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3 January 2024
Baltimore BGF Gang Member Pleads Guilty to a Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charge, Including MurderRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Wayne Prince, a/k/a “Taz,” age 24, of Baltimore pleaded guilty today to conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as the Black Guerilla Family (“BGF”) gang.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his plea agreement and other court documents, beginning in 2018 Prince was a member and associate of the BGF, also known as “Jamaa,” and participated in the BGF criminal enterprise, including a murder, a drug distribution conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute drugs and robbery. BGF is a nationwide gang which began operating in prisons and is now involved in criminal activity, including murder, murder-for-hire, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation, in cities throughout the United States, including Baltimore and throughout Maryland.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 7, 2018, Prince and two co-conspirators attempted to murder an individual at a home that the target owned and was having renovated. A construction crew was on site at the time. During the assault, Prince and a co-conspirator shot and killed one of the construction workers using a .40 caliber handgun. They also shot a second construction worker in the head, but that person survived the attack.
Later that day, Prince bragged to an associate during a recorded jail call, “I’m about to get some money soon,” referring to an expected payment from Co-Conspirator 2 for Prince’s role in the attempted murder of the target. From August 7 to August 9, 2018, Prince exchanged messages with a now-deceased member of Co-Conspirator 2’s inner circle, in which Prince made arrangements to collect payment from Co-Conspirator 2 for his role in the attempted murder of the target.
Prince and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Prince will be sentenced to between 20 and 29 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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 is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez, Patricia C. McLane, and Ari D. Evans, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Armed Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert A. Goldsberry, 29, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Goldsberry pleaded guilty to this charge on October 19, 2023.
On November 3, 2022, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Goldsberry for speeding on Highway 51 in Madison. When deputies approached the car, they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and observed Goldsberry—who was the lone occupant—placing his hand on the gear shift multiple times. After deputies asked Goldsberry to step out of the car, he sped away, running multiple red lights and nearly hitting two other vehicles before crashing his car into a traffic signpost. After the crash, Goldsberry jumped out of the car and ran from deputies. He was later arrested and had $3,000 in his pockets.
In Goldsberry’s car, deputies recovered a loaded firearm, 54 bags of marijuana, and 156 oxycodone pills. Goldsberry has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, substantial battery, and drug dealing.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated Goldsberry has been in and out of jail and has supported himself by dealing drugs. Further, in selecting a six-year sentence, Judge Conley highlighted the need to hold Goldsberry accountable for his dangerous conduct and squandered opportunities under previous terms of state supervision.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
The charge against Goldsberry was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard prosecuted this case.
A Look Back at Fentanyl Prosecutions in 2023Read the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announce the actions taken in 2023 in the Eastern District of California to confront the continuing crisis caused by fentanyl.
In 2023, large amounts of fentanyl were trafficked in or transported across our district. In total, approximately 86 individuals appeared in federal district courts in Sacramento and Fresno charged with fentanyl distribution offenses. Approximately 28 individuals were sentenced for fentanyl trafficking offenses with sentences ranging from two to 17 years in prison. Another approximately 29 pleaded guilty to fentanyl-related charges and now await sentencing, with additional cases still pending.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, can kill a person. According to the DEA, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are largely responsible for the influx of fentanyl into this country. Illicit fentanyl comes in two forms: pills and powder. The cartels are mixing fentanyl powder in with cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and hiding fentanyl in fake pills that look similar to prescription medications like oxycodone, Xanax, and Percocet. Seven out of 10 pills tested at DEA laboratories contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. The cartels and their associates often use social media applications and encrypted platforms to sell their poison. To get more facts about fentanyl, visit One Pill Can Kill.
“While the work done by our office this year is significant, numbers alone cannot tell the whole story. The sons, daughters, spouses, and friends who have lost their lives due to fentanyl overdoses are not numbers, and the law enforcement officers and agents know firsthand the dangers of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work together to disrupt the supply chain and arrest suppliers. These efforts combined with treating addiction, educating the public, and ultimately reducing demand can end this epidemic. I urge the public to be aware of the threats and dangers of fentanyl.”
“Fentanyl is the greatest drug threat facing our communities today. It is killing Americans at catastrophic rates and devastating families from coast to coast,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Clark. “The Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels are intentionally using synthetic fentanyl, which is cheap, man-made and potent, to increase their profits by driving addiction in the United States. They do not care how many Americans will die, they only care about lining their pockets with the proceeds. Enforcement, treatment, and prevention have never been more important. As DEA continues to pursue and hold accountable every level of the fentanyl supply chain, I encourage you to talk with your family and friends about fentanyl, it could save a life.”
Case Summaries
On Aug. 28, 2023, Michael Ortega, 22, of Clovis, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for selling fentanyl to a person under the age of 21. According to court documents, on July 2, 2020, Ortega sold one and a half counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl to a 17-year-old. The fentanyl caused the teen to overdose with serious bodily injury. Fortunately, the teenager survived and has since recovered. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA, the Fresno Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case.
On Oct. 30, 2023, Jose Santana, 46, of Shafter, in Kern County, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2021, Santana was found in possession of about 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.5 kilograms of heroin, two firearms, and approximately $5,000 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.
On Aug. 14, 2023, Pedro Duran, 32, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. During the investigation, Duran was found in possession of 3 pounds of fentanyl in addition to 33 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl pills, and over 3 pounds of marijuana. Duran’s residence also contained additional amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, seven firearms, ammunition, and approximately $8,800 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, HSI, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Police Department, the Special Operations Unit of the California Department of Justice, and the California Highway Patrol, the CDCR, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case.
On May 30, 2023, Vincent Jose Vasquez, 30, of Lodi, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking. According to court documents, in May 2021, Vasquez was found in possession of more than 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, more than 900 grams of cocaine, almost 1 pound of methamphetamine, three firearms, and $21,623 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Highway Patrol, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lodi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.
On June 27, 2023, Nathaniel Opondo Hubbert, 42, of Grass Valley, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution offenses. According to court documents, on June 24, 2020, Hubbert was found to be in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Hubbert was connected to at least one overdose of a victim who had to be given medical treatment after using drugs purchased from Hubbert. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the Lincoln Police Department, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roseville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
On Aug. 29, 2023, Julius Rucks, 42, of Oroville, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, in 2018 and 2019, Rucks sold over 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to a confidential source and undercover agent. On July 23, 2019, Rucks was found in possession of a large electric pill press, pill dies for stamping the pharmaceutical markings onto the fake pills, large amounts of powdered fentanyl, pill binder and other pill manufacturing materials, and three handguns with loaded magazines. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.
2 January 2024
Washington man sentenced for interfering with flight crew on Anchorage flightRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Washington man was sentenced on Dec. 28, 2023, to one year home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release, for interfering with a flight crew in April 2023.
According to court documents, Adam Seymour, 38, of Seattle, Washington, harassed and attempted to grope a female passenger seated next to him, threatened to “kill” a second passenger and assaulted a third while aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 49 inbound to Anchorage from Seattle. In the course of events Seymour, told passengers the plane was going to crash and everyone would die.
With the assistance of two off-duty police officers, flight crew removed Seymour from his seat and restrained him in the jump seat at the front of the airplane. Seymour broke free from his restraints and was restrained a second time. The off-duty police officers remained with Seymour at the front of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight.
Following a recommendation for a sentence of 12 months incarceration, the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska imposed 12 months of home confinement and included a requirement to engage in community service and a two-year term of supervision. During the hearing, the Court commented regarding the increase in misconduct aboard aircraft in recent years and recognized that air travel is a necessity for Alaskans and that all passengers should be able to travel free from harassment.
“For some Alaskans, air travel is the only way to travel from their home to important resources like medical appointments, making it an essential mode of transportation within the state. All Alaskans should feel safe while they travel on a plane,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Engaging in violent, harassing or obscene behavior while on an aircraft is a federal crime and can result in serious penalties. Potential perpetrators should think twice before engaging in similar conduct aboard an aircraft because we will prosecute these crimes.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
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United States Settles Suit Against Telecommunications Service Provider for Assisting and Facilitating Illegal RobocallsRead the Press Release
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider XCast Labs Inc. (XCast) has agreed to a court order resolving allegations that it violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by assisting and facilitating illegal telemarketing campaigns. The stipulated order, which was entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, prohibits XCast from violating the TSR and has additional provisions to ensure its compliance, including required processes for screening its customers and the calls it transmits to identify potential illegal telemarketing. The order also imposes a $10 million civil penalty judgment, which is suspended based on XCast’s inability to pay.
According to the complaint filed on May 12, XCast provided VoIP services that transmitted billions of illegal robocalls to American consumers, including scam calls fraudulently claiming to be from government agencies. Those robocalls delivered prerecorded marketing messages, and many of them were delivered to numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry. Additionally, many of the calls failed to truthfully identify the seller of the services being marketed, falsely claimed affiliations with government entities, contained other false or misleading statements to induce purchases or were transmitted with “spoofed” caller ID information. The complaint alleged that XCast continued to transmit these calls even after being alerted to their illegality.
