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27 November 2023
Framingham Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Unlicensed Money Transmission BusinessRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Framingham man pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Luiz DaSilva, 69, pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business before U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, who scheduled sentencing for April 4, 2024. DaSilva was arrested and charged in December 2022.
From in or about October 2018 through in or about October 2020, DaSilva failed to comply with federal registration requirements for money transmitting businesses in operating his business, Mix Cell Phones, LLC.
The charge of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker made announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Fourteen Members of Cocaine Distribution Ring Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today the unsealing of a 21-count Superseding Indictment charging 14 individuals with drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The defendants are members of a drug trafficking group led by defendant Herbert Robinson (“Robinson DTG”).
The Superseding Indictment alleges that the defendants, several of whom had prior drug trafficking offenses, distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere from at least February 2019 to January 2021. As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Robinson and other high-ranking members of the DTG regularly traveled internationally to meet with drug suppliers in Mexico, Colombia, and Jamaica. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 169 kilograms of cocaine, $8.26 million in cash drug proceeds, and four firearms.
The individuals charged include:
- Herbert Robinson, 48, of Lower Gwynedd, PA
- Samyre Washington, 38, of Wyncote, PA
- Ross Brooks, 48, of Philadelphia, PA
- Melvin Butler, 60, of Compton, CA
- Marcus Washington, 43, of Philadelphia, PA
- Marvin Watson, 44, of Glen Mills, PA
- Randall Overton, 39, of Philadelphia, PA
- Frank Singleton, 50, of Upper Darby, PA
- James Leonard Flack, Jr., 54, of Philadelphia, PA
- Kashon Adade, 36, of Lansdowne, PA
- Antonio Simmons, 49, of Gahanna, OH
- Von Oscar Tyler, 56, of Temple Hills, MD
- Gilberto Alaniz, 34, of Mercedex, TX
- L.B. Nelson, 44, of Inglewood, CA
Thirteen defendants have pleaded guilty. The remaining defendant, a fugitive, passed away after the Superseding Indictment was returned. Several members of the Robinson DTG pleaded guilty to additional drug charges, money laundering, and tax crimes, charged via three separate Informations in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Pennsylvania State Police – SHIELD Unit, Delaware State Police, New Jersey State Police, Philadelphia Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis A. Weber.
Former Illinois Death Row Inmate Convicted of Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on November 14, 2023, against Jeffrey D. Parmly, 60, of Peoria, Illinois, for attempted enticement of a minor. Sentencing for Parmly is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Peoria.
Parmly was previously convicted of murder in Marion County, Illinois, in 1984 and given a death sentence, which was later reduced to 76 years. He was paroled in November 2021 and was on parole at the time of the current offense.
Over two days of testimony, the government presented evidence that, in December of last year, Parmly communicated with, and attempted to meet, an individual for the purpose of having sexual contact with an 11-year-old girl.
Parmly remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. At sentencing, he faces statutory penalties of 10 years to life imprisonment, to be followed by five years to a life term of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay a mandatory $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy A. Bass and John David Hoelzer represented the government at trial.
The case against Parmly 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
Former Army Soldier Charged with Sexual Assault at JBERRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment on Sept. 21, 2023, charging a former U.S. Army soldier with sexually assaulting a victim while stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
According to court documents, Shawn May, 24, was arrested in Delaware on Nov. 22, 2023, for allegedly making a victim engage in a sexual act by force and without the victim’s consent in March 2020. The assault is alleged to have happened on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
May is charged with one count aggravated sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2241(a), and one count of sexual abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2242(3). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Department of the Air Force, Office of Special Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and James Klugman are 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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Florida Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine in Bangor and Houlton AreasRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Jared Fogg, 32, to eight years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Fogg pleaded guilty on April 25, 2023.
According to court records, between May 2018 and July 2018, Fogg was obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and distributing it in locations around Bangor and Houlton through a group of co-conspirators. On July 12, 2018, a truck driven by a co-conspirator and in which Fogg was a passenger was stopped by law enforcement in Lincoln. A search of the vehicle revealed 30 grams of heroin and 100 grams of methamphetamine. A loaded 9mm handgun and nearly $20,000 in cash was in Fogg’s bag, and multiple grams of methamphetamine were later recovered from Fogg’s home.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this case.
