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Thursday 9 November 2023
Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to New York and ConnecticutRead the Press Release
Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa O. Monaco traveled to New York and Connecticut this week to discuss the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to protect the American people from emerging threats to our national security and public safety.
Deputy AG Monaco joined the annual IBM Security Summit in New York City for a moderated discussion on how private industry and the government can best collaborate to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence, while also mitigating the risks posed by its potential abuse. The Deputy AG stressed that the risks and rewards posed by artificial intelligence are some of the “most important issues we face in law enforcement, national security, and in the protection of our privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.”
To ensure the Justice Department has a strategic plan to leverage the positive uses of AI, while staying alert to its risks, the Deputy AG announced the launch of an Emerging Technology Board to advise Department leadership on the ethical and lawful use of AI across the organization. As she explained, the board will promote use of AI in a manner that is “ethical and responsible and will advance information sharing across the Department regarding emerging technology-related best practices and use cases.”
The Deputy AG also visited Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, for a series of engagements with faculty and students to explain how the Justice Department executes its mission to uphold the rule of law in an evolving threat landscape. She urged the students to consider careers in public service and specifically at the Justice Department so that they could create and implement the next generation of policy to protect our national security while safeguarding civil rights and civil liberties.
On her trip, the Deputy AG joined U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York for a roundtable discussion with local Jewish leaders in Brooklyn. Deputy AG Monaco emphasized that the Justice Department’s top priority is keeping the American people safe; that the Department remains vigilant in addressing a heightened level of threats against Americans based on their religion, race, color, ethnicity, or national origin; and that the Department will use every available tool at its disposal to combat hate.
The Deputy AG also visited the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, where she met with U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, her leadership team, and the dedicated prosecutors and professional staff of the office, as well as local and federal law enforcement leaders from Connecticut. She thanked them for their dedication to public safety and emphasized the vital importance of strong partnerships in the fight against violent crime, especially when it comes to combating the trafficking of fentanyl and firearms.
In recognition that the burdens of fighting violent crime too often fall disproportionately on our state and local partners, the Deputy AG underscored that the Justice Department awarded more than $4 million in grant funding to Connecticut law enforcement agencies and stakeholders last week. This funding will enable state and local agencies to hire new law enforcement officers, strengthen school-safety measures, and continue to advance community policing across Connecticut.
To learn more about a career at the Justice Department, visit: www.justice.gov/careers.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco in conversation at the IBM Security Conference Deputy Attorney General Monaco in conversation at Yale Law School Deputy Attorney General Monaco and U.S. Attorney Avery with the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of ConnecticutRantoul Man Convicted of Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday morning against Edward C. Brown, 45, of 1300 block of Juniper Drive, Rantoul, Illinois, for possession of child pornography. Sentencing for Brown has been scheduled on March 8, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
Over two days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that Brown, who was serving a term of supervised release for another child pornography offense, was found in possession of an unauthorized phone that had several child pornography images on it. The evidence showed the minors depicted in the images were under the age of 12 years.
“Possession of child pornography is a crime that perpetually abuses the victim every time that it is possessed and viewed. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those individuals who victimize our children.” said United States Attorney Gregory Harris.
“HSI and our law enforcement partners are watching closely for indicators of child exploitation throughout our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of HSI Chicago. “Today’s guilty verdict is a result of those partnerships and the watchful eyes of all of the dedicated agents and officers involved in not only this but the defendants previous case.”
“The FBI is committed to protecting the innocence of our children,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “Together with our law enforcement partners we work tirelessly to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those intent on harming the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Brown remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service. At sentencing, Brown faces statutory penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment, a maximum life term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Ritzer and Timothy Sullivan represented the government at trial.
The case against Brown was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Providence VA Service Representative Indicted on Federal Extortion, Bribery, Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – An indictment unsealed in federal court in Providence today charges Michael Darrah, a benefits service representative with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Providence, with three counts of bribery and one count each of extortion, gratuity received by a public official, and witness tampering, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in the indictment that Darrah, 45, of Taunton, MA., solicited and accepted bribes from veterans and the family member of a veteran to approve requested dependent care benefits and/or disability benefits. It is further alleged that Darrah claimed that some of the money he sought from his victims would be used to purchase gift cards for other purported VA employees who Darrah claimed either could or did assist him in expediting and approving benefits claims.
The indictment alleges that Darrah requested payments and accepted approximately $3,385 from a veteran, supposedly to “grease the wheels” to push paperwork through and expedite a claim for disability benefits; that he corruptly sought and accepted $16,566 from a second veteran to expedite and approve a claim for disability benefits; and that he sought and accepted $2,700 from a relative of a third veteran to expedite and approve the veteran’s benefits claim. Additionally, it is alleged that Darrah sought and accepted a “gratuity” of approximately $5,000 from the third veteran for having successfully used his position at the VA to get other VA employees to expedite and approve the claims. The indictment alleges that Darrah requested this “gratuity” despite being advised that the veteran was facing homelessness as his house was being foreclosed. Finally, it is alleged that Darrah, after becoming aware of the government’s investigation into his conduct, attempted to corruptly persuade a witness not to cooperate with the investigation and to lie about the nature of payments made to Darrah.
A charge of bribery carries a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison; extortion is punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment; witness tampering is punishable by a sentence of up to 25 years imprisonment; and the charge of receipt of a gratuity by a public official carries a sentence of up to 2 years in prison. If convicted, the defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Veterans Administration Police.
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Prior Felon Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Willie Frank Gordon, 41, of Pensacola, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty verdict was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
On March 15, 2022, Gordon was arrested during a traffic stop for driving without a license. During an inventory search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black backpack containing approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, and associated drug paraphernalia, along with a loaded, chambered pistol. Law enforcement also located a firearm holster in the glove box of the vehicle, three cell phones, and over $2,000 on Gordon’s person. Gordon denied knowledge of the controlled substances and the firearm, but ultimately admitted to his possession of the items during a custodial interview with investigators. Law enforcement also located surveillance footage of Gordon approximately 30 minutes prior to the traffic stop where he was observed carrying the black backpack to a vehicle before driving away.
Prior to committing this offense, Gordon had been convicted in six state felony cases and one federal felony case, which included a prior drug trafficking conviction and firearms convictions. Trial testimony revealed that Gordon had previously shot people, and that law enforcement had information he was connected to fentanyl overdoses in Okaloosa County. At the time of his current offense, Gordon was on federal supervised release for his federal conviction of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Sentencing is currently set for February 14, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Gordon faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment.
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Callahan prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Pierce County man indicted for unlawful possession of firearms – including machine gunsRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A Pierce County, Washington man with a prior federal conviction for illegal gun possession, was indicted this week for unlawfully possessing firearms – including two weapons that had been modified to be machine guns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Brady Lee Eltz, 39, made his initial appearance on a criminal complaint last week, and was ordered detained.
According to records filed in the case, on October 4, 2023, Fife Police were dispatched to an auto-glass repair shop where workers at the shop reported seeing firearms in the trunk of a vehicle Eltz brought in for repair. Workers also reported seeing bullet holes in the vehicle.
After law enforcement took Eltz info custody, they checked the bathroom at the business. Eltz had gone into the bathroom when he saw police arrive. In the cabinet below the sink police found two firearms – 9 mm handguns. One, a Glock, had an illegal switch known as an “auto-sear” installed. The switch allows the gun to be fired automatically, making it a machine gun. The Glock had been reported stolen.
Fife Police towed Eltz’s vehicle and applied for a warrant to search it. During the search of the vehicle’s trunk, they found three additional firearms – including a stolen rifle that had been modified to fire automatically, making it a machine gun. Police then discovered a bag with two improvised explosive devices. Pierce County Sheriff’s Office bomb technicians were called in to evaluate the devices and make them safe. One was an explosive simulator likely stolen from the U.S. Army. It can cause serious bodily injury if exploded in a confined space. The second explosive was a thick cardboard tube filled with a black powder that appeared to be flammable.
After the explosives were made safe, police continued their search of the trunk and found two additional rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, latex face masks, body armor, gun sites, holsters, and other firearms accessories. Eltz also had GPS trackers, several knives, and a voice-changing device.