“Today’s order is another example of the Justice Department’s efforts to protect American consumers from illegal robocalls and to stop telecommunications providers from enabling those calls,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to work with the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the Telemarketing Sales Rule.”
“XCast was warned several times that illegal robocallers were using its services and did nothing,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Companies that turn a blind eye to illegal robocalling should expect to hear from the FTC.”
Attorneys in the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, including Trial Attorney Zachary Dietert and Assistant Director Rachael Doud, in conjunction with staff in the FTC’s Division of Marketing Practices, handled the case.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov.
Two Men Facing Federal Charges in Connection to Seizure of Commercial Pill Presses, Drugs, and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Timothy Gary Maddox on 10 felony counts and Nicholas Bryan Adams on 7 felony counts in connection to the seizure of drugs, firearms, and two commercial pill presses.
One of the pill presses seized by investigators is the first known commercial press associated with illegal fentanyl manufacturing in the Eastern District of Washington. The presses are believed to be able to produce thousands of pills per hour.
Investigators also seized more than a dozen firearms, suppressors, switches used to convert firearms from semi-auto to full auto, and more than $57,000 in cash. Investigators also seized quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.
“Our community is safer and stronger as a result of the investigative work of the numerous law enforcement agencies, who came together to investigate this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Seizures of large-scale pill presses like this are key to cutting off the deadly supply of illegal fentanyl in the Inland Northwest and elsewhere.”
Maddox and Adams were arrested in connection to a months-long drug investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Regional Street Crimes Unit consisting of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Police Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Individuals Charged with Cocaine OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Santiago Gonzalez-Rodriguez (58, Louisville, KY) and Elier Sanchez-Suasteque (37, Lehigh Acres) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and possession with the intent to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit any assets, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to the indictment, between September 23 and October 2, 2023, Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Sanchez-Suasteque conspired to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. On October 2, 2023, they knowingly possessed over 5 kilograms of cocaine in Tampa.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and Brooke Padgett.
Polk County Woman Sentenced for Role in Construction-Related Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Gabriela Inamagua to 12 months and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and the Internal Revenue Service. The court also ordered Inamagua to pay restitution to two victim insurance companies and to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $8,953,629.24. Inamagua had pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023.
According to court documents, Inamagua owned and managed two “shell” construction companies which purported to supply construction services and labor for construction contractors and subcontractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Inamagua’s companies were required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Her companies had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Inamagua’s employees at construction sites, and these workers were often undocumented aliens who were actually working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Inamagua or others then regularly received “payroll checks” from contractors that they cashed at various financial institutions to pay Inamagua’s purported “employees” and other related expenses.
During the time period charged, Inamagua falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that her companies had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Inamagau also caused the transmission of false and fraudulent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that her companies’ employees had full worker’s compensation coverage.
In reality, Inamagua’s companies received and cashed more than $34 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” These payroll figures far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Inamagua had reported to her worker’s compensation insurance companies. As a result, these employees—who were, in reality, the employees of other entities—performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurance companies that dealt with Inamagua’s companies lost premiums they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover. The insurance companies sustained losses on the insurance premiums that were not paid.
As a result of these misrepresentations, Inamagua’s companies also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and evaded laws that required the payment of state and federal payroll taxes on behalf of these workers. Inamagua’s companies did not collect or remit all required payroll taxes to the United States. In addition, the contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were also able to avoid responsibility for those taxes. The amount of those unpaid payroll taxes totaled more than $8.9 million.
“The construction industry as a whole suffers when fraudsters exploit the system by creating fictitious shell companies to illegally pay workers off the books in order to scam insurance companies and avoid employment taxes,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Tara K. Reed. “Today's sentencing is a reminder that all businesses and employees are responsible for their fair share of taxes. IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners will continue building cases with these schemes and bringing those responsible to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It is part of a lengthy investigation by those agencies into the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Nigerian National Arrested in Ghana Facing Federal Charges for an Alleged $7.5 Million Business Email Compromise Scheme Involving Two Charitable OrganizationsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – An eight-count federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging Olusegun Samson Adejorin, of Nigeria, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer related to a $7.5 million scheme to defraud two charitable organizations by impersonating employees, and gaining access to the employees’ email accounts. Adejorin was arrested in Ghana on December 29, 2023 and is detained pending his initial appearance in Ghana.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to the eight-count indictment, between June and August 2020, Adejorin perpetrated a scheme to defraud Victim 1, a charitable organization located in North Bethesda, Maryland and Victim 2, a charitable organization located in New York, New York by gaining access to employee email accounts and impersonating employees to induce financial transactions. The indictment alleges that Adejorin posed as an employee of Victim 2 to request withdrawals of Victim 2’s funds from Victim 1, a charitable organization that provided investment services to Victim 2. Withdrawals over $10,000 required approval from at least one of several individuals authorized by Victim 1. According to the indictment, Adejorin fraudulently obtained the credentials of employees at Victim 1 and Victim 2 and posed as those employees to send emails from their accounts, including emails making fraudulent requests for the withdrawal of investment funds. As part of the scheme, Adejorin also allegedly purchased a credential harvesting tool designed to steal email login credentials, registered spoofed domain names, and concealed the fraudulent emails from a legitimate employee by causing the fraudulent emails to be moved to an inconspicuous location within Employee 1’s mailbox.
The indictment alleges that, as part of the scheme, Adejorin caused more than $7.5 million of Victim 2’s funds to be sent, pursuant to fraudulent withdrawal requests, from Victim 1 to bank accounts that were not Victim 2’s bank accounts.
If convicted, Adejorin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of wire fraud; a maximum of five years in federal prison for unauthorized access to a protected computer; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of the two counts of aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty for two of the wire fraud counts could be increased by seven years for knowingly falsely registering and using a domain name. 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.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, Baltimore Field Office, for its work in the investigation and thanked the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, and the Republic of Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and the Ghana Immigration Service, for their valuable assistance in this case. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao, who is prosecuting the federal case.
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 Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers with a VehicleRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Steven O’Neil appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with two counts of assaulting and impeding a federal employee using a deadly and dangerous weapon. O’Neil, 39, will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled.
According to court records, on December 21, 2021, O’Neil was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and sentenced to 27 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On August 11, 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant because O’Neil absconded from his term of supervised release. On August 15, 2023, as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, officers with the U.S. Marshals Service, executed the arrest warrant, O’Neil intentionally assaulted John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 with a black Chevrolet Suburban while the officers were engaged in their official duties.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, O’Neil faces up to 20 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release thereafter.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva M. Fontanez is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment# # #
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Jemez Pueblo Man Charged with Assault of a Federal OfficerRead 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’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Dylon Scott Sandia appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact. Sandia, 32, of Jemez Pueblo, and an enrolled member of the Jemez Pueblo, will remain in custody pending trial, which is currently scheduled for February 12, 2024.
According to the indictment, on May 29, 2023, Sandia intentionally assaulted an officer with the Jemez Pueblo Police Department, who, by virtue of a special law enforcement commission, is considered a federal officer, while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sandia faces 8 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment# # #
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Founder and Former CEO of Tingo Companies Charged with Securities FraudRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging ODOGWU BANYE MMOBUOSI, a/k/a “Dozy Mmobuosi,” with securities fraud, making false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and conspiracy charges. MMOBUOSI is still at large.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Dozy Mmobuosi allegedly orchestrated a massive scheme to inflate Tingo Group’s financial statements and make it appear as though the cellular and agriculture companies he founded were profitable and cash rich companies when, in fact, they were not. With this Indictment, Mmobuosi’s alleged deceitful scheme comes to an end.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Mmobuosi’s alleged fraud is an unseemly display of greed and corruption of our financial markets. Securities schemes like this can be devastating for victim investors. That’s why the FBI is committed to bringing financial fraud to light and perpetrators like Mmobuosi to justice.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court and court filings:[1]
From at least in or about 2019 through in or about 2023, ODOGWU BANYE MMOBUOSI orchestrated a scheme to enrich himself by falsely representing that Nigerian companies he founded, Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods, were operational, profitable businesses generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue respectively. MMOBUOSI then sold Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods to companies listed in the United States, including Tingo Group (listed on Nasdaq as “TIO”) and Agri-Fintech Holdings (traded in the Over-the-Counter Markets under symbol “TMNA”). As a result, MMOBUOSI caused Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech to issue financial statements that falsely portrayed Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods to be cash-rich, revenue-generating companies when, in fact, they were not. MMOBUOSI then looted Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech by misappropriating cash from those companies and engaged in well-timed sales of their shares at inflated prices, generating millions of dollars of profits from his scheme.
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MMOBUOSI, 45, of Nigeria, has been charged with one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of making false filings with the SEC, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purpose only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. He also expressed appreciation for the SEC, which separately initiated civil proceedings against the defendant.