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Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced - November 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November 2023 Federal Grand Jury B.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Brandon Lee Cooper. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Suffocating in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate/Dating Partner in Indian Country. Cooper, 27, of Tulsa, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with kidnapping, assaulting, and causing bodily harm to a dating partner on Oct. 28, 2023. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-379
Melik Deshawn Davis. Robbery in Indian Country (Counts 1, 2); Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony in Indian Country (Counts 3, 4); Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country (Counts 5, 6). Davis, 24, of Tulsa, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with robbing and assaulting his victims on Sep. 18, 2023. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Dunn and Stephen N. Scaife are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-376
Damon Michael Dozier. Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Kidnapping of a Minor in Indian Country. Dozier, 40, transient, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with sexually assaulting a minor child under 16 years old and holding the victim against their will on Jun. 12, 2023. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen N. Scaife is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-375
Jose Juan-Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Use of Immigration Identification Document Not Legally Issued; False Statement on Official Document; Use of False Social Security Number; Aggravated Identity Theft. Juan-Lopez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed, illegally possessing a firearm, and possessing identification cards not belonging to him. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot P. Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-374
Christopher Lee Juanito Noear. Assault of a Spouse/Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country; Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Noear, 35, of Tulsa, a Muscogee (Creek) Nation member, is charged with is charged with strangling a dating partner, and being in possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Flynn is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-372
Wyatt Douglas Miller; Kevin Ramses Rocha; Tyler Dewayne Rogers; Jonah Maxwell Fesman; Antonio Ernesto Munoz; Juan Manuel Camacho-Zarate; Cameron David Martin; Ilyess Hadri Talbi; Steven Lin; Gilbert Immanuel; Jared Chan Zi Jie; Jordan Goh Zhi Hao; Darren Khoo Zhi En; Bryan Goh Chun Hee; Cai Jin Cheng; Tan Kian Wei; Daniel Holland; Prit Patel. Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (superseding). Miller, 24, San Marcos, CA; Rocha, 24, Littlerock, CA; Rogers, 24, Goleta, CA; Fesman, 23, Altadena, CA; Munoz, 24, Palmdale, CA; Camacho-Zarate, 25, Santa Maria, CA; Martin, 23, Winter Garden, FL; Talbi, 20, Columbus, OH; Lin, 27, Philadelphia, PA; Immanuel, 25, Lutz, FL; Zi Jie, 25, Republic of Singapore; Zhi Hao, 23, Republic of Singapore; Zhi En, 23, Republic of Singapore; Chun Hee, 25, Republic of Singapore; Cheng, 24, Republic of Singapore; Wei, 24, Republic of Singapore; Hong Wei, 25, Republic of Singapore; Holland, 24, United Kingdom; Patel, 24, Canada, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud as a part of an international conspiracy to defraud online retailers through a variety of schemes collectively known as “refund fraud”. The cyber squads of the FBI’s Oklahoma City and Birmingham Field Offices, as well as agents from the FBI Seattle Field Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar, Matthew P. Cyran, and Ashley Robert are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-331
Luis Armando Mendez-Matias. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Mendez-Matias, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Jan. 2, 2020, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-373
Juan Carlos Moreno-Lopez; Samuel Ulises Ortega; Jose Ortiz-Tapia; Jorge Luis Cruz-Diaz; Jesus Roberto Lujano-Urquiza; Joseph Anthony Raniewicz; Brittany Welch. Continuing Criminal Enterprise (Count 1); Drug Conspiracy (Count 2); Distribution of Methamphetamine (Counts 3 – 6); Distribution of Fentanyl (Count 7); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Counts 8 – 9); Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony (Counts 10 – 14) (superseding). Moreno-Lopez, 25; Ortega, 53; Ortiz-Tapia, 34; Cruz-Diaz, 29; Lujano-Urquiza, 33; Raniewicz, 42, Tulsa; Welch, 33, Claremore, are charged with drug conspiracy, and distribution of meth and fentanyl, beginning in January of 2021 through November of 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-136
Juan Ramon Pulido Romero. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Romero, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Jan. 4, 2014, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-370
Juan Ramos-Duran. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramos-Duran, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Jan. 18, 2016, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot P. Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-371
Daniel Ray Sanders. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Sanders, 40, transient, a Cherokee Nation member, is charged with strangling and causing bodily harm to an intimate partner and on a separate occasion assaulting the same intimate partner with a dangerous weapon, both in Indian Country.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-381Ricardo Sandoval-Chavez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ricardo Sandoval-Chavez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Apr. 22, 2017, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-368
