returning citizens. The law enforcement officials at today’s press conference renewed their commitment to community building in order to build trust and to prevent violent crime.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Assaulting Mail Carrier in Mosby CourtRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man and woman pleaded guilty today and yesterday to assaulting a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) City Carrier while delivering mail.
According to court documents, on the evening of May 22, 2023, Quintin Morris, Jr., 31, and Jumeka Jones, 21, assaulted the USPS carrier on the 1900 block of Accommodation Street in Richmond. The altercation began after Jones’ dog, which was off leash outside, caused the carrier to fear for his safety. Jones and the carrier engaged in a verbal disagreement that escalated when Morris adopted a fighting stance and approached the carrier. During the fight, Morris, and Jones wrestled the carrier to the ground, Morris punched the carrier with a closed fist, and Jones stomped on the carrier several times with her foot. The carrier suffered a sprained neck, shoulder, and cuts to his face.
Morris pleaded guilty today is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16. He faces a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison. Jones pleaded guilty yesterday and is also scheduled to be sentenced on April 16. She also faces a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-142.
Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of a Minor in Chicago SuburbRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man on sex trafficking charges for allegedly enticing a minor to engage in a commercial sex act in a Chicago suburb.
The two-count federal indictment charges KENNARD CAMERON, 38, of Chicago, with sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. According to the indictment, Cameron recruited and enticed the minor to engage in a commercial sex act in Lansing, Ill., on March 17, 2023.
Cameron was arrested last week. U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz on Wednesday ordered Cameron to remain detained pending trial.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Each charge in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor also includes a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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.
Cameron indictmentMaine Man Sentenced for Role in Northern New England Fentanyl Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Maine man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation that spanned across northern New England.
Douglas Morris, 33, of Bangor, Maine, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 12.5 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In August 2023, Morris pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Morris was indicted by a federal grand jury along with five co-defendants in March 2022.
According to court documents, in June 2021, Morris picked up nearly two kilograms of p-Fluorofentanyl – a dangerous fentanyl analogue – intended for distribution in Maine, allegedly from co-defendant Ivan Rodriguez Osorio in a hotel parking lot in Amesbury, Mass. Morris’ vehicle was subsequently stopped by law enforcement and the narcotics were seized.
The fentanyl analogue was packaged in 161 10-gram cylinders commonly called “fingers.” These fingers are a common form of drug packaging for resale to other distributors. Morris had allegedly made three prior drug purchases from Rodriguez Osorio, buying approximately 500 grams of fentanyl each time.
Less than two weeks later, in July 2021, Morris picked up nearly two kilograms of fentanyl, allegedly from Rodriguez Osorio, in the same hotel parking lot in Amesbury, Mass. Morris’ vehicle was again stopped by law enforcement and the narcotics were seized.
According to court documents, Morris has multiple prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses. In July 2009 Morris was arrested federally and charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. While on federal pretrial release, he was again arrested and charged by state authorities with trafficking oxycodone. Morris was eventually convicted of both offenses and sentenced to 88 months in prison in the federal case and two years (served concurrently) in the state case. However, upon his release, Morris violated the terms of his supervised release numerous times and was revoked twice. His supervised release ended in 2019.
Morris is the second defendant to be sentenced in the case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Lauren A. Graber of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Escape from CustodyRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Escape from Custody. The sentencing took place on January 3, 2024.
Dillon Bagola, age 31, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from custody he will have to serve five years of supervised release relating to his prior federal sexual assault conviction.
Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 2, 2023.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on July 25, 2023, when Bagola, who was residing at the Community Alternatives of the Black Hills, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to finish a federal sentence, escaped from that facility. His whereabouts were unknown until he was apprehended on August 4, 2023, in Lower Brule.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Bagola was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Long Island-Based Bloods Gang Members Indicted on Racketeering and Murder ChargesRead the Press Release
A 32-two-count superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip charging three Bloods gang members, Dwayne Murray, Kendrick Seymore and Lavalle Wilson, with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, various firearms charges and narcotics related offenses. Additionally, Murray is charged with the June 2020 murder of Wayne Cherry in Baywood, New York, and Seymore is charged with the July 23, 2021 murders of Nyasia Knox, Diamond Schick and Richard Castano in Farmingville, New York. The defendants are presently in custody and will be arraigned on the superseding indictment at a later date.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO), James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Office (ATF), announced the superseding indictment.
“Today’s superseding indictment speaks loudly to this Office’s commitment to making our communities safer by holding ruthless gang members accountable for the murders, gun violence and narcotics trafficking they allegedly carried out on behalf of the Bloods,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their tireless work dismantling gangs operating on Long Island.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department for their unwavering dedication to eradicating gang violence on Long Island.
“My office is committed to eradicating violent gangs and bringing prosecutions on both the state and federal level where appropriate. Joint prosecutions in serious cases with our federal partners better protects Suffolk County residents. I thank United States Attorney Peace, the FBI, and the ATF, for working together with my office and the Suffolk County Police Department to successfully collaborate on this significant prosecution,” stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney.