Eltz is prohibited from possessing any firearms because of criminal convictions including a 2013 conviction in the Western District of Washington. Eltz was sentenced to five years in prison for that crime.
Illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possession of a machine gun is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) with assistance from the Fife Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The Washington State Patrol assisted with locating and arresting Eltz on a federal warrant after he posted bail and left state custody.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marci L. Ellsworth.
Picayune Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune, Mississippi man was sentenced to 69 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 12 grams of heroin.
Damon Andrew Stafford, 55, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune (Pearl River County). In 2019, Damon Stafford and Eric Slaydon were identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine and heroin. On June 5, 2019, a confidential source purchased 12 grams of heroin from Damon Andrew Stafford and Eric Andrew Slaydon at Stafford’s residence in Picayune.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Stafford and Slaydon. Both defendants pled guilty. Slaydon was sentenced on August 30, 2023, to 84 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Pennsylvania Cocaine Possessor Ordered to Pay $50,000 in Financial Penalties for his Role in Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Marquan Sherrod Wilson, 53, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on October 27, 2023, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months of probation, and was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, and an additional $25,000 of community restitution. Wilson pleaded guilty on March 29, 2023, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.
On November 2, 2020, Wilson traveled to Arizona from out of state and purchased approximately 978 grams of cocaine from individuals in Tucson. Wilson planned to deliver the cocaine to others, but was pulled over by Arizona Department of Public Safety officers on Interstate 10, as he was attempting to leave Arizona. Officers seized the cocaine and placed Wilson under arrest.
Community restitution is based on the amount of public harm caused by the offense, as determined by the sentencing judge. By law, 65 percent of the total amount of restitution is paid to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission’s Crime Victim Services designated to administer crime victim assistance in the state in which the crime occurred. The remaining 35 percent is paid to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System designated to receive federal substance abuse block grant funds. The goal of community restitution is to help financially support the communities affected by the criminal behavior through the designated state agencies.
Wilson agreed with prosecutors to make community restitution and a fine part of his guilty plea to demonstrate that he accepted full responsibility for his actions.
The Drug Enforcement Administration - Sierra Vista, conducted the investigation in this case. The Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Willcox Police Department assisted with Wilson’s arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 21-CR-02281-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-174_Wilson# # #
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 newsOperation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Telisa Rene McCauley, 31, of Charleston, was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, admitting to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McCauley admitted to conspiring with a co-defendant to obtain methamphetamine on or about February 4, 2023. McCauley attempted to obtain methamphetamine from her co-defendant prior to that date, but was told that the co-defendant was out of methamphetamine. The co-defendant then offered McCauley a discount if she would travel to obtain the methamphetamine on the co-defendant’s behalf. McCauley agreed, traveled to the designated location, and obtained the methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of McCauley’s vehicle as she traveled back to the Charleston area, searched her car, and recovered approximately 7 pounds of methamphetamine in the back seat.
McCauley is among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash.
McCauley and 21 other defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31.
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North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Counterfeit Currency ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. –Xavier Sanders, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Sanders admitted to his role in a conspiracy to create and pass counterfeit United States currency in the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 12, 2022, Sanders traveled with Crystal Wilks, Jamarcus Harris, and a third co-conspirator from North Carolina to West Virginia. Sanders admitted that they passed counterfeit $100 bills at businesses in Beckley, Fayetteville and Summersville upon their arrival.
Sanders is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sanders also owes at least $400 in restitution.
Wilks, 23, and Harris, 32, both of Lenoir, North Carolina, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States on October 13, 2023, and await sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon, Andrew D. Isabell and Ryan Blackwell are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-54.
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New Paltz Business Owner Sentenced for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Susan Salanitri, age 60, of New Paltz, New York, was sentenced today to 2 years of probation, and to pay $307,665 in restitution, for filing false tax returns.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Division, made the announcement.
Salanitri, the owner of two restaurants in New Paltz, previously pled guilty to five counts of filing false tax returns. She admitted that during each of the tax years 2015 through 2019, she deliberately under-reported her restaurants’ revenues on her individual tax return filed with the IRS, resulting in a total underpayment of taxes in the amount of $307,665.
IRS-CI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that today, PERCY SMITH, age 45, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to 63 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to three counts of a seven-count superseding indictment.
The superseding indictment charged SMITH in Counts 1 and 2 with possessing a firearm, on both, June 19 and June 30, 2021, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, on June 19, 2021, NOPD responded to a call of a domestic abuse battery and saw SMITH with a duffle bag containing a firearm. On June 30, 2021, SMITH was arrested pursuant to a warrant for domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault. During his arrest, officers saw SMITH drop a firearm. SMITH is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing these weapons.
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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit .
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AARON HENDERSON, age 26, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2023 before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance, to possession a firearm after being convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
HENDERSON, a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms, came to the attention of law enforcement after the New Orleans Police Child Abuse Unit received a video depicting him in a room with a three-year-old boy, while armed with a Draco 7.62 mm rifle, and rapping song lyrics. HENDERSON encouraged the three-year-old to pick up a handgun located on a bed. As a result, the child picked up the gun and waived it around.
HENDERSON faces up to fifteen years in prison and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. He also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Sentencing is set for February 21, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Vance.
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 and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for Murder, Robbery, and Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kevin Marvell Jackson, age 22, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two life terms in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country and one count of Murder in Perpetration of Robbery in Indian Country relating to a 2020 murder in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Jackson was also sentenced to 180 months imprisonment on one count of Robbery in Indian Country and 180 months imprisonment on one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The terms of imprisonment will be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
On March 3, 2022, a federal jury found Jackson guilty at trial on all counts of a four-count Superseding Indictment. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in the early morning hours of October 19, 2020, Jackson attempted to rob two persons, believing they had a large amount of casino winnings. After forcing the victims into a nearby residence at gunpoint, Jackson discovered they had no cash or winnings, and instead attempted to force them to an ATM to withdraw funds. In the process, one victim escaped, and Jackson shot the remaining victim before fleeing the scene of the crime. EMS responders transported the gunshot victim to St. Francis Hospital in Muskogee, where he was pronounced dead. Jackson was later apprehended in the Oklahoma City area by an FBI-led manhunt. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The FBI focuses its investigative resources on offenders who pose the greatest safety risk to the public,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “Mr. Jackson proved he has no regard for the law or for human life when he brutally murdered one innocent victim and traumatized another. I’m proud of the collective efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to ensure this extremely dangerous individual will spend the rest of his life behind bars.”
“Mr. Jackson's cold-blooded crimes are deserving of the life sentence handed down by the Court,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “There can be no room in society for such callous acts, and this office will prosecute anyone who commits such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Jackson will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States at sentencing.
Monessen, PA Resident Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Narcotics LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Monessen, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 63 months of incarceration followed by four years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Douglas Smith, age 41.
According to information presented to the court, Smith obtained over three kilograms of cocaine from a Chicago-based supplier, which Smith then redistributed.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Perryopolis Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.
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.
Minnesota Man Sentenced for Conspiring with Michael Mann to Defraud LendersRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luke Steiner, age 35, of Woodbury, Minnesota, was sentenced today to 2 years of probation, and to pay nearly $13 million in restitution, for conspiring with former ValueWise CEO Michael T. Mann to defraud companies that loaned millions of dollars to ValueWise subsidiaries.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Steiner, who previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud, had worked at Optum, a division of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He admitted that between 2013 and September 2019, while working at Optum, he conspired with Mann and Derek Schwartz to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans for Mann’s companies.
Steiner admitted that he worked with Mann to induce financing companies to loan money on the basis of fake invoices purporting to show payments owed by his employer, Optum, to several of Mann’s companies. Steiner’s role was to falsely represent to the financing companies that the fake invoices were valid and payable by Optum when, in fact, he knew that they were not. He admitted that the conspiracy caused a total of $12,968,505.22 in losses to two financing companies, one based in New York and the other in Colorado.
Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn ordered Steiner to pay $12,968,505.22 in restitution to the two financing companies, and to forfeit an additional $11,300 to the government, the latter amount representing the total value of Amazon gift cards that Mann periodically sent Steiner, between December 2017 and August 2019, as thank-yous for Steiner’s participation in the fraudulent scheme.
