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29 November 2023
Former Public School Information Technology Manager Charged with Damaging School's Computer NetworkRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ayer man was charged today and agreed to plead guilty in connection with a June 2023 cyberattack targeting the computer network of his former employer, an Essex County public high school.
Conor LaHiff, 30, was charged in an Information with one count of unauthorized damage to protected computers. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to court documents, LaHiff was employed as a desktop and network manager at an Essex County public high school until he was terminated in June 2023. After he was fired, LaHiff allegedly used his administrative privileges to deactivate and delete thousands of Apple IDs from the school’s Apple School Manager account – software used to manage student, faculty and staff information technology resources. LaHiff also allegedly deactivated more than 1,400 other Apple accounts and other IT administrative accounts and disabled the school’s private branch phone system, which left the school’s phone service unavailable for approximately 24 hours.
The charge of unauthorized damage to protected computers provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Principals of Private “Pre-IPO” Funds Charged in Connection with $386 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Daniel B. Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MICHAEL CASTILLERO, a/k/a Michael Alejandro, FRANCINE LANAIA, and BRIAN MARTINSEN with conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud in connection with their management of StraightPath Venture Partners LLC (“SPVP”), StraightPath Management LLC, and nine related StraightPath Funds. CASTILLERO and MARTINSEN are also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice in connection with their deletion of records that had been subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
The defendants’ fraudulent misrepresentations about the operation of the StraightPath Funds allowed them to raise approximately $386 million from hundreds of investors. Based in large part on the excessive and undisclosed share price markups they charged to investors and their practice of commingling funds in violation of representations made to investors, the defendants were able to divert nearly $75 million in investor funds to themselves over an approximately three-and-a-half-year period.
LANAIA and MARTINSEN were taken into custody earlier today and presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. CASTILLERO is expected to be presented tomorrow. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Michael Castillero, Francine Lanaia, and Brian Martinsen, the founders and former owners of the StraightPath Funds, took advantage of the relative lack of information and lower trading volumes for non-public companies by offering retail investors interests in shares of pre-IPO companies at inflated prices, allowing the defendants to skim off the top without investors realizing they’d been duped. To conceal their fraud, Castillero and Martinsen allegedly then took steps to destroy records that had been subpoenaed as part of an ongoing federal investigation. These exploitative practices in the pre-IPO markets will not be tolerated.”
USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said: “These individuals used the U.S. Mail to facilitate their criminal activities by allegedly devising a fraud scheme designed to swindle innocent investors of their hard-earned money. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to uncovering investment scams and protecting the public from becoming a victim to these schemes that claim millions of dollars each year. We will be relentless in our efforts to pursue these criminals until justice is served. Postal Inspectors remind investors it is key to educate themselves and ask questions regarding these investments, even more so when they notice undisclosed fees.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]
From at least in or about 2017 through at least in or about April 2022, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN engaged in a scheme to defraud investors in a group of nine related private funds known generally as the “StraightPath Funds.” In particular, the defendants, and others working at their direction, used “boiler room”-style call centers to market the StraightPath Funds, including to individual, non-professional investors, as presenting an opportunity to invest in privately held companies expected to go public in the near future (“pre-IPO companies”). The defendants purported to offer investors the chance to acquire shares in pre-IPO companies at favorable prices in advance of an anticipated public offering, at which time, they claimed, the shares would be worth significantly more.
Although the defendants and their agents represented to existing and prospective investors in the StraightPath Funds that the defendants would earn no upfront fees in connection with the StraightPath Funds’ acquisition of pre-IPO shares, in reality, and contrary to their fiduciary duties, the defendants acquired the shares and then sold them to investors at arbitrarily inflated and excessive prices without disclosing to investors the nature or extent of the markup. The defendants also misled investors regarding the nature of their investments and hid the involvement of CASTILLERO and LANAIA who had been previously barred from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Moreover, in order to evade detection of their scheme, CASTILLERO and BRIAN MARTINSEN destroyed records and otherwise obstructed the efforts of the SEC to uncover the defendants’ fraud on investors.
In order to generate interest in the StraightPath Funds among retail investors, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN used finders, or “referral agents,” to pitch prospective investors and thereafter to serve as the investors’ primary point of contact. In turn, these agents used “boiler room”-style call centers to cold-call potential investors, many of whom were not sophisticated, and give aggressive sales pitches using notes and pitch scripts approved by the defendants. Contrary to the defendants’ claim that they and their agents did not make money unless and until investors received a profit on their investments, SPVP paid referral agents a commission, typically a 10 to 15 percent front-end fee based on the amount of the investment, plus a portion of the carried interest on the back end.
In addition to misleading prospective investors about the compensation paid to referral agents, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN defrauded investors in the StraightPath Funds, for which they acted as fiduciaries, by (i) charging investors excessive and undisclosed markups on share prices of pre-IPO companies, which benefited the defendants and their associates at the expense of investors and the StraightPath Funds; (ii) routinely overstating to investors the number of pre-IPO shares that backed the interests in StraightPath Funds they sold; (iii) falsely representing that investors were investing in a specific “Series” within a specific StraightPath Fund and that their contributions correlated to specific shares of specific pre-IPO companies, when, in actuality, investor funds were commingled across Series and Funds and used for purposes not disclosed to investors, including to pay out other investors and to compensate the defendants and their associates; (iv) falsely representing that a particular individual (“Fund Manager-1”) acted as manager of each of the StraightPath Funds and the SP Adviser when, in actuality, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN performed the functions ascribed to Fund Manager-1 in StraightPath’s offering documents including, among other things, using an email address in the name of Fund Manager-1 to correspond with investors; and (v) otherwise actively taking steps to prevent investors from learning about LANAIA’s and CASTILLERO’s leadership roles in light of the fact that both had been suspended and later permanently barred from involvement in the securities industry by FINRA.
Throughout the StraightPath Funds’ operation, CASTILLERO, LANAIA, and MARTINSEN actively took steps to conceal the true nature of SPVP’s operations not only from investors but also from regulatory bodies, including FINRA and the SEC. For example, MARTINSEN, CASTILLERO, and LANAIA discussed making Fund Manager-1 the scapegoat with the SEC, in the event the SEC identified any problems with StraightPath’s operations. MARTINSEN then added, “Fran [LANAIA] is going to wamboosle the sec lady tomorrow. They will talk weather for 45 min and the lady will forget what she’s looking for.”
In early May 2021, MARTINSEN and CASTILLERO agreed to and did delete certain email records that had been called for by an SEC subpoena and then falsely represented to SEC staff that the emails had never existed.
The StraightPath entities and StraightPath Funds are no longer operational and are under the control of a court-appointed Receiver tasked with taking possession of StraightPath’s assets and recommending a plan to return value to investors.
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A chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is attached. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the USPIS. Mr. Williams further thanked the SEC, which previously filed separate civil charges against CASTILLERO, LANAIA, MARTINSEN, and others in connection with the operation of the StraightPath Funds in SEC v. Straightpath Venture Partners LLC et al., 22 Civ. 3897 (LAK) and SEC v. Hollender et al., 23 Civ. 2456 (LAK).