This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Davis and Kiersten A. Fletcher are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Federal jury convicts father and son for killing a Niagara Falls man in furtherance of a drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal jury has convicted Lavon Parks, a/k/a Dutch, 32, and his father, James C. Parks, 58, both of Niagara Falls, NY, of narcotics conspiracy, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and discharge of firearm causing death. In addition, Lavon Parks was also convicted of attempt to possess, with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Richard Antoine, Caitlin M. Higgins, and Joel L. Violanti, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between May 2017, and March 2019, the defendants were part of a conspiracy to sell cocaine in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY areas. On the afternoon of January 21, 2018, Kevin Turner was murdered in a shooting in front of a Niagara Street residence in Niagara Falls. Turner was an alleged crack cocaine dealer who had recently moved from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, where, the night before the shooting, he was staying just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting. The afternoon of the shooting, Turner went to the Niagara Street residence to sell crack cocaine. After exiting the residence, Turner was shot and killed. Evidence was presented by the Government that Lavon Parks and James Parks were driving around the area in a truck immediately before the shooting, apparently looking for someone. Video evidence placed a truck registered to Lavon Parks’ then-girlfriend in the immediate area of the shooting both before and after the murder. Ballistics recovered from the scene of the shooting matched a firearm that was recovered approximately two weeks later from an individual in Niagara Falls who was not near the scene at the time of Turner’s death. The firearm, however, was one of several firearms that were illegally trafficked from Pittsburgh, PA, by an individual who testified that he sold this type of firearm, along with at least seven others, to Lavon Parks in exchange for drugs.
The investigation included a series of controlled buys and payments involving defendant Lavon Parks. Investigators seized approximately 8.5 kilograms of cocaine and $52,000 in U.S. currency from postal parcels shipped from Puerto Rico to various locations in the Western District of New York, Florida, Alaska, Georgia, and Pennsylvania using the United States Postal Service. The shipments were made to co-conspirators. Additionally, the investigation identified $55,700 in U.S. currency and/or money orders shipped in parcels from co-conspirators to Puerto Rico as payment to the source of supply for the cocaine.
The jury verdict is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2024, for Lavon Parks and June 27, 2024, for James Parks, both before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who presided over the trial of the case.
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Coventry Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN MATAVA, 59, of Coventry, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses related to his receipt of COVID-19 relief funds.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive unsecured loans at an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds were to be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a certain period of time of receipt and used at least a certain percentage of the amount to be forgiven for payroll.
The PPP was overseen by the Small Business Administration, which has authority over all PPP loans. Individual PPP loans, however, were issued by private approved lenders, such as Celtic Bank, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2020, Matava applied to Celtic Bank for a $100,000 PPP loan for J.M. Builders LLC. The application submission included several false representations, including that J.M. Builders LLC had eight employees and an average monthly payroll of $40,000; that the monies would be used for payroll, lease, mortgage, interest and utilities; and that the business owner was not subject to pending formal criminal charges. At the time of the PPP loan application, there were no records of payroll or employees with the Connecticut Department of Labor for J.M. Builders LLC, and Matava was subject to criminal charges in two pending cases related to arrests in 2017 and 2018.
On April 22, 2020, Celtic Bank disbursed $100,000 to a bank account for J.M. Builders LLC on which Matava was the signatory. The account was opened on April 21, 2020, and had a balance of $0 immediately prior to the loan funds being disbursed. Between April 2020 and January 2021, Matava used the funds primarily for personal expenditures, including $3,498 to pay a dog breeder, $4,777 for payments to an RV superstore in Connecticut, and legal fees, including a $2,000 retainer, for four court cases in Rockville, Connecticut.
In January 2021, Matava sought $100,000 in additional PPP funds from Celtic Bank, and included with the application several additional false statements and fraudulent tax documents. Celtic Bank denied the application.
Matava was arrested on January 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and to one count of making an illegal monetary transaction, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for March 29.
Matava is released on a $60,000 bond, in home detention, pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher W. Schmeisser and Sean P. Mahard.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Albuquerque Woman Charged with Escape and Federal Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jennifer Lynn Miller with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and with escape for leaving the custody of Maya’s Place, an institutional facility in which she was lawfully confined. Miller, 43, of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 21, 2023, Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the Querque Hotel and discovered multiple bundles of fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine in a room allegedly rented by Miller. Inside of the room, Agents found a Bill of Sale for a vehicle or vessel with the buyer’s name listed as “Jennifer Miller.” Additionally, Agents found that “Jennifer Miller” was the name associated with the room rental and the credit card used to purchase the room. The address and phone number provided for the room was linked to an address and phone number associated with the name “Miller.” On Oct. 10, 2023, as a part of Miller’s conditions of release pending indictment, Miller was released to the custody of Maya’s Place, a transitional housing program. On October 23, 2023, Miller allegedly escaped from Maya’s Place in violation of her conditions of release.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Miller faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison for each of the drug offenses and 0-5 years of imprisonment for the escape charge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Nichols is prosecuting the case.
View the Indictment# # #
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Albuquerque Man Charged with Unlawful Dealing in FirearmsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced that Anthony Lutz appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with a single count of unlawful dealing in firearms. Lutz, 41, of Albuquerque, will remain on conditions of release pending trial.
According to the indictment, between approximately Sept. 21, 2019, and Aug. 4, 2023, Lutz engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lutz faces up to 5 years imprisonment and up to 3 years of supervised release thereafter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
View the Indictment# # #
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Albuquerque Man Charged in a Second Superseding Indictment for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Buddy Eugene Gallegos, 42, of Albuquerque, New Mexico with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the second superseding indictment, on April 13, 2022, Gallegos allegedly possessed 11 firearms and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted in New Mexico state court for a felony offense, and did so in furtherance of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gallegos faces up to life in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.
View the Second Superseding Indictment# # #
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29 December 2023
Two New York City Men Charged with Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two New York men have been arrested on charges related to visa fraud.
Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Patel was arrested in Seattle on Dec. 13, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in the Western District of Washington, was ordered detained pending trial. Singh was arrested in Queens, N.Y. on Dec. 13, 2023 and had his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York. Singh appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday afternoon. Patel is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the charging documents, starting in March 2023, Patel and his co-conspirators, including at times Singh, set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least eight convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants across the United States, including at least four in Massachusetts. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U nonimmigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington; FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Defendants Plead Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARNELL MELTON, age 27, and SAUL REED, age 32, both residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 19, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to charges in a 15-count second superseding indictment.
MELTON and REED both pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). REED additionally pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D).
According to court documents, MELTON has prior Louisiana felony convictions for simple robbery, simple burglary, and attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. In March of 2023, MELTON lived in a New Orleans East house which the FBI identified as the residence of members of a gang known as the “10x”, a reference to the St. Thomas Housing Development in the 10th Ward.
On March 28, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) executed a search warrant at the residence. When law enforcement announced their presence to execute the search, the occupants refused to exit the house and repeatedly ignored subsequent commands to come outside. While the officers and agents were outside, multiple gunshots were fired nearby. Moments after the gunshots, 911 dispatch received a call falsely claiming that a five-year old child was shot the next block over. The call came from inside the residence. More than an hour after law enforcement arrived, MELTON, REED, and two juveniles exited the house. FBI found two AR-15 pistols and three handguns inside the house. One of the handguns belonged to MELTON. FBI also recovered a backpack belonging to REED. Inside REED’s backpack there was tapentadol, marijuana, a digital scale, latex gloves, and a black ski mask.
REED was pulled over two months later by Louisiana State Police. He had another backpack in his car containing marijuana and a loaded Sig Sauer handgun. REED is prohibited from possessing a gun because of prior Louisiana felony convictions for simple burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
For their felon in possession of firearm convictions, MELTON and REED each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. For his conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, REED faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a $100 mandatory 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 109 MonthsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Vivian A. Earle, 42, of Phoenix, was sentenced yesterday to 109 months in prison by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow. Earle was convicted on five counts of Bank Robbery by a jury on June 30, 2023.
Between April and August of 2019, while in Phoenix, Earle robbed five banks, including Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America, taking over $34,000. After the last robbery, a bank customer followed Earle’s vehicle from the parking lot and called 911. Phoenix Police responded and followed Earle until they apprehended him.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Gayle Helart and Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01121-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-207_Earle# # #
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.Pottsville Man Sentenced to 45 Months’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antwain Sharrell Davender, age 38, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 28, 2023, by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 45 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year period of supervised release, for methamphetamine trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately January 2022 until April 29, 2022, in Schuylkill County, PA, Davender possessed with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. A felon convicted of a prior drug trafficking offense and therefore not permitted to possess firearms, Davender also unlawfully possessed an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pottsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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North Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Sex Trafficking Charges and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A North Las Vegas resident who recruited his victims over social media pleaded guilty Thursday to 10 federal charges related to child sex trafficking and exploitation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in April 2017 through December 2017, Jacques Anton Lanier, also known as “John Dupree,” coerced and solicited nine girls under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexual activities with him for money and drugs. Lanier engaged in commercial sex acts with at least four of the girls. He also requested and received sexual images from some of the victims and took a sexually explicit image of at least one victim constituting child pornography. Lanier traveled to California and engaged in sex acts with a victim.