Mann, formerly of Saratoga County, New York, pled guilty to various crimes in connection with his fraudulent scheme, and was sentenced in August 2021 to 144 months in prison. Schwartz, age 54, of Coppell, Texas, pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud, on September 21, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 24, 2024.
The FBI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Cyrus P.W. Rieck are prosecuting this case.
Milwaukee-area man receives 20 years in federal prison for sex trafficking minors and for transporting child pornographyRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 9, 2023, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Jaron Jay Jackson (age: 36) to a total sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, followed by ten years’ supervised release, and 25 years of sex-offender registration. Jackson previously pled guilty to commercially sex trafficking two 15-year-old victims, and transporting child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591 and 2252A.
According to court documents, Jackson, who lived in the Milwaukee area, was released from the Wisconsin prison system on extended supervision and subsequently absconded to Illinois, where he began sex trafficking females. Jackson enticed two 15-year-old runaways from Oshkosh and Green Bay to join him in Chicago-area hotels. Soon after they arrived, Jackson posted sexually provocative pictures of the minor victims as advertisements on sex-trafficking websites. Jackson then directed the minor victims and an adult female victim to engage in commercial sexual acts with clients in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota. Jackson repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with one minor victim and attempted to do so with the second minor victim, who contacted family members to return home to Wisconsin. Jackson also recorded videos of a minor engaging in sexual activity with him, which officers recovered from his cell phone when they arrested him after he arrived in Wisconsin via Amtrak from Illinois.
In sentencing Jackson, Judge Griesbach emphasized the severity of Jackson’s criminal conduct in targeting and exploiting minors, his aggravated criminal history, as well as the need for just punishment, to protect the public from Jackson, and to deter others from committing such offenses.
The investigation was conducted by the Oshkosh Police Department and the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Milwaukee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Firearm Trafficking and Illegal Re-entry ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in a federal court in El Paso to conspiring to traffick firearms while residing in the United States illegally following prior deportation.
According to court documents, on Jan. 25, Erick Arenas Pascual, 22, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, drove a co-defendant to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in El Paso, where the co-defendant purchased a handgun. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested the two defendants as they left the FFL and discovered a second recently purchased handgun with 100 rounds of ammunition in Pascual’s vehicle.
An investigation revealed that Pascual planned to and had previously delivered firearms to individuals who would smuggle firearms into Mexico. It was further determined, through Department of Homeland Security records, that Pascual was a non-U.S. citizen and had been previously removed through El Paso in August 2020.
Pascual pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffick firearms and one count of illegal re-entry. He faces up to 15 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and up to two years in prison for the illegal re-entry charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II for the ATF Dallas Field Division made the announcement.
The ATF is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juan Albino and Nallely Barbosa are prosecuting the case.
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Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Brendan Manzon, 50, of Boise, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 78 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, in October 2021, in Boise, Manzon sold a quarter-pound of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,000. Manzon has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for aggravated battery, trafficking in methamphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance. Manzon pleaded guilty to the charge on September 15, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, the Boise Police Department, and the Nampa Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse, who was the HIDTA SAUSA at the time of charging, prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position.
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McKees Rocks, PA Resident Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Violating Federal Narcotics LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 months of incarceration followed by two years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Robert Botti, age 43.
According to information presented to the court, Botti supplied between 400 grams and 500 grams to another individual, Douglas Smith during the course of a conspiracy. On June 15, 2021, investigators seized approximately three ounces of cocaine from Botti’s residence.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Perryopolis Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Botti.
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.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Connected to Fentanyl Distribution RingRead the Press Release
Collin Edwards, 29, of Largo, Maryland, pleaded guilty for his role in a fentanyl distribution ring and a separate charge of identity theft in a scheme involving false unemployment insurance claims that illegally netted more than $250,000, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; and Special Agent in Charge of the National Capital Region, Troy W. Springer, of the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General.
Edwards, also known as “Chills,” pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to a felony charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 or more grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
In today’s plea agreement, Edwards admitted that he was accountable for producing at least 1.2 kilograms of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Edwards also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
Edwards faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison when he is sentenced on March 5, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta. Edwards also has agreed to forfeit $100,000.
According to court documents, in August 2021, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking group running a fentanyl pill pressing operation in and around Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Law enforcement learned that the group was in possession of at least three pill presses and used them to press fentanyl into counterfeit prescription pills. The group then distributed the pills throughout Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Edwards and six others were identified as participants in the drug trafficking operation.
As part of the conspiracy, Edwards distributed the counterfeit pills in a coordinated manner with co-conspirators, including to other co-conspirators and to other distributors and/or users. On Mar. 29, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at an apartment in Southeast Washington, D.C., a stash house used by the conspiracy to run the pill press operation. During the search on the 1300 block of 4th Street, law enforcement seized baggies of pills and loose powder, together amounting to more than 516 pills and more than 76 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl.
During the search of the apartment, authorities seized Edwards’ cellphone. A review of its contents revealed evidence of a conspiracy to defraud multiple states of unemployment insurance. Edwards admitted that he and other co-conspirators illegally netted at least $250,000 through the scheme.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General.. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, prosecuted the case.
Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marnee Rand.
Maryland Man Charged with Leading Multi-State Sex Trafficking NetworkRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The FBI’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force has charged a Maryland man with using drug dependency to force at least five adult victims into commercial sex work, United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, announced today.
William Oneil Murray III, 35, was indicted yesterday on three counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, one count of transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution, and one count of using a facility of interstate commerce to facilitate prostitution.
“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and those who perpetrate it must be held accountable,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Exploiting victims’ drug dependency and addiction is the most common form of human trafficking we are seeing here in Virginia, and I am grateful to the I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force and the Virginia State Police for bringing this case to justice and providing some relief to these victims.”
“We are proud of the work the I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force is accomplishing via these multi-state partnerships. This case demonstrates how victims’ vulnerabilities are used against them and highlights the dedication of the men and women who work to bring justice for them,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “ If you are a victim of human trafficking or you have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, where resources are available.”
“This case highlights the importance of having trained law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels working together to combat human trafficking in the Commonwealth and abroad,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “This investigation demonstrates the zero tolerance Virginia law enforcement, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have for those who prey on vulnerabilities and exploit other human beings for personal profit or gain.”
According to court documents, from as early as 2016 through July 2022, Murray engaged in a multi-state sex trafficking operation involving at least five adult female victims. Murray controlled his victims’ narcotics use, not allowing them to obtain drugs from anyone but himself, therefore taking complete control of each victim’s drug dependency.
In order to further control his victims and force them into commercial sex work, Murray withheld drugs from them, making them “dope sick,” a term one victim described as being like the flu but five times worse, based on withdrawal symptoms from heroin and other opiates.
Murry maintained strict control over his victims’ activities. Victims were not allowed to go anywhere without Murray’s permission and were punished if they did so. Court documents also claim Murray took all of his victims’ cell phones. Occasionally, Murray allowed his victims to use one of his phones to communicate with commercial sex customers but would regularly get print outs of call and text logs to ensure the victims were not texting or calling anyone but customers.
The alleged criminal behavior occurred in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force (I-81 HTTF) and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case.
The I-81 HTTF is a collaborative effort of law enforcement and community partners focused on identifying instances of human trafficking along the I-81 corridor in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland; prosecuting those responsible; and providing assistance to the victims impacted by these crimes. The I-81 HTTF includes law enforcement from the counties of Frederick, Clarke, and Shenandoah as well as the cities and towns of Front Royal, Hagerstown, and Frederick, Maryland, and Lord Fairfax Community College.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith and Sally Sullivan are prosecuting the case for the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for a Murder ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Endy Arturo Gaitan Campos, a/k/a “Clandestino,” age 30, of Hyattsville, Maryland, yesterday to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, related to his participation in the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha (“WLS”) clique of the MS-13 gang, which operated primarily in Adelphi, Maryland. Last week, Judge Xinis sentenced co-defendant Jorge Isaac Argueta Chica, a/k/a “Timido” and “Enano,” age 23, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, also a member of the WLS clique, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release on the same charge.