Christian Sanchez-Flores. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Sanchez-Flores, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Feb. 1, 2019, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-369
Jacob Shoate. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling in Indian Country; First Degree Burglary in Indian Country; Witness Tampering. Shoate, 22, of Tulsa, a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma member, is charged with strangling, breaking into a residence and preventing the victim from calling 911. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-382
Nelson Alexis Torres Leon; Roberto Quiroz Lopez; Jose Isla-Chavez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Leon, 23, of The Village, Lopez, 49, of Tulsa, are charged with possessing and distributing fentanyl and heroin. Lopez is also charged with maintaining a residence for distributing fentanyl and heroin. Isla-Chavez, 29 of Tulsa, is charged with possessing and distributing fentanyl and maintain a residence for distribution of fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-380
Victor Vallejo-Rivera. Kidnapping in Indian Country; Witness Tampering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country (Misdemeanor). Vallejo-Rivera, 33 of Tulsa, is charged with kidnapping, preventing the victim from contacting 911, and assaulting with intent to do harm. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-367
Erie Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Laws Related to the Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Darren Steven George Akers, 48, of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse material before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about March 9, 2023, Akers received and attempted to receive images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Akers also possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material from in and around May 2022, to in and around March 2023.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued Akers on bond.Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Akers.
Elk City Man Pleads Guilty to Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, TIMOTHY STEVEN BLAYLOCK, JR., 37, of Elk City, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On November 17, 2023, Blaylock was charged by Superseding Information with production of child pornography involving two victims and possession of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, on July 24, 2023, an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) began communicating with Blaylock via a mobile messaging service. The OCE purported to be the mother of a 12-year-old girl, to whom Blaylock made several sexually explicit comments. The affidavit alleges the conversation continued for several days, during which Blaylock shared several videos with the OCE depicting himself in sexual acts with minors. Blaylock was arrested on July 28, 2023.
After his arrest, the FBI determined that Blaylock had produced child pornography with two children using his cell phone. Blaylock also downloaded other child pornography via the Internet and possessed it on his cell phone.
Today, Blaylock pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information. As part of his plea, Blaylock admitted to using two minors to engage in sexual acts multiple times, which he filmed using his cell phone, between March 17, 2021, and July 28, 2023, and possessing other child pornography on his cell phone.
At sentencing, Blaylock faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, and fines totaling up to $500,000. Blaylock has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 28, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Elk City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Second Degree Murder While Armed in 2020 Shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Darquise Montgomery, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for the September 2020 shooting death of Anthony Lee, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He was sentenced by the Honorable Rainey Brandt of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Montgomery is the second of three defendants in this case. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed on October 3, 2023. Co-defendant Kyrie Wells, 21, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to the same charge on January 3, 2023, and was sentenced, on April 13, 2023, to 14 years in prison. A third and final defendant in the case, Niko Hall, pleaded guilty on October 3, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, just before 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, Anthony Lee, 25, of Washington, D.C., was walking south on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. with a companion. The three defendants lined up across the sidewalk behind him. As Mr. Lee crossed Malcolm X Avenue, Hall, Wells, and Montgomery drew their handguns and opened fire, hitting Mr. Lee once in the back, and killing him.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter V. Roman and Jessica Keefer and Deputy Chief Laura Bach, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Costa Rican Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Smuggling over 4,000 Pounds of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Keyran Coto Lopez, 28, of Costa Rica, was sentenced by Judge Wilma Lewis to 46 months incarceration after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 4,000 pounds of marijuana on board a vessel subject to jurisdiction of the United States. Co-defendants Alonso Hernandez Hernandez and Luis Orellana-Orellana, both also from Costa Rica, are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Lewis on November 28, 2023, and December 1, 2023, following their guilty pleas.