In 2018, while Lanier was in custody pending related criminal charges, he tampered with one of the victims through intimidation and threats, and persuaded that victim to evade legal process, refrain from testifying, and prevent communication between the victim and law enforcement regarding federal offenses.
Lanier pleaded guilty to four counts of coercion and enticement; four counts of sex trafficking of children; one count of sexual exploitation of children; and one count of tampering with a witness, victim or informant.
United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2024. Lanier faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Bianca R. Pucci and David Kiebler are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.
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New Jersey Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to Al ShabaabRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging KARREM NASR, a/k/a “Ghareeb Al-Muhajir,” with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization. NASR, a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 14, 2023, and was transported to the United States yesterday, December 28, 2023. NASR will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses in Manhattan federal court later today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Karrem Nasr, motivated by the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies. Nasr, a citizen of this country, traveled from Egypt to Kenya bent on joining and training with al Shabaab so that he could execute his jihadist mission of death and destruction. Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and in his own words, he described America as ‘evil’ and the ‘head of the snake.’ Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the career prosecutors in my Office and our law enforcement partners who led the investigation, Nasr’s plan to train with a terrorist organization and wage violent jihad has been disrupted. Make no mistake: My Office is committed to investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting anyone who is inspired by Hamas’s October 7 attack and seeks to harm Americans, whether here or abroad.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Karrem Nasr traveled across the globe in an alleged attempt to join the ranks of a foreign terrorist organization – an organization that has repeatedly expressed its desire to harm Americans around the world. This investigation highlights the ongoing efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and our domestic and international law enforcement partners to protect the U.S. against any form of terrorism and ensuring the safety of our community.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Instead of embracing all that the United States had to offer him, Mr. Nasr allegedly moved abroad and committed himself to supporting a foreign terrorist organization. The provision of support to such a group – particularly by an American citizen – is a heinous threat to our entire country and way of life. In the face of this, NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners on the FBI-led New York Joint Terrorism Task Force will remain relentless in our efforts to identify and investigate anyone who so clearly considers our nation their sworn enemy.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
NASR is a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who moved from New Jersey to Egypt in or about July 2023. NASR is a supporter of al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization that has attacked Americans and American allies. Since at least in or about November 2023, NASR has repeatedly expressed his desire and plans to join al Shabaab and wage jihad, including in communications with an FBI confidential source (the “CS”), who was posing as a facilitator for terrorist organizations.[2]
In communications exchanged with the CS and postings online, NASR stated that he had been thinking about engaging in jihad for a long time, and he was particularly motivated to become a jihadi by the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. For example, in communications with the CS, NASR stated that the number one enemy was “evil America,” which he called the “head of the snake.” In recent public social media posts, NASR warned that “Jihad” was “coming soon to a US location near you,” posting airplane, bomb, and fire emojis:
In further communications with the CS, NASR expressed his intent to join al Shabaab to receive military training and engage in jihad, that he was prepared to kill and be killed, and that he specifically aspired to be a martyr for the jihadist cause. Other examples of NASR’s online posts supportive of jihad and terrorist ideology are shown below:
NASR took specific steps to join and receive military training from al Shabaab, including making flight and lodging reservations for travel to Kenya, where he planned to meet members of al Shabaab for further travel to Somalia to join and train with the group. NASR booked a flight for December 14, 2023, from Egypt to Kenya for purposes of ultimately joining and training with al Shabaab. In addition, approximately thze day before his flight, NASR told the CS that he planned to delete data from his cellphone and computer to ensure that if he were detained, law enforcement would not be able to recover evidence of his jihadist activities from those devices. On December 14, 2023, NASR flew from Egypt to Kenya, where he planned to transit into Somalia and join and train with al Shabaab. Later that day, NASR was taken into custody by Kenyan authorities.
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NASR, 23, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations, including the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and the Joint Terrorism Task Force-Kenya, for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher and Kimberly J. Ravener are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burke and Lesley Woods of the Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
[2] Communications referenced herein are described in substance and in part.
Mission Woman Sentenced for AssaultRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2023.
Selena Pretty Bird, age 26, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Pretty Bird was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 25, 2023.
In the morning of November 24, 2022, Pretty Bird, her sister, her mother, and two juveniles responded to a call from Pretty Bird’s brother. Pretty Bird’s brother mistakenly reported that a female had assaulted him and vandalized his vehicle. When Pretty Bird arrived at her brother’s location, an argument began between her and the female. The argument escalated to Pretty Bird and others assaulting the victim. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered a broken left arm that required surgery and a scalp laceration that required staples.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
Pretty Bird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RONNIE WILLIAMS, age 22, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged on December 20, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jane T. Milazzo to five counts of federal drug and weapons violations.
WILLIAMS 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; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); 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); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on January 6, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance in the 500 block of N. Elm Street in Metairie, Louisiana. WILLIAMS arrived in the area and received a backpack from his co-defendant which contained marijuana, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Over the next hour, WILLIAMS made several drug sales to customers arriving in vehicles, including transactions with other co-defendants. When law enforcement arrived, WILLIAMS fled and threw a handgun loaded with an extended magazine containing 24 rounds of ammunition. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior Louisiana felony conviction for distribution of heroin.
With respect to his convictions for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release on each count. With respect to his conviction for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. With respect to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. With respect to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, WILLIAMS 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.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 28 was:
Sharon Ann Spang, 30, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spang faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Spang was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-150.
Llima Orser Cameron, 42, of Belgrade, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cameron faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Cameron was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Billings Police Department and Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-118.
Appearing on Dec. 27 was:
Michael Vaughn Henderson II, 45, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Henderson faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Henderson was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-46.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indy Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Federal Prison for Raping a Toddler and Recording it on his PhoneRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Devon Shane Mitchell, 37, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a child.
According to court documents, in February of 2023, law enforcement officers began investigating Mitchell for criminal activity unrelated to child sexual abuse. During the course of that investigation, officers discovered multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse on Mitchell’s cell phone. The videos showed Mitchell raping a child under four years old, who is crying during the attack. At times, the child was in his care, custody, or control.
In April of 2023, Mitchell was arrested at his home. During a thorough search of his electronic devices, FBI agents found over 800 images and videos of other child sexual abuse material Mitchell collected online, in addition to the videos he created using the toddler victim.
“Our hearts break for the violence and trauma the defendant inflicted on such a young and vulnerable child. We are deeply committed to finding the offenders who sexually exploit our children and ensuring that they are taken out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Thanks to the dedicated investigators at the FBI, IMPD, and our federal prosecutor, this victim and every other child will be protected from the defendant’s crimes for decades to come.”
FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Mitchell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
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Fraudster Sentenced to More than Four Years in Federal Prison After Stealing over $800,000 in COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Temitope S. Adeboye, 32, of Indianapolis has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and other false identity documents offenses.
In 2020, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The CARES Act provided for the funding of unemployment benefits that were to be paid out by the states. A prospective claimant could apply for benefits and request their unemployment benefits be placed onto a prepaid debit card.
According to court documents, beginning on a date unknown and continuing until at least August 6, 2020, Adeboye obtained and used unemployment debit cards from the State of Nevada in the names of identity theft victims. These individuals had not applied for unemployment benefits. In some instances, when the identity theft victim applied for benefits themselves, they learned that someone has already applied using their identity information.
Adeboye used these fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits debit cards to purchase money orders and other items of value. When asked to verify his identity by cashiers, Adeboye used fake IDs in the names of the identity theft victims. He later used money orders that were purchased with stolen unemployment benefits to buy a Lexus.
On August 6, 2023, Adeboye was arrested by IMPD officers for driving with a suspended driver’s license. During a search of the vehicle, officers found the following items: 96 unemployment debit cards issued by the State of Nevada, each under a different name, a Kroger receipt for $1,501.76, multiple money orders issued by Western Union, U.S. Postal Service, and MoneyGram, and U.S. currency totaling $76,680.
At the time of his arrest, Adeboye possessed approximately 32 fake driver’s licenses from Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, including some that were under the same stolen identities as the unemployment debit cards. The 96 unemployment debit cards recovered from Adeboye were used in over 5,000 transactions at various retailers and financial institutions.
“As the pandemic raged across the country in 2020, fraudsters embraced the motto, ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste.’ While countless individuals experienced tremendous grief as loved ones passed away and the strain of isolation grew, this defendant saw an opportunity to steal money and identities,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The Department of Justice and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to identifying and prosecuting the criminals who took advantage of the global crisis to scheme and steal. This prison sentence demonstrates that these thieves will have a price to pay in federal court.”
The FBI, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Adeboye be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $804,460.54 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID‑19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID‑19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
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Former federal officer receives more charges for alien smugglingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer previously charged with bribery and drug trafficking has now also been indicted for illegally smuggling four undocumented aliens into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Emanuel Celedon remains in custody and is set to make his initial appearance on the new charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m., at which time the court will also hold his detention hearing. Two others - Homero Romero-Hernandez, 30, and Jose Osvaldo Zapata Vasquez, 24, both Mexican nationals illegally residing in the United States, are also expected to make appearances. The final person charged - Beatris Martinez, 20, Cotulla, is set for her initial appearance Jan. 4, 2024 at 9:40 a.m. before Judge dos Santos.
