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Tuesday 24 October 2023
Bronx Man Charged with Shooting on Edward L. Grant HighwayRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging MIGUEL DIAZ with firing a weapon outside a Bronx deli, wounding a victim in the arm. DIAZ was arrested this morning and was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Miguel Diaz — who was previously convicted of reckless endangerment — fired a bullet outside a deli in the middle of the day at the corner of Edward L. Grant Highway and Jesup Avenue in the Bronx. Thanks to the swift action of our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Diaz will now be held accountable for his alleged reckless and violent actions.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The dedicated men and women of the NYPD, who have accomplished a 26 percent reduction in shootings so far this year in New York City, are still battling a scourge of gun violence that threatens everyone who lives, works, and visits here. And just as New Yorkers expect and deserve, we and our law enforcement colleagues vow to keep working tirelessly to investigate and arrest anyone brazen enough to carry and shoot an illegal weapon on our streets.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint:[[1]]
On October 4, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., as captured by surveillance video, DIAZ walked southbound to the corner of Edward L. Grant Highway and Jesup Avenue and stopped for several minutes outside a Bronx deli. As DIAZ’s victim emerged from the deli, DIAZ approached the victim from behind, pulled a firearm from his right pocket, and fired a shot. DIAZ was then seen returning the firearm to his pocket and fleeing the scene.
Below are still images of DIAZ, as captured by surveillance video, showing DIAZ as he fired the gun:
NYPD officers recovered a 9mm FC Luger shell casing from the scene. Below is a photograph of the recovered shell casing:
DIAZ was not permitted to possess ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for reckless endangerment. DIAZ was released from state custody on June 1, 2023, after serving a sentence of nearly five years in prison. The Bronx shooting occurred only four months later.
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DIAZ, 40, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan T. Nees is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Billings man accused of threatening to murder U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthyRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of threating to murder U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy appeared today for arraignment on an indictment, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Richard Lee Rogers, 44, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with threats to injure and murder a member of the United States Congress and with harassing telephone calls. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rogers faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Rogers was released pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 3, near Shepherd, Rogers threatened to assault and murder Kevin McCarthy, who is a member of the U.S. Congress and was the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, with the intent to retaliate against him for the performance of his official duties. The indictment further alleges that on Feb. 3, Rogers made repeated interstate phone calls to harass a person at the called number.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police.
PACER case reference. 23-112.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
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Baton Rouge Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Stage Automobile Accidents to Defraud Insurance and Trucking CompaniesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RODERICK HICKMAN (“HICKMAN”), age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.
According to court documents, on March 27, 2017, HICKMAN along with four other defendants, intentionally collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road and then fled the scene.
HICKMAN was referred to attorneys who paid him and another co-defendant to stage the accident. In some cases, the attorneys knew that the participants were uninjured but referred them to medical providers for treatment to increase the value of subsequent lawsuits. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out $277,500.00 for these fraudulent claims.
HICKMAN was sentenced to 42 months in the Bureau of Prisons by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $5.7 million. He also will be on supervised release for three years following incarceration and must pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Rivera, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long, also of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Bangor Man Sentenced to 10 Years after Transporting Fentanyl from MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
U.S District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Chad Savage, 34, to ten years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Savage pleaded guilty on June 13, 2023.
According to court records, in June 2022, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) investigators, after receiving information that Savage had purchased large quantities of drugs in Massachusetts to sell in the Bangor area, executed a search warrant on a vehicle Savage was operating. Savage directed investigators to the glovebox of the vehicle where 50 pressed “sticks” of suspected fentanyl were recovered. A lab later confirmed the drugs seized were 588.7 grams of fentanyl. Less than two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage. In an interview with authorities, Savage stated that he had traveled to Massachusetts to obtain the drugs, that the drugs were “fronted” to him, and that he estimated that he had been provided with 1000 grams.
MDEA, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Baltimore-Area Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Tax Evasion and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy to import, transport and sell drug paraphernalia. Sean Weston, of Windsor Mill, was also ordered to make restitution to the United States.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2015 through at least July 2019, Weston operated the Northwest Variety Store in Baltimore, where he sold empty gel capsules, colored plastic tops, dust masks, metal strainers, electric weighing scales, razor blades and mannite and quinine, which are used as cutting agents in illicit drugs. Weston admitted that he purchased from China hundreds of kilograms of quinine, a prescription medication for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Importing quinine for any other use is illegal. Weston concealed his purchases by requesting his foreign supplier label the quinine something else, such as “beta glucan.”
For tax years 2016 through 2018, Weston did not file federal income tax returns with the IRS. In addition to owning the Northwest Variety Store – which had significant profits during that time – Weston was on the payroll of a water treatment facility. To conceal his income from the IRS, Weston dealt substantially in cash. For example, from 2016 through 2018, Weston paid $29,835 in cash for the monthly rent of the Northwest Variety Store and deposited $352,026 in cash into two personal bank accounts.
In 2016, Weston made a $25,000 cash down payment for the purchase of a 2013 Bentley Continental GT – worth approximately $117,000 – and signed a credit application stating that his annual income was $180,000. In May 2017, Weston made a $15,000 cash down payment on the lease of a 2014 Bentley Flying Spur, worth more than $139,000. To obtain the lease, Weston had an individual prepare his tax return for 2016 that reflected a purported gross income of $358,984. Weston submitted the return to the car dealership but did not file it with the IRS.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), with the assistance from the Baltimore Police Department.
Senior Litigation Counsel John Sullivan of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth S. Clark for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to the Armed Robbery of a Baltimore Jewelry StoreRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Davontay Conner, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to the armed robbery of a jewelry store and to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, on October 13, 2019, Conner and three co-conspirators robbed a jewelry store in Baltimore. During the robbery, four masked men entered the store with guns. While three of the robbers held up the security guard at gunpoint, Conner used a hammer to smash a display case and steal several pieces of jewelry. Conner and his co-conspirators then fled the store, with one of the robbers firing a shot back toward the store. The robbers escaped in a waiting SUV. Another shot was fired from inside the vehicle, breaking the rear window and leaving glass in the parking lot.
Conner and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Conner will be sentenced to between seven and 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett, who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Albion Man Pleads Guilty to Guns for Drugs SchemeRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Albion man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for knowingly making false statements to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) while purchasing firearms.
According to court records, between June and August 2022, Jason Palmer, 42, obtained five pistols in five separate transactions with an FFL located in Fairfield. In each of those transactions, Palmer completed the required Form 4473 and misrepresented that he was the actual buyer of the firearm when he was in fact purchasing it for another individual. He also falsely indicated on the form that he was not an unlawful user of any controlled substances. In an interview with law enforcement, Palmer admitted that he had been offered heroin/fentanyl in exchange for purchasing the firearms.
Palmer faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Waterville Police Department investigated the case.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
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Alabama Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Grand Bay, Alabama man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Walton Stephen Vaughan, 67, was found to be in possession of hundreds of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct when, on February 27, 2019, FBI agents and local law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at his residence in Lucedale, Mississippi.
Vaughan was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 23, 2023.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Vaughan was ordered to pay restitution to victims totaling $29,500, and a $3,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Vaughan was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI in Mississippi made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, with assistance from the FBI in Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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
AECOM to Pay $11.8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations in Connection with Hurricane Disaster ReliefRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Dallas has agreed to pay $11.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly submitting false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the replacement of certain educational facilities located in Louisiana that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and corresponding rules, FEMA provided institutional applicants, such as schools and universities, with public assistance (PA) funds for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Funding was limited to the cost of repairing a damaged facility, unless that cost exceeded 50% of the facility’s replacement cost, in which case full-replacement funding was available.
Between 2006 and 2010, AECOM served as a technical assistance contractor in support of FEMA disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. In this role, AECOM prepared requests for PA funds on behalf of applicants that included, among other things, damage descriptions, estimates of the cost to repair damage and estimates of the cost to replace structures.
The settlement resolves allegations that an AECOM project officer deployed to Louisiana for the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort submitted to FEMA fraudulent requests for disaster assistance funds for several educational facilities in New Orleans, which resulted in certain applicants receiving PA funds in excess of what FEMA rules permitted, including in some cases because the facility was entitled only to repair rather than replacement costs. These facilities included the gymnasium, student center and electrical grid at Xavier University of Louisiana and a cafeteria building at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans’ St. Raphael the Archangel School. According to the allegations in the government’s complaint, AECOM supervisors reviewed and did not correct disaster assistance applications that included materially false design, damage and replacement eligibility descriptions.
“FEMA plays an essential role in helping communities recover from natural disasters,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement sends a strong message that FEMA contractors, as well as funding recipients, must provide truthful and accurate information so that FEMA’s resources are used to help those truly in need.”
“Federal disaster funds are instrumental in the effort to aid disaster victims with their recovery,” said the U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The favorable resolution of this False Claims Act matter illustrates the collaborative efforts and firm commitment by our federal partners to use all available remedies to address signs of fraud, waste and abuse.”
“With our law enforcement partners - the Department of Justice Civil Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana - DHS-OIG worked tirelessly to ensure that these defendants were brought to justice and that nearly $12 million in disaster relief funds will be returned to the U.S. taxpayer,” said Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS.
The settlement with AECOM resolves claims brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The United States may intervene in the action, as it did in part in this case. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Robert Romero v. AECOM, Inc., et al., No. 16-cv-15092 (E.D. La.). As part of the settlement with AECOM, the whistleblower, Robert Romero, will receive more than $2.4 million.
The United States has now recovered nearly $25 million in connection with the disaster assistance applications prepared by AECOM. The United States previously settled with Xavier University of Louisiana and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans with respect to their alleged role in the submission of the false certifications for FEMA funding prepared by AECOM.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, with substantial assistance from FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Investigative support was provided by the DHS-OIG's Major Fraud and Corruption Unit and New Orleans Resident Office.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Laura Hill, Richard Hagner, Gavin Thole, and Robin Overby of the Civil Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mimi Nguyen for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Charles Schexnaildre of FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
AECOM to Pay $11.8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations in Connection with Hurricane Disaster ReliefRead the Press Release
AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Dallas has agreed to pay $11.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly submitting false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the replacement of certain educational facilities located in Louisiana that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and corresponding rules, FEMA provided institutional applicants, such as schools and universities, with public assistance (PA) funds for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Funding was limited to the cost of repairing a damaged facility, unless that cost exceeded 50% of the facility’s replacement cost, in which case full-replacement funding was available.