According to court documents, on November 7, 2022, while patroling in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, 65 nautical miles South of Boca Chica, Panama, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Campbell intercepted a go-fast vessel with no physical flag flown and no registration documents onboard. Bundles of contraband were visible on the deck of the go-fast vessel and Lopez and two other occupants were located on board. One of the three men on board claimed Colombian nationality for the go-fast vessel, but the Colombian Government neither confirmed nor denied nationality of the vessel. A search of the go-fast vessel by Coast Guard officers resulted in the recovery of 4,104 pounds of marijuana.
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Clay County Convicted Felon and Drug Dealer Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Shawntae Jamell Clark (45, Clay County) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Clark to forfeit two firearms, ammunition, and cash traceable to his offenses. He was arrested on July 6, 2022, and ordered detained. Clark pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.
According to court documents, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were investigating Clark based on reports that he was selling drugs, including methamphetamine, out of a hotel room at the Stay Suites on Wells Road in Clay County. On July 2, 2021, deputies observed Clark leaving his hotel room with a backpack and getting into a car. During a subsequent traffic stop of the vehicle, a CCSO canine alerted to the car, indicating that it contained illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of the car revealed a small safe containing a loaded Beretta pistol and Taurus revolver, 7 baggies of methamphetamine, and approximately 100 small baggies. Further investigation determined that the total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 159 grams, and that Clark had multiple prior felony convictions for armed robbery, attempted lewd or lascivious act – sexual battery, and multiple convictions for possession of cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
On September 25, 2023, Judge Howard sentenced a related defendant, David Lee Rucker (35, Clay County), to six years and eight months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court also ordered Rucker to forfeit a firearm and ammunition. Rucker had pleaded guilty on May 19, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
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.
Clarkston tax preparer sentenced for multi-year tax fraud and prohibited from preparing future returnsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Mohamed Hersi has been sentenced to federal prison for filing false tax returns. Hersi, who owned a tax preparation business, filed false returns on behalf of unwitting clients, collected more than $1 million in preparer fees, and then failed to disclose his own income to the IRS.
“The community trusted Hersi to provide sound tax advice to comply with our tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “But Hersi betrayed his clients’ trust, pocketed their fees, and then lied on his own returns.”
“Tax return preparer fraud is a serious breach of responsibilities for themselves and on behalf of their clients, leading to degrading trust and confidence of our tax system,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS special agents and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant in upholding the integrity of the tax system and holding individuals accountable for their actions.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Hersi owned and operated Map Wireless Inc., d/b/a “1st Tax Center,” “Metro Tax Center,” and “Investment Financial Services” in Clarkston, Georgia. Between 2016 and 2020, Hersi prepared and filed false income tax returns for his clients that claimed false Schedule C items, withholdings, education credits, expenses, and itemized deductions to obtain inflated refunds to which his clients were not entitled.
On some occasions, Hersi provided one version of the return he planned to file to his clients, then filed a different version with the IRS which included both falsely claimed items and different direct deposit information. During the scheme, Hersi collected over $1.2 million in fees from his clients, but never disclosed that income to the IRS, resulting in a loss of more than $400,000.
Mohamed Hersi, 40, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, and he was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $439,543. Hersi’s sentence also includes a prohibition on his preparing taxes for others in the future.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Dillingham prosecuted the case.
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.
Ceres Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking Two VictimsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Kevin James Strutz, 52, of Ceres, was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for cyberstalking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. In addition, Strutz was ordered to pay $1773 in restitution.
According to court documents, Strutz secretly made a video recording of an adult female who stayed as an Airbnb tenant at the residence where Strutz was living in Ceres in February 2020. The victim ended her stay at the residence when she discovered a message on a cellphone that Strutz had left in a shared bathroom. Over the next several months, Strutz continued to contact the victim through multiple Facebook accounts. The messages became increasingly aggressive, and one included an image of the victim exiting a shower at the Airbnb residence that had been taken without her knowledge or consent. Strutz sent the image to her with a demand that she send him a sexually explicit video or he would send the photo to her friends and family.