The sentences were announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to court documents, La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13,” is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in Maryland and throughout the United States. MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region, and are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rivals. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. MS-13 members earn promotions and improved standing within the gang for participating in attacks on rival gang members, often at the direction of MS-13 leadership.
On August 8, 2020, Campos, and other WLS members, including WLS leader Brayan Torres and Franklyn Sanchez, were gathered at a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where they agreed to murder Victim 4, who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and to whom Sanchez owed a debt. Campos told another MS-13 member that he would have to help commit the murder. Campos then drove Torres, Sanchez and other WLS members to a wooded area nearby and dropped them off. Sanchez was armed with a revolver and Torres handed a second revolver to the other MS-13 member, instructing that person to shoot first when Victim 4 arrived. When Victim 4 arrived, Sanchez and the other MS-13 member each fired multiple shots at Victim 4, who fell to the ground. Sanchez then pistol-whipped and stabbed Victim 4 and Torres also stabbed Victim 4. Torres and other WLS members dragged Victim 4’s body to a stream and left it there.
One of the MS-13 members at the scene of the murder placed the two guns used to shoot Victim 4 and several other items into a dark bag and Campos drove the MS-13 member back to Torres’s house where other gang members, including Argueta Chica, were waiting.
As he was leaving the woods, Sanchez noticed he was bleeding and was concerned that his DNA may have been left on the body. To prevent the discovery of DNA or other evidence and to hinder the investigation and prosecution of Victim 4’s murder, Torres called other WLS members, including co-defendant Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, and ordered them to bring shovels to dig a hole and bury Victim 4’s body. Campos backed his car into the driveway of Torres’s house and parked in front of the garage. WLS members loaded shovels into Campos’s car and Campos drove Rivas Rodriguez and other WLS members to the wooded area. WLS members, including Argueta Chica then dug a hole and buried Victim 4’s body. Law enforcement later recovered the body with a bullet wound to the head.
Argueta Chica also participated in the collection of extortion payments, or “rents,” from at least two extortion victims on behalf of WLS, knowing that the victims making extortion payments did so under the threat of death or bodily injury by members of WLS.
Co-defendants Brayan Alexander Torres, a/k/a “Spooky,” age 29, and Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, a/k/a “Delinquente,” age 26, both of Adelphi, Maryland, were each sentenced to 28 years in federal prison and Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland was sentenced 16 years in federal prison for their roles in the racketeering conspiracy.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
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 Barron and Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri commended the FBI, HSI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Montgomery County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo and Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, who are 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn.
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Marion County Man Indicted for Fraud Relating to Theft from the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Paul Lesslie Thompson (69, Anthony) with one count of receipt of stolen government property. If convicted, Thompson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and an order of forfeiture for at least $1,169,327.54, which represents the proceeds of the offense charged in the indictment.
According to the indictment, between May 1993 and December 2022, Thompson willfully received, concealed, and retained $1,169,327.54 that was stolen from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs through Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Manchester Man Arrested for Defrauding State and Federal TaxpayersRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was arrested for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain CARES Act funds from the United States government and the State of New York, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyereem Sackey, 23, was indicted on October 25, 2023, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of bank fraud. Sackey was arrested this morning and released on conditions.
According to the charging documents, Sackey used social media to conspire with others to file false and fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. Sackey filed unemployment insurance claims in the State of New York on behalf of a co-defendant, of which he was not entitled. When the money was deposited into the co-defendant’s bank account, a portion of the money was sent to Sackey and another co-defendant. The indictment alleges that Sackey and his co-defendants filed approximately $50,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance claims.
Sackey also used a co-defendant’s information to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan using a false and fraudulent business that did not exist. Sackey provided the bank with false documents, including fabricated tax documents. The indictment alleges that Sackey fraudulently applied for approximately $13,000 in PPP loans.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. 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 and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy is 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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Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Three Bank Robberies, Shooting at Jefferson County DeputiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry on Thursday sentenced a man who committed three bank robberies and then shot at Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies before forcing his way into a woman’s apartment to 25 years in prison.
Judge Perry also ordered Cameron A. Thomas, 31, of Florissant, to repay $19,262 to the banks he robbed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce said during Thursday’s hearing that Thomas’ robberies escalated in both seriousness and violence.
On Oct. 24, 2020, while dressed as a woman, Thomas handed a note to a teller at the First Community State Bank in Jefferson County that said, “put money in the bag,”
Three days later, while Thomas was again disguised as a woman, he entered the Electro Savings Credit Union in St. Louis County, pointed a silver semiautomatic pistol at a teller and said, “Give me all your money.”
The next day, Thomas returned to the First Community State Bank wearing a red coat, black pants and a surgical mask. He said, “This is a robbery, put your hands up,” while pointing a pistol at an employee. He then put a white plastic bag on the counter and told another employee to fill it up.
Employees called police, and a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy who was in the area tried to stop Thomas after he left the bank. The resulting vehicle chase ended at the Walden Pond apartments in High Ridge. Thomas fled his vehicle on foot, firing multiple times at the deputies following him.
He then forced his way into a woman’s apartment at gunpoint. Deputies knocked at the door, and pulled the woman from the apartment when she signaled to them that something was wrong. Thomas then changed into the woman’s clothes and hid his 9mm pistol inside the apartment before his arrest.
Thomas also admitted that on Oct. 22, 2020, he was in possession of an AK-47-style assault rifle. Police found the rifle in Thomas’ vehicle after a traffic crash. Thomas is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing firearms.
Boyce said Thursday that one of the banks that Thomas robbed was no longer allowing customers in the lobby due to security concerns.
Thomas pleaded guilty in August to two counts of armed bank robbery, bank robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce is prosecuting the case.
Man Admits Burglarizing Two Missouri Gun ShopsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man on Thursday admitted breaking into two Jefferson County, Missouri gun shops in 2020 and stealing multiple firearms.
Carnell Robinson, 21, of Jennings, Missouri, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
On July 12, 2020 at about 1 a.m., burglars broke into Mike’s Pawn and Jewelry in Imperial, where they stole four AR-style rifles, a shotgun, ammunition and jewelry.
The next day, also at 1 a.m., they broke into Top Gun Shooting Sports near Arnold and stole two rifles and numerous boxes of ammunition.
Robinson’s fingerprint was later found on a gun case at Mike’s.
Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Feb. 14, 2024. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce is prosecuting the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Possessing Heroin for Distribution & Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Reggie Golden, 39, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 30 months for possessing heroin with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm. Golden pleaded guilty to these charges on July 18, 2023.
On March 1, 2023, law enforcement officers from the Madison Police Department and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force located Golden, who was wanted on state drug charges, inside of a mall in Madison. After arresting Golden, officers asked him whether he had any firearms. Golden admitted that he had a gun inside of a bag that he wore across his torso. Officers removed the bag, searched it, and found a loaded 9 mm pistol, a digital scale, two cell phones, and 19 individual packages that contained a total of 21 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl and heroin.
During a post-arrest interview, Golden waived his Miranda rights and admitted that he possessed the heroin and firearm. He claimed he purchased the pistol from an unknown person at a gas station two months before his arrest. Golden also admitted to being a 26-year member of the Black Disciples street gang.
In sentencing Golden, Judge Peterson noted that Golden has a history of illegally possessing firearms. Judge Peterson also highlighted the danger that guns pose to the community when used by drug traffickers.
United States Attorney O’Shea stated, “Armed drug dealers are dangerous in two ways. First, opiate drugs like fentanyl and heroin are incredibly addictive and dangerous. A single dose containing fentanyl can kill. Second, the risk of community danger increases exponentially when drug dealers, like Golden, carry high powered weapons. My office is dedicated to working with communities and our law enforcement partners to hold armed drug dealers accountable.”
The charges against Golden were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Adrian Edwards 40, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 11 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a minor. Edwards pleaded guilty to this charge on June 15, 2023.