Between 2006 and 2010, AECOM served as a technical assistance contractor in support of FEMA disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. In this role, AECOM prepared requests for PA funds on behalf of applicants that included, among other things, damage descriptions, estimates of the cost to repair damage and estimates of the cost to replace structures.
The settlement resolves allegations that an AECOM project officer deployed to Louisiana for the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort submitted to FEMA fraudulent requests for disaster assistance funds for several educational facilities in New Orleans, which resulted in certain applicants receiving PA funds in excess of what FEMA rules permitted, including in some cases because the facility was entitled only to repair rather than replacement costs. These facilities included the gymnasium, student center and electrical grid at Xavier University of Louisiana and a cafeteria building at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans’ St. Raphael the Archangel School. According to the allegations in the government’s complaint, AECOM supervisors reviewed and did not correct disaster assistance applications that included materially false design, damage and replacement eligibility descriptions.
“FEMA plays an essential role in helping communities recover from natural disasters,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement sends a strong message that FEMA contractors, as well as funding recipients, must provide truthful and accurate information so that FEMA’s resources are used to help those truly in need.”
“Federal disaster funds are instrumental in the effort to aid disaster victims with their recovery,” said the U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The favorable resolution of this False Claims Act matter illustrates the collaborative efforts and firm commitment by our federal partners to use all available remedies to address signs of fraud, waste and abuse.”
“With our law enforcement partners - the Department of Justice Civil Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana - DHS-OIG worked tirelessly to ensure that these defendants were brought to justice and that nearly $12 million in disaster relief funds will be returned to the U.S. taxpayer,” said Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS.
The settlement with AECOM resolves claims brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The United States may intervene in the action, as it did in part in this case. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Robert Romero v. AECOM, Inc., et al., No. 16-cv-15092 (E.D. La.). As part of the settlement with AECOM, the whistleblower, Robert Romero, will receive more than $2.4 million.
The United States has now recovered nearly $25 million in connection with the disaster assistance applications prepared by AECOM. The United States previously settled with Xavier University of Louisiana and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans with respect to their alleged role in the submission of the false certifications for FEMA funding prepared by AECOM.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, with substantial assistance from FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Investigative support was provided by the DHS-OIG's Major Fraud and Corruption Unit and New Orleans Resident Office.
This matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Laura Hill, Richard Hagner, Gavin Thole, and Robin Overby of the Civil Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mimi Nguyen for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Charles Schexnaildre of FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Settlement
Monday 23 October 2023
White Swan Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Young GirlRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Charlie Jim Peters, age 35, of White Swan, Washington was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 120 months imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and sex offender registration.
According to Court documents, on or about July 12, 2020, on the Yakama Nation reservation, Peters molested a sixteen-year-old victim while the victim was asleep inside a camper van. DNA analysis later confirmed Peter’s DNA from a sample recovered from the crime scene.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref for the Eastern District of Washington commended the efforts of the FBI Agents, Yakama Nation Police Officers and Yakima County Sheriff’s Deputies which led to this case: “Our hearts go out to the victim and the victim’s family. No sentence can undo the emotional trauma the victim suffered in this case. I am grateful for the investigative efforts that identified Mr. Peters and for the agents and prosecutors who devote their careers to this challenging, but most important work.”
“Mr. Peters will fortunately spend the next ten years in prison.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “While no sentence may seem long enough to a victim of his reprehensible actions, I commend her for taking the steps necessary which ultimately led to this sentence. The FBI and our partners are committed to making our state’s reservations safer for the citizens who call them home.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Michael Murphy, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
1:20-CR-02046-SAB
Verona, PA Resident Sentenced for Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearm LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Verona, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 5 years in prison on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Daimere Wilmer, 30, Verona, PA.
According to information presented to the court, Wilmer possessed with intent to deliver 12 kilograms of marijuana and possessed firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wilmer.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and WHYY Present Philadelphia Premiere of “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life” as Part of Fight Against HateRead the Press Release
Philadelphia, PA – On Thursday, October 19, 2023, community members and leaders gathered at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to watch the first screening in Philadelphia of Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today. The documentary tells the story of Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the attack.
“Through the voices of survivors, family members, diverse Pittsburgh residents, and leaders, Repairing the World shows the powerful display of unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community working together to stand united against hate,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In this painful and challenging time in the world, it is a message that we all can learn from and put into action in our own communities.”
Following the screening, host and producer of WHYY’s “Morning Edition” Jennifer Lynn led a panel discussion that included Patrice O’Neill, the film’s producer and director, Alan Mallinger, whose mother was killed and sister was wounded in the shooting, and Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Eric G. Olshan and members of the trial team that prosecuted and convicted the shooter were also in attendance and shared remarks.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania hosted the screening and discussion as part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate Initiative, in partnership with WHYY and Not In Our Town. The American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, HIAS Pennsylvania, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History cosponsored the screening.
“Hate-based violence and threats hurt not just the victims; they destroy entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In addition to prosecuting these crimes to the fullest extent of the law, my Office, along with our community and law enforcement partners, will continue to shine a light on the impact of these crimes and work with our partners to build the community connections needed to prevent them.”
U.S. Attorney Olshan added, “We were proud to join our colleagues from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for a viewing of this film, which showcases what those of us who worked on this case have witnessed firsthand for the last five years—the unbelievable strength and resolve of the entire victim community. We will continue to stand beside them in solidarity and to show that together we are stronger than hate.”
“Not In Our Town is honored to present this film to the Philadelphia community with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, WHYY, and our community partners,” said the film’s director and Not In Our Town CEO Patrice O’Neill. “The Pittsburgh community presents powerful lessons about how we can build alliances in our cities and towns that will help us become stronger than hate. We look forward to seeing how Pittsburgh’s story helps spark these discussions here in Philadelphia and across the country.”
WHYY will broadcast the film on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 9:00 p.m., with an encore presentation on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 12:30 p.m.
Learn more about the film by visiting https://repairingtheworldfilm.org/. Report suspected hate crimes first to your local law enforcement, then to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also report a hate crime, find resources, and learn more about the Department of Justice’s hate crimes prevention and enforcement work by visiting www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
U.S. Attorney Parker honors citizen & law enforcement efforts to reduce crime, build stronger communities in second annual awards ceremonyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, presented Law Enforcement and Community Service Awards, honoring individuals and groups for their work to reduce gun violence, provide alternatives to armed responses to mental health crises, improve school safety, volunteer to support crime prevention programs, aggressively investigate child exploitation, and help restored citizens return to the community after serving time behind bars.
“Building safe communities requires a mosaic of people and groups who look out for each other and bring their own individual skills and abilities to work together for a greater good,” U.S. Attorney Parker said. “Our office wants to call attention to these dedicated agents, officers, volunteers, and citizens for their accomplishments. We work together, we stand together, and at times we may suffer together, but we make positive change together.”
The awards include:
Kaia Grant Badge of Bravery and Sacrifice Award
Cincinnati Police Sergeant Donald Elsaesser, Cincinnati Police Officers Joshua Jordan, Rachel White, Jeremy Randolph and Lilgenia Wharton
This group of Cincinnati police officials put themselves in harm’s way and risked serious injury to themselves to disarm an individual who was repeatedly stabbing himself as he was going through a mental health crisis on July 6, 2023.
“The bravery, quick response, and teamwork of these officers allowed the man to receive the medical treatment he desperately needed, saving his life,” Parker said.
Law Enforcement Excellence Award
Cincinnati Police Officer Jeremy Burroughs
Officer Burroughs is a 22-year veteran who is currently a third shift uniformed patrol officer in an area that generates some of the most calls for service in the city.
“Throughout his career, Officer Burroughs has demonstrated exemplary patrol strategies that aid in achieving the mission of the Cincinnati Police department. He is consistent in his dedication to solving crimes in progress,” Parker said, noting that Officer Burroughs has also served as a field training officer, helping sculpt the next generation of law enforcement officers to operate with the same high values and sense of community that he holds.
Project Safe Neighborhood’s Guardian Award
Dayton Police Detectives Dustin J. Phillips, Geoffery T. Orndorff and Lucas A. Rose
The Dayton police detectives received this year’s Project Safe Neighborhood’s Guardian Award for their efforts to reduce gun violence as members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
They have been directly responsible for the recovery of 93 firearms in the last 12 months, leading to federal firearms charges against 37 individuals. Detective Phillips has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 16 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for eight years. Detective Orndorff has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 10 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for one year. Detective Rose has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 10 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for one year.
The Project Safe Childhood Shield of Innocence Award
FBI Special Agent Andrea Kinzig
Over the course of her 18-year career with the FBI, Special Agent Kinzig has set an almost impossible standard of excellence while pursuing justice for children who have been the victims of sexual abuse or exploitation. Special Agent Kinzig has built cases that have resulted in the successful prosecution of dozens of now-convicted sex offenders, investigating all manner of crimes against children, from production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography to coercion and enticement.
“Special Agent Kinzig has chosen a particularly noble and difficult path,” Parker said. “She focuses on protecting the public from predators and on making sure that child victims are heard, vindicated and cared for.”
Polaris Community Service Award
Coordinator Raven Cruz-Loiaza
Dayton Mediation Response Unit (MRU)
The City of Dayton created the MRU in May 2022 to provide an alternative response to armed uniformed responders to calls for service when an armed response was not necessary. Since it was established, the MRU has handled more than 3,500 calls for service and received closure and positive outcomes in 74 percent of its interaction with citizens.
“Thanks to the MRU, people are getting connected to health care, mental health and addiction services, mediation and other services, instead of facing negative outcomes such as incarceration or criminal charges,” Parker said.
Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Dayton)
Centerville Safe
Shortly after the Oregon District mass shooting in 2019, seven Centerville City School students’ parents put their fears and concerns to use and organized Centerville Safe, a non-profit organization, to focus on raising funds to support implementation of safety and security best practices within the City of Centerville school district. They’ve worked with first responders and Dayton Children’s Hospital to present seminars on safety, equipped every classroom with safety kits, and helped schools upgrade their safety systems.
“I join the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Centerville Police Department in commending Centerville Safe for providing invaluable crime prevention support among the community’s youth by partnering with local law enforcement and the school district,” Parker said. “They are fulfilling their worthy mission.”
Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Cincinnati)
Mr. Bob Weidlich
Mr. Weidlich went through the first Springdale Police Citizen’s Police Academy class in 2011 and was quick to give back on the opportunity. He has volunteered more than 2,080 hours to work with the police on crime prevention and community safety programs.
“In addition, Bob has been a participant in the Honor Flight Program, served honorably in active duty in Vietnam and is active within Springdale beyond his service through the police department,” Parker said.
Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Columbus)
U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr., Pastor Donald Fitzgerald, former Chief of U.S. Probation John Dierna, and Alfred Young
Restored Citizens
After speaking on several occasions during the sentencing of individuals in the federal courthouse, Pastor Fitzgerald and U.S. District Judge Sargus established The Restored Citizens program. The program involves meeting with former inmates at the Pastor’s church to discuss positive ways to transition from a life of imprisonment back into the communities they left. The group also discuss the means and resources available to assist them in overcoming systemic barriers to their transition home.
The men paired up with then Chief of U.S. Probation Dierna and Mr. Young, and together, the group provided resources related to topics like housing, employment, transportation and mental health.
“When an individual is calling for another chance, the Restored Citizens program is answering that call. These many men and women of the Restored Citizens program are an instrumental part of the fabric of our community. They represent resiliency and positive change,” said Parker.
U.S. Attorney’s Special Commendation
Ms. Hope L. Harvey Dudley
Ms. Dudley “embodies the spirit of everything we would want in a fighter for law enforcement, victims and the community as a whole,” said Parker.
After gun violence killed her son, Daniel Chaz Dudley, in September 2007, Dudley founded UCanSpeakForMe, a place where families suffering in anguish know they are not alone, and that there are others who are working tirelessly to solve the crimes committed against their loved one and bring accountability to the forefront.
Ms. Dudley has hosted countless vigils and community events, and created playing cards that hold the information and faces of loved ones who were victims of unsolved homicides. These cards have been distributed throughout the community and placed in jails to give prisoners and others the understanding that they can come forward to provide information to law enforcement regarding the crime.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s annual law enforcement awards, please contact Law Enforcement Coordinator Mitchell Seckman at 614-469-5715.
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U.S. Attorney Mark Totten Announces Civil Rights Team, United Against Hate InitiativeRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten today announced the formation of a Civil Rights Team in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. This team will focus on enforcing federal civil rights laws across the Western District of Michigan, as well as conducting regular community outreach regarding civil rights and hate crimes.
“Protecting civil rights is central to our mission and we’re prepared to take on hate and discrimination wherever we have the power to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Every person and every community deserve equal protection under the law. It’s part of the American promise and we’re committed to making sure it’s a reality here in Michigan.”
U.S. Attorney Totten previewed this announcement during his remarks at the Greater Grand Rapids Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Freedom Fund Program last Friday.
VIEW VIDEO OF U.S. ATTORNEY TOTTEN’S REMARKS HERE.
The Civil Rights Team includes federal prosecutors and staff from the Office’s Criminal and Civil Divisions. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Nils Kessler and AUSA Stephanie Carowan will serve as the lead prosecutors on criminal matters, including hate crimes and unlawful threats. AUSA Laura Babinsky and AUSA Kalen Pruss will serve as lead on civil matters, enforcing federal civil rights laws regarding discrimination, disability access, environmental justice, sexual harassment, voting rights, and other matters. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten has appointed AUSA Kessler as the Civil Rights Coordinator on Criminal Matters and AUSA Babinsky as the Civil Rights Coordinator on Civil Matters. The team will work closely with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and coordinate with other Department components and local, state, federal, and tribal agencies as needed.
In addition, U.S. Attorney Totten also announced the launch of the Office’s United Against Hate Initiative. This program, part of a nationwide effort by the U.S. Department of Justice, aims to combat unlawful acts of hate. The program will consist of ongoing local forums that connect community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate.
“Combatting hate requires close relationships between law enforcement and civil rights, faith, and other community groups,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Our United Against Hate Initiative is designed to educate the public about civil rights, the work we are doing to protect civil rights, and how to report violations. At the same time, we will also listen to people’s experiences, so we better understand what people are facing.”
Program topics include defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes.
In addition to his work in the Western District of Michigan, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten also serves as a member of the Attorney General Advisory Committee’s Civil Rights Subcommittee since taking office in May 2022. In March 2023 he traveled to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama to join more than 30 other U.S. Attorneys from across the county as part of a delegation to commemorate the 58th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Anyone wishing to report a civil rights violation related to voting, housing, employment, education, the workplace, business, healthcare, or other public spaces can call the Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at 616-808-2195 or email [email protected]. Individuals reporting a hate crime or criminal threat can call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone facing imminent harm should call 911.
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U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announces $3.2 million in Justice Department 2023 grants for three Montana tribesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — The Justice Department on Oct. 20, through its Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), announced that it has awarded 182 grants to 111 American Indian and Alaska Native communities, totaling more than $96.7 million. Included in the awards are grants totaling $3.2 million to three tribes in Montana.
“This grant program was created in recognition of the fact that Tribes are in the best position to determine how to meet the most urgent public safety challenges facing their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These resources will go directly to supporting Tribes’ efforts to bolster their law enforcement capabilities, combat gender-based and domestic violence, and provide support to victims. The Justice Department will continue to serve as partners to Tribes as they work to ensure the safety of their communities.”
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that our resources support Tribal sovereignty and address acute public safety challenges in Indian Country and in rural Alaska,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who announced the awards Oct. 20 in remarks to the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage. “We are committed to working with our Tribal partners to make our resources more accessible to Tribal communities.”
“I am pleased three of our tribal nations in Montana will be receiving funds to help improve and support their critical work in making their communities safer. The money will help in a variety of ways, from strengthening justice programs, law enforcement, and public safety to supporting services for victims of domestic violence and services for youth,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana.
Montana tribes receiving CTAS grants are:
Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, $1,435,232 total.
- Tribal Justice Infrastructure Program (Bureau of Justice Assistance), $1,335,237.
- Tribal Youth Program (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), 99,995.
Crow Tribe of Indians, $500,000 total.
- Tribal Youth Program (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), $500,000.
Northern Cheyenne Tribe, $1,328,909 total.
- Public Safety and Community Policing (COPS Office), $629,138.
- Comprehensive Tribal Justice Systems Strategic Planning (Bureau of Justice Assistance), $149,831.
- Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities (Office for Victims of Crime), $449,992.
- Tribal Youth Program (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), $99,948.
The tribal grant awards are designed to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, improve the handling of child abuse cases, combat domestic and sexual violence, support tribal youth programs, and fund an array of services for American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims. The awards are administered through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
In addition to the CTAS awards, several other Justice Department components announced grant awards to Tribes. For example, OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime has awarded almost $70 million through the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside to provide services for crime victims in tribal communities and to increase the quantity and quality of victim-centered services available to assist tribal victims of human trafficking in urban areas.
The Justice Department also awarded more than $8.5 million through OJP's Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking to 24 tribes to assist in their compliance with federal law on sex offender registration and notification.
Of the more than $96.7 million in grants awarded under CTAS, a streamlined application that helps Tribes apply for tribal-specific grant programs, OJP made more than $66 million in awards, and the COPS Office made nearly $30 million.
The COPS Office used these funds to assist 49 Tribes in hiring personnel, equipment, and training grants to expand the implementation of community policing. Specifically, this funding can be used to hire or re-hire full-time career law enforcement officers, Village Public Safety Officers and school resource officers and to procure essential equipment, technology, and training to assist in initiating or enhancing tribal policing efforts.
About the Office of Justice Programs
OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice, assist victims, and uphold the rule of law.
More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
About the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime-fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. Since 1994, the COPS Office has appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to over 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 136,000 officers.
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Three Individuals Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Automobile AuctionRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Stephanie Louise Baker, 53, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., Brian Baker, 52, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and Jerry W. Hutchins, 48, of Dowelltown, Tenn., for engaging in a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud a used automobile auction business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee.
All three defendants surrendered to federal agents last Friday and made an appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge that day.
The federal indictment charges Stephanie Baker and Brian Baker, who are married, and Hutchins with a wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment also charges all three defendants with substantive offenses for acts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, between February 2017 and November 2018, Stephanie Baker was the General Manager of the Dealers Auto Auction Group’s Murfreesboro auction location. Brian Baker and Jerry Hutchins each owned and operated used car dealerships and did business at the auction. The defendants devised a scheme to defraud Dealers Auto Auction Group, LLC by creating fake transactions to make it appear that the defendants’ businesses had sold cars at the auction and were entitled to receive funds from Dealers Auto Auction Group, when in fact the defendants had not sold vehicles at the auction. Based on the fake transactions, Stephanie Baker caused Dealers Auto Auction Group to issue checks to Brian Baker’s and Hutchins’ businesses. Then, monthly, the defendants would create additional fake transactions using the same vehicles in order to conceal the original fraud and avoid detection. Brian Baker and Hutchins then converted proceeds of the fraud scheme for their own personal use and benefit.
As a result of this scheme, the defendants defrauded Dealers Auto Auction Group of more than $2 million.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy, the money laundering conspiracy, and the concealment money laundering offenses, and up to 10 years in prison for money laundering. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the crimes, including a money judgment in the amount of at least $2,041.170 from Stephanie Baker, $1,357,310 from Brian Baker, and $683,830 from Jerry Hutchins.