Investigators later learned that between September 2018 and December 2018, Strutz had also sent a series of electronic messages and handwritten letters to a second female victim. Strutz left 15 handwritten letters on the victim’s vehicle, many of which contained threats designed to coerce the victim into engaging in sexual acts with Strutz. He also sent messages to the victim from five different Facebook accounts and attempted to contact the victim using phone calls and messages.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Ceres Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
Butte man admits trafficking cocaine, marijuana, mushrooms in investigation of illegally imported pill pressesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Butte man suspected of receiving illegally imported pill presses from China and trafficking cocaine and other drugs admitted to a drug charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
David Jesus Tapia-Padron, 33, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Tapia-Padron faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Tapia-Padron was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in September 2022, two industrial tablet presses were illegally imported from China to the United States and addressed to a warehouse in Anaconda. The Drug Enforcement Administration intercepted the presses and then had them delivered. The DEA determined that co-defendant Austin King-Terrell, of Butte, had ordered the presses for Tapia-Padron and provided them to him. Agents later searched Tapia-Padron’s residence and found large quantities of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and a vacuum sealed package containing one kilogram of cocaine. Agents also located distribution paraphernalia, a money counter and money bands throughout the home. In addition, the investigation determined that Tapia-Padron paid King-Terrell to buy what King-Terrell referred to as a “kief press.” Kief is a concentrated form of marijuana. Tapia-Padron regularly sold King-Terrell marijuana and offered him psilocybin mushrooms. King-Terrell pleaded guilty recently to illegal importation of a tableting machine and is pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case. The DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
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Albany Man Sentenced for Failing to Update Sex Offender Registration and Violating Supervised Release ConditionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jason Burnash, age 43, of Albany, was sentenced today to a total of 28 months in prison for failing to update his sex offender registration information and violating his conditions of federal supervised release.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea on July 28, 2023, Burnash admitted that he was required to register as a sex offender because of his prior federal conviction in 2012 for receiving child pornography. Burnash further admitted that between December 24, 2022 and March 1, 2023, he failed to advise the sex offender registry of a change in his residential address. This conduct both violated Burnash’s conditions of supervised release and was a new crime, specifically a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci ordered Burnash to serve 18 months in prison for violating his supervised release conditions and an additional 10 months for the new criminal conduct. She also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release, which will start after Burnash is released from prison. Burnish will again have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted 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). 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.
Ada Resident Sentenced for Making A False Statement During the Acquisition of A FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Louis Meszaros, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to three years’ probation for making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On January 28, 2022, Meszaros attempted to redeem a pawned Ruger Mark IV .22 semi-automatic pistol from D&S Pawn in Ada, Oklahoma. During his visit, Meszaros intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473, asserting that he was not prohibited from possessing a firearm. In reality, Meszaros was at the time subject to a final protective order issued against him in Pontotoc County prohibiting him from gun ownership until September 18, 2024. When questioned by law enforcement about this false statement, Meszaros admitted that, at the time he filled out the form, he knew the protective order was current and active.
On September 14, 2022, Meszaros pleaded guilty to one count of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
26 November 2023
Statement of United States Attorney Kerest Regarding Shooting of Three Young Men in BurlingtonRead the Press Release
Nikolas P. Kerest, United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, made the following statement with respect to the shooting incident in Burlington on Saturday, November 25th:
“The Burlington Police Department, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other members of the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force are investigating the shooting of three young men of Palestinian descent on Saturday night in Burlington.
“We recognize the suffering and heartbreak that the three men who were wounded, their families, and their communities are experiencing. We offer our deepest condolences to all affected by Saturday’s events. We deplore and condemn this violence and other similar acts. We appreciate that our law enforcement partners are conducting the investigation into the identity of the shooter and the shooter’s motives in a careful and deliberate manner.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and the Civil Rights Division will assess the evidence generated to determine whether a federal crime may have been committed.”
South Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Marcus Lance Dumarce, age 54, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Dumarce was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 28, 2023.
According to court documents, Dumarce was convicted in federal court of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor in April of 2003. Between December 20, 2018, and June 15, 2023, Dumarce left the residence at which he had been registered in Roberts County, South Dakota, and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. He is required to register for life due to the previous conviction.
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 the 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.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Dumarce was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
Sisseton Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Jay Adams, Jr., age 57, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on November 20, 2023, and pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information that charged him with Voluntary Manslaughter.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and a $50 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
In 1992, in Roberts County, Adams killed a minor victim, in the heat of passion, by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma to her head. Adams has signed documents admitting he used violent force to inflict the injury upon the victim in the early morning hours of September 4, 1992. Adams did not seek medical attention for the victim and later the same day discovered she had died. Adams feigned ignorance as to the cause of the victim’s injury. Earlier this year, new evidence came to light which implicated Adams in the death of the victim.