Edwards encountered the 16-year-old victim in Utah in January 2021, when the two were at a mutual friend’s house. The victim confided to the defendant that she had a difficult home life and he offered to help her with a place to stay if she needed it. A few days later, the victim called Edwards to take him up on his offer. He bought her a train ticket to Iowa, where he picked her up and brought her to Wisconsin. He immediately took pictures of her and posted ads on websites offering various sexual services in exchange for money. Edwards set the prices, arranged the meetings, arranged for hotels, and kept the bulk of the money gained from the trafficking activity.
On February 2, 2021, Middleton Police Department received a complaint from a local hotel indicating that someone was overstaying their reservation and the hotel suspected sex trafficking. Police responded and found the victim alone in a hotel room, along with Edwards’ belongings and identification. Edwards was indicted in July 2021, and a federal arrest warrant was issued. He was ultimately arrested in January 2022 in Arizona.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson observed that this was a horrifying case where the defendant took a child away from her family, isolated her, and immediately trafficked her for his own gain. The Court stated that although consent was irrelevant here, the victim did not know she was coming to Wisconsin to engage in prostitution. Judge Peterson further noted that Edwards’ crime was calculated and sustained, and it was fortunate that law enforcement intervened and put a stop to it.
The charge against Edwards was the result of an investigation conducted by the Middleton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in finding and arresting Edwards in Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura A. Przybylinski Finn and Kathryn E. Ginsberg prosecuted this case.
MS-13 Member Charged for Alleged Role in 2010 MurderRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the transnational criminal organization known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, has been arrested on RICO charges in connection with the murder of an Allston man under a Chelsea bridge in December 2010.
Adam Rodriguez, a/k/a “Pelon,” 33, was charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. Rodriguez was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday afternoon, was detained pending a hearing set for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2023.
According to the charging document, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 rewards members who commit acts of violence with promotions within the gang and punishes members who break gang rules.
The superseding indictment alleges that, on Dec. 18, 2010, Rodriquez and other members of MS-13 murdered an Allston man under a bridge in Chelsea. It is alleged that law enforcement recently matched Rodriguez’s voice to a Jan. 26, 2011 recording of an MS-13 meeting in which he acknowledged his participation in the murder. Also on the recording, Rodriguez was allegedly beaten for 13 seconds by other members of MS-13 for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission. The superseding indictment further alleges that Rodriguez committed other attempted murders with members of MS-13 following the December 2010 murder.
The superseding indictment also charges William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 30, with RICO conspiracy. Pineda Portillo was originally indicted in 2017. After an arrest warrant was issued for Pineda Portillo, law enforcement determined that he had been deported to El Salvador under a different name.
Pineda Portillo was arrested in May 2022 on the outstanding warrant and returned to Boston after he was allegedly encountered crossing the border into Texas.
A subsequent investigation determined that a car owned by Pineda Portillo’s father was allegedly used to transport Rodriguez, other MS-13 members and the victim to the scene of the December 2010 murder in Chelsea. Pineda Portillo also allegedly worked to sell a firearm to someone he believed was a fellow MS-13 member, but who was instead a cooperating witness working with law enforcement. It is further alleged that Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he believed was an informant. Pineda Portillo remains in custody awaiting trial.
The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, in New England; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty, and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the superseding indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Luzerne County Woman Sentenced to 10 Months Imprisonment for Preparing and Submitting Numerous False Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Applications in Covid-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Angela Castillo, age 39, of Freeland, PA, was sentenced on November 8, 2023, by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 10 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, with 5 months of electronic monitoring, in connection a wire fraud scheme involving the preparation and submission of numerous false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between June 2020 and September 2020, on behalf of other individuals and in exchange for payment, Castillo prepared and submitted to the United States Small Business Association (SBA) at least 40 false EIDL applications containing material misrepresentations. Castillo’s conduct resulted in the SBA paying out approximately $163,000.00 in COVID-19 relief funds to individuals, none of whom actually owned a qualifying small business and who therefore were not entitled to receive such funds under the program. At her sentencing, Castillo was ordered to pay $163,000.00 in restitution to the SBA.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Lutcher Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 2, 2023, TYKI CLAYTON, age 21, of Lutcher, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
CLAYTON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to public records, on March 28, 2022, CLAYTON was the passenger in a vehicle driving in Lutcher, LA. When CLAYTON’s vehicle did not come to a full stop at an intersection, a St. James Parish deputy initiated a lawful traffic stop. The deputy approached the vehicle and found CLAYTON in the front passenger seat reaching between his legs into a backpack. The driver stated that she did not have her license. After receiving CLAYTON’s driver’s license information, the deputy learned that CLAYTON had an outstanding arrest warrant. After searching the vehicle, the deputy recovered a Glock firearm from the backpack located between CLAYTON’s legs. CLAYTON admitted knowing that the firearm was equipped with an auto-sear making it a fully automatic machinegun.
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 track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office. United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit handled the prosecution.
Louisville Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Downtown Louisville Bomb Threat HoaxRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced today to 2 years and 9 months in federal prison for a downtown Louisville bomb threat hoax.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court records, Jimmy Smith, Jr., 50, was sentenced today to 2 years and 9 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for providing false information and a bomb threat hoax. On August 12, 2022, Smith rode a bicycle in downtown Louisville while carrying a backpack. He placed an item in a high-traffic, business area of downtown Louisville near the riverfront. The package was labeled “bomb.” The Louisville Metro Police Department bomb squad dismantled the “device” and determined that it was not operational. However, a significant area of downtown Louisville had to be shut down for several hours to clear the device.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
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Local woman admits to threatening federal judgeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 50-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On Sept. 1, 2022, Tiffani Shea Gish aka Evelyn Salt left three threatening voicemails on the chamber’s telephone of a U.S. district judge from Florida. In the messages, Gish claimed to be a member of several military combat units, trained and familiar with weapons of war.
In the first message, she said the victim was marked for assignation and would get a bullet in the head. Gish then reiterated the same threat in two subsequent messages and used expletives when adding that she had ordered snipers and a bomb to the victim’s house and would throw a bullet to the victim’s head.
“As prosecutors, our mission is to always protect the rule of law, and that necessarily means protecting the judges who interpret and apply the law,” said Hamdani. “Tiffani Gish’s threats to assassinate a federal judge have no place in a republic whose strength comes from the rule of law. As a result, my office and its public servants have no tolerance for those like Gish who threaten judges and in turn seek to undermine our system of government.”
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the plea and set sentencing for Feb. 9, 2024. At that time, Gish faces up to five years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with South Dakota Hotel and Sports Lounge to Resolve Allegations of Discrimination Against Native AmericansRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino, a hotel and sports bar located in Rapid City, South Dakota, have entered into a consent decree resolving the Department’s lawsuit alleging that the defendants discriminated against Native American customers in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Under the consent decree, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Connie Uhre will be barred from serving as an officer or director of the company or from exercising any management duties or being involved in any operations on behalf of the Grand Gateway Hotel for four years. The defendants will also issue a public apology and send it specifically to tribal organizations in South Dakota and throughout the Great Plains region.
“As alleged in the complaint, the defendants both prevented Native Americans from booking rooms at the hotel and made public statements discouraging Native Americans from setting foot on the business’s property,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Statements like the one made by a defendant in this case – that ‘[w]e will no long[er] allow any Native American on property,’ – are reminiscent of a long history of prejudice and exclusion Native American communities have faced. The Justice Department will continue to work alongside Native American communities to fulfill the promise of equal protection under the law.”
“The defendants’ conduct in this case was egregious, motivated by naked animus, and amounted to an outright ban on Native American customers seeking access to a public establishment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This kind of hateful conduct invokes a long and painful history of negative stereotypes against and exclusion of the Native American community. We applaud the Tribal elders, local officials, and advocates who took a stand against this shameful conduct. Our settlement should send a message to public establishments across the country that their doors must be open to all communities regardless of race. As we commemorate Native American Heritage Month, the Justice Department underscores its commitment to stand with Native Americans whenever they face unlawful discrimination.”