This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Suedekum is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Tewksbury Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Tewksbury man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for the September 2020 robbery of a Santander Bank branch in Tewksbury.
Nicholas O’Neil, 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In February 2023, O’Neil pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery.
Just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2020, an individual – later identified as O’Neil – entered a Santander Bank branch in Tewksbury, handed the teller a demand note and a red cloth bag. After obtaining cash from the teller, O’Neill exited the bank and sped away in a white pickup truck which was reported to police by a banking customer who had observed the robbery and followed the vehicle. The pickup truck was located a short time later and O’Neil was arrested without incident. The red cloth bag containing the stolen cash and demand note was found inside the vehicle.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan M. Columbus made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and John J. Reynolds III of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Straw Purchaser Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Daniel Lee Ferguson, 45, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to making false statements in acquisition of firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 22, 2023, Ferguson purchased a Springfield Armory model Hellcat 9mm pistol at a Barboursville business. Ferguson admitted that he bought the firearm for an individual who accompanied him to the business, directed him which firearm to buy, and provided the money to purchase the firearm. Ferguson further admitted that he knew the individual had previously been convicted of a felony offense and could not purchase or possess a firearm. Ferguson falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the buyer of the firearm when Ferguson knew he was purchasing it for the individual who was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Ferguson further admitted that he purchased two other firearms at Cabell County businesses for the individual, a Bersa model Thunder 380 .380-caliber pistol on August 14, 2019, and a Springfield Armory model Prodigy 9mm on February 25, 2023. Ferguson falsely certified on the ATF Form 4473 for each purchase that he was the buyer of the firearm when he knew he was purchasing it for the individual who was prohibited from possessing firearms
Ferguson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 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 Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted under the criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. BSCA is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-42.
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Serial Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbery and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
An Amarillo man who violently robbed a Family Dollar store pleaded guilty today to robbery and firearm charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Shane Ray Bursie, 36, was indicted in March 2023. He pleaded guilty today to one count of affecting commerce by robbery and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The investigation began in August 2021 when the FBI and Amarillo Police Department investigated a string of armed robberies that occurred in the Amarillo area. During the investigation, Bursie was identified as a primary suspect, including of a violent robbery that occurred on October 23, 2022.
Court documents indicate that Bursie, armed with a revolver, robbed an Amarillo Family Dollar store on October 23, 2022. Burise approached the store clerk, grabbed her and forced her behind the counter with another employee. He pointed the revolver at the employees and demanded them to open the safe. While the cash register was being opened a customer ran out the front door, and Bursie shot at the customer, he missed and struck the glass door. Bursie grabbed approximately $1,349 in cash from the register, threw the register drawer off the counter and ran out the front door. Prior to running out the door, Bursie told one of the employees he would be back to shoot them.
Mr. Bursie now faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the robbery count and 10 years to life on the firearm count. His sentencing will be set at a later date.
The case was brought under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, a program that surges federal and local law enforcement resources to communities’ most violent neighborhoods in order to root out offenders and build positive relationships with victims and witnesses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto is prosecuting the case.
Sarasota Multi-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Six Years for Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Terrence Thompson (42, Sarasota) to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Thompson had pleaded guilty on June 28, 2023.
According to court documents, on December 9, 2022, deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a 911 call about a disturbance involving Thompson at a residence near Lalani Boulevard and Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota. The SCSO Aviation Unit tracked Thompson from the residence and the helicopter camera recorded Thompson stopping his vehicle and throwing a small pistol-shaped object in the bushes near Crescent Ridge Road and Bee Ridge Road. SCSO deputies searched the area and located the loaded Bersa Thunder 380 pistol that Thompson had discarded.
Thompson was arrested a short time later. During an interview with ATF agents, Thompson admitted to being a convicted felon and possessing the pistol. He further admitted to discarding the pistol when the helicopter spotted him. As a convicted felon Thompson is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Diego F. Novaes.
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.
Sanbornville Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges in Connection to Romance Scams Targeting the ElderlyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Sanbornville man pleaded guilty today in federal court in connection to his role in a romance-scam money laundering scheme, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Steven Ferrill, 72, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to an information charging one count of concealment money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for January 26, 2024.
In October 2019, federal agents approached Ferrill to question him about financial transactions totaling more than $1 million involving his bank accounts. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provided the defendant a “money mule” warning letter, which explicitly warned him that engaging in wire transfers on behalf of people he did not know could facilitate fraudulent schemes and expose him to criminal liability. Despite the warning, the defendant continued to engage in transactions involving victims of romance scams. For example, in February 2020, Ferrill facilitated a wire transfer to his bank account from a victim, which he then re-routed overseas.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. 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 led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD- 11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can 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.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.
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San Bernardino County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Leading Drug Trafficking Efforts, Including Smuggling into JailsRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – The central figure in three conspiracies in which members and associates of a San Bernardino-based street gang deliberately got themselves arrested to smuggle narcotics and syringes hidden in their body cavities into San Bernardino County jails was sentenced today to 204 months in federal prison.
Carlos Antonio Aznaran, 29, of San Bernardino, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal.
Aznaran, the lead defendant charged in three separate indictments in April 2019, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, five counts of international money laundering, one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Aznaran has been in federal custody since his arrest in April 2019.
From at least July 2017 until April 2019, the Westside Verdugo street gang smuggled narcotics inside San Bernardino County’s jail system. Aznaran contacted drug suppliers to obtain and arrange for narcotics to be smuggled into the jails by people who were willing to be arrested and who hid the drugs inside their body cavities. The smugglers then distributed the drugs to other inmates inside the jails.
During at least four smuggling attempts, law enforcement intercepted approximately 121 grams of methamphetamine, 86 grams of heroin, and at least 10 syringes, according to court documents.
Aznaran also was the primary link between the Mexican source of supply for methamphetamine and heroin and the street level dealers in his neighborhood. He was responsible for routine multi-pound orders, paying the Mexico source of supply, and accepting the bulk shipments from Mexico. Using other co-conspirators, including his wife, Elisa Montes, 32, of Palm Desert, Aznaran the repackaged the methamphetamine into smaller quantities then distributed it to other drug dealers in the conspiracy in exchange for a portion of their profits. From October 2017 to January 2018, Aznaran obtained more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In his plea agreement, Aznaran admitted to conspiring to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin, and to possessing in January 2018 approximately 18.5 grams of heroin and nearly 111 grams of fentanyl. He further admitted to possessing three firearms in January 2018. Aznaran knew he was not permitted to possess firearms because of his 2014 felony convictions, including a conviction in Riverside County Superior Court for assault with a deadly weapon.
“For some inmates, prison is one of the few places they are separated from the destructive influences in their lives, including drugs,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Aznaran’s] role in procuring smugglers and introducing drugs into the prison system threatened that opportunity for these inmates, all for his own personal benefit. [His] conduct showed a willingness to prey on a vulnerable group of people, many of whom were undoubtedly taking advantage of their custody time to regain sobriety.”
Federal prosecutors have secured convictions against 35 defendants in these cases, with some defendants receiving sentences of up to 10 years in federal prison. Montes pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Bernal in March 2020 sentenced her to two years in federal prison.
The FBI, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino Police Department investigated this matter. The Fontana Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; and the San Bernardino County Probation and Parole Departments provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott M. Lara of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted these cases.
Rose Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a 2-Year-Old Toddler and Filming the AbuseRead the Press Release
A man from Rose was sentenced Friday in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour sentenced Billy Scott McDonald, 48, to 30 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervision upon release. On November 30th, 2022, McDonald plead guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, Production of Child Pornography, and Possession of or Access with Intent to View Child Pornography.
"Billy Scott McDonald not only engaged in sexual acts with a toddler. He also photographed the sexual acts resulting in the producing and possessing child pornography charges,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Federal prosecutors and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to protect minors from sexual exploitation and bring to justice those who have harmed them.”
“This individual preyed on the innocence and vulnerability of a child to fulfill his demented desires,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. “Thanks to the outstanding teamwork of HSI Tulsa, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, he will spend the next 50 years behind bars where he will no longer be able to take advantage of our children.”
According to court documents, Billy Scott McDonald engaged in oral sex with a 2-year-old toddler in 2022. The disturbing images and video of McDonald sexually abusing the toddler were discovered by a family member on McDonald’s phone. The family member reported the images and video to Mayes County Sheriff’s Office. The toddler is a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the crimes occurred in the Cherokee Nation.
During a post-Miranda interview with Homeland Security Investigation Agents, McDonald admitted that he had “sexual thoughts about children for a very long time” and often tried to “keep himself away from children to avoid getting in trouble.” That while he watched the toddler for a neighbor, he photographed and videoed himself engaging in sexual abuse with the toddler.
McDonald will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Child EnticementRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 23, 2023, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Scott J. Meyer (age: 52), formerly of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to 130 months in federal prison for attempted child enticement. Following his prison sentence, Meyer will serve a lifetime of supervised release.
According to court documents, in June 2021, Meyer communicated with an undercover officer who he believed was a 15-year-old girl. Meyer requested sexually explicit photos from the girl and encouraged her to run away from home. On July 14, 2021, Meyer planned to pick the girl up and bring her back to his residence in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the purpose of having sexual intercourse. He expressed some concern about the possibility of getting caught and sent the undercover officer a message that stated, “If I show up to meet with you and you’re not who you say you are, I’m going straight to prison for 5-10 years!” Meyer was arrested that day.
Meyer began communicating with the undercover officer just two months after he was released from prison for a similar offense committed in Shawano County, Wisconsin. In that case, Meyer communicated with an undercover officer who he believed was a 15-year-old girl and sent her sexually explicit photographs.
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.
This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros.
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Recidivist Fraudster Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for over $10 Million COVID-19 Loan Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ADEDAYO ILORI was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil to 25 years in prison for his participation in a sophisticated identity theft and COVID-19 loan fraud scheme.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Even while on bail for federal fraud offenses, Adedayo Ilori could not help but continue his repeated fraud and identity theft crimes. He saw the hardships and disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the federal government’s efforts to address those in need as an opportunity for fraud. He lined his own pockets and recklessly used the identities of dozens of victims. Today’s sentence sends a message to Ilori and others engaged in similar crimes that such conduct, especially when it is repeated, will be severely punished.”