“Cold cases are not closed cases in the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. “As this tragic case demonstrates, no matter how long it takes, we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. It is our hope that this work offers some measure of closure to victims’ families and helps honor the sacred memory of missing and murdered Indigenous persons.”
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s newly created Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of victims and their families despite the passage of time.
The investigation was conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Plains Region Troy R.
Morley.A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for June 3, 2024, in Aberdeen
South Dakota. Adams was ordered to self-surrender to U.S. Marshals custody by 2:00 p.m. on
December 11, 2023.McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Simple AssaultRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023.
Martin Tre Black Cloud, age 20, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $10.
Black Cloud was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He was convicted of Simple Assault following a two-day jury trial on August 8, 2023.
The evidence at trial showed that Black Cloud was drinking alcohol with his stepfather on June 22, 2022, in McIntosh, South Dakota. Black Cloud quarreled with his stepfather and assaulted him, resulting in his stepfather’s hospitalization. Black Cloud then apologized to his stepfather, injured himself with a knife, and fled.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Aberdeen Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Obstructing a Federal Court ProceedingRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Aberdeen, South Dakota, man convicted of Tampering with a Witness. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Jordan Anthony Rondell, age 36, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondell was indicted for Tampering with a Witness by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty to on August 8, 2023.
According to court documents, between January 26, 2023, and continuing through February 6, 2023, Rondell intentionally harassed another person in an effort to prevent and dissuade that person from assisting in a federal court proceeding. During the relevant time period of this case, Rondell was on federal supervised release, following his federal conviction of conspiracy to steal from a tribally owned casino. In late January of 2023, Rondell filed a motion seeking release to the custody of his spouse to address a medical issue. At a hearing on February 1, 2023, the Court heard testimony from Rondell’s spouse. His spouse’s testimony was, in material part, false, and Rondell intentionally and corruptly harassed his spouse to offer that false testimony in an effort to get him released from federal custody.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.
Rondell was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.
24 November 2023
Rio Rico Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Transporting Illegal Aliens for ProfitRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Moises Ruiz, Jr., 34, of Rio Rico, was sentenced on November 9, 2023, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 40 months in prison. Ruiz pleaded guilty on August 31, 2023, to one count of Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit.
On February 20, 2023, United States Border Patrol agents pursued Ruiz while he was traveling on State Route 90, driving a grey Chevrolet pickup truck. Ruiz accelerated to a high rate of speed and eventually merged onto Interstate-10 (I-10). Ruiz exited I-10 and was located by agents with the assistance of air support. After a lengthy pursuit, agents were able to apprehend him.
Five undocumented noncitizens exited Ruiz’s vehicle during the pursuit and were later found by agents.
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol Agents-Sonoita Station and Homeland Security Investigations-Nogales conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Chamblee, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00385-SHR-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-186_Ruiz# # #
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.
23 November 2023
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Arrest of Néstor Isidro Pérez SalasRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the arrest of Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” by Mexican authorities:
“Yesterday, Mexican authorities arrested Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as ‘El Nini,’ who we allege is one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s lead sicarios, or assassins. Until his apprehension, El Nini led security operations for the Chapitos and we allege that he and his security forces murdered, tortured, and kidnapped rivals, witnesses, and others who opposed the Chapitos.
Shortly after the apprehension of El Nini, I spoke with Mexican Attorney General Gertz to thank him for the extraordinary efforts of the Mexican authorities who made the arrest, and to whom we are all grateful for their courage.
We are now seeking El Nini’s swift extradition from Mexico to face justice here in the United States.
Last month, in a meeting in Mexico City, I thanked our Mexican government and law enforcement counterparts for the extradition of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel and one of more than a dozen cartel leaders we have indicted who have been extradited to the United States.
Earlier this year, I announced charges against 23 leaders, members, and associates of the Sinaloa Cartel. Those charges reflect the aggressive approach the Justice Department is taking to disrupting and dismantling the Sinaloa Cartel, an organization responsible for operating one of the deadliest and most prolific drug trafficking operations in the world. Among those we charged are the cartel’s drug traffickers, their money launderers, their manufacturers, their chemical suppliers, and their leaders — as well as their security forces, which engage in horrific and brutal violence.