“This consent decree affirms what should have never been at issue in the first place — that Native Americans have the fundamental right to receive equal services at places of public accommodation,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “Although this agreement does not change the reprehensible behavior of Ms. Uhre or the harm caused by racial discrimination, the consent decree mandates Uhre’s removal from corporate control, the immediate cessation of discriminatory policies and the implementation of a series of preventative measures that must be taken at the expense of the corporation. The ongoing involvement of the Justice Department stands as a forceful reminder to all business owners in South Dakota that refusing services on the basis of race is against the law and will not be tolerated.”
The Department’s lawsuit, filed in October 2022, alleged that, since at least March 20, 2022, the Retsel Corporation and two of its directors, Connie Uhre and Nicholas Uhre, discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations, and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.
Specifically, the complaint alleged that on or around March 20, 2022, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not want to allow Natives on property…. The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad natives…so we just have to say no to them!” Uhre then announced on Facebook that “[w]e will no long[sic] allow any Native American” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino. The complaint further alleged that on at least two occasions, on March 21 and March 22, 2022, respectively, the defendants turned away Native Americans who sought to book rooms in the Grand Gateway.
The apology, issued as part of the consent decree, will include the following statement:
“We extend our sincere apology to all for the statements made by Connie Uhre on March 19-20, 2022, regarding Native Americans. Ms. Uhre’s comments were not consistent with the values or polices of our company or of our businesses, the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge. We deeply regret the pain or harm Ms. Uhre’s statements have caused within our Native American community. We want to make clear that we welcome all Native Americans to the Grand Gateway Hotel and Cheers Sports Lounge.”
The consent decree also requires that the defendants retain a compliance officer to oversee compliance with its terms, implement and publish an anti-discrimination policy, institute a complaint process, undergo training, and develop an affirmative marketing plan. These provisions will be in effect for the next three years. Title II prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and places of entertainment. Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
View the consent decree here.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Cox Communications to Resolve Claims the Company Used a Georgia Tech Recruiting Platform to DiscriminateRead the Press Release
Marking 37 years since Congress passed the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with Cox Communications Inc., a Georgia-based provider of residential and business telecommunication services to resolve claims of discrimination.
Specifically, this agreement resolves the department’s determination that Cox Communications violated the INA by using a Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) on-campus recruiting platform to post dozens of discriminatory job advertisements that unlawfully excluded students and alumni based on their citizenship status. The department previously secured agreements with 30 other employers to resolve similar claims — 16 in June 2022, four in September 2022 and another 10 in May 2023 — and with Georgia Tech in August 2023.
“With this latest resolution, the Justice Department has now held Georgia Tech and 31 employers accountable for their roles in unlawful hiring discrimination based on students’ citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These agreements have secured more than $2.5 million in civil penalties and demonstrate the department’s commitment to ensuring that college students and graduates embarking on their careers have a fair chance to compete for jobs.”
The department started its investigations after a Georgia Tech student, who was then a lawful permanent resident, complained about a U.S. citizens-only internship advertisement on Georgia Tech’s on-campus job recruitment platform. The department’s investigation of the student’s complaint revealed dozens of other discriminatory advertisements on the platform, including several posted by Cox Communications. The department found that Cox Communications posted numerous job advertisements that unlawfully excluded workers granted asylum or refugee status, lawful permanent residents and, in one instance, U.S. citizens. The department also determined that Cox Communications used features of Georgia Tech’s online platform to deter and automatically exclude qualified students from applying because of their citizenship status.
Under this agreement, Cox Communications is required to pay a civil penalty of $459,895 and to train its recruiting staff on the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. The agreement also prohibits Cox Communications from including specific citizenship or immigration status designations in their campus job postings unless the restrictions are legally required.
This agreement is part of the department’s efforts to combat discrimination related to artificial intelligence and automated systems, as described in the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.
The INA’s anti-discrimination provision was passed as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act in November 1986. This law prohibits employers and recruiters from limiting jobs based on citizenship or immigration status unless required by a law, regulation, executive order or government contract. The INA protects those granted asylum or refugee status, recent lawful permanent residents, U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals from citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing and recruitment or referral for a fee.
Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. IER’s website has more information on how employers can avoid discriminating based on citizenship status when hiring and recruiting. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
View the settlement agreement here.
Justice Department Secures $25 Million Landmark Agreement with Apple to Resolve Employment Discrimination Allegations Based on Citizenship StatusRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a landmark agreement with Apple Inc. (Apple) to resolve allegations that Apple illegally discriminated in hiring and recruitment against U.S. citizens and certain non-U.S. citizens whose permission to live in and work in the United States does not expire.
Under the agreement, Apple is required to pay up to $25 million in backpay and civil penalties, the largest award that the department has recovered under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality act (INA).
“Creating unlawful barriers that make it harder for someone to seek a job because of their citizenship status will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This resolution reflects the Civil Rights Division’s commitment to ending illegal discriminatory employment practices.”
The settlement agreement resolves the department’s determination that Apple violated the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements during Apple’s recruitment for positions falling under the permanent labor certification program (PERM). The PERM program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It allows employers to sponsor workers for lawful permanent resident status in the United States after completing recruitment and meeting other program requirements. Any U.S. employer that utilizes the PERM program cannot illegally discriminate in hiring or recruitment based on citizenship or immigration status.
The department’s investigation, which started in February 2019, found that Apple engaged in a pattern or practice of citizenship status discrimination in recruitment for positions it hired through PERM, and that the company’s unlawful discrimination prejudiced U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, and those granted asylum or refugee status. These less effective recruitment practices deterred protected workers from applying to positions that Apple preferred to fill instead with PERM beneficiaries.
Specifically, the department’s investigation found that Apple did not advertise positions Apple sought to fill through the PERM program on its external job website, even though its standard practice was to post other job positions on this website. It also required all PERM position applicants to mail paper applications, even though the company permitted electronic applications for other positions. In some instances, Apple did not consider certain applications for PERM positions from Apple employees if those applications were submitted electronically, as opposed to paper applications submitted through the mail. These less effective recruitment procedures nearly always resulted in few or no applications to PERM positions from applicants whose permission to work does not expire.
Pursuant to the $25 million agreement, Apple is required to pay $6.75 million in civil penalties and establish an $18.25 million back pay fund for eligible discrimination victims. The agreement also requires Apple to ensure that its recruitment for PERM positions more closely matches its standard recruitment practices.
Specifically, Apple will be required to conduct more expansive recruitment for all PERM positions, including posting PERM positions on its external job website, accepting electronic applications, and enabling applicants to PERM positions to be searchable in its applicant tracking system. Apple has implemented some of these measures after the department opened its investigation. Additionally, Apple will train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements and be subject to departmental monitoring for the three-year period of the agreement.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. This law prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; and retaliation and intimidation. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video or watch an on-demand presentation. Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination when hiring and recruiting on IER’s website.
Workers who have questions about this settlement can contact IER at 1-888-473-3897 or [email protected]. The public can get more information about how to get help from IER by visiting IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
View the settlement agreement here.
View Attachment A here.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Case on Right to Travel to Access Legal AbortionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a statement of interest today in two consolidated lawsuits seeking to protect the right to interstate travel, including the right to travel to another state to obtain an abortion that is legal in the destination state. The statement of interest explains that the Constitution protects the right to travel across state lines and engage in conduct that is lawful where it is performed and that states cannot prevent third parties from assisting others in exercising that right. The statement argues that the Alabama Attorney General’s threatened prosecutions of individuals for providing assistance to people seeking lawful out-of-state abortions are therefore unconstitutional. The cases are Yellowhammer Fund v. Marshall and West Alabama Women’s Center, et al., v. Marshall.
“As I said the day Dobbs was decided, bedrock constitutional principles dictate that women who reside in states that have banned access to comprehensive reproductive care must remain free to seek that care in states where it is legal,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This filing demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to defending the constitutional right to travel and to protecting reproductive freedom under federal law.”
“The Reproductive Rights Task Force has been scrutinizing state laws and enforcement actions that threaten to infringe on federal protections of reproductive rights, including illegal attempts to prevent interstate travel,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Today’s filing is just one part of the Justice Department’s ongoing work to use all available tools to safeguard reproductive freedoms protected by the Constitution and federal law.”
“Alabama may not infringe the constitutional right to travel in order to meet its policy goals,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will continue to assert the interests of the United States.”