According to court filings and evidence introduced during court proceedings:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who suffered the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Pursuant to the CARES Act, the amount of PPP funds a business was eligible to receive was determined by the number of employees employed by the business and their average payroll costs. Businesses applying for a PPP loan were required to provide documentation to confirm that they had previously paid employees the compensation represented in the loan application. The CARES Act also expanded the separate Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program, which provided small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they experienced due to COVID-19. To qualify for an EIDL loan under the CARES Act, the applicant must have suffered “substantial economic injury” from COVID-19.
From at least in or about August 2020 through at least in or about October 2021, ILORI and his co-defendant, Chris Recamier, engaged in a rampant COVID-19 loan fraud scheme. Utilizing false identities, sham tax records, and corporate documents, ILORI and Recamier successfully obtained more than $1 million, and attempted to obtain more than $10 million, through the PPP and the EIDL Program. In particular, ILORI and Recamier applied for 14 PPP and EIDL loans. In applying for these loans, ILORI and Recamier claimed stolen identities of third parties and claimed full control of a number of companies, which they purported, cumulatively, employed more than 200 people and paid monthly salaries of more than $3.2 million in wages. In reality, they did not operate these companies. In submitting these applications, ILORI and Recamier, among other things, submitted falsified tax documents which were never actually filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
ILORI and Recamier used the majority of the over $1 million in stolen government funds for cryptocurrency investments, the purchase of stocks, cash withdrawals, and personal expenses, including leasing luxury apartments and a Mercedes car. The investment accounts were also opened by ILORI and Recamier in the stolen identities of third parties.
ILORI committed these offenses while facing charges in a separate case filed in the Southern District of New York involving fraud, identity theft, and money laundering in United States v. Ilori, 20 Cr 378 (LJL). As part of that case, ILORI was sentenced on March 3, 2022, to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman in connection with a commercial loan fraud and bank bribery scheme.
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In addition to the prison term, which is to run consecutive to ILORI’s term of 63 months in prison that was imposed by Judge Liman, ILORI, 43, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $1,039,424 and pay restitution in the amount of $1,120,462.40.
ILORI’s co-defendant, Chris Recamier, 59, of New York, New York, previously pled guilty to major fraud against the United States and was sentenced on October 17, 2022, by Judge Vyskocil to nine years in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, which conducted the investigation on behalf of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (“PRAC”) COVID-19 Task Force.[1] Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration for their assistance in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juliana N. Murray, David R. Felton, and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.
[1] Created by the CARES Act, the PRAC serves the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 22 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending.
Readout of Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta’s Trip to Alaska to Meet with Tribal Leaders and Speak at the Alaska Federation of Natives 2023 Annual ConventionRead the Press Release
From Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Friday, Oct. 20, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta traveled to Alaska to speak at the Alaska Federation of Natives’ annual convention, meet with Alaska Native and local partners, and reaffirm the Justice Department’s commitment to promoting Tribal sovereignty and to keeping all Alaskans safe. The Associate Attorney General was joined on the trip by Director Tracy Toulou of the Office of Tribal Justice and Director Rosemarie Hidalgo of the Office on Violence Against Women, as well as by U.S. Attorney Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. The Associate Attorney General’s travel to Alaska continues a series of meetings with Tribal governments and follows recent remarks at the Justice Department’s 18th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation. It also follows an August visit to Alaska by the Attorney General and is part of the Justice Department’s continued efforts to engage with American Indian and Alaska Native leaders.
Outlining Justice Department Commitments to Support Tribal Jurisdiction and Safety: Alaska Federation of Natives 2023 Annual Convention
In remarks to the 2023 Annual Convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Associate Attorney General announced the launch of the Justice Department’s Alaska Pilot Program, along with other Justice Department initiatives, litigation, and grants to support Tribal sovereignty and keep all Alaskans safe.
The 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA 2022) provides a path for Alaska Tribes to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit certain crimes, including crimes of sexual or domestic violence, in Native Villages. Through the Alaska Pilot Program, the Justice Department will provide Tribes with guidance and resources to consider exercising this jurisdiction. The Associate Attorney General also announced that the Justice Department’s Office of Tribal Justice is releasing a memorandum confirming Tribes’ inherent civil and criminal jurisdiction over Natives present in their Villages.
The Associate Attorney General also unveiled nearly $97 million in new Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) grant funding for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These grant awards will help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, improve the handling of child abuse cases, combat domestic and sexual violence, support Tribal youth programs, and fund an array of services for American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims. The awards are part of the Justice Department’s commitment to providing funding to advance public safety in rural Alaska, as well as to ensuring that the Department’s grant resources are as accessible as possible to Tribes and Native organizations. The Associate Attorney General also outlined ongoing efforts by the Justice Department’s grantmaking offices to engage directly with Alaska Native communities and make grant and technical assistance resources more accessible.
In addition to these announcements, the Associate Attorney General reaffirmed the Justice Department’s commitment to supporting Tribal sovereignty and Tribal issues through litigation, including in the Department’s successful defense of the Indian Child Welfare Act at the Supreme Court, and in ongoing litigation against the State of Alaska to protect subsistence resources from depletion.
Meetings with Tribal and Community Leaders, Public Safety Officials, and Advocates in Nome, Alaska
The Associate Attorney General began her trip by traveling to Nome to meet with leaders from local Tribal nonprofit Kawerak, Inc., which represents the 20 Tribes in the Bering Strait Region; the City of Nome; and surrounding Tribal Villages.
The Associate Attorney General met with Kawerak’s leadership, discussed the organization’s work to enhance Tribal justice systems, heard about the region’s subsistence-use needs, and learned about Kawerak and other organizations’ work to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The Associate Attorney General also toured Kawerak’s child advocacy center, which provides resources for minors who are victims of physical or sexual abuse. Kawerak receives grant funding from the Justice Department for its work to prevent and respond to domestic and sexual violence in Alaska Native communities throughout the Bering Strait Region.
The Associate Attorney General also met with officials from the Nome region’s Tribal governments and Tribal associations. She heard from a representative of the Village of Solomon about the importance of addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). And she spoke with a Village Public Safety Officer from the Village of Shishmaref about the unique challenges of ensuring public safety in rural Alaska. Finally, the Associate Attorney General visited Norton Sound Regional Hospital and met with the supervisor of the hospital’s sexual assault medical forensic examination program. Norton Sound receives Justice Department funding to partner with other members of the Bering Strait Sexual Assault Response Team to increase access to forensic exams for sexual assault survivors in the region’s remote Villages.
In addition, the Associate Attorney General met with leadership in the City of Nome, including the police chief and city manager, as well as the superintendent of the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center, a local facility. The Associate Attorney General engaged with these officials about the importance of recruiting and retaining police officers and other public-safety officials, as well as the need to ensure reentry services for the correctional facility’s incarcerated population.
Meetings with Justice Department Officials, Native Leaders, and Local Legal Community in Anchorage, Alaska
On Thursday, Oct. 19, the Associate Attorney General spent time in Anchorage visiting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office leadership, attorneys, and staff. During her visit, the Associate Attorney General was briefed on civil and criminal issues arising in Alaska. She also participated in a fireside chat with U.S. Attorney Tucker at an event hosted by the Federal Bar Association’s Alaska chapter.
In addition, Associate Attorney General Gupta met with leaders of the Alaska Court System’s Eviction Diversion Program, which is employing strategies to avoid contested landlord-tenant litigation. The program was established with a grant through the National Center for State Courts, which followed a letter that the Associate Attorney General sent to state court administrators in June 2021 encouraging them to consider novel solutions “that can help families avoid the disruption and damage that evictions cause.”
Associate Attorney General Gupta also attended the second meeting of the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee. Created by VAWA 2022, the Advisory Committee includes representatives from Alaska Tribes, federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement, and Tribal nonprofit organizations. The Associate Attorney General delivered remarks recognizing the region’s public-safety challenges and expressing the Justice Department’s commitment to partnering with Tribes and Native groups.
On Friday, Oct. 20, the Associate Attorney General held additional meetings with Native leaders, including with representatives from the Association of Village Council Presidents, a nonprofit Tribal consortium supporting the 56 Tribes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and the Alaska Native Justice Center, which recently received a Justice Department grant to provide technical assistance to Tribes seeking to exercise the special Tribal criminal jurisdiction authorized in VAWA 2022. The Associate Attorney General also met with family members of Alaska Natives who were victims of the MMIP crisis and who died in state custody.
Associate Attorney General Gupta addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention. Justice Department officials meet with the supervisor of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital’s sexual assault medical forensic examination program. Associate Attorney General Gupta meets with attorneys and staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. The Associate Attorney General is briefed by U.S. Attorney Lane Tucker (left) and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Vogel (right) on issues affecting Alaska Native communities. Associate Attorney General (right) and U.S. Attorney Tucker speak at the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee. Associate Attorney General Gupta, U.S. Attorney Tucker, and OTJ Director Toulou (far right) meet with leaders and advocates from the Association of Village Council Presidents and the Alaska Native Justice Center.Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to FloridaRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, on Oct. 19 to continue the division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.
In the morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke joined Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida to announce a $9 million agreement with Ameris Bank to resolve allegations that the bank engaged in a pattern or practice of redlining predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida. Since 2021, the department has secured 10 resolutions and over $107 million in relief for communities of color nationwide. Read her full remarks here.
After the announcement, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Handberg held a meeting with community leaders and stakeholders to discuss the agreement with Ameris Bank, as well as other civil rights issues, including hate crimes, law enforcement accountability, voting rights and LGBTQI+ rights.