“These indictments demonstrate the collective commitment and investigative efforts between ATF NY and law enforcement partners, utilizing Crime Gun Intelligence to connect the dots between the many incidents of violence. Brazen acts of violence will never become acceptable to us. ATF NY is determined to root out the drivers of the deadly cycle of violence in our communities. We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our partners and appreciate the efforts of the ATF NY Long Island Field Office, FBI, Suffolk County Police Department and EDNY,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Kalogiros.
As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in numerous acts of violence on the gang’s behalf, including robberies, home invasions, and vicious shootings and murders. Specifically, according to the superseding indictment and statements made in court proceedings, on the evening of June 12, 2020, Murray fatally shot Cherry in the head in the backyard of a vacant home in Baywood. His body was found two days later.
Additionally, on July 23, 2021, Seymore and an accomplice, both of whom were armed with guns, entered Richard Castano’s apartment in Farmingville to rob him. During the course of the robbery, Seymore shot and killed Castano, as well Diamond Schick and Nyasia Knox, who were also in the apartment. A one-year old child was in the apartment at the time of the triple murder, but was left physically unharmed.
The defendants also used their membership in the Bloods street gang to distribute large quantities of narcotics in Suffolk County. In order to protect their supply of narcotics, and secure their ability to distribute the narcotics, the defendants possessed multiple firearms.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum of life in prison. Murray and Seymore face the possibility of the death penalty.
The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Misorek and Andrew P. Wenzel and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Donald N. Barclay and Dena C. Rizopoulos are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants
DWAYNE MURRAY (also known as “Wayno”)
Age: 33
Coram, New YorkKENDRICK SEYMORE (also known as “KR”)
Age: 22
Coram, New YorkLAVALLE WILSON (also known as “Val,” Skip,” “Flip” and “Wes”)
Age: 30
Shirley, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-401 (JMA)
Little Rock Felon Who Possessed Firearm Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Chadwick Umfleet, a multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down Wednesday by United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
Umfleet, 40, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on August 26, 2022. That conviction was based on a May 26, 2021, traffic stop by officers of the Jacksonville Police Department in which Umfleet was discovered with marijuana, methamphetamine, and a stolen Taurus 9mm handgun.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Baker heard arguments regarding Umfleet’s three prior felony firearm convictions and six prior felony drug convictions, including Umfleet’s 2012 federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Judge Baker sentenced Umfleet to the maximum potential penalty for the current firearm offense - 10 years imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Jacksonville Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Lead Defendant and Ten Others Plead Guilty in Prolific Human Smuggling and Money Laundering CaseRead the Press Release
A Texas woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a scheme to illegally transport hundreds of foreign nationals within the United States and conspiracy to launder proceeds of illicit human smuggling.
According to court documents, Erminia Serrano Piedra, aka Irma and Boss Lady, 32, led a human smuggling organization that facilitated the unlawful transportation and movement of hundreds of migrants within the United States and harbored and concealed the migrants from detection by law enforcement authorities. The migrants were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia, and they or their families paid members of the organization to help them travel illegally to and within the United States.
The organization used drivers to pick up migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border and transport them further into the United States, often harboring the migrants at “stash houses” along the way. Drivers for the human smuggling organization hid migrants in suitcases placed in pickup trucks and crammed migrants into tractor-trailers, covered beds of pickup trucks, repurposed water tankers, and wooden crates strapped to flatbed trailers. The methods used by the organization to transport migrants placed their lives in danger, as they were frequently held in confined spaces with little ventilation that became overheated, and they were driven at high speeds with no vehicle safety devices. Members of the organization commonly referred to the migrants as “boxes,” “packages,” or “pieces.”
Typically, the fee paid to the organization was approximately $8,000, with $3,000 paid upfront to smugglers in Mexico and the remainder paid once the migrants entered the United States. Payments were routed through various accounts all over the United States, and the money from those accounts was then transmitted to the leaders of the organization. According to her plea agreement, Serrano Piedra admitted to stating during the conspiracy that she made a lot of money from her involvement in human smuggling and was going to continue making a lot of money in the years to come. She also stated that she had been doing this “for a lifetime already” and was not planning to retire.
Piedra also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of ill-gotten proceeds of illicit human smuggling. The leaders of the organization recruited and used straw recipients to accept human smuggling proceeds in the recipients’ bank accounts and then transferred the proceeds to the leaders under the pretense of work payments. The defendants also incorporated businesses and opened business accounts to transfer the human smuggling proceeds. The defendants recruited individuals in the construction industry who accepted human smuggling proceeds in the form of cash in exchange for checks from the recruited individuals’ business bank accounts.
Serrano is agreeing to the criminal forfeiture of two properties with current estimated values of $2,275,000 and $515,000 that were purchased with the illicit proceeds of human smuggling as well as a money judgment of $942,537.00.
Serrano Piedra is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger made the announcement.