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols, Adam Hobson, and Jason Richman are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant
Age
Residence
Charges
Maximum Potential Sentence(s)
CASTILLERO
46
Staten Island, New York
Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud
(Count One)
Securities fraud
(Count Two)
Wire fraud
(Count Three)
Investment adviser fraud
(Count Four)
Conspiracy to obstruct justice
(Count Five)
Obstruction of justice
(Count Six)
5 years
20 years
20 years
5 years
5 years
20 years
LANAIA
59
Fort Salonga, New York
Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud
(Count One)
Securities fraud
(Count Two)
Wire fraud
(Count Three)
Investment adviser fraud
(Count Four)
5 years
20 years
20 years
5 years
MARTINSEN
47
Saint James, New York
Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud
(Count One)
Securities fraud
(Count Two)
Wire fraud
(Count Three)
Investment adviser fraud
(Count Four)
Conspiracy to obstruct justice
(Count Five)
Obstruction of justice
(Count Six)
5 years
20 years
20 years
5 years
5 years
20 years
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Former New York City Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Amaury Abreu, a former police officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Between approximately January 2016 and October 2020, Abreu assisted a multinational drug trafficking organization (DTO) with distributors in the New York-metropolitan area and the Dominican Republic. When sentenced, Abreu faces up to 20 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.
“Rather than protect and serve, Officer Abreu helped drug traffickers distribute large amounts of cocaine in the Eastern District of New York by giving them confidential law enforcement information. That was a disgraceful breach of public trust,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s plea should send the message that police officers who betray the shield and violate the law will be held to account. No one is above the law.”
United States Attorney Peace thanked the New York City Police Department, Internal Affairs Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
According to the indictment and other court filings, the DTO imported multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States through a variety of means, including by sending drug couriers on flights to the United States, concealing narcotics in mail and tractor trucks that enter the United States from Mexico, and concealing narcotics in produce shipments that are imported into the United States. Since 2016, law enforcement agents seized more than 350 kilograms of cocaine belonging to the DTO.
During the charged time period, Abreu abused his position as a police officer to protect his co-conspirators by providing information to the DTO about law enforcement procedures, performing warrant checks on members of the DTO using the NYPD arrest database and, on at least one occasion, receiving cocaine from the DTO.
The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York City Police Department, Internal Affairs Bureau and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
AMAURY ABREU
Age: 37
Residence: Hauppauge, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-433 (RRM) (RML)
Former Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Arrested in Florida for Multiple Sex Crimes Involving MinorsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – James Bond, former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter “Underdog,” of Scottsdale, was arrested early Thanksgiving morning at Miami International Airport after being denied entry into Argentina. Bond faces charges for Sex Trafficking of Minors, Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign Places, Production of Child Pornography for Importation to the United States, and other related offenses.
James Bond, who changed his name from Jaymes Christopher Schulte, had his initial court appearance on his indictment on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. He will be transported to the District of Arizona to face charges.
The indictment alleges that he had sex with eight minors in Colombia and that he solicited, recruited, and enticed the minors to engage in commercial sex acts. He is also alleged to have produced videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and to have distributed these videos through his website.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Homeland Security Investigations – Phoenix is conducting the investigation in this case, jointly with the Columbian National Police, HSI Bogota’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit- DIPRO, with assistance from HSI Miami, and HSI Attache offices in Buenos Aires. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-187_Bond
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Florida Resident Indicted in Murder-For-Hire Plot and Conspiracy to Witness TamperRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Florida man was arrested and made his initial court appearance Tuesday in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill a filmmaker and conspiracy to prevent a witness from testifying in his criminal trial.
Fereidoun Khalilian, also known as “Prince Fred” and “Fred,” 51, was charged by indictment with one count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and one count of conspiracy to witness tamper. United States Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah scheduled a trial date for February 5, 2024.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from about March 16, 2023, to about March 21, 2023, Khalilian left multiple threatening voice messages for a filmmaker in part to stop the filmmaker from producing a documentary about him. Khalilian believed his ongoing business dealings would be undermined if the documentary was made. It is also alleged that, from about January 28, 2023, to about March 17, 2023, Khalilian employed his bodyguard and others to surveil and assault the filmmaker and steal the filmmaker’s documentary equipment. Khalilian then hired his bodyguard to kill the filmmaker in a murder-for-hire plot. The bodyguard resided in Clark County, Nev., and was expected to testify against Khalilian at his murder-for-hire trial in the Central District of California.
Further alleged, from about August 17, 2023, to about September 12, 2023, Khalilian — who was incarcerated pending his trial in California — instructed friends and family to persuade a witness to recant prior statements and to change the witness’ testimony.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000, and a $100 special assessment, for use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire; and 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000, and a $100 special assessment, for conspiracy to witness tamper.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremiah Levine and Sara Vargas with the Central District of California, and an Assistant United States Attorney with the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Florida Man Sentenced for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for laundering the proceeds of online investment fraud schemes.
Tochukwu Abel Edeh, 33, a Nigerian national previously residing in Jacksonville, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Edeh was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,590,987 and forfeiture of $810,966. In September 2022, Edeh pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Edeh managed used car dealerships and currency transfer services in Texas, Florida, and Nigeria. This included a currency exchange company as well as a cryptocurrency firm, both of which were based in Nigeria, through which Edeh exchanged Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for profit.
In or around 2015, Edeh conspired with others to launder and transmit proceeds of Ponzi-style investment fraud schemes based in Nigeria. Specifically, the schemes purported to offer trading and Bitcoin investing services when, in fact, investor funds were stolen and later victims’ investments were used to pay purported returns to earlier investors. Edeh laundered the fraud proceeds using a network of co-conspirators in the United States and using his personal and business accounts in the United States and Nigeria. Edeh, along with his co-conspirators, did not hold money transmitting licenses in their respective states of residence, nor were they registered as money transmitters as required by federal law.
Edeh is the fifth person to be sentenced in relation to this money laundering scheme. In June 2023, Charles Ochi was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating the money laundering scheme with Edeh. Three other co-conspirators have been convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and were sentenced to probation. One alleged co-conspirator, Vanessa Okocha, remains at large.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Harry Chavis Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Michael McCarthy, Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Five Queens Men Charged with Kidnapping and MurderRead 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 an Indictment charging DONXING ZHENG, WANGCHAO HE, a/k/a “Ah Chao,” JIANGNAN LIN, a/k/a “Xiao Pang,” a/k/a “Little Fatty,” DONG LIU, a/k/a “Ah Dong,” and SUI ZHANG, a/k/a “60,” with kidnapping resulting in the death of Peng Cheng Li (the “Victim”), kidnapping conspiracy, and conspiring to distribute ketamine. HE, LIN, LIU, and ZHANG were arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik. ZHENG was arrested on a complaint on July 31, 2023, and presented on August 1, 2023, before Judge Reznik. ZHENG will be arraigned on the Indictment at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these five defendants lured Peng Cheng Li to a location with the intent to hold him for ransom, assaulting him and transporting him to the resulting of his death. Today’s arrest is a testament to my Office’s dedication to protecting the safety and security of our citizens and pursuing those who dare violate that to justice.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “These five defendants deprived the victim Peng Cheng Li of his freedom and ultimately his life when they allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered him in a failed attempt to collect a payment. This type of barbaric behavior has no place in our society and will not be tolerated. The FBI will be sure that anyone attempting to use violence to make money will be brought to justice.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “As demonstrated by this case, the dangerous combination of illicit drugs and brutal violence will never be tolerated in New York City. Today’s charges are the next step in our journey toward justice for Mr. Li. The tireless work of NYPD investigators, FBI agents, and prosecutors from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District will ensure that all involved in these grievous crimes are held accountable for their despicable acts.”