Celedon had previously worked at the Port of Entry (POE) in Laredo at the time of the offenses.
The superseding indictment, returned Dec. 27, charges Celedon and Martinez with four counts of bringing an undocumented alien to the United States on two separate dates in September and November. Zapata and Romero are charged similarly in three counts.
Celedon was previously indicted Nov. 28 for two counts of bribery and two counts of attempted importation of cocaine. Those charges allege that, on separate two occasions in October, Celedon accepted U.S. currency in exchange for allowing an individual to transport a substance he believed to be several kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico through the Laredo POE without inspection.
If convicted of the new human smuggling charges, he faces up 40 years in federal prison. The previous bribery charges carry up to 15 years in prison each and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. A conviction on the cocaine importation charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 40 years and a possible maximum $5 million fine.
The Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and CBP- Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Border Patrol, Webb County Constable Precinct 2 and CBP Laredo Joint Forensic Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Bennett and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case.
This investigation is related to an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) case. 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.
This case is also supported by 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 overall 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 southwest border U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona and Southern District of California. Numerous components of the Criminal Division are part of JTFA and provide dedicated support for the program which the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section leads. The Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section also provide support. 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; more than 170 convictions; significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial asset forfeiture.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Smoot Retires from the Department of Justice After More Than Twenty Years of Federal ServiceRead the Press Release
Spokane, WA – Today marks the final day of service for one of Eastern Washington’s longest-tenured federal prosecutors. Over the past twenty-one years, Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Smoot has served with distinction as a trial attorney and leader within the United States Attorney’s Office. From 2016 through 2021, Smoot served as the Criminal Chief for the Eastern District of Washington, and, for much of that time, as the First Assistant United States Attorney. As First Assistant, Smoot served as the primary deputy and legal advisor to the U.S. Attorney. During his two decades of service, Smoot also served many other roles within the office, including Deputy Criminal Chief, Criminal Appellate Coordinator, and Anti-Terrorism / National Security Coordinator.
In addition to his leadership roles, Smoot honed his skills as a capable and talented trial attorney. Throughout his twenty-one years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), Smoot handled numerous criminal trials and argued dozens of appellate cases.
The many cases Smoot prosecuted include the pseudoephedrine trials, which helped reduce the proliferation of local meth-labs, and numerous large-scale drug-trafficking organization cases.
Among the many drug-trafficking conspiracy cases prosecuted by Smoot, the “pill hustle” case stands out as significant for the scope of the oxycodone-trafficking, the multi-jurisdictional investigation, and the prosecution. In 2015, the lead defendant, a member of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips, a Los Angeles-based street gang, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for leading a continuing criminal enterprise involving dozens of gang members and associates in the unlawful distribution oxycodone pills in the Spokane area. The case also involved 50 search warrants that were executed simultaneously in Los Angeles, Spokane, and Seattle. Of the 62 defendants charged in the scheme, 4 went to trial, including the lead defendant, who was convicted after a five-week jury trial in November 2014. The trial was handled by Smoot and AUSA Stephanie Van Marter.
Following the oxycodone case, Smoot was part of the trial team that prosecuted a Tri-Cities area man with cartel ties, who was sentenced to life in federal prison for murder in connection with a drug-trafficking conspiracy. At trial, Smoot, again with Van Marter, presented evidence that the victim was lured to a Spokane residence under the guise of resolving a drug debt. Upon arriving at the residence, the victim was beaten with baseball bats, tied up, and driven to a remote location in Stevens County. At that location, the victim was doused with gasoline, shot multiple times, and set on fire. During an investigation, law enforcement connected the murder to a methamphetamine-trafficking organization with ties to Eastern Washington, Mexico, North Dakota, and Idaho.
Smoot also prosecuted the first material support to terrorists cases in the District. In one such case, a local Eastern Washington man with experience in chemical explosives sought to provide his bomb-making expertise online to a person he believed intended to conduct an act of terrorism in the United States. He was sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison and a lifetime term of federal supervision.
Just last year, Smoot was part of a Department of Justice prosecution team, that handled one of the largest-ever fraud schemes in Eastern Washington history – the $244 million scheme involving an Eastern Washington rancher, who was sentenced in October 2022 to eleven years in federal prison after charging Tyson’s Foods Inc. and another company hundreds of millions of dollars for approximately 265,000 head of cattle that did not exist. Ultimately, the rancher was ordered to pay $244 million in restitution for his “ghost cattle” scheme. This restitution award is the largest-ever in Eastern Washington history.
“Serving as an Assistant United States Attorney has been the highlight of my professional career,” AUSA Smoot stated. “It has been an honor to serve alongside many dedicated, hard-working colleagues within this office and across the Department of Justice. There is no equivalent to standing in federal court ‘on behalf of the United States.’” Smoot continued, “Serving the United States and the Eastern District of Washington as an Assistant United States Attorney has been a truly exciting adventure.”
United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref thanked AUSA Smoot for his leadership and sacrifices on behalf of the people of Eastern Washington: “Russ’s public service has been nothing short of incredible – from the cases he has tried to the leadership positions he held. Since beginning his career as an AUSA in May of 2002, Russ has prosecuted a wide range of cases, including several jury trials of drug trafficking cases, homicides, and everything in between.” U.S. Attorney Waldref added, “Russ is one of the hardest working AUSAs in our District’s history. He will be sorely missed.”
Assistant United States Attorney Tim M. Durkin, who served as the office’s Civil Chief during the time Smoot served as the First Assistant and Criminal Chief, stated, "Russ Smoot dedicated his career to public service, participating in and overseeing complex criminal investigations and prosecutions of drug organizations, gangs and fraudsters in the Eastern District of Washington. He was an outstanding trial and appellate attorney, handling some of the most challenging cases the U.S. Attorney’s Office brings. He served with distinction and honor, and his skills will be terribly missed. Congratulations to Russ and his family!"
“Russ and I started our careers as Assistant United States Attorneys in early 2002, and we have worked closely together ever since,” stated Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter, who serves as the office’s Special Litigation Counsel and, as noted earlier, tried several landmark cases with Smoot. “It is hard to imagine the U.S. Attorney’s Office without Russ Smoot in it. We are excited for Russ as he begins his next adventure, but we will miss him. His dedication to justice is unparalleled.”
Smoot graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in political science in 1995. Before attending college, Smoot worked as a commercial fisherman, aircraft mechanic, and Alaskan bush pilot.
Smoot received his J.D. from Gonzaga University in 1999, graduating Magna Cum Laude and serving as a Notes and Comments Editor for the Gonzaga Law Review. During law school, Smoot became a law clerk at the United States Attorney’s Office. Then, after graduating from law school, Smoot worked for three years in private practice in Maine, before returning to Spokane and rejoining the United States Attorney’s Office shortly after 9/11.
Brother and Sister Sent to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A brother and sister from Dubuque, Iowa, who conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced this week to federal prison.
Jacob Patrick Demaio, age 42, and Codi Lyn Demaio, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after both pled guilty on July 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance near a protected location.
From August 2019 through January 2022, both Demaios were involved in a conspiracy to distribute hundreds of pounds of “ice” methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. There were several residences used by the brother and sister to store and traffic the “ice” methamphetamine in Dubuque and elsewhere.
Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Jacob Demaio sold hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine to multiple people between 2019 and 2022. Drug customers dropped off hundreds of thousands of dollars at the various “stash” houses. That money was intended to be given to Jacob Demaio.
Evidence also showed that Codi Demaio sold pounds of methamphetamine to several people in Dubuque between 2019 and 2022. On occasions when her brother was incarcerated, she took over his drug operation and sold pounds of methamphetamine. She was once instructed to go to California with $25,000 to buy drugs, though she instead traveled to Las Vegas and lost all the money.
Jacob and Codi were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Jacob Demaio was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Codi Demaio was sentenced to 172 months and 27 days of imprisonment and must serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jacob and Codi are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Nicole L. Nagin and investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR-1039.
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28 December 2023
Ulster County Felon Sentenced to 70 Months for Unlawful Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bram Fox, age 44, of Kerhonkson, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a rifle as a previously convicted felon.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
In previously pleading guilty, Fox admitted that on January 31, 2023, he possessed about 30 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition in his house, including an Aero Precision M5 rifle. Fox has felony convictions in New York and Connecticut, including a 2009 conviction for an armed bank robbery in Connecticut, that prevented him from lawfully possessing the rifle.
Fox also admitted that from about October 2020 until January 2023, he purchased firearms parts from several dozen online retailers; had these items shipped to his residence in Kerhonkson; and then used these firearms parts to manufacture non-serialized handguns and rifles, which are sometimes called “ghost guns” due to the fact that this type of firearm does not contain a serial number imprinted by a manufacturer. Of the firearms that Fox possessed on January 31, 2023, most were non-serialized. ATF agents, who searched Fox’s house on January 31, 2023, also found him to be in possession of various tools that could be used to manufacture and modify firearms, as well as firearms parts and accessories such as frames, grips, scopes, sights, and slides.