In the afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Clarke visited the Pace Center for Girls, a nationally recognized day program that offers counseling, academic and life-skills services for girls ages 12-17 who are at risk of entering the juvenile justice system or experiencing difficulties at home or school. There, she spoke to a group of young girls about the Justice Department’s work to protect civil rights, efforts to advance equity for women and girls and her career in public service. She encouraged the girls to continue to strive for academic excellence and also toured the campus with Executive Director Chantell Miles and other program leadership.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke concluded her trip at Edward Waters University, the state of Florida’s first historically Black college. There, she and U.S Attorney Handberg met with President Dr. Zachary Faison Jr. and student leaders. She commended the school leadership, faculty, campus officers and the students for their resilience during the moments preceding the tragic Aug. 26 shooting at a nearby Dollar General store. Assistant Attorney General Clarke also detailed the department’s efforts to prosecute hate crimes through the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and underscored efforts to promote prevention and education through the department’s United Against Hate initiative.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Handberg at a meeting with Jacksonville community leaders and stakeholders. Assistant Attorney General Clarke addressing students at the Pace Center for Girls. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Handberg with students and faculty of Edward Waters University.Polk City Man Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A Polk City man was sentenced on October 6, 2023, to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to public court documents, Daniel Todd Little, 44, produced child sexual abuse material when he videorecorded himself sexually abusing a minor child.
The Court imposed the 30-year sentence to be served consecutively to Little’s sentence for his 2022 convictions in the Iowa District Court for Polk County for sexual abuse, controlled substance, and firearm charges. After completing his term of imprisonment, Little will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Little was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security and the Ankeny Police Department investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Placerville Man Sentenced to 15-Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jordan T. Piper, 38, of Placerville, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison to be followed by seven and a half years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in 2019, Piper made approximately 30 surreptitious recordings of a minor victim while living in Groveland. Piper created screenshots from surreptitious video recordings that focused on the minor victim’s genitals and pubic area. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement found approximately 433 nude images of the minor victim on Piper’s cellphone.
This case was the product of an investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Parma Man Indicted for Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Parma man was indicted for child pornography crimes. Brandon N. Crites, 32, of Parma, was indicted on one count each of receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Crites, between 2022 and 2023, received and distributed numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possessed a laptop and hard drives that contained child pornography in September 2023, according to the indictment. At the time of the offenses, Crites was employed as a patrolman with the Cleveland Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer King following an investigation by the FBI.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Orange County Man Sentenced to 7½ Years in Prison for Firearms Crimes and Check Fraud Scheme That Illicitly Sought $1.2 MillionRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A convicted felon from Orange County who used social media to instruct his Instagram followers on how to defraud banks was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for conspiring with a bank employee and others to commit a check fraud scheme in which they sought $1.2 million.
Meshach Samuels, 26, of Placentia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who also ordered him to pay $423,087 in restitution.
Samuels pleaded guilty on May 25 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
From May 2021 to March 2022, Samuels urged his Instagram followers to join his Telegram chat groups, where – for a fee of up to thousands of dollars – he would provide instructions on how to recruit accomplices and commit check fraud to steal money from banks.
Samuels and his accomplices would create fraudulent checks drawn on victim accounts, frequently using stolen information obtained from a bank teller and other sources. Samuels’ co-conspirators, with Samuels’ help, would deposit the fraudulent checks into third-party accounts.
Once the check amounts were credited to the third-party accounts, Samuels’ co-conspirators, again with Samuels’ assistance, fraudulently withdrew money in amounts below $10,000 to avoid triggering bank scrutiny. The corrupt bank teller was paid a portion of the cash the conspirators obtained from negotiating fraudulent checks.
This check fraud scheme attempted to obtain at least approximately $1.2 million and caused actual losses of at least $423,087.
Samuels also participated in a scheme in 2021 to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) through the submission of fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance that contained stolen identity information. Those fraudulent applications included information from individuals who resided outside California, were deceased, or who otherwise were not eligible for unemployment insurance. Members of the scheme provided EDD with a set of common mailing addresses they controlled for multiple applications.
After EDD approved the fraudulent applications and disbursed the pandemic benefits to EDD debit accounts, Samuels and his co-schemers used the debit cards to withdraw cash at ATMs.
In total, Samuels caused at least $14,250 in actual losses to EDD.
In addition, Samuels, whose criminal history includes felony convictions in Florida for aggravated battery on a law enforcement official, admitted to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. Specifically, during an August 2021 traffic stop in Costa Mesa, police officers found a firearm and ammunition concealed on his person. In March 2022, federal agents searched Samuels’ residence and seized five firearms and ammunition.
“As reflected by the voluminous actual and intended losses, [Samuels’] conduct was not the product of a short-term lapse in judgment but was calculated behavior that was mass-marketed on social media and engaged in for months, affecting scores of victims,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “The proceeds of the fraud were used to purchase luxury and high-end items and firearms.”
In a related case, Sasha Lizette Jimenez, 26, Samuels’ former girlfriend, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud for running the EDD fraud scheme in which Samuels participated. Jimenez, who was the conspiracy’s bookkeeper, caused the issuance of at least $2.8 million in fraudulent UI benefit debit cards – and at least $2.3 million was withdrawn from those debit cards. Judge Carney has scheduled a December 4 sentencing hearing for Jimenez.
The investigation into this scheme was conducted by the Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also participated in this investigation. The Costa Mesa Police Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Edward Daniel Walker Jr., also known as “Jetty,” 38, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from about April 2022 to about September 25, 2022, Walker participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in the Leon area of Mason County. Walker admitted to selling heroin to customers directly and distributing quantities of heroin to other individuals for them to sell at his direction.
On September 25, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 64 in Hurricane of a vehicle in which Walker was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 105 grams of suspected heroin and a firearm. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin.
Following the traffic stop, officers executed a search warrant that same day at a Barboursville motel room where Walker was staying. Officers seized approximately 204 grams of suspected heroin, two firearms and $1,000 during that search. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin, and further admitted that the cash was proceeds from previous drug sales.
On March 31, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at a Durham Road residence in Leon where they arrested Walker. Officers seized approximately 135 grams of suspected heroin found at the residence and $2,000 on Walker’s person. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin. Walker further admitted that the cash was proceeds from previous drug deals.
Co-defendant Jordan Lee Jobe, 29, of Leon, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin on July 10, 2023 and awaits sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Drug and Violent Crime Task Force West.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-40.
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Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to $6.1 Million Health Care Fraud Conspiracy in IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – Kristen Bolling, 40, of Sheridan, Wyoming, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, from April 2017 through October 2019, Bolling conspired to commit health care fraud. Bolling accepted pre-filled medical orders from companies, signing the orders without seeing the patients or making a medical necessity determination and returning the signed orders to the companies in exchange for compensation. During this time, Bolling was licensed and practiced as a nurse practitioner in Idaho. She was also licensed in Wyoming, Colorado, and Washington.
Bolling was recruited to work for multiple companies to generate fraudulent medical orders for durable medical equipment (DME), including braces, and cancer genomic testing (CGx). Bolling received kickbacks of approximately $15-$30 per “consult” performed, with the expectation that a “consult” would result in a signed medical order. During the conspiracy, Bolling received at least $204,007 in kickbacks for fraudulent medical orders. The medical orders that Bolling signed, and which the companies sold, were used to fraudulently bill Medicare resulting in payments of over $6.1 million for DME and CGx tests that were not medically necessary and for which the medical orders were procured through the payment of kickbacks and bribes.
“Ensuring the integrity of Medicare and other federal health care programs is a priority for my office,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “It’s about protecting taxpayer funds and, ultimately, patient well-being. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who engages in illegal kickback schemes like the one uncovered through this investigation.”
“By engaging in kickback arrangements, this defendant knowingly put personal profit before legitimate patient needs. This illegal behavior undermines the integrity of federal healthcare programs and costs taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Steven Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
Bolling is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane is prosecuting the case.
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Norway Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $240K in PPP Loans During PandemicRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Norway man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to court records, between May 2020 and January 2021, Merton Weed Jr., 51, filed eight fraudulent PPP loan applications with different lenders and received over $240,000 in PPP funds. The applications listed false average monthly payrolls and numbers of employees and were supported by false payroll records and bank records.
Weed faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA.
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New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges of Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Erick Cottrell, age 54 pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Christy Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in February 2022, Cottrell withdrew $23,000 from the bank account of an individual, using that individual’s bank account information, his personal identification information, and a counterfeit driver’s license in that individual’s name, but with the image of Cottrell. He later attempted another withdrawal from the same bank in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was arrested. A search incident to arrest revealed the counterfeit driver’s license. Cottrell was released on bond from his Baltimore arrest, and he continued to engage in access device fraud.
In April 2023, he was arrested after using a counterfeit’s driver’s license and counterfeit credit cards and debit cards to rent a hotel room and a U-Haul vehicle and to make various purchases throughout the Pittsburgh area. He was arrested in connection with this activity by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and a search incident to his arrest revealed a counterfeit driver’s license.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for February 26, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than two years in prison and not more than twelve years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court detained the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cottrell.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Crossing U.S. – Canada BorderRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Missouri man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to present at a border crossing point.
According to court records, in April 2023, Clayton Dehaven, 39, was observed walking with a flashlight down a road on the Canadian side of the border in the Union Corners area of Hodgdon. A minivan was observed parked on the U.S. side of the border. A person, later identified as Dehaven’s wife, was observed crouching in the bushes and then running across the border to the van. Dehaven was then also seen running across the border and entering the driver’s side of the van. After being apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol, Dehaven admitted that he had illegally crossed from Canada into the U.S. without going through a designated border crossing point.
Dehaven faces up to one year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine followed by up to one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact in Sequoia National ParkRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Luis Eduardo Sanchez-Azpeitia, 46, a Mexican national who was working in Sequoia National Park on a work visa, pleaded guilty today to abusive sexual contact with a female co-worker, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Sanchez-Azpeitia entered the victim’s cabin in Sequoia National Park and committed non-consensual acts of abusive sexual contact, including touching her breasts, inner thighs, and vagina. The victim did not consent to any of the defendant’s sexual conduct, repeatedly told the defendant no, and tried to make him stop his sexual advances.
This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katrina Brownson and Karen Escobar are prosecuting the case.