As alleged in public court filings and the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]
On or about July 19, 2023, ZHENG, HE, LIN, LIU, ZHANG, and others known and unknown used an Internet-based cellphone application to call a restaurant to lure the Victim, an employee of the restaurant, to a location in Flushing, Queens. When the Victim arrived at that location, ZHENG, HE, LIN, LIU, ZHANG, and others known and unknown abducted, assaulted, and held the Victim for the promise of payment. Thereafter, ZHENG and others known and unknown drove the Victim through, among other locations, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester County, and eventually took the Victim to New Hampshire. At some point after he was abducted, the Victim died, and ZHENG and others known and unknown buried the Victim’s body in a forest in New Hampshire.
* * *
HE, 29, LIN, 22, LIU, 35, ZHANG, 22, and ZHENG, 28, all of Queens, New York, are each charged with kidnapping resulting in death, which carries a maximum potential sentence of death or life in prison; kidnapping conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential sentence of life in prison; and conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the work of the FBI and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison and Jared D. Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Federal Jury Finds Hancock Man Guilty of Assaulting FBI Special AgentRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Hancock man was found guilty of assaulting a federal officer following a one-day trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
According to evidence presented at trial, on June 22, 2023, FBI special agents were executing a federal search warrant at the residence of Alan Howell Parrot, 68, in Hancock. While the agents were trying to enter the residence, Parrot attempted to close the door and became combative, kicking one agent in the abdomen and pushing her backwards, resulting in injuries to her arm and elbow.
Parrot faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of 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.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. FBI Special Agents are no exception, and we courageously accept that danger is part of our job. Thankfully, the agent who was injured by Mr. Parrot is ok, and I’m thankful for her service and dedication,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This conviction should be a warning to others that assaulting law enforcement undermines the rule of law and will not be tolerated. We take our oath seriously, and we won’t back down from ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI investigated the case.
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Federal Inmate Sentenced for Assaulting OfficerRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – An inmate at the Federal Medical Center in Butner (“FMC Butner”) was sentenced yesterday for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer working at FMC Butner in 2022.
According to the indictment, on May 15, 2022, the inmate, Timothy Leak, 47, refused the officer’s orders to wear his mask and return to his cell. Instead, he became aggressive, and ran to a nearby room on the housing unit. As the officer approached Leak from the room, he rushed toward her and slammed the heavy metal door on the officer’s arm, pinning it in the door. Throughout this altercation, Leak was verbally aggressive toward the officer. The officer was only able to free her arm after calling for assistance from other staff members. As a result of this contact, the officer suffered injuries to her arm that ultimately required surgical repair.
Thomas Scarantino, Complex Warden at FCC Butner stated, “I would like to thank the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina for their continued support in prosecuting these cases. I would also like to thank the legal team and staff at FCC Butner who have assisted with this case. I have zero tolerance for inmates assaulting, resisting, or impeding the staff members who work tirelessly at FCC Butner.”
Citing Leak’s criminal history and the severity of the assault, Unites States Federal District Court Judge James C. Dever III sentenced Leak to 21 months in prison. Leak previously pled guilty to the count of Assault on a Federal Officer on August 30, 2023.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Brooks Storus prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00263-D-RN.
Federal Indictment Unsealed Charging Six Davidson County Residents with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – A joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement has resulted in the indictment of six individuals for illegally distributing substantial quantities of controlled substances in and around Nashville, Tennessee, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The indictment, which was unsealed today, charges Julius Johnson, 40, Amber Shadonna Johnson, 42, David Marsh, 54, Antonio Jumper, 44, Archie Henry, 38, and Eldred Howard, 37, all residents of Davidson County, Tennessee, with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana. Julius Johnson, Amber Shadonna Johnson, and Eldred Howard are also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and possession of a firearm by a felon.
As part of the investigation, in April 2023, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at multiple locations throughout Nashville, including a residence in North Nashville where substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine were recovered. In total, over the course of the months-long investigation, law enforcement recovered approximately 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 600 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of cocaine, and 45 grams of marijuana. Federal agents also recovered four firearms.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with meaningful assistance from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Murfreesboro Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani M. Gilkerson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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El Paso Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Coercion of a MinorRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted coercion and enticement and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
According to court documents, James Forrest Williams Kidd, 33, initiated a conversation with a social media profile depicting a teenage girl in late October 2022. Under the belief that he was chatting with a 13-year-old, Kidd requested nude photos of the user and invited her to his apartment to engage in various sexual acts. Additionally, Kidd sent a pornographic photo and video over the app. On the night of Dec. 29, 2022, Kidd arranged for the minor to be picked up and taken to his residence via a rideshare app using his account. FBI agents announced themselves at Kidd’s door and arrested him.
Kidd pleaded guilty on Aug. 25, 2023 to one count of attempted coercion and enticement and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.
“This defendant intended to lure a 13-year-old girl to his home for sexual activity using a social networking app and will now spend a decade in prison for it,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I commend the FBI for their efforts in identifying and apprehending a dangerous predator before he could harm a child in our community.”
“The FBI El Paso's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking task force is committed to protecting the children of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge John S. Morales for the FBI El Paso Field Office. “This defendant will spend the next 10 years in federal prison for criminal intentions he fully intended to act on to meet a minor for a sexual encounter and sharing obscene material with the minor in the process. Our community can rest easy knowing this man will be behind bars in a federal prison.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Director Hughes Leads U.S. Delegation at INTERPOL General AssemblyRead the Press Release
This week, INTERPOL Washington Director Michael A. Hughes is leading a delegation from the United States to Vienna, Austria to attend the annual INTERPOL General Assembly, the largest gathering of senior law enforcement officials in the world. This year’s General Assembly also marks the 100th anniversary of INTERPOL and returns to the city where the organization was founded a century ago.
“I am honored to represent the United States and INTERPOL Washington at this historic General Assembly,” said Director Hughes. “The 100th anniversary of INTERPOL reminds us how much we can accomplish as now 196 nations – with the addition of Palau – coming together in the fight against transnational crime and terrorism. It also provides a chance to collaborate against the new and emerging threats we face together and to forge a path forward for the next 100 years.”
Director Hughes leads a delegation that includes personnel from INTERPOL Washington, U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism and Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. He also serves as Delegate for the Americas on the INTERPOL Executive Committee and plays a vital role in the General Assembly, working as a bridge between the more than 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies and INTERPOL's global network. During the General Assembly, Director Hughes and the delegation will advance American interests, strengthen our homeland security, and work to create a safer world.
The 91st INTERPOL General Assembly, November 28 to December 1 in Vienna, provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement agencies worldwide to strengthen their partnerships, share intelligence, and develop strategies to address the evolution of crime. It reinforces INTERPOL's commitment to facilitating cooperation among its 196 member countries and promoting a safer, more secure world.
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, comprising of representatives from each of the organization’s 196 member countries. It meets once a year, and each session lasts around four days to vote on key organizational matters. Decisions made during the General Assembly take the form of Resolutions and each member country present has one vote. The decision-making process is made by either a simple or two-thirds majority, depending on the subject matter. Resolutions are made public and posted on the INTERPOL website from 1960 onward.
A component of the U.S. Department of Justice co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB)—is the designated U.S. representative to INTERPOL. It serves as the national point of contact and coordination for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
Davenport, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Auston McLain, 38, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced today to ten years’ imprisonment, to be followed by ten years of supervised release, following his June 2023 conviction by a federal jury for attempted enticement of a minor and travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Over two days of trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah Darrow, the United States presented evidence establishing that from November 10, 2020, through November 14, 2020 McLain communicated with an individual he believed to be a minor about engaging in sexual activity, sent pornographic pictures to that person, asked for pictures in return, and then traveled from Iowa to Illinois with the intent to meet with the child and engage in sexual activity.