The Department’s statement of interest explains that the right to travel from one state to another is firmly embedded in the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence and the Constitution. It notes that Justice Kavanaugh — one of the five justices who formed the majority in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — has explained that the question of whether a State may “bar a resident of that State from traveling to another State to obtain an abortion” is “not especially difficult” — “the answer is no based on the constitutional right to interstate travel.” The Department’s filing also explains that the Supreme Court has held that states may not prevent third parties from assisting others in exercising their right to travel. Further, the statement of interest explains that because of these precedents, the Alabama Attorney General may not criminalize third-party assistance for interstate travel, particularly where the sole purpose of those prosecutions is to impede individuals’ exercise of their constitutional rights.
The plaintiffs in these cases are organizations and individuals within Alabama seeking to facilitate individuals’ access to legal, out-of-state abortions. They brought suit in response to the Alabama Attorney General’s argument that he may criminally prosecute individuals within Alabama who assist others in obtaining legal, out-of-state abortions. Specifically, the Alabama Attorney General contends that providing assistance within Alabama to someone seeking an out-of-state abortion constitutes a criminal conspiracy, regardless of whether the abortion is legal in the state where it is performed, as long as the abortion would be illegal if performed within Alabama. Plaintiffs have challenged the Alabama Attorney General’s threatened conspiracy prosecutions on a variety of grounds, including as being inconsistent with the Constitution’s right to travel.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs overturning Roe v. Wade, the Justice Department has worked with commitment and urgency to defend the reproductive freedoms that are protected by federal law. The Reproductive Rights Task Force, led by Associate Attorney General Gupta, consists of senior officials and dedicated staff from across a dozen Department components who are working daily to address complex and widespread threats to reproductive health in the wake of Dobbs. Since the Task Force was formed, one of its core responsibilities has been to assess state and local legislation and enforcement actions that threaten to impair women’s right to seek reproductive care in states where it is legal and to coordinate appropriate federal government responses to those actions, including proactive and defensive legal action where appropriate. Additional information on the work of the Task Force can be found at www.justice.gov/reproductive-rights.
Statement of InterestJustice Department Files Lawsuit and Proposed Consent Decree to Prohibit Koch Foods from Imposing Unfair and Anticompetitive Termination Penalties in Contracts with Chicken GrowersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit under the Sherman Act and Packers and Stockyards Act today against Koch Foods Incorporated (Koch), the fifth largest poultry processor in the United States. The complaint alleges that Koch anticompetitively and unfairly required chicken farmers, or growers, to pay Koch a termination penalty to switch from working for Koch to a rival chicken processor. At the same time, the department filed a proposed consent decree that would prohibit Koch from penalizing growers for switching processors and require Koch to return certain expenses, fees and penalties it unlawfully imposed on growers who tried to work for other chicken processors.
“Antitrust and competition laws protect growers’ right to benefit from competition for their products, their services and their labor,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Kades of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This enforcement action marks another important step in the division’s renewed partnership with the Department of Agriculture to promote free and fair competition and reinvigorate enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.”
“The Packers and Stockyards Act stands for fairness, and that’s what this enforcement action today delivers,” said Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets Andy Green of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). “This action to protect growers’ right to compete signals the joint commitment of the USDA and Justice Department to open competitive markets.”
The complaint alleges that Koch, which operates processing facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, deterred farmers from switching to other processors by requiring them to repay a substantial share of their income as a penalty if they terminated their contract. As alleged in the complaint, Koch’s termination penalty, which varies across chicken growers, amounted to more than half of most growers’ total annual take-home income and sometimes more than one year’s entire take-home earnings. Koch used the threat of the termination penalty to discourage growers from switching to Koch’s competitors and sued or threatened to sue more than a dozen family farmers who tried to switch to a Koch competitor.
Accordingly, the termination penalty operated as an anticompetitive, de facto noncompete clause, in violation of the Sherman Act. The penalty provision is also an unfair practice or device in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act, a landmark statute passed in 1921 that protects livestock and poultry producers.
At the same time, the Antitrust Division filed a proposed consent decree to address its competition concerns. If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree would require Koch to:
- Inform all current growers with contracts containing a termination penalty provision that Koch will not enforce the provision;
- Reimburse growers for all termination penalty payments and out-of-pocket legal expenses incurred as a result of Koch enforcing the termination penalty;
- Refrain from including a termination penalty obligation in any grower contracts and from taking any steps to collect any termination penalty payments for the next seven years;
- Refrain from retaliating against, intimidating or harassing any grower who is involved in any dispute over a termination penalty or who cooperated with the Justice Department or USDA in their investigations of Koch’s termination penalty practices; and
- Meet certain reporting and compliance obligations including an annual certification for the next seven years that Koch is complying with the proposed final judgment.
Today’s lawsuit and proposed consent decree are the second recent Packers and Stockyards Act enforcement action referred to the Justice Department by the USDA. In June, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland entered a consent decree to resolve an action alleging that the “tournament system” used by processor Wayne-Sanderson Farms to compensate chicken farmers violated the Packers and Stockyards Act.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed consent decree, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decree during a 60-day comment period to Chief, Civil Conduct Task Force, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8600, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected]. Information about anticompetitive practices in livestock and poultry markets can also be submitted to the USDA’s and Justice Department’s Agricultural Markets Enforcement Partnership at www.farmerfairness.gov.
View the complaint here.
View the memo here.
Jamaican National Sentenced for Role in Fraudulent Sweepstakes Scheme that Targeted Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
A Jamaican national was sentenced today in federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to 192 months in prison for his role in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that targeted elderly victims in the United States.
Damone Oakley, 41, of St. James Parish, Jamaica, was extradited to the United States in 2022 and pleaded guilty in July 2023 to two counts of mail and two counts of wire fraud.
From at least 2010 through 2019, Oakley participated in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Oakley’s victims received mailings, text messages or phone calls in which they were falsely told that they had won millions of dollars and luxury vehicles in a sweepstakes, but first needed to pay taxes and fees in order to claim their winnings. Oakley used phony names during the scheme, including “Officer Alex Logan” and “Officer Stan Valentine,” and instructed his victims on how to send their money (and to whom the funds should be sent). His victims were located throughout the United States, and used wire transfers, direct bank deposits, the U.S. Postal Service and private commercial mail carriers to send money directly to Oakley as well as to individuals in the United States and elsewhere who served as intermediaries and transmitted the money to Oakley. In addition to sending cash or wire transfers, Oakley’s victims were directed to purchase electronics, jewelry and clothing, which were sent to mail forwarding services in Florida, and then on to Oakley in Jamaica. The victims never received any “winnings.” Oakley’s victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars during the course of the scheme.
“The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Through our National Elder Fraud Hotline, we identify perpetrators of these schemes and prioritize the pursuit of those who deliberately target vulnerable consumers, who often can least afford to sustain financial losses.”
“This sentence reflects our office’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and punishing those who engage in this type of behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Working together with our skilled and dedicated law enforcement partners, Oakley was held accountable for his crimes.”
“There was a time when scammers operating beyond our borders felt they could operate with impunity. Those days are gone,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal inspectors track down these scammers no matter where they are. And with our Department of Justice partners’ extradition powers, scammers are brought to the United States to face the music. In this case, it’s to the tune of 192 months in prison.”
Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Haugsby for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.
USPIS investigated the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Jamaica to secure the arrest and extradition of Oakley.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa. Information about the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
Iowa Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Timothy Steinbeck, age 47 from Terril, Iowa, plead guilty on April 19, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Steinbeck admitted that from August 2021 through June 2022, he and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute nearly six pounds of methamphetamine in Northwest Iowa. Evidence further showed that Steinbeck distributed methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement on three separate occasions. On June 15, 2022, law enforcement searched Steinbeck’s residence in Royal, Iowa, and seized additional methamphetamine. That same day, firearms were seized from a relative’s home which Steinbeck had moved in an attempt to conceal from law enforcement.