The Justice Department is grateful to our Mexican counterparts for their work in that effort, and we remain committed to doing everything in our power to dismantle the dangerous drug trafficking cartels that are responsible for death and devastation in both the United States and Mexico.”
22 November 2023
Worcester Man Sentenced for Drug Offense and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possessing cocaine intended for distribution and wire fraud with respect to COVID-19 relief programs.
Augustus “Bobo” Kormah, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 131 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Kormah was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $258,705. In June 2023, Kormah pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of wire fraud.
On Sept. 11, 2020, Kormah was arrested following a suspected drug transaction. Following his arrest, a search of Kormah’s apartment resulted in the seizure of approximately 26 grams of cocaine, an un-serialized Polymer 80 9mm firearm and a black magazine loaded with 30 9mm cartridges.
A subsequent investigation revealed that, between approximately May and October 2020, Kormah used the personal identifying information of over 50 individuals to submit approximately 125 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 unemployment benefits as well as 15 fraudulent claims for COVID-19 small business loans. As a result of the fraud scheme, Kormah obtained approximately $100,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits and approximately $170,000 in fraudulent small business loans.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division and Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.Wilkes-Barre Men Charged with Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antoine Montgomery, 34, and Jamal Jenkins, 35, both of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, were indicted on November 21, 2023, by a federal grand jury for conspiracy and possession and distribution of fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Montgomery and Jenkins conspired to distribute fentanyl since December of 2022, and possessed fentanyl on November 17, 2023, with the intent to distribute the narcotic in Luzerne County.
The case was investigated by the Wilkes-Barre City Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is 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 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 maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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United States Files Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Traceable to Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be proceeds of a “pig-butchering” fraud scheme targeting Massachusetts residents and involved in money laundering. Specifically, the government seeks to forfeit 204,315.87 Tether (USDT) and 18.9649 bitcoin (BTC) seized from two accounts located at Binance.com, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. Collectively, this cryptocurrency has a current estimated value of approximately $900,000.
In September 2022, an investigation began into a pig-butchering scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. In a pig-butchering scheme, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics. The scammer establishes a level of trust with a victim in online communications and then entices the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Often the victim is enticed to make additional payments before realizing they are a victim of fraud.
As alleged in court documents, after targeting a Massachusetts victim and fostering an online relationship, scammers claiming to have access to profitable investment opportunities, induced the victim to invest personal funds into a fake cryptocurrency investment platform. During the investigation additional victims of the pig-butchering scheme were identified. Law enforcement traced cryptocurrency involved in the fraud and money laundering schemes to two Binance accounts, where it was seized.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct, or attempt to conduct, a financial transaction involving property which is known to represent the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, knowing that such transaction is designed to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of those proceeds of unlawful activity. The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency is traceable to proceeds of wire fraud and was involved in money laundering. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and pig-butchering fraud scams – should contact [email protected].
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquelle L. Kaye of the Asset Recovery Unit.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.
U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Seeking to Identify Potential Victims in Connection with Online Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) are seeking to identify potential victims of an online child exploitation scheme which originated in Suffolk County, New York, and in Northwest Louisiana in 2022.
The defendant in this investigation, Stephen Andrew Cipkin, has been charged by federal indictment with traveling to engage in illicit sexual activity, under 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b); production and receipt of child pornography, under 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2); possession of child pornography, under 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B); and enticement of a minor, under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
The defendant may also be known by the following online usernames: “sac8635,” “ArabellaC.,” “Human no-more,” “numb little bug,” “Swiffer1,” “@onlygoodguy,” and “Ur_Perfect_Daddy.” The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If you, your family member, or anyone that you know has had contact with this individual or any of the above-listed usernames while being tutored in Suffolk County, New York, or while using the online applications Snapchat, Pinterest, YesIChat, Y99, or Instagram between 2020 and 2023, and would like to report a crime, please contact the FBI via email at: [email protected].
For additional resources and information, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.