Sanchez-Azpeitia is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 26, 2024. Sanchez-Azpeitia faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mexican National Arrested in Gulfport Transporting Nine Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Mexican National was arrested today in Harrison County, Mississippi, on criminal charges related to his alleged transportation of 9 kilograms of fentanyl while driving on Interstate 10 in Gulfport.
According to court documents, Jose Gilberto Rodriguez-Hernandez, 32, was pulled over on I-10 when Border Patrol Agents recognized him as a known illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States. During the traffic stop, Rodriguez-Hernandez was found to be in possession of nine kilogram bricks of fentanyl.
Rodriguez-Hernandez is charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, Rodriguez-Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican National and Repeat Immigration Offender Sentenced to 30 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Ismael Blanco-Garcia (43, Mexico) to 30 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States without authorization by federal immigration officials. Blanco-Garcia had pleaded guilty in June 2023.
According to court documents, on March 15, 2023, Blanco-Garcia was arrested in Collier County on state criminal charges and found to be present in the United States without legal authorization. Blanco-Garcia has previously been convicted on two occasions for illegal reentry to the United States after deportation, in 2016 and 2017, and has been deported from the United States to Mexico on three occasions.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.
Martinsburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing, Manufacturing, and Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Martinsburg, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession, manufacturing, and trafficking firearms, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Harry Miller, age 47, of Martinsburg, PA, pleaded guilty to Counts One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, Eight, and Nine of the Information before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around May 2022 and continuing thereafter until on or about April 27, 2023, Miller, knowingly and willfully conspired to engage and engaged in the business of manufacturing or dealing in firearms without a license, possessed a machinegun, trafficked firearms, and engaged in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without having paid the special occupational tax required by 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5801. Further, on or about March 21, 2023, and March 22, 2023, Miller unlawfully possessed a firearm after knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowingly and unlawfully transferred firearms that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records.
Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 70 years in prison, a total fine of $1,270,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller.
This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is
the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.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.
Martine Protas Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that on October 20, 2023, Martine Protas, 44, of Springfield, Vermont, was sentenced to a prison term of time-served, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release following her guilty plea to being an illegal user of controlled substances in possession of a firearm. Protas had been detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service from her November 30, 2022, arrest through March 30, 2023, when she was released from custody to attend a treatment program. However, Protas never reported to the program. An arrest warrant issued and she was re-arrested on April 6, 2023. She had been in custody since then.
According to court records, on November 30, 2022, investigators were searching for an individual who was the subject of a federal arrest warrant. Law enforcement located the wanted individual in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was parked at the Springfield Hospital. Protas was in the passenger seat, in possession of a holstered semiautomatic pistol in her waistband. At the time that Protas and the other person were found by law enforcement, they appeared to be smoking cocaine base. Investigators found drug paraphernalia inside of the car and cocaine base on the ground outside of the passenger side door of the vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Springfield Police Department, and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig. Martine Protas is represented by Michael Shklar, Esq.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Lawrence Man Sentenced for Possessing Fentanyl Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced on Oct. 20, 2023 for attempting to distribute fentanyl while already on pretrial release for a separate fentanyl offense.
Anyelo Aybar-Franco, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to time served (three years in prison) and three years of supervised release. On July 21, 2023, Aybar-Franco pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
Aybar-Franco was arrested in Lawrence in October 2020 after he was observed attempting to conduct a hand-to-hand drug deal. During the arrest, over 65 grams of fentanyl was seized from Aybar-Franco’s person.
At the time of the conduct, Aybar-Franco was on state pretrial release for a separate fentanyl distribution offense he was charged with just two months prior.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations in Boston and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Lancaster County Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine with A Mexican Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dwayne Sherman, age 49, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on October 20, 2023, to 262 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for drug trafficking and money laundering.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in September 2022, a jury convicted Sherman on all charges, including money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy.
Sherman conspired with Mexican cartel members from 2012 to 2018, and was caught by the FBI in 2015-2016, in an undercover sting operation where Sherman tried to send $550,000 in cash back to Mexico. Sherman was also captured by police in Los Angeles, California smuggling two kilograms of cocaine. Evidence was introduced at trial that Sherman regularly travelled to Mexico and developed a relationship with a Mexican drug trafficking group. Money owed was smuggled across the border and then deposited into corrupt Casa de Cambio or money exchanges in Tijuana, Mexico. The drugs were then smuggled back into the United States through a variety of means.
At sentencing, Judge Wilson found that Sherman was responsible for approximately 46 kilograms of cocaine, and with smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. She also made the finding that Sherman possessed guns as part of the drug trafficking activities.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hawthorne (California) Police Department, the San Diego County Sherriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio and Carlo Marchioli prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Kissimmee Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice and Meet A 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Gabriel Almenas Carrasquillo (35, Kissimmee) to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Almenas was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and forfeit his cellphone. A federal jury had found Almenas guilty on July 12, 2023, and he has been in custody since the return of the guilty verdict.
According to evidence and testimony admitted during the three-day trial, on August 11, 2022, an undercover agent (UC) with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation in Orlando was posing as a 13-year-old child on a social media application (app) in an effort to identify individuals who were seeking to sexually exploit children. Almenas initiated an online conversation with the UC, typing “You r really beautiful.” When Almenas asked if “he” was 18, the UC advised that “he” was “a little younger,” and stated, “I’ll be fourteen in a few months …” Almenas responded, “Oh wow you look really quite develop,” and “… I’m down to keep getting to know you more …” The two discussed meeting and Almenas confirmed that the “child” would be alone without adult supervision for that entire evening. At Almenas’s suggestion, their online conversation moved to another social media app. Almenas then described the sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child,” and he sent the UC a video depicting Almenas’s genitalia. Almenas drove to an agreed-upon location in Orlando where he believed that the “child” was staying and was arrested. In an interview, Almenas stated, among other things, that he knew that the “child” was underage when he came to meet “him,” and acknowledged that he was arrested because he “tried to have sex with somebody that was not legal age.” Almenas also admitted that he brought the lubricant found in his backpack to use during sexual acts with the “child.”
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Orlando. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Kalamazoo Man Charged with Possessing Machine Gun, Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 31-year-old Juwara Jawan Compton, Jr., of Kalamazoo, with possessing a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
"A fully automatic firearm in the hands of a convicted felon is a dangerous and potentially deadly combination,” stated U.S. Attorney Mark A. Totten. “My office is committed to getting these weapons off of our streets and prosecuting those who possess them illegally.”
The indictment alleges that, on September 2, 2023, Compton, a previously convicted felon, possessed a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine. A separate count charges that the same firearm also had a conversion device that made the weapon into a machine gun.
Compton made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Sally J. Berens on October 19, 2023. He is next due in court for a detention hearing on October 24, 2023 before United States Magistrate Phillip J. Green.
This case was investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). AUSA Stephanie Carowan is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Justice Department awards more than $16 million to support criminal justice initiatives in the Western District of New YorkRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that the Justice Department has awarded grant funding to 26 municipalities, school districts and human service organizations totaling $16,440,491 to support criminal justice initiatives across the Western District of New York.
“Agencies in the Western District of New York have been granted a total of $16,440,491, including school districts, police departments, social service agencies, and local governments across the 17 counties in the district,” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “This funding will address several issues impacting our communities, including gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and the mental health needs of children. Of significant importance, more than $7,000,000 will be spent on addressing the needs of victims of crimes, including $3,889,303, which will be used to provide services to those directly impacted by the Tops mass shooting tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 10 members of our community.”
Grants have been awarded to address the following areas:
Victims Services:
- The Community Health Center of Buffalo has been awarded $3,889,303 to provide services to those impacted by the mass shooting on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo.
- Monroe County has been awarded $800,000 to continue improving the county’s criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
- The YMCA of Jamestown has been awarded $600,000 to support the Justice for Families Program. The YWCA Jamestown will collaborate with the Unified Court System Eighth Judicial District, and the Salvation Army New Center, to support supervised visitation and safe exchange efforts.
- The Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc has been awarded $450,000 to continue improving the organization’s response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
- Coordinated Care Services, Inc. of Rochester has been awarded $400,000, which will be used to support Rise Up Rochester and its efforts to ensure safe housing for victims of gun violence and their families, and provide advocacy throughout the court process.
- Niagara University has been awarded $400,000 to collaborate with the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier, Pinnacle Community Services, the Seven Dancers Coalition, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police in combatting domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.
- The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Geneseo has been awarded $400,000 to work in collaboration with RESTORE, Chances & Changes, Inc., the Village of Geneseo Police Department, and the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.
- D’Youville College has been awarded $399,728 to collaborate with Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services, Inc., and the New York State Police to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.
Services for Youth:
- The Sodus Central School District has been awarded $1,000,000 to work with the Wayne County Partnership and Ibero to better support migrant farmworkers and their families in Wayne County.
- The Lyons Central School District has been awarded $998,874 for its Resiliency, Equity, and Safety Initiative, which will address the daily challenges of youth face in a high needs rural region.
- The Wayne-Finger Lakes Board of Cooperative Educational Services has been awarded $999,987 to serve at-risk students and their educators in 25 school districts across Wayne, Seneca, and Ontario Counties, with a focus on social-emotional and mental health risks.
- The North Rose-Wolcott Central School District has been awarded $998,826 for the Improving School Safety through Early Intervention Initiative, a program that will focus on 9th and 10th grade students at risk of not graduating on time or dropping out of high school.
- The Elba Central School District has been awarded $625,000 to hire a social worker to expand mental and behavioral health services.
- The Frontier Central School District has been awarded $125,774 for anti-violence training programs for staff, administrators, and students at six school sites, four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Law Enforcement Initiatives:
- Monroe County has been awarded $526,741 and Erie County has been awarded $819,884 to address of backlog of DNA analysis cases in the Monroe County Crime Laboratory the Erie County Forensic Laboratory.
- Niagara County has been awarded $500,000 to address the backlog of cases in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory. Since 2017, the Toxicology – Postmortem caseload has increased 45% and the Firearms caseload has increased 126%.