Steinbeck was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Steinbeck was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. Steinbeck must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Steinbeck is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer Police Department, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Clay County Attorney’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa State Patrol Tactical Teams.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-4050. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on November 7, 2023 HUGO BRIAN FUENTAS-EGUIGURENS (“FUENTAS-EGUIGURENS”), age 27, plead guilty on November 7, 2023 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, FUENTAS-EGUIGURENS reentered the United States after being previously deported on April 26, 2019. On March 31, 2023, FUENTES-EGUIGURENS was arrested by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 31, 2023 and found to be unlawfully present in the United States by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It was also discovered that FUENTES-EGUIGURENS had previous convictions for simple escape, burglary and resisting arrest by using a false identification.
FUENTAS-EGUIGURENS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Hartford Man Caught with Drugs and Ghost Gun in Bristol Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TRAEVAUGHNN MORRISON, 27, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and crack while armed with a ghost gun.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 5, 2022, members of the DEA’s Hartford Task Force made a controlled purchase of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Morrison in Bristol. After the drug sale, investigators followed Morrison as he drove his car and then parked in a condominium parking lot, where Morrison was taken into custody. At the time of Morrison’s arrest, investigators found in his car additional quantities of fentanyl and crack, and a Polymer80 handgun (“ghost gun”) with an extended magazine loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition.
Subsequent analysis of the firearm determined that it had been used in two shooting incidents in 2021 in Waterbury and Hartford, where two individuals were injured. The government has no evidence that Morrison participated in either of the shootings.
Morrison’s criminal history includes convictions for felony drug offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Morrison has been detained since his arrest. On August 2, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, cocaine base (“crack”) and fentanyl.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, Makee McLemore, 20, of Gulfport, was arrested following a Gulfport Police Department investigation into a string of vehicle burglaries resulting in multiple stolen guns. Officers determined that McLemore was a suspect in the vehicle burglaries. He was arrested and a search warrant was executed at his residence. McLemore subsequently admitted to participating in some of the vehicle burglaries and to stealing a Sig Sauer firearm. McLemore gave officers the location of the stolen firearm at his residence.
On September 19, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging McLemore with possession of a stolen firearm.
McLemore is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the ATF along with assistance from the Gulfport Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith.
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.
Greenbrier County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Rance Allen Mitchem, 41, of Lewisburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 27, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Lewisburg apartment where Mitchem was staying. Officers seized approximately 38 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging materials, and a Taurus model G2S .40-caliber handgun. Mitchem admitted to possessing the seized methamphetamine and an additional 93.1 grams of methamphetamine that officers found when Mitchem told them it was in his parked vehicle.
Mitchem further admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and use some of it himself. Mitchem also told officers that he had distributed quantities of methamphetamine at least once a week for approximately five months.
Mitchem is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-161.
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Great Falls man fined $70,000 for scheme to defraud MedicaidRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to lying about his income to receive more than $75,000 in Medicaid health care benefits was fined $70,000 and sentenced to three years of probation today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Dustin Tempel, 39, pleaded guilty in June to health care fraud.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $75,493 restitution.
In court documents, the government alleged that during an investigation of Temple’s mother, Lynn Temple, for fraudulently inflating construction costs while building a home for a client in Great Falls, investigators learned that Tempel had underreported his income by more than $300,000 during a five-year period. During the period of underreporting, Temple applied for Medicaid, again underrepresenting his actual income. As a result, Temple received $75,493 from Medicaid that he was not entitled to receive from 2017 to 2020. Medicaid is a federal health care benefit program that provides health coverage to millions of Americans, including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women and elderly adults with disabilities. Lynn Temple, who was the finance manager for William Tempel Construction, was sentenced in April 2022 to 14 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $415,221 restitution for conviction on wire fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Fulton County Man Indicted for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kevin Heidel, age 41, of Fulton County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on January 19, 20, and 27, 2023 and April 13, 2023, Heidel distributed child pornography in Fulton County. The indictment also alleges that Heidel possessed child pornography from August 2022 to May 2023.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Huntingdon Borough Police Department, and the Huntingdon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Former postal worker pleads guilty to attempted receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Fratini, 38, of Dunkirk, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to attempted receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Franz M. Wright, who are handling the case, stated that Fratini used his cellular telephone to solicit nude photos and videos of the pre-pubescent daughters of a female acquaintance, whom he met in October 2021 through a dating application. After meeting in person, the female acquaintance did not hear from Fratini again for several months. In March 2022, they spoke over the telephone and Fratini told her that he had a mother/daughter fantasy. He then sent a follow-up text message asking for videos and/or pictures of her daughters to fulfill his fantasies. After receiving the text message, the female acquaintance filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office. At the direction of the Sheriff’s Office, she continued text message conversations with Fratini. On March 18, 2022, investigators surveilled Fratini leaving his workplace at the time, the U.S. Postal Service on Grant Street in Buffalo, and travel to an Amherst hotel where he was expecting to meet the female acquaintance. After arriving at the hotel, Fratini was taken into custody.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Former State Employee Sentenced to 36 Months for Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Former New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) employee Wendell Giles, age 53, of Albany, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $800,000 in unemployment insurance benefits by abusing his position with the NYSDOL.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, Giles admitted that he and another former NYSDOL employee, Carl J. DiVeglia III, abused their state computer systems access to create and approve false unemployment insurance applications in 2020 and 2021, including applications for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.
Giles recruited relatives, friends and friends-of-friends to submit false benefits applications over the phone to DiVeglia after Giles had instructed them to lie in response to eligibility questions. Giles and DiVeglia then took a share of the benefits paid by NYSDOL on the false claims. Giles used his share to enrich himself, including by purchasing a three-wheeled motorcycle. In text messages, DiVeglia suggested a vanity license plate for Giles’s new vehicle, “TY PUA,” which Giles understood to mean “Thank You Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.” Giles responded, “Lol.” Giles had been employed as a Senior Employment Security Clerk, and DiVeglia as a Labor Services Representative.
Giles admitted responsibility for $826,530 in losses to pandemic-related UI benefits programs administered by the state. He has agreed to pay full restitution to NYSDOL. DiVeglia previously pled guilty to related charges and also agreed to pay restitution.
United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 2-year term of supervised release, to begin after Giles is released from prison. Judge Suddaby also ordered Giles to pay $826,530 in restitution to the State of New York and to forfeit a $100,000 money judgment to the United States.
The FBI and USDOL-OIG investigated this case, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian 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, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Shelby County Jailer Sentenced over Plan to Smuggle Narcotics into FacilityRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, a federal judge sentenced a former deputy jailer for possession of narcotics knowing that they would be distributed inside the county jail. Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
Kimberly Price, 31, of Memphis was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for her role in arranging delivery of cocaine and fentanyl to inmates at the Shelby County Correctional Center. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Price to serve two years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, in September 2020, the FBI Tarnished Badge Task Force initiated an investigation into allegations that Price, a deputy jailer at the Shelby County Correctional Center, was smuggling narcotics into the facility to be distributed to inmates. An inmate cooperating with the investigators made contact with Price to request that Price purchase narcotics that would ultimately be smuggled into the jail by a third party and delivered to the inmate. Price agreed, and on October 16, 2020, delivered a bag of cocaine to a cooperating source in exchange for $1000. On November 4, 2020, Price met with the cooperator again and provided fentanyl pills in exchange for $1300.
On May 4, 2023, Price pled guilty to a two-count criminal information alleging possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
Former Resident of Cheswick, PA Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Conviction of Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Cheswick, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 48 months of incarceration followed by four years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Bill Rana, age 43.
In conjunction with the sentencing hearing, the Court was informed that the Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted a long-term investigation into drug-trafficking activity occurring in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Law enforcement identified several individuals, suspected at the time, of illegally distributing controlled substances, including cocaine and methamphetamine in Allegheny, Westmoreland, Erie, Fayette, and Washington Counties.
Investigators identified Rana, as a “fully patched” member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club and Sergeant of Arms for the Pittsburgh Chapter. Over the course of the conspiracy, Rana obtained and redistributed over one kilogram of cocaine and over 140 grams of methamphetamine from multiple sources of supply that Rana redistributed. Additionally, Rana’s residence was searched on December 8, 2020, and investigators seized a variety of ammunition, which Rana was precluded 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rana.
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.