The ATF and New York State Police investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case.
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Confirmation of Jerry Edwards, Jr. as Federal Judge for the Western District of LouisianaRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jerry Edwards, Jr. has resigned from the Department of Justice after having been confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as United States District Court Judge.
“There is a reason I selected Jerry Edwards as my First Assistant after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Judge Edwards is a well-respected litigator, the consummate professional, garners great respect among our local, state and federal judges and over the years has constantly displayed strong leadership abilities amongst his peers in this office. I could not dream of a better district judge selection. We are quite saddened to lose him as a colleague in this office, but great things lie ahead for this district due to this historical confirmation.”
During his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Edwards served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana, which includes 42 of the State’s 64 parishes and geographically encompasses two-thirds of the State of Louisiana. Edwards has served as the First Assistant United States Attorney since 2022 and prior to that, served as the district’s Civil Chief from 2020 through 2022. Edwards is the first person of color ever to have sat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Edwards oversaw the investigation and prosecution of all federal criminal violations in the Western District of Louisiana and represented the United States in all civil litigation occurring in the District.
Prior to serving at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Edwards was a Shareholder and Director at Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts in Shreveport where he was employed from 2006-2019, with a diverse litigation practice focused primarily on tort defense, consumer bankruptcy work for creditors, and collection work. In addition, he handled municipal work with a focus on zoning and land use. Edwards received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia State University in 2002 and his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School in 2005. After graduating law school, Edwards clerked for Judges Jeanette G. Garrett and Scott J. Crichton of the First Judicial District Court of Louisiana.
After being sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty, Edwards began his service on the bench on December 23, 2023. Edwards, 44, was nominated by President Biden on June 7, 2023. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on December 14, 2023.
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Second New York Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing over $200,000 in Products from Home Depot and Lowe’sRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for transporting stolen goods from Home Depot and Lowe’s across state lines, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Deshun Jackson, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 13 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Jackson was also ordered to pay $204,969.02 in restitution, of which $179,606.25 is payable to Lowe’s and $25,362.77 is payable to Home Depot. On September 15, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty to Transportation of Stolen Goods. Jackson’s co-defendant, Jalil McIntyre, pled guilty on July 31, 2023, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on November 6, 2023.
“Organized retail thefts have a significant impact on consumers by causing both financial loss and safety risks,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that federal law enforcement will continue to protect retail industry and consumers from this increasingly widespread problem by investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating offenders like the defendants.”
“What DeShun Jackson did –in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end merchandise from home improvement retailers all over New England - drives up costs for consumers and businesses everywhere,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a warning to others that if you engage in organized retail theft and transport stolen goods across state lines like Mr. Jackson did, you too will face serious consequences for your criminal conduct.”
Jackson and McIntyre traveled to Lowe’s and Home Depots across the northeastern United States, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. They stole high-value commercial items, such as circuit breakers. They were seen on surveillance footage grabbing products off shelves, placing them into large plastic bags, and walking out of the stores. In total, they stole $204,969.02 worth of products across 24 separate thefts. They also attempted to steal another $46,619.07 worth of products during 11 additional unsuccessful thefts. The stolen products were brought back to New York, where both defendants lived.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in New York, the Seabrook Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Windham Police Department, and the Derry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Remarks of U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger at the 2023 Newark Year-End Crime Stats Press ConferenceRead the Press Release
Thank you Mayor Baraka and Public Safety Director Fragé for including us in today’s event and for your partnership and commitment to combatting and eradicating gun violence in Newark.
Keeping our communities safe is the most fundamental mission of law enforcement. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are truly honored to collaborate with the Newark Police Department and all of our other law enforcement partners up here today in support of this critical cause. We believe that this partnership, created through our Newark Violent Crime Initiative, which just entered its sixth year, has helped drive the historically low rates of homicides and shootings in Newark that the Mayor and Police Director mentioned. While every homicide and senseless shooting is tragic and is one too many, we believe this hard-earned, steady decline is a direct result of our VCI’s collaborative efforts.
Together, the Newark Police Department, my office, and our other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in our VCI have spent years identifying and gathering intelligence about those who drive the violence in and around Newark. For our part, we’ve dedicated prosecutors to target those street gangs whose members and associates are responsible for the shootings that continue to harm this community, and we have prosecuted violent offenders associated with each and every one of them.
In the course of our partnership, we’ve charged hundreds of Newark offenders for shootings, gun trafficking and possession, and gang-related activities. We currently have two alleged Newark gang members facing mandatory life sentences for murder. We have at least two more facing potential life sentences for non-fatal violent crimes in furtherance of gang activity.
In October, we charged two alleged members of the Sex Money Murder (“SMM”) subset of the Bloods Street gang operating in the Bradley Court Housing Complex with the November 2022 murder of a rival. In November, we charged five additional alleged SMM members and associates for trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Newark, two of whom we also charged with firearms possession.
Following a series of retaliatory shootings between rival neighborhoods in Newark, we charged a member of a street gang operating in the area of Clinton Place and Weequahic Avenue for possessing a machinegun that was used in April to fire 28 rounds, hitting three victims at the Oscar Miles Housing Complex. He pleaded guilty in October.
Over the course of the year, 12 members and associates of the Grape Street Crips street gang operating in and around Oscar Miles pleaded guilty to running a drug trafficking organization distributing large amounts of fentanyl and crack cocaine.
These are but a few examples of the results of our VCI partnership with all of our law enforcement partners up here today. Thank you.
NuDay Charity Sentenced for Illegal Exports to SyriaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – The New Hampshire charity NuDay, a/k/a NuDay Syria, was sentenced today in federal court for export offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
NuDay was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to five years of probation, the maximum penalty for an organizational defendant. NuDay was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. On September 8, 2023, NuDay pleaded guilty to three counts of Failure to File Export Information.
“Our national security depends on exporters truthfully disclosing where goods are being shipped to ensure that hostile foreign actors do not get their hands on potentially dangerous items,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E Young. “This prosecution shows that willful violations of export law, even by a non-profit charity, will result in criminal consequences.”
“This charity blatantly violated U.S. export control laws when it sent over 100 shipments of humanitarian goods to Syria, a country that is a designated state sponsor of terrorism, and in many instances, lied about where those shipments were going,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights the FBI’s ongoing commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to prevent the erosion of public trust in charitable organizations by ensuring that anyone who engages in criminal activity in order to evade our laws and regulations is held accountable.”
“Customs and export laws exist to protect the integrity of our systems of commerce and to protect our national security. The individuals involved with NuDay knew they were breaking the law but did so anyway, sending shipments whose contents were falsely undervalued to Syria, a country subject to export restrictions and sanctions. As today’s sentence shows, these actions have consequences,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
“Despite the availability of a limited waiver of the restrictions allowing for the export and re-export of a wide range of items necessary to provide humanitarian support to the Syrian people, NuDay devalued $8.3 million of goods to avoid reporting requirements and transshipped the items through a third country without disclosing their ultimate destination. The end did not justify the means in this case,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Office of Export Enforcement’s Boston Field Office.
NuDay was founded by Nadia Alawa as a non-profit charity in 2013 and is headquartered in Windham, New Hampshire. Alawa served as NuDay’s President, and several family members served as board members and employees. Between 2013 and 2019, NuDay claimed significant growth of in-kind donations, starting from approximately $231,000 in 2013 and reaching almost $71 million in 2019. By way of comparison, in 2019 OXFAM America reported approximately $73.5 million in donations, and the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation reported approximately $41.4 million in donations.
Between 2018 and 2021, NuDay made over 100 shipments to Syria, a country that was subject to sanctions and export restrictions. NuDay claimed that these shipments were worth over $100 million. NuDay had the items shipped to Mersin, Turkey, where another company would transship them into Syria. U.S. Department of Commerce regulations require exporters, such as NuDay, to report true and accurate information about the items being exported, including the shipment’s description, end user, and monetary value. However, NuDay falsely reported that the end destination of the shipments was Turkey and not Syria, and artificially deflated the value of the goods to be below the $2,500 reporting threshold. Alawa’s Facebook messages indicated that she and NuDay were aware of export restrictions, including the need to obtain export licenses, but ignored them.
As a condition of the plea, Nadia Alawa and her family members have ceased involvement with NuDay.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Middle District of Florida Prosecutes 1,500 Individuals for Child Exploitation Offenses as Part of Project Safe ChildhoodRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that the Middle District of Florida has prosecuted more than 1,500 individuals as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
“From the beginning of Project Safe Childhood in 2006 through the present day, the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida has been a national leader in aggressively prosecuting those sexual predators who seek to use the internet to harm and exploit children,” said United States Attorney Handberg. “This year is a great example. In 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged over 100 defendants for child exploitation offenses, our third highest total ever. These cases have involved defendants who have victimized, and attempted to victimize, children by coercing them to produce child sexual abuse material, by enticing them to engage in sexual conduct, and by distributing, receiving, transporting, and possessing material containing images of children being sexually abused.”