At the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Darrow found that McLain obstructed justice during the trial when he falsely testified about a variety of material issues.
McLain faced statutory penalties of ten years to life imprisonment, a possible fine of $250,000, and up to a five-year to life term of supervised release for attempted enticement. He faced up to thirty years’ imprisonment, a possible $250,000 fine, and a five-year to life term of supervised release for travelling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. McLain also must register as a sex offender. McLain was initially released on bond and has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since March 2023.
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with the assistance of the Rock Island Police Department, the Macomb Police Department, the East Moline Police Department, and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanner Jacobs and Matthew Weir represented the United States.
The case against McLain was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. 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.
Cut Bank man admits assaulting, shooting woman on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Cut Bank man accused of assaulting and then shooting and wounding a woman at a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Luke Charles Wells, 32, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and to using a firearm during a crime of violence. Wells faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 3, 2024. Wells was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on July 16, Wells was intoxicated at a residence west of Cut Bank, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, when he became angry at the victim, identified as Jane Doe. Doe was in a bathroom when Wells broke down the door and began assaulting her. Doe ran outside to escape. Wells chased her, pulled out a pistol and continued chasing her. Doe tripped and fell, and Wells started shooting at the ground around her. Wells then hit Doe in the head with the gun several times before shooting and wounding her in the chest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Cut Bank Police Department and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Cumberland County Man Charged for Threatening to Kill A United States CongressmanRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Lee Ingalls, Jr., age 61, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of sending threatening communications via interstate transmission.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, it is alleged that on November 6, 2023, Ingalls left two threatening voicemail messages on the main congressional office answering system in Washington, D.C. It is also alleged that in both voicemail messages Ingalls specifically threatened to kill the same specifically identified United States Congressman. It was determined Ingalls made the calls from his cell phone while Ingalls was in Hampden Township, Cumberland County.
Ingalls was charged by criminal complaint and arrested on November 10, 2023. Ingalls appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daryl F. Bloom on November 13, 2023 and was ordered held in pretrial detention pending action by a federal grand jury.
The United States Capitol Police investigated the case and were assisted locally by the Fairview Township Police Department and the York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William Behe is prosecuting the case.
Ingalls faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Nine Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Duffield, Virginia man, whose criminal history includes 15 previous felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms, was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for illegally possessing a revolver.
Lynn Edward Bowen, 46, pled guilty in October 2023 to one count of receiving any firearm affecting interstate or foreign commerce, while knowing or having a reasonable cause to believe such receipt would constitute a felony.
According to court documents, on June 16, 2022, Bowen was arrested outside of Glamorgan Church in Wise County, Virginia in possession of a Smith and Wesson .38 revolver and a small quantity of methamphetamine. Bowen told the arresting officer he was a convicted felon and was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Bowen later informed officers he had been given the revolver from a friend earlier that month.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Wise County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.
Clay County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Nationwide Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Brian Roy Lozito (54, Orange Park) to two years and two months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Lozito to pay restitution to the victims he defrauded and also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $164,193.84, the proceeds of the fraud. Lozito had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023. He was arraigned on the indictment on January 11, 2021, and initially released on bond. The court revoked his bond on November 18, 2022, and subsequently ordered him detained.
According to court documents, Lozito owned and managed American Investigative Services (AIS). AIS purported to offer consumers mortgage auditing services in exchange for a fee. Lozito and his conspirators solicited customers nationwide through mailings and telephone calls. In these solicitations, Lozito and AIS employees, under the direction of Lozito, made false and fraudulent representations to consumers, including that AIS would perform “forensic audits” of mortgage documents to uncover evidence of deficiencies in the mortgage documents. Lozito claimed AIS would obtain quitclaim deeds and other remedies so the mortgage holders would be relieved of their mortgage debt and own their properties free and clear. If AIS could not help the consumer, Lozito promised to refund their money. In reality, AIS did not perform the services paid for by consumers and did not refund money to consumers. Funds collected from consumers went to bank accounts controlled by Lozito who then used the funds to keep AIS operating and for personal expenses.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office, the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Florida Attorney General with valuable assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mai Tran and Jennifer M. Harrington.
Citrus County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Benefit Payments from the Department of Veterans AffairsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Robert Howard Lawrence II (55, Citrus County) has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property. Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and a forfeiture of at least $364,497.80. His sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Lawrence had been indicted on April 25, 2023.
According to court records, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program furnishes a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of deceased military service members. If the surviving spouse remarries, however, they are no longer eligible to receive DIC benefits and must report the new marriage to the VA.
Lawrence was a surviving spouse of a military service member who died in 1994. Beginning on or about November 1, 1995, through approximately April 1, 2023, Lawrence received DIC benefits from the VA. He was not entitled to these benefits, however, because he had remarried twice—once in 1995 and again in 2023. During that time, Lawrence had repeatedly assured the VA that he had not remarried so that he could continue to illegally receive the benefit payments. By failing to report his subsequent marriages, Lawrence illegally received a total of $364,497.80 in stolen benefit payments.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
Central Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Central Georgia resident pleaded guilty to illegally possessing an assault weapon he used during a 2022 shoot-out in Twiggs County, Georgia.
Jayvon Latrez Anthony, 30, of Jeffersonville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a person under felony indictment before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Nov. 28. Anthony faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing will occur at a date determined by the Court. The defendant is not eligible for parole.
“It’s fortunate no one was killed during this highly volatile shoot-out where the defendant was armed with an assault-style weapon, firing off at least 17 rounds,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods and our strong partnership with law enforcement at every level, violent convicted criminals caught illegally with assault weapons and other firearms will see their local cases get federal attention here in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“As a result of this guilty plea, Mr. Anthony will be off the streets and unable to possess or use firearms,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF takes it very seriously when offenders illegally possess firearms, putting our community at risk.”
“I’m pleased to know that another violent offender is off the streets and is no longer a threat to our community,” said Twiggs County Sheriff Darren Mitchum. “I commend my deputies and investigators for the thorough job they did with this investigation. It was only by the grace of God that no lives were lost due to such a careless act.”
According to court documents, Anthony was armed with an AK-47 style pistol when he exchanged gunfire with Tre’Vonte Tharpe on July 22, 2022, on Shine Road in Jeffersonville (Twiggs County). Both Anthony and his mother were struck by bullets in the shoot-out; Anthony was treated and released by a hospital for his injuries. Officers recovered 17 spent rounds from Anthony’s assault pistol and one 9mm round fired by Tharpe. Officers executed a search warrant at the Shine Road residence and found the AK-47 style pistol and firearm magazine under the kitchen sink belonging to Anthony. The firearm was covered in blood and still had a loaded magazine in it with a live round in the chamber. Anthony has a criminal record, including a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault in Bibb County, Georgia, Superior Court.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Cambridge Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Penobscot County Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Cambridge man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine and cocaine in Penobscot County.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Jeffrey Frost, 40, to 72 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Frost pleaded guilty on March 28, 2023.
According to court records, between January 2021 and April 2021, Frost conspired with others to distribute the drugs in the Penobscot County area and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, Frost regularly obtained drugs and supplied them to a local dealer, Jason Lee Lary, to sell for him. Frost came to investigators’ attention during jail house calls by and with Lary in which it was demonstrated that Frost was supplying drugs to sell, including the drugs recovered at the time of Lary’s arrest. Those drugs included 53 grams of cocaine base, 80 grams of fentanyl mixture, 25 grams of methamphetamine, and 40 grams of cocaine. In a later interview with investigators, Frost admitted that he had met Lary in 2021 through one of Frost’s customers and began supplying him with drugs after that introduction.