- Wayne County has been awarded $299,907 to hire a community resource officer in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, who will guide the development of collaborations to reduce violence, especially intimate partner violence, drug-related violence, and youth violence.
- The City of Buffalo has been awarded $284,913, which will be used to support additional police patrols at select large-scale events to protect attendees from terroristic threats and/or gun violence. The funds will also be used by Erie County to support an Assistant District Attorney for juvenile justice prosecution, the Town of Amherst to purchase technology upgrades for police vehicles, and the Town of Cheektowaga to provide extra police patrols in hot spot areas to reduce crime.
- The City of Rochester has been awarded $175,205, which will be used by the City of Rochester and Monroe County to support the efforts of the Crisis Intervention Services unit.
- The Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded $143,958, which will be used to reduce gun violence in the City of Buffalo through the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which is administered by RIT.
- The University of Rochester has been awarded $64,003 for research efforts into AI-powered audio generation and the use of deepfakes for criminal activities, as well as the development of audio deepfake detection.
- The City of Niagara Falls has been awarded $38,562, which will be used to continue to support two part time police liaisons to enhance communication between the community and the police, and to replace outdated handheld radios.
- The City of Jamestown has been awarded $20,694, which will be used by the Jamestown Police Department to purchase and implement an additional deployable pole camera system.
Reentry and Recidivism Initiatives:
- PathStone of Rochester has been awarded $750,000 to develop and implement a comprehensive community-based adult reentry program to serve incarcerated individuals incarcerated eligible for release within 90 days. These individuals will be served by the transition to Tomorrow (T2T) program.
- The Ontario County Economic Development Corporation has been awarded $729,132, to support the Finger Lakes Treatment Court, which is a post-plea, presentence court serving veterans and drug court participants.
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Justice Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $300 Million SuperyachtRead the Press Release
The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of New York against the motor yacht Amadea – a 348-foot luxury vessel reportedly worth more than $300 million and beneficially owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov – which was seized in 2022 at the request of the United States.
Today’s filing alleges that the superyacht was improved and maintained in violation of applicable sanctions against Kerimov and those acting on his behalf. According to the complaint, the Amadea is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government, and proceedings involving this property and its claimants remain ongoing.
“The United States brings this action today after a careful and painstaking effort to develop the necessary evidence showing Suleiman Kerimov’s clear interest in the Amadea and the repeated misuse of the U.S. financial system to support and maintain the yacht for his benefit,” said Task Force KleptoCapture co-director Michael Khoo. “Getting to this point required extensive cooperation across the U.S. government and with foreign partners. It underscores our resolve to undertake challenging, cross-border investigations and to send a message to Russian oligarchs and their enablers: if you flout the rule of law, you can expect to pay real and meaningful consequences.”
“The filing of this complaint exemplifies that the United States takes sanction evasion seriously and will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that sanctioned individuals are held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “I thank our partners with Task Force KleptoCapture as well as the dedicated prosecutors of this office for their important work holding Russian oligarchs responsible and aiding our allies in Ukraine.”
According to court documents, on April 6, 2018, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Kerimov as a Specially Designated National (SDN) under IEEPA in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. In imposing sanctions, OFAC determined that Kerimov was an official of the Government of the Russian Federation. As alleged, Kerimov never sought a license from OFAC authorizing any transactions including any transactions in connection with expenditures related to the yacht. On or about Sept. 30, 2022, OFAC redesignated Kerimov as an SDN.
In September 2021, following Kerimov’s designation by OFAC, Kerimov arranged to purchase the superyacht Amadea, contracting with the seller to receive use rights to the vessel even before he completed payment or obtained title to the vessel. Kerimov gained beneficial ownership of the vessel in or about September 2021 through a series of transfers between shell companies designed to conceal his ownership of the yacht. Beginning in October 2021 through its seizure, Kerimov and/or his family members took multiple trips aboard the Amadea, planned extensive renovations to the Amadea, made long-term plans for the Amadea’s travel schedule, and assumed all liability and responsibility for the Amadea’s upkeep.
During that time, individuals or entities acting on Kerimov’s behalf accrued U.S. dollar-denominated costs for the Amadea’s upkeep and sent or caused to be sent through the U.S. financial systems, payments in violation of applicable sanctions.
The Amadea is currently under the control of the U.S. government in San Diego, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which was enforced by a court order issued by the Republic of Fiji following a mutual legal assistance request from the United States. The United States is deeply grateful to the Fijian police and prosecutors whose perseverance and dedication to the rule of law made this action possible.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, and Task Force KleptoCapture co-directors Michael W. Khoo and David H. Lim made the announcement.
The FBI New York Field Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Embassy Suva, and the Diplomatic Security Service, provided valuable assistance and cooperation in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mortazavi for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorneys Joshua L. Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Andrew D. Beaty of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case.
This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards a judgment in favor of the United States.
Amadea civil forfeiture complaintJustice Department Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Federal Government Pro Bono WeekRead the Press Release
To kick off Federal Government Pro Bono Week 2023, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco joined Justice Department employees at the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Advice & Referral Clinic at Bread for the City on Saturday, Oct. 21. At the clinic, she announced the launch of the DOJ Pro Bono Portal, a new initiative to expand the DOJ Pro Bono Program, led by the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ). Deputy Attorney General Monaco announced the access to an online platform that will deliver screened pro bono opportunities directly to every Justice Department attorney. Deputy Attorney General Monaco and ATJ Director Rachel Rossi thanked the Department attorneys and other volunteers who donated their time and experience to provide pro bono service to the Washington, D.C., community.
“In 1996, Attorney General Janet Reno established the DOJ’s pro bono policy and in so doing strengthened our communities by expanding access to justice,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “All attorneys bear a unique responsibility to use their expertise, skills, and training in service for those most in need. As we modernize and expand access to the DOJ’s Pro Bono Program, the Department strengthens its commitment to what Attorney General Reno started. Engaging in pro bono work and serving the communities around us are in the best tradition of this Department.”
ATJ houses the DOJ Pro Bono Program, which connects Justice Department employees with pro bono opportunities, and leads the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, which facilitates pro bono engagement by all federal attorneys government-wide. The DOJ Pro Bono Portal is an innovative approach to encouraging pro bono engagement that will make it easier for Department attorneys to participate in volunteer legal services in their individual capacities, by providing quick and simple access to pro bono opportunities. The platform will include opportunities which do not pose conflicts of interest for Justice Department attorneys and will include guidance about the rules governing their involvement.
“Our laws are only as meaningful as the ability of communities to access their promises, and too many people cannot do so because they don’t have legal help,” said ATJ Director Rossi. “This new resource will allow us to more broadly mobilize the federal government attorney workforce to engage in pro bono assistance and stand in the justice gap.”
“For over two decades, the Federal Government Pro Bono Program has connected federal government lawyers to pro bono opportunities,” said Chair Laura Klein of the Federal Government Pro Bono Program. “For the first time, through the DOJ Pro Bono Portal, DOJ attorneys will be able to easily access these opportunities through the click of a mouse, modernizing the Program, promoting greater volunteerism, and expanding help for those with critical legal needs.”
The Deputy Attorney General’s announcement of the DOJ Pro Bono Portal coincides with the 20th anniversary of Federal Government Pro Bono Week, an annual celebration and promotion of pro bono work by federal government attorneys and legal staff. Over 50 federal agencies participate in the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, working together to bring the talent and skills of their attorneys to Americans who cannot afford to pay for legal assistance. The theme of this year’s Government Pro Bono Week is Expanding Access to Pro Bono and features a keynote address by Legal Services Corporation President Ronald Flagg, opportunities to volunteer in legal clinics around the country, and panel presentations highlighting pro bono opportunities for federal legal staff and ways that attorneys can provide legal assistance to victims of disasters.
Officially started in 1996, the Federal Government Pro Bono Program currently has branches in eight cities: Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Federal government volunteers provide legal assistance on issues such as housing, family law, domestic violence, estate planning, and employment law.
The Deputy Attorney General addresses volunteers. Photo credited to the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. The Deputy Attorney General talks with DOJ employees volunteering their time. Photo credited to the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. The Deputy Attorney General and Director Rossi talk with DOJ employees volunteering their time.Jury Convicts Florida Man Who Tampered with Witnesses While Pending Trial with Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, Obstruction of Justice, Suborning Perjury, and Contempt of CourtRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Javier Monserrate Vazquez (46, Wesley Chapel) guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy against the United States, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, suborning perjury, and contempt. He faces a maximum sentence of 100 years’ imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2024.
Monserrate Vazquez was indicted on December 12, 2018. On April 20, 2021, he was arrested again while on pretrial release and awaiting trial for witness tampering and was subsequently detained.
According to evidence presented at trial, Monserrate Vazquez was a supplier of cocaine in Pasco County. The drugs were received through the mail from Puerto Rico. Coconspirators would receive the packages for further distribution. In October 2018, agents discovered a package containing two kilograms of cocaine addressed to one of Monserrate Vazquez’s coconspirators. In a controlled delivery, a third coconspirator picked up the package and a search of his cellphone showed that Monserrate Vazquez had coordinated the pickup. In June 2018, Monserrate Vazquez also delivered more than $171,000 in cash to an undercover agent for the purpose of laundering the funds to Colombia through the Black Market Peso Exchange.
In the summer of 2018, agents obtained recordings of Monserrate Vazquez threatening to kill an associate over an unpaid drug debt. The threats included claims that Monserrate Vazquez would burn the associate alive, cut off his head, and chop off his hands. In the spring of 2020, Monserrate Vazquez induced two people – including the person he threatened to kill – to sign affidavits claiming that Monserrate Vazquez had no involvement in drug trafficking. One of these affidavits was then relied on in court filings to exclude evidence and accuse the agents of misconduct. Monserrate Vazquez kept in contact with potential witnesses against him through an encrypted phone application and a contraband cellphone, as well as aided a witness in leaving Tampa while trial was pending to avoid a subpoena to testify. He also paid as much as $10,000 for the attorney of his codefendant in exchange for his silence.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Tampa Police Department and the Largo Police Department. 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. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Diego Novaes.