United States Attorney Handberg continued, “I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary work on these cases. Through their outstanding efforts, our law enforcement partners have rescued children, dismantled conspiracies that have victimized children, and built cases that have led to successful prosecutions of prolific and dangerous offenders. Their work on these federal prosecutions has served to protect children in the Middle District of Florida and across the United States.”
Some significant cases prosecuted in 2023 include:
In Fort Myers in April 2023, Jeffrey Holcombe (51, Naples) was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. According to court documents, as part of a separate investigation, law enforcement stopped Holcombe in his vehicle in Naples and observed a cellphone on the passenger seat. The FBI searched the phone pursuant to a search warrant and found images and videos of a minor being sexually abused. Agents went to Holcombe’s home and discovered the minor from the images and videos on Holcombe’s phone residing there. Further investigation revealed that Holcombe had been sexually abusing the minor, and that he often photographed, or video recorded his sexual abuse of the minor at his home and at various hotels. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
In Jacksonville in September 2023, Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (44, Jacksonville) was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 14-year-old child to produce and send him videos and images depicting the victim’s sexual abuse. According to evidence at trial, Lee, who had previously been convicted of crimes related to his sexual abuse of a minor and had already been designated as a sexual predator, sent sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old child through a gaming application designed for use by children. An FBI agent took over control of the child’s account and communicated with Lee. Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the “child” and sent several explicit images and videos of himself to the “child.” Lee also solicited the “child” to produce and send him graphic images and videos of “herself.” When FBI agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence, Lee tried to damage his cellphone to destroy evidence of his criminal activity and was arrested. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
In Ocala in March 2023, Eddie Joe Oglesby (52, Fort McCoy) was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for producing and receiving child sex abuse material. According to evidence presented at trial, Oglesby created an elaborate false identity which he used to impersonate a federal agent. He then used this false identity to coerce underaged girls to produce and send him child sex abuse images over the internet. Posing as the false agent, Oglesby threatened to have the victims arrested, imprisoned, institutionalized, or killed if they did not comply with his demands. When the FBI searched Oglesby’s residence, they found him with an underaged female runaway. Agents ultimately found 473 pages of electronic communications between Oglesby and one of his victims on his cellphone. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Weatherford (Texas) Police Department, and the Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah J. Nowalk.
In Orlando in October 2023, Michael Remaley (22, Winter Garden) was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for the producing and receiving child sex abuse material. According to court documents, over the course of a two-week span, Remaley used a social media app to entice a 14-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit videos of herself. Remaley also shared child sex abuse material with another user, including a video of a female child between the ages of five and eight years old being sexually abused. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff.
In Tampa in May 2023, Brooke Sparks (38, St. Petersburg) was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse material. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from the Australian Federal Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Sparks was sharing child sexual abuse material via Facebook. Pursuant to a search warrant at Sparks’s home, investigators discovered that Sparks had produced videos of child sexual abuse material of a nine-year-old child and shared them with an Australian man. Sparks also used multiple platforms to send and receive images and videos of child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with substantial assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department and the Australian Federal Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
“Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue those who prey on children” said Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “We are committed to identifying and arresting these egregious criminals, who produce and share horrible images of children being sexually exploited.”
In 2023, child exploitation cases prosecuted in the Middle District of Florida were investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Apopka Police Department, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Fort Myers Police Department, the Glades County Sheriff’s Office, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the North Port Police Department, the Ocala Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Palmetto Police Department, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and other state and local partners.
These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie Boyer, D. Rodney Brown, John Cannizzaro, Belkis Crockett, Amanda Daniels, Courtney Derry, Noah Dorman, Erin Favorit, John Gardella, William Hamilton, Stacie Harris, Abigail King, Shannon Laurie, Stephanie McNeff, David Mesrobian, Kirwinn Mike, Mark Morgan, Adam Nate, Hannah Nowalk, Courtney Richardson-Jones, Ross Roberts, Michael Sartoian, Ilyssa Spergel, Sarah Swartzberg, Laura Cofer Taylor, Megan Testerman, Karyna Valdez, Yolande Viacava, Ashley Washington, and Kara Wick and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons.
For more information about other child exploitation cases prosecuted by the Middle District of Florida, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Leader of Belle Glade Based Bank Fraud Conspiracy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
MIAMI - The leader of a bank fraud conspiracy pleaded guilty on Dec. 21.
Ja’kevious Ri’shaad Vickers, Gregory Bernard Ashley Jr., and Naim W. Kahook were involved in a bank fraud conspiracy involving stolen checks, theft of personal identifying information, and the production of fraudulent or fake checks.
On Dec. 21, Vickers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Matthewman. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 14, 2024. Vickers faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison, to run consecutively to a statutory term of up to 30 years in prison.
Ashley and Kahook each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, respectively. Ashley and Kahook are also scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2024. Ashley and Kahook each face up to 30 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) announced the guilty pleas.
The FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency and PBSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marton Gyires is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-80185.
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Hampton Man Indicted on Additional Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment against a Hampton man in connection with four fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Anthony M. Silva, 39, was indicted on a total of 10 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of mail fraud, and 8 counts of aggravated identity theft. Silva is scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord on January 8, 2024. Previously, on March 21, 2022, Silva was indicted on 3 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of misuse of a Social Security number, and 3 counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Silva orchestrated four separate fraud schemes using stolen identities. Specifically, Silva used stolen names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and other identifiers to fraudulently obtain (1) unemployment insurance benefits from Vermont, (2) unemployment insurance benefits from Massachusetts, (3) American Express credit cards, and (4) CARES Act funds. The fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and CARES Act funds were deposited either by check or direct deposit into dozens of accounts Silva controlled at multiple banks. Many of these accounts were in the names of individual victims or fictional organizations, with Silva listed as the trustee. Silva obtained more than $400,000 from Vermont, over $150,000 from Massachusetts, and $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Silva was also able to use the credit cards to make a variety of purchases from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret. Silva also tried unsuccessfully to obtain additional CARES Act funding.
The charge of wire fraud and mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is higher. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of 2 years to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and United States Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Felon for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on November 21, 2023, charging a local man with 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on June 3,2023, Daiquan Walker, 28, possessed a Springfield, Model XD-9, 9-millimeter caliber pistol and ammunition, and on October 19, 2023, he possessed a Glock, Model 19GEN5, 9-millimeter pistol, an Anderson, Model AM-15, multi-caliber pistol, and ammunition. Walker was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses:
On January 3, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Walker was convicted of robbery in the second degree (2 counts), tampering with physical evidence, and criminal mischief in the first degree.
On December 27, 2023, Walker made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Walker remains detained pending trial. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by HSI and LMPD with the assistance ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fact Sheet: Justice Department Improvements to the Clemency ProcessRead the Press Release
The Justice Department is entrusted with the important responsibility of receiving and reviewing applications for executive clemency and making recommendations to the President in support of his exercise of the constitutional clemency power. In fulfilling this responsibility, the department is committed to improving the clemency application process to make it more transparent, accessible and user-friendly. The department is taking a series of actions to reform and streamline the clemency application process.
Transparency & Accessibility
- Form Simplification: The Justice Department is updating all of its clemency forms, including web forms, to make them more user-friendly, streamlined and accessible to diverse populations. The improved and simplified application for commutation of sentence is now available here. The revised pardon application form is currently open for public comment.
- Language Access: The Justice Department has translated its revised application forms and informational materials into Spanish and is in the process of making its forms available in other languages as well.
- Partnering with Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP): The Office of the Pardon Attorney is working closely with the FBOP to assist incarcerated individuals with the clemency process, including by launching a series of educational seminars for staff and individuals in custody. In 2023, the Office met with over 1,800 people in FBOP facilities to provide information about applying for clemency. Additional sessions are scheduled in 2024.
Efficiency
- Reducing Processing Times: The Justice Department is taking steps, including providing additional staffing and technical support for the Office of the Pardon Attorney, to reduce the processing times to ensure that clemency petitioners receive answers in a timely fashion.
- Closing Long-Pending Petitions: The current Administration inherited an unprecedented backlog of clemency petitions. Soon, the Justice Department will begin issuing letters to petitioners that have not been granted clemency in order to deliver closure to those waiting for answers they deserve. Those receiving letters are welcome to submit new petitions.
Public Engagement
- Education and Outreach: The department is working to educate the public about how to submit a clemency application in order to demystify the process and help ensure broader and more equitable access.
- Listening Sessions: The department continues to engage with diverse external stakeholders to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of clemency petitioners and the public.
Binghamton Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dupray Jordan, age 33, of Binghamton, New York pled guilty yesterday to possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Sergeant Daniel VanWie of the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force (BCSIUTF).