In September 2022, Lary was sentenced to two years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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California Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Shipping Marijuana to NebraskaRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shawn Thomas, 34, of Roseville, California, was sentenced on November 29, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Thomas to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Thomas’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
Thomas was identified as being involved in drug distribution as a result of an ongoing investigation into Thomas’ co-conspirators. From approximately October 2018 to December 2020, conspirators regularly shipped multi-pound boxes of marijuana from the Sacramento, California, area to Omaha, where other conspirators would distribute it. These shipments were made via the United States mail and commercial shipping services like FedEx. A 22.5-pound box of marijuana was seized from an Omaha residence on December 18, 2020. Thomas was in the residence at the time of the search with three co-defendants.
Review of FedEx shipping records and conspirators’ cell phone messages determined that Thomas was responsible for mailing the packages. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Buescher found that Thomas was responsible for conspiring to distribute at least 100 kilograms (220.4 pounds) of marijuana.
The three other co-defendants were sentenced earlier this year. Aarion Jenkins, 29, and Marques Eiland, 29, both of Omaha were sentenced to 40 months and 31 months respectively. Julio Ayala, 33, of Sacramento was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Sacramento County (California) Sheriff’s Office.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and
transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Buffalo man sentenced for drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rayshawn Miller, 40, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and acetyl-fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, was sentenced to serve 204 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who handled the case, stated that on July 20, 2021, the DEA executed a search warrant at Miller’s Broadway Street residence and seized 167 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, 18 grams of fentanyl, 21 grams of crack cocaine, 124 grams of cocaine, two loaded firearms, including a Ghost Gun, ammunition, $15,380 in cash, and drug packaging materials.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
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Bridgeport man sentenced for taking nearly $650,000 in COVID Relief fundsRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Nolte, 52, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for wire fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nolte fraudulently applied for and received CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $645,717. To obtain these loans, Nolte falsely represented an interest in business or created the business and submitted fraudulent documents to obtain the loans. The loans were for PGO Veterans Services, PG Health, RJS Catering and Dental Care Plus. Nolte also obtained forgiveness from the Small Business Administration for these loans, falsely certifying that he used the money for payroll expenses. Nolte instead spent the money on personal expenses.
Nolte was also ordered to pay $684,154.44 to the Small Business Administration which includes the initial loan amounts, interest on the loans prior to forgiveness, and processing fees.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Anyone aware of COVID fraud can report it via email to [email protected], by telephone to 304-234-0100, or via regular mail to the U.S. Attorney, P.O. Box 591, Wheeling, WV 26003, Attn: COVID Fraud Unit.
Boulder Women Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Import a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Grace Kohler, age 23, and Elizabeth Brown, age 24, both of Boulder, pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance to the United States from Mexico.
According to the plea agreement, on August 12, 2021, Grace Kohler, Elizabeth Brown, and another woman traveled to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, for a vacation. While there, the women went to a pharmacy. Kohler and Brown exchanged text messages and calls with a mutual friend in Boulder, Colorado, whose initials are J.B., to see what specific drugs he wanted them to get for him from the pharmacy. After considering the drugs the pharmacy advertised, J.B. asked the women to get him oxycodone. Kohler paid the pharmacy $300 for 30 pills of supposed oxycodone, using her credit card. J.B. later sent Kohler $300 as reimbursement via Venmo. Brown translated from English to Spanish while the women communicated with the employee at the pharmacy. The women believed the pills they purchased contained oxycodone because that is what the pharmacy and the employee represented the pills to be.
Before returning to the United States from Mexico, Kohler and Brown put the controlled substances they purchased—including the supposed oxycodone for J.B.—in other containers, such as a multivitamin container and a container for cold and flu medicine. On August 17, 2021, the women flew back into the United States on United Airlines and landed in Denver, Colorado. The women did not declare the controlled substances they purchased in Mexico and imported into the United States with U.S. Customs. The women drove from Denver International Airport to J.B.’s place of employment in Boulder, Colorado. In a parking lot, Brown handed J.B. the 30 tablets the women had obtained for him at the pharmacy in Mexico. J.B. put the pills in his shirt pocket and the women left.
On August 18, 2021, Boulder Police responded to J.B.’s residence because his roommate had found J.B. deceased in his bedroom. Within J.B.’s bedroom, police found a sandwich bag containing 29 pills. The pills had “M” and “30” stamped on them and looked like poorly pressed counterfeit oxycodone pills. Later laboratory analysis revealed the pills in the bag contained fentanyl and not oxycodone. On August 20, the Boulder County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined J.B. died of fentanyl intoxication.
“This tragic death is only one example of the lethal epidemic of fentanyl overdoses,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to raise public awareness and deter distribution of this deadly poison.”
“The only safe and reliable place to get legitimate prescription medications is from a trusted and licensed pharmacist within the United States,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky of the Rocky Mountain Field Division. “The cartels are driving addiction across our country through the trafficking of fentanyl. This is precisely why DEA launched its One Pill Can Kill Campaign in 2021. Today, 70 percent of the pills seized by DEA contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. We can’t say it enough – don’t purchase pills on social media or take a pill provided by a ‘friend’.”
“The influx of illegal drugs, and drugs containing fentanyl, in the United States has increased over the years and, unfortunately, we have seen incidents of overdoses and tragically we have also had deaths occur,” said Commander Nick Goldberger of the Boulder County Drug Task Force. “You should only obtain prescribed medication from a legitimate pharmacy, and under a doctor’s care, to reduce your risk of taking something that may contain fentanyl.”
“Fentanyl has taken and destroyed many lives in this country and sadly our community is not immune. I’m proud of the strong policework our officers did in this case to find the suppliers of these drugs,” Boulder Police Deputy Chief of Operations Steve Redfearn said. “We truly value the great relationships we have with our federal, state, and local partners in combatting this deadly epidemic.”
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2024. Kohler is scheduled to be sentence on March 7, 2024. A United States District Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and the Boulder County Drug Task Force are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Peter McNeilly and Alexander Duncan are prosecuting the case.
Case Number: 23-cr-00439-NYW
Bosnian War Criminal Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Sinisa Djurdjic, 50, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Bosnia”) and a Tucson resident, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 70 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On May 19, 2023, after a nine-day trial, a federal jury found Djurdjic guilty of Visa Fraud and two separate counts of Attempted Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship.
The evidence at trial revealed that Djurdjic emigrated to Tucson under the United States refugee program in 2000. Nine years later, Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation after receiving a roster of a Serbian police brigade suspected of various wartime atrocities during the 1990s. Djurdjic was listed as a member of the brigade. The multi-year international investigation, and the evidence presented at trial, showed that Djurdjic was indeed a member of that police brigade and other Bosnian-Serb military units and that he was a prison guard at two separate prison camps north of Sarajevo. Both prison camps were established by the “Republika Srpska,” the Bosnian-Serb military unit that espoused the idea of “ethnic cleansing” during the civil war. During that war, Bosnian Serbs sought to exclude all Bosnian Muslims and Catholic Croats to create a nation of only one ethnicity – Serbian.