The Justice Department also announced the guilty pleas of ten other defendants charged in the case who previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Kevin Daniel Nuber, aka Captain, 42, and Laura Nuber, aka Barbie, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport aliens, placing in jeopardy the life of any person, and conspiracy to harbor aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. Christine Dangler, aka Tinkerbell, 46; Lloyd Bexley, 53; Jeremy Dickens, 47; Juan Manuel Hernandez Cordova, aka Tio, 46; David Scott Tallant, 54; Katie Ann Garcia, aka Guera, 40; and Abraham Geber Lopez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and move aliens, placing in jeopardy the life of any person. Oliveria Campuzano Piedra, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor an alien for profit. These defendants are awaiting sentencing.
The indictments and convictions of these defendants are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is also provided by numerous components of the Criminal Division that are part of JTFA, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS); Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO); Office of International Affairs; and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 260 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 180 convictions; significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband – including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, property, vehicles, firearms, ammunition, and drugs.
HSI Laredo, along with CBP’s U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector and DHS Office of the Inspector General, led the U.S. investigation and received substantial assistance from HSI offices in Austin, San Antonio, Waco, and Corpus Christi, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and West Palm Beach, Florida; HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; CBP’s National Targeting Center; U.S. Marshals Service; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations - Austin; and the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture. Police departments in Laredo, Killeen, Elgin, and Round Rock, Texas; the Wiggins, Mississippi Police Department; the Bogalusa, Louisiana Police Department; the Webb County Constable’s Office; the Webb County District Attorney’s Office; the Webb, Bastrop, and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Offices in Texas; the Harrison, George, and Stone County Sheriff’s Offices in Mississippi; the Mobile County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; the Jefferson and Washington Parish Sheriff’s Offices in Louisiana; the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; and the Louisiana State Police also provided substantial assistance.
HRSP Trial Attorneys Christian Levesque and Angela Buckner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the for the Southern District of Texas, and MLARS Trial Attorney Daria Andryushchenko are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from MLARS Financial Investigator Kelly O’Mara and OEO’s Electronic Surveillance Unit. HRSP Trial Attorney Erin Cox previously provided significant assistance in this case.
Lame Deer woman sentenced to prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lame Deer woman who admitted to selling methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation as part of larger drug trafficking activity on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Adrienne Dawn LaForge, 35, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in August 2022, law enforcement purchased meth from LaForge at a house in Lame Deer. An indictment accused LaForge of trafficking meth from about January 2022 through October 2022 on the Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservations. LaForge was affiliated with another Northern Cheyenne Reservation dealer, who also was trafficking on Crow, and others who were charged as a result of an investigation into a large drug trafficking conspiracy.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARREN FLOWERS, age 25, a resident of Metairie, pleaded guilty on January 3, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jane T. Milazzo, to federal drug and weapons violations.
Specifically, FLOWERS pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, on January 6, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) conducted surveillance in the 500 block of N. Elm Street in Metairie. FLOWERS was observed selling drugs, both individually and with his co-conspirators, to customers who arrived in the area. When JPSO detectives made contact with FLOWERS, he fled and discarded a loaded Ruger nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun during the chase. When FLOWERS was apprehended, he had six rocks of cocaine base and $855 in cash in his pockets.
As to his convictions for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, FLOWERS faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release on each count. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, FLOWERS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
January 2024 Federal Grand Jury A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January 2024 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Christian Douglas Cook. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Cook, 24, transient and a citizen of Choctaw Nation is charged with assault with intent to do bodily harm in Dec. 2023. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-005
Johnathan Robert Havlick. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Havlick, 23, Sapulpa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with discharging a firearm and killing Aaron Bendele in Dec. 2023. The FBI and Sapulpa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Kate Brandon are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-003
Nelson Alexis Torres Leon; Roberto Quiroz Lopez; Jose Isla-Chavez; Gerardo Martinez, Jr. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute (superseding). Leon, 23,
Lopez, 49, Isla-Chavez, 29, Mexican nationals, and Martinez, 23 from Oklahoma City, are each charged with drug conspiracy.
Leon is charged with possessing and distributing fentanyl and heroin. Lopez is charged with possessing and distributing heroin. Isla-Chavez is charged with possessing and distributing fentanyl. Leon, Isla-Chavez, and Lopez are also charged with
maintaining a residence for distributing fentanyl and/or heroin. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel-lyn A. McCormick and Mandy M. Mackenzie
and are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-380Benita Lorenzo Nicolas. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Nicolas, 45, a Mexican national, is charged
with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jun. 2017, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-001Shelly Annette Mcelroy; Gary Don Mcelroy. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Tampering with a Record, Document, and Other Object. (superseding) Shelly McElroy, 52, and Gary McElroy, 54 of Tulsa are charged with drug conspiracy from Sep. 2023 through Oct. 2023. They are also charged with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute in Oct. 2023. Shelley McElroy was also charged with attempting to tamper with and erase the contents of a cellular phone seized as evidence in Oct. 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and Niko Boulieris are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-348
Lance Douglas Roark. Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country; Assault with Intent to Commit Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (superseding). Roark, 43, of Bluejacket and a member of the Delaware Tribe is charged with knowingly engaging in sexual contact with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse with a child under 12 years old. The FBI and Rogers County Sherriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Chantelle Dial are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-262
Yair De Jesus Trejo-Mendoza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Trejo-Mendoza, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Dec. 2015, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-002