In pleading guilty yesterday, Jordan admitted that he possessed for distribution methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as a loaded .38 caliber revolver in a Binghamton apartment on November 12, 2021. Jordan threw the gun to the ground as police entered to execute a search warrant at the Binghamton apartment on that date. The defendant was at that time a convicted felon, having previously been convicted in New York state court of Assault in the Second Degree.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2024, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Jordan faces up to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as a fine of up to one million dollars. He faces a consecutive sentence of at least 5 years and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He will also be sentenced to a post-incarceration term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case is being investigated by the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force, (consisting of members of the City of Binghamton Police Department, the Broome County Sheriff’s Department, and the Johnson City Police Department), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Broome County Metro SWAT Team assisted in the execution of the search warrant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.
Assault on Border Patrol Agents Results in Lengthy SentenceRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jorge Zazueta-Miranda, 51, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 90 months in prison. The sentence is to run consecutive to a previous Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien conviction and sentence from New Mexico. Zazueta-Miranda pleaded guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon on June 23, 2023.
On April 1, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Douglas observed two yellow, cloned “construction” trucks with construction company logos on the sides. Agents stopped one truck, which contained 19 undocumented non-citizens. The second truck, driven by Zazueta-Miranda, failed to stop and sped up. Zazueta-Miranda drove at high speeds through the city of Douglas to the airport area, then continued along the border road into the rugged desert area. A Border Patrol agent attempted to intercept the truck, but Zazueta-Miranda deliberately turned towards the agent’s vehicle and collided with it striking the rear quarter panel. Zazueta-Miranda backed up and then drove towards a break in the U.S. border wall, striking a second agent’s vehicle. Zazueta-Miranda and several undocumented non-citizens jumped out of the truck and fled through the break in the border wall, successfully fleeing into Mexico. Agents recovered a latent print from the driver’s side door belonging to Zazueta-Miranda. A witness, who had been abandoned in the second cloned construction truck, identified Zazueta-Miranda, by a photo, as the driver, and an arrest warrant was issued. Almost two years later, on February 9, 2022, Zazueta-Miranda was arrested in New Mexico after being caught near the New Mexico – Mexico border.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista field office, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Serra M. Tsethlikai and Evan N. Wesley, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00681-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-206_Zazueta-Miranda# # #
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.Arsonist Sentenced for Throwing Molotov Cocktail at Donut ShopRead the Press Release
An arsonist was sentenced yesterday for malicious use of explosive material, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Coby Dale Green, 25, of Tulsa to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. His sentence included a hate crime motivation enhancement.
According to court documents, Green was seen on security camera footage outside the Donut Hole donut shop in the early morning hours of Oct. 31, 2022. Green placed a flyer with anti-LGBTQ slogans on the business next door prior to using a baseball bat to break the glass door of the donut shop. He then lit an improvised incendiary device, commonly referred to as a “Molotov Cocktail,” and threw it into the restaurant. The incendiary device did not fully detonate but still caused fire damage to the business.
Investigators later searched Green’s residence and found several copies of newspaper articles about the donut shop being vandalized. The ATF Certified Fire Investigator stated that persons who commit arson will often keep mementos or “trophies.” During the search of the residence, investigators also found flyers similar to those left at the Donut Hole, as well as clothing and the lighter seen in the security footage.
Court documents state that Green had been previously arrested in Tulsa County for arson at a separate restaurant in 2021. That case was dismissed because the prosecuting witness failed to appear. Investigators also received additional reports of Green causing disturbances and leaving anti-LGBTQ flyers at other LGBTQ friendly businesses around the Tulsa area.
Green will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Tulsa Fire Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Albany Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alexander Wilson, age 30, of Albany, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a pistol as a convicted felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; United States Marshal David L. McNulty; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento.
Wilson, who has two prior felony convictions, admitted that on March 16, 2023, he threw a loaded pistol from a vehicle while being pursued by a New York State Trooper on Interstate 90 in Albany.
Wilson faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on April 30, 2024. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The United States Marshals Service, ATF and NYSP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.
27 December 2023
Wasilla man sentenced for 2021 carjacking during armed police altercationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla man was sentenced today to over nine years in prison for his involvement in recklessly evading the police and using a firearm during a carjacking in 2021.
According to court documents, on Dec. 17, 2021, an Anchorage Police officer attempted a traffic stop on Bryson McEneaney, 36, but he evaded the officer and fled north on the Glenn Highway towards Palmer. Palmer Police deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle. McEneaney avoided the strips by driving into oncoming traffic and stopping the vehicle.
Officers tased McEneaney as he exited the vehicle, but he was able to continue on foot towards a stopped vehicle. McEneaney used a rifle to gain control of that vehicle.
According to a press release from the Anchorage Police Department about the defendant’s actions on Dec. 17, law enforcement located McEneaney in the stolen vehicle on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. The defendant wrecked the vehicle while attempting to elude Wasilla Police officers and fled on foot. He was located by law enforcement behind a transit building and taken into custody.
At the time of this conduct, the defendant was previously convicted of multiple violent felonies from 2016, including vehicle theft, assault and burglary.
“Mr. McEneaney’s selfish and careless actions in 2021 were the pinnacle of his habitual violent offenses over the years. I want to thank our law enforcement partners who did tremendous collaborative work to ensure Mr. McEneaney was off the streets and no longer a threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office will continue to work with law enforcement to prioritize prosecuting violent offenders who continually show disregard for the health and safety of Alaskans.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, Palmer Police Department and Wasilla Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
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Reynoldsville, PA Resident Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on her convictions for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Kristy Lepionka, age 40.
According to information presented to the court, Lepionka received parcels that were shipped from California to the Western District of Pennsylvania containing a total of between 5 kilograms and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigators searched Lepionka’s residence on August 31, 2021, pursuant to a federal search warrant and seized over a small amount of methamphetamine and a firearm, which Lepionka is prohibited from possessing due to a prior felony conviction.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lepionka.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on December 20, 2023, KEILEN HAWKINS, age 26, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 71 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In a one count indictment, HAWKINS was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). He pled guilty on September 12, 2023. In addition to the term of imprisonment, HAWKINS was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to court documents, on February 12, 2023, members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force were investigating complaints made in the NOPD 5th District about ongoing illegal narcotics distribution in the area. As officers conducted surveillance, they observed what they believed in their training and experience to be a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction. While officers continued their investigation, HAWKINS arrived on the scene and officers detained him for safety reasons as they conducted their investigation. HAWKINS advised them that he was in possession of a firearm. Officers recovered a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, from HAWKINS’s waistband. Officers learned that HAWKINS had prior felony convictions punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of one year, which made his firearm possession illegal under federal law. Namely, HAWKINS had been convicted most recently in 2022, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program, 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 violenct crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Violations, Making False Statements to a Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that GERNELL HANKTON, age 34, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on December 20, 2023 to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), and one count of making a false and fictitious statement during the purchase of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(a)(6), 924(a)(2), and 2.
According to court documents, HANKTON is a convicted felon, and is prohibited from possessing and purchasing firearms. In 2009, HANKTON was convicted of possession of cocaine. In 2010, HANKTON was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On July 20, 2019, HANKTON was involved in a hit-and-run at the McDonald’s on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, LA. During the hit-and-run, HANKTON’s vehicle struck another vehicle as both vehicles were in the drive-thru. When the passenger of the vehicle struck by HANKTON’s vehicle exited her vehicle, HANKTON attempted to drive off, striking the female passenger and a security guard who was attempting to respond to the accident. The driver of the vehicle that was struck by HANKTON’s vehicle followed behind HANKTON’s vehicle. HANKTON eventually exited his vehicle, brandished a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol, and fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the driver’s vehicle. The driver was not injured. HANKTON fled the scene. Days later, officers with the New Orleans Police Department located HANKTON and located the firearm used in the shooting inside of HANKTON’s vehicle.
Within days of being released on bond, HANKTON went to a local firearm store and attempted to take possession of a firearm that he claimed was purchased by his girlfriend. HANKTON’s girlfriend completed an ATF 4473 firearm, attesting that she purchased the firearm for herself. HANKTON’s girlfriend later recanted her statement, admitting that the firearm was purchased for HANKTON. HANKTON made a false statement on the ATF 4473 form for the purpose of deceiving the firearms dealer into selling him a firearm.
On December 9, 2020, New Orleans Police Department officers conducted surveillance near the intersection of S. Liberty and St. Andrew Streets when they observed HANKTON standing by his truck. HANKTON opened the driver’s side door of his vehicle. Officers observed HANKTON lift up a Radical Firearms, LLC Model AR-15, .223 caliber rifle from behind the driver’s seat of his truck. The officers conducted a stop of HANKTON and located the rifle on the rear driver’s seat.
HANKTON faces a sentence up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00 for each count. The Honorable Sarah S. Vance, United States District Court Judge, will sentence HANKTON on March 20, 2024.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany L. Reed of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Indicted on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANTHONY THOMAS, age 49, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on December 21, 2023, in a one-count indictment.
According to the court documents, on or about December 12, 2023, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, the defendant, ANTHONY THOMAS, knowing he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a Smith & Wesson Model SW40V, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
If convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, THOMAS faces a maximum of fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, not more than (3) years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Protective Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Kennedy.