During the trial, five Bosnian Muslims who were held at the prison camps testified that, as a prison guard, Djurdjic tortured prisoners in his custody for months in 1992. At trial extensive evidence demonstrated that Djurdjic obtained refugee status and permanent residence in the United States for two decades by lying about his prior military and police service. His lies prevented immigration authorities from making a fully informed decision regarding his applications for immigration benefits. As a result, Djurdjic secured a safe haven for himself in the United States to which he was not entitled and thereby escaped justice for his war crimes in Bosnia for over thirty years.
“Our lives were ruined by people like Sinisa but we managed to rebuild them and his conviction is one of the final bricks in our house of peace,” said one of the victims in his statement to the Court.
At sentencing, the judge found by clear and convincing evidence that Djurdjic committed the offenses to conceal his torture of prisoners of war as a prison guard in Bosnia and that he concealed his war crimes from immigration authorities.
Homeland Security Investigations, Tucson Field Office, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Liza Granoff and Kevin Schiff, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-1658-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-188_Djurdiic# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Billings felon admits illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings felon who was on state probation and led law enforcement on a vehicle chase before crashing admitted to illegally possessing a firearm that was found in the vehicle, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Christopher Samuel Fear, 38, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Fear faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 27, 2024. Fear was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Jan. 11, after 2 a.m., a Montana Highway Patrol officer attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle for traveling 85 mph in a 65-mph speed zone. The trooper activated his emergency lights, but the driver of the vehicle accelerated and fled. The vehicle eventually crashed into a fence in Billings. Officers approached the vehicle and saw that it was empty. Officers noticed a pistol on the floorboard and found Fear hiding under the front end of the vehicle. Fear claimed others were in the vehicle but refused to identify them, and there was no evidence of other occupants. Fear was on state probation at the time for a drug conviction and had an outstanding probation violation arrest warrant. Law enforcement later searched the vehicle and found 216 fentanyl pills, 20 grams of methamphetamine and baggies and a loaded .357-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Bay St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Dosage Units of Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Bay St. Louis woman pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl.
Emma Kate Stoute, 18, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport on November 27, 2023.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint that alleged there was drug trafficking activity occurring at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis. Agents conducted surveillance on the motel and narrowed down the suspected parties and rooms. During surveillance, agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the hotel to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs. Once the vehicle departed, agents conducted rolling surveillance of the vehicle and observed the occupants of the vehicle participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction in Louisiana. After the transaction, agents followed the vehicle back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop. Stoute was identified as one of the occupants of the vehicle. She was in possession of 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl. A subsequent search of her cellular device yielded messages confirming that Stoute was trafficking fentanyl pills in the Southern District of Mississippi.
Stoute is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024. She faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Bangor Woman Sentenced for Stealing More than $27,000 from Native American Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for stealing from her employer, a tribal organization.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Angelia Holt, 55, to three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $27,979.78 in restitution.
According to court records, between June 2017 and April 2021, Holt stole more than $27,000 from her employer by using a credit card issued to another employee for unauthorized personal expenses and then altering the invoices to conceal the theft. Holt was employed as an accounting clerk for the organization.
The FBI investigated the case.
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Atlanta man sentenced in large-scale methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Quintilis Davenport has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking operation involving large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl that were intended for distribution in and around the Atlanta area. Davenport possessed three firearms, multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, and nearly an entire kilogram of fentanyl at the time of his arrest.
“This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of this conduct and the necessity to deter others from engaging in such dangerous drug trafficking activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to keep our community safer, especially from life-threatening narcotics like fentanyl.”
“This violent drug trafficker can no longer distribute dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, as he now faces the consequences for his poor choices,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On August 24, 2022, Davenport planned to sell a kilogram of methamphetamine and 1,000 fentanyl pills to a DEA special agent acting in an undercover capacity. Davenport fled and tossed a firearm into a pond when law enforcement attempted to arrest him.
After eventually taking Davenport into custody, law enforcement searched his apartment in Union City and recovered 14 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,500 fentanyl pills, nearly half a kilogram of fentanyl powder, and three firearms. According to the DEA, the amount of fentanyl was enough to kill thousands of people. One of the firearms was reported stolen and contained a 50-round drum magazine. Investigators also seized seven additional magazines and a large amount of ammunition from Davenport’s apartment.
Quintilis Davenport, 33, of Union City, Georgia, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Davenport was convicted on these charges on August 22, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Cobb County Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, and Union City Police Department also assisted with the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Richard Beaulieu prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com/; www.dea.gov/onepill
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Arkansas Man Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Arkansas man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Douglas County, Mo., and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Marcelino Sauseda, Jr, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Tuesday, Nov. 28, to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Sauseda to forfeit to the government $24,830 in drug-trafficking proceeds that was seized by law enforcement.
On Sept. 13, 2022, Sauseda pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Sauseda admitted that he was in possession of a loaded Rossi firearm and methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
On Oct. 10, 2020, a corporal with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department was notified that Sauseda, a fugitive with Arkansas warrants for his arrest, was staying at the Twin Bridges Campground. Officers contacted Sauseda at a cabin in the campground and placed him under arrest. Officers found a black zip up bag, which contained 196 grams of methamphetamine, next to the back porch of the cabin. Officers also found a bag under the back porch with $24,820 in cash, which Sauseda admitted were the proceeds of illegal drug sales. Officers found the firearm in an air vent.
Sauseda had absconded from parole in Arkansas at the time of this federal offense, after being incarcerated for robbery, residential burglary, and theft of property related to robbing another person at gun point with an SKS rifle. Sauseda also has a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Apopka Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Stephon K’Trell Anderson (29, Apopka) to 16 years in federal prison for producing a video of child sexual abuse. Anderson was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. Anderson had pleaded guilty on September 13, 2023.
According to court documents, the Apopka Police Department received a cyber tipline report that originated from Twitter when a Twitter account was identified as uploading a video of child sexual abuse material. On March 10, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Apopka Police Department tracked down the address of the Twitter user and executed a search warrant at the residence in Apopka. Anderson was encountered at the residence and turned over two cellphones to law enforcement.
The FBI conducted a forensic search of the cellphones and located videos that Anderson had recorded involving a child victim. The videos were recorded by Anderson using his cellphone over a period of multiple weeks. One of the videos involved Anderson engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the child victim while the child victim slept.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gardella.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
28 November 2023
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Sex Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor.
According to court documents, Austin Koeckeritz, 29, of River Falls, used force, threats of force, fraud and coercion to compel one adult victim into engaging in commercial sex acts in the River Falls area between August 2020 and August 2022. He also caused a minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts in between October 2021 and January 2022.
“Sex trafficking continues to be prevalent because traffickers see the profits they can make from exploiting the vulnerable victims they target,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This type of abuse — particularly of minors — will not be tolerated. The Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting human trafficking offenses and standing up for the victims exploited by these abusers.”
“My office will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to hold human traffickers accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin. “Sex trafficking and forced prostitution are heinous crimes and our priority is to restore freedom and dignity to the victims.”
“Sex trafficking has lasting and devastating impacts on victims and their families throughout the state of Wisconsin,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. “The investigation into Koeckeritz is just one example which highlights the dedication of the men and women of the FBI who work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners across the state to hold anyone accountable who chooses to exploit and harm others for profit.”
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled on a later date. Koeckeritz faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Milwaukee Field Office and the River Falls Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Pierce County District Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorneys Slava Kuperstein and Julie Pfluger of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus for the Western District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Watervliet Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ronnie Robinson, age 29, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 90 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing and intending to distribute marijuana, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; James Smith, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea in June 2023, Robinson admitted that on November 30, 2021, he possessed approximately 268 grams of marijuana that he intended to distribute and that he possessed a firearm in order to protect the marijuana, drug proceeds, and his marijuana trafficking business. Robinson had been previously convicted of three felonies and was on supervised release for a 2015 conviction for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon when he was apprehended with the marijuana and the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the New York State Police and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin C. Segovia and Cyrus P.W. Rieck prosecuted the case.
Washington County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin Smurphat, age 35, of Whitehall, New York, pled guilty yesterday to charges of possessing, receiving, distributing and transporting child pornography.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Smurphat, a previously convicted sex offender, admitted that while on state parole in early November 2020, he used a cellphone to upload, to a file-hosting service, depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and that he joined a group chat where he distributed child pornography to other individuals and received child pornography as well.
Smurphat faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Smurphat, whose prior conviction was for attempted sexual contact with a minor younger than 11, will again have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision initiated this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Wagoner Resident Sentenced to Life for MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that George McEntire Smith, age 23, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two life sentences for murder and using a firearm to commit the murder. The sentences will be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On August 5, 2022, a federal jury found Smith guilty at trial of one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, and one count of Causing the Death of a Person During a Crime of Violence with a Dangerous Weapon. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on April 8, 2021, Smith entered the victim’s Wagoner home, then shot the victim once in the back of the head and once in the back of the neck. EMS responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Smith will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.
Wagner Woman Sentenced for Multiple Abuse CountsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Wagner, South Dakota, woman convicted of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023.
Tina Sully, age 53, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $800.
Sully was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. She was found guilty of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on September 15, 2023.
Sully was a foster and adoptive mother to several children. The jury convicted her of unlawfully assaulting and cruelly punishing two of them, including beating them with belts and hangers and withholding food from them for days, between the years of 2003 and 2021.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement, and the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann M. Hoffman and Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
Sully was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Violent Boston Gang Member Who Posed with Firearms on Snapchat Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm while under house arrest on three state firearm charges.
Trevon Bell, 27, of Boston and Lynn, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Feb. 29, 2024.
As part of a 2021 investigation into a violent Boston gang, law enforcement intercepted a Snapchat “chat” comprised of individuals who regularly displayed images of themselves in possession of firearms.
One of the individuals identified in the chat was Bell – a member of the violent Boston-based Heath Street gang. Bell had been indicted on three separate unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition cases in state court for which he was released on home detention with location monitoring via GPS bracelet. However, the investigation revealed that, while on state pre-trial release, Bell had posted numerous videos of himself in possession of firearms to Snapchat, including a Nov. 24, 2021 video that showed him in possession of a black semi-automatic Glock 9 millimeter firearm. The firearm has since been recovered:
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Vancouver Man to Plead Guilty to Securities Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A British Columbia resident has agreed to plead guilty to facilitating pump-and-dump securities fraud schemes by using nominee entities to conceal the common ownership of shares of microcap securities, also known as “penny stocks,” that he then sold on behalf of other conspirators.
Steve M. Bajic, 53, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Bajic and his co-conspirators owned and/or controlled foreign corporations that they used to conceal the common ownership of shares of various publicly traded microcap companies. It is alleged that Bajic and his co-conspirators used these nominee entities to hold shares in blocks of just under five percent of the underlying companies’ total outstanding shares, in order to conceal from transfer agents and the investing public that the shares were under common control and subject to sale restrictions under the federal securities laws. Bajic and his co-conspirators then allegedly sold the shares at the control persons’ direction during promotional campaigns intended to create investor demand for the shares (conduct known as a “pump-and-dump”). Bajic and his co-conspirators also allegedly distributed the illicit proceeds for the control persons’ benefit while keeping commissions for themselves. In total, Bajic and his co-conspirators are alleged to have facilitated the sale of the securities of dozens of microcap companies for trading proceeds in the tens of millions of dollars, including over $6 million generated from the sale of shares of the company Blake Insomnia Therapeutics, Inc. (ticker symbol BKIT).
The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United Kingdom National Pleads Guilty to Hacking, Securities Fraud, and other CybercrimesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Idris Dayo Mustapha, a national of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to charges of computer intrusion, securities fraud, wire fraud and access device fraud based on his involvement in a ring of hackers and fraudsters who broke into Americans’ email and brokerage accounts in order to defraud and steal over $6 million from their victims. Mustapha was arrested in the United Kingdom in August 2021 and was extradited to the United States in August 2023. Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen. When sentenced, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea.
As set forth in the criminal information and court filings, between 2011 and 2018, Mustapha and his co-conspirators hacked into the computer servers of U.S. financial institutions, reviewed confidential user data, and placed malicious files on the servers. Using the stolen data and stolen passwords that they acquired, they executed various schemes to defraud U.S. victims. First, they accessed victims’ email accounts and, impersonating the victims, caused wire transfers of the victims’ funds for their own benefit. Second, they used their access to the victims’ securities brokerage accounts to steal securities outright by having them transferred out of the accounts. Third, Mustapha and his co-conspirators caused the victims’ brokerage accounts to execute unfavorable trades against accounts that Mustapha and his co-conspirators controlled, generating a profit for themselves at the victims’ expense. Losses attributable to the scheme were in excess of $6 million.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section and the Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Mindlin, Sarah M. Evans, and Sara K. Winik are in charge of the prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from the UK of Mustapha.
The Defendant:
IDRIS DAYO MUSTAPHA
Age: 33
United KingdomE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-440 (PKC)
U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles ADA Investigation Involving Service Animals at LexLiveRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky announced Monday that it has reached a settlement with Big Picture Ventures, the owner and operator of the Lexington entertainment center LexLive, to resolve an allegation that it improperly excluded an individual with a disability accompanied by a service animal.
The investigation began after the U.S. Attorney’s Office received a complaint, from a veteran with a disability who uses a service animal, that alleged that a manager at LexLive’s Corner Bar forced her and her dining companions to leave the bar because she was accompanied by her service animal, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
“Under the ADA, restaurants and bars, as public accommodations, are required to ensure proper access to their customers with disabilities,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This includes allowing service dogs, which are a necessary means for many with disabilities. We remain committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have proper access under the ADA, and we are pleased that LexLive has agreed to modify its policies and practices to comply with the Act.”
Under the settlement agreement, LexLive will adopt and implement a service animal policy; provide training on the service animal policy to employees and managers; post the policy in public areas; pay $1,000 in damages to the veteran; and pay a $500 civil penalty to the United States. LexLive cooperated with the government throughout the investigation.
Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of “public accommodation,” including restaurants and bars, are required to modify their policies, practices, or procedures—such as a no pet policy—to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability. A service animal generally may go wherever the public is allowed, and a public accommodation may not require documentation about the service animal.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Pond, in coordination with the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/civil-rights. ADA complaints may be emailed to [email protected] or by contacting the U.S. Attorney's Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at (859) 685-4880.
More information about the ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at (800) 514 0301 or (800) 514 0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov.
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Two men are sentenced for distribution of fentanylRead the Press Release
Jonathan Castillo, age 29 of Casper, Wyoming, and Tucker Donald Wirfel, age 36 of Cody, Wyoming, were recently sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring that was responsible for bringing large quantities of fentanyl into the Cody area. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the following sentences:
- Jonathan Castillo pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced on Oct. 18 to 90 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release.
- Tucker Donald Wirfel pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced on Nov. 27 to 92 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered him to make community restitution in the amount of $500.
According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Wirfel was engaged in the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances in the Cody area. During the investigation, DCI learned that Wirfel and unknown subjects were communicating via text message and the messages were consistent with the use and distribution of fentanyl. During a subsequent search of Wirfel’s residence, agents recovered 124 fentanyl pills. Further investigation revealed that Castillo arranged for fentanyl to be shipped from Arizona to Wirfel by mail. Investigators intercepted one of the shipments and found a stuffed animal with 1,000 fentanyl pills stitched inside. Castillo admitted that he acted as the intermediary between the fentanyl distributors in Arizona and buyers in Wyoming.
This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Case No. 23-CR-00029
Two South Carolina Men Charged with Hate Crimes for Bias-Motivated Armed Robberies Targeting Hispanic VictimsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned an indictment yesterday charging two South Carolina men with hate crimes in connection with a string of bias-motivated armed robberies targeting Hispanic victims.
According to court documents, beginning in Jan. 2021 and continuing through Feb. 2021, Charles Antonio Clippard, 26, and Michael Joseph Knox, 28, both of Columbia, conspired to target people the defendants identified as Mexican or Hispanic at places of public accommodation, including gas stations and grocery stores. After identifying these targets, the defendants would rob their victims at gunpoint. The indictment alleges that the defendants committed three armed robberies as part of the conspiracy, including one carjacking, because of the victims’ race and national origin and because those individuals were using places of public accommodation.
Clippard and Knox are charged with three hate crime counts, one count of conspiracy, one count of carjacking and three firearms offenses. If convicted, each faces a minimum penalty of 21 years in prison for the firearms offenses, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each hate crime count and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the carjacking count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina and Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Columbia Field Office is investigating the case, with the cooperation of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Town of Lexington Police Department and Columbia Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Garner for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Indicted on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two men with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, Omar Cebreros, 42 and Mario Ahumada-Adame, 32, both of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, were indicted on two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Trafficker admits to importing $800,000 of liquid methRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old naturalized citizen residing in Mexico has pleaded guilty to importing nearly 91 pounds of meth from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On April 30, Manuel Ignacio Ley Villa approached the Hidalgo port of entry driving a maroon Chrysler Pacifica. Law enforcement noticed he appeared nervous and referred him to secondary inspection. There, an x-ray inspection revealed anomalies within the vehicle’s fuel tank.
Upon further investigation, law enforcement discovered a fuel tank filled with a liquid material which crystalized upon contact with the floor. The weight of the liquid meth was approximately 41.14 kilograms and had an estimated street value of $810,000.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez accepted the plea and set sentencing for Feb. 13, 2024. At that time, Ley Villa faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting the case.
Three Individuals Charged with Fentanyl and Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tony Oliver, age 32, of Paterson, New Jersey; Rosa Duran, age 40, of Davenport, Florida; and Dewayne Hutton, age 23, of East Orange, New Jersey, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. The indictment was returned on October 10, 2023, but remained under seal until all defendants were arrested.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute fentanyl and heroin between April 2021 and September 2023, in Monroe County, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Tony Oliver specifically was charged with conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, which is the equivalent of approximately 16,000 potentially lethal individual doses of fentanyl. The indictment also alleges that the defendants distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl on three dates in May, July, and September 2023.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Customs and Border Patrol, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Luisa H. Berti are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The penalties under federal law for the most serious offense charged against Tony Oliver are a minimum 10 years and maximum life of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalties under federal law for the most serious offenses charged against Rosa Duran and Dewayne Hutton are up to 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Sparta Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sparta, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm.
Gabriel Eric Robinson, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 11 years and five months in federal prison without parole.
On June 5, 2023, Robinson pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
On Aug. 23, 2021, Robinson was found unconscious behind the driver’s seat of a black Ford Explorer that was parked in the grass at the rear of a residence in Reeds Spring, Mo. The vehicle was not running but the keys were in the ignition. A Stone County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy found a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm pistol lying on the passenger seat next to a bag that contained methamphetamine. The deputy also found a green cloth bag in the back seat that contained several additional bags of methamphetamine and a Ziploc bag of marijuana. The deputy also found $1,674 in cash in the center console. In total, Robinson was in possession of 188.8 grams of methamphetamine, 30 pills containing buprenorphine, and .64 grams of a powder that contained tramadol, fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Robinson had only been out of prison in connection with a drug trafficking offense for approximately two and a half months and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of this federal offense. According to court documents, Robinson has three prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, two prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, and prior felony convictions for resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and theft. In connection with these prior felony convictions, Robinson has fled from police officers on numerous occasions, once at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while in possession of a firearm.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Slingerlands Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Fuino, age 73, of Slingerlands, New York, was indicted earlier this month on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
According to the indictment and the previously filed complaint, Fuino repeatedly molested a child born in 2016 who was under his care, and photographed the child’s genitals, between 2022 and May 2023. The victim reported the abuse to her elementary school in May after a presentation on inappropriate touching and sexual contact. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Fuino, who has been in custody since May on the criminal complaint, waived his right to an arraignment and will remain detained pending trial before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
The charges filed against Fuino carry a prison term of at least 15 years and up to life, as well as a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. If convicted, Fuino would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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.
Sin City Deciples Members Convicted of Racketeering and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Kenneth Christopher McGhee a/k/a “Sonny” and “Angel,” age 74, of Merrillville, Indiana, Richard White a/k/a “Ignorant Bastard,” age 56, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brandon Romand Parks a/k/a “Baywatch,” age 45, of Chicago, Illinois, and Herman Troy Jefferson a/k/a “G-Rilla,” age 51, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, were each found guilty of various felony charges following an eighteen-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
The jury found McGhee and Jefferson guilty of the racketeering conspiracy and the drug conspiracy and additionally found McGhee guilty of possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. The jury further found White and Parks guilty of the racketeering conspiracy.
According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is a motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere.
The agencies involved in the Sin City Deciples prosecution are: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, Western District of Kentucky, and Western District of Pennsylvania also provided assistance.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Michael J. Toth, and Kimberly L. Schultz.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Shrewsbury Man Indicted for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Shrewsbury man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Worcester for allegedly possessing and transporting child pornography.
Brian Lingard, 60, was charged with transportation of and possession of child pornography. Lingard was previously charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 27, 2023. He was released on conditions following his arrest on Oct. 30, 2023.According to the charging documents, on Oct. 19, 2023, Lingard flew from Paris to Boston. During a customs screening, it is alleged that Lingard was found to possess images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone. A subsequent search of devices stored at Lingard’s residence revealed an additional collection of alleged CSAM.
Data extracted from the SD card of Lingard’s phone allegedly revealed approximately 23 images of CSAM depicting minors who appear to be under 10 years old. At least two of the images depict minors who have previously been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as child sexual abuse victims.
It is further alleged that a computer stored by the defendant at his Shrewsbury home contained approximately 135 videos depicting CSAM, depicting primarily females between the ages of three and 12 years old.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Michael McCarthy, Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Seminole Resident Sentenced for Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anastacia Phillinia Little, age 32, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for her role as an accessory after the fact to Murder in Indian country.
The charges arose from investigations by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On July 15, 2022, Little pleaded guilty to one count of Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian Country. According to investigators, on April 2, 2019, Little—aware that Coker Dean Barker had just completed the willful, deliberate, and malicious murder of a Seminole resident—helped Barker burn evidence of the crime, then drove him to the Mexican border in order to help him evade arrest and prosecution. Barker was convicted of Murder in Indian country by a federal jury at trial on April 10, 2023.
The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Little will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.