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Two men sentenced for their roles in Jamestown drug ringRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jarrod Adams, 43, Erie, PA, and Michael Murphy, 31, of Jamestown, NY, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for their roles in a Jamestown area drug ring. Adams, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison. Murphy, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 192 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2019, and October 2020, defendant Murphy bought, sold, and distributed quantities of methamphetamine for profit, utilizing Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking operation. On July 16, 2019, the United States Marshal’s Service and other law enforcement officers went to a Bishop Street residence in Jamestown to apprehend Murphy, a federal fugitive at the time. Murphy was taken into custody along with co-conspirator Jarrod Adams. A search warrant was executed at the residence, during which investigators seized a quantity of methamphetamine $1,476 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. During the conspiracy, Murphy, who received his supply from co-conspirators Adams and Rocco Beardsley, also supplied large quantities of methamphetamine to other co-conspirators. On November 29, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Murphy’s Newland Avenue residence and recovered methamphetamine, illicit mushrooms, other drug paraphernalia, two firearms, ammunition and $1,642 in cash.
Rocco Beardsley is scheduled to go to trial in March 2024.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Two men sentenced for their roles in Jamestown drug ringRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jarrod Adams, 43, Erie, PA, and Michael Murphy, 31, of Jamestown, NY, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for their roles in a Jamestown area drug ring. Adams, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison. Murphy, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 192 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2019, and October 2020, defendant Murphy bought, sold, and distributed quantities of methamphetamine for profit, utilizing Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking operation. On July 16, 2019, the United States Marshal’s Service and other law enforcement officers went to a Bishop Street residence in Jamestown to apprehend Murphy, a federal fugitive at the time. Murphy was taken into custody along with co-conspirator Jarrod Adams. A search warrant was executed at the residence, during which investigators seized a quantity of methamphetamine $1,476 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. During the conspiracy, Murphy, who received his supply from co-conspirators Adams and Rocco Beardsley, also supplied large quantities of methamphetamine to other co-conspirators. On November 29, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Murphy’s Newland Avenue residence and recovered methamphetamine, illicit mushrooms, other drug paraphernalia, two firearms, ammunition and $1,642 in cash.
Rocco Beardsley is scheduled to go to trial in March 2024.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
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Two Connecticut Men Arrested for Drug Offenses; Fentanyl and Cocaine SeizedRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Brendan Salmon, 30, also known as “Nice,” of Hartford, Connecticut, and Lincoln Anthony Robinson, Jr., 28, of Windsor, Connecticut, were arrested on Thursday, November 16, 2023 in Hardwick, Vermont. Salmon was charged by criminal complaint with distributing fentanyl on five different occasions, as well as aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Robinson was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Both men appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on November 18. Salmon was detained pending further proceedings; his next court appearance is currently set for December 1, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Doyle. Robinson was released on conditions.
According to court records, Salmon is alleged to have distributed fentanyl at various locations in Lamoille and Caledonia counties on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023. Salmon is also alleged to have directed a shipment of drugs into Vermont from Connecticut containing approximately 670 grams of fentanyl, 570 grams of powder cocaine, and 160 grams of crack cocaine, which police intercepted and seized on September 25, 2023.
Robinson is alleged to have been in possession of approximately 85 grams of crack cocaine in the residence where both men were arrested. While searching the residence on November 16, law enforcement also recovered approximately 350 grams of suspected powder cocaine, approximately 270 grams of suspected crack cocaine, approximately 500 glassine bags of suspected fentanyl, approximately 100 counterfeit Xanax, a Glock 9mm pistol with two magazines of ammunition, an armored vest, and approximately $11,875 in U.S. currency.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that criminal complaints contain only allegations and both Salmon and Robinson remain presumed innocent until and unless they are convicted of a crime. Each of the six counts Salmon faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment. The single count Robinson faces carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Morristown Police Department, the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Office, the Stowe Police Department, and the Hardwick Police Department.
The prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Van de Graaf and Ray Sun. Salmon is represented by Richard Goldsborough, Esq. Robinson is represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.
Three Men Charged with String of Violent Armed Robberies in Passaic CountyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Three New Jersey man were charged in connection with their respective roles in a series of armed robberies in Passaic County, New Jersey, in August 2022, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Kareem Powell, 30, of Willingboro, New Jersey, is charged by superseding indictment with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Following his arrest on Nov. 21, 2023, Powell made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was detained.
Powell’s co-defendants, Carlos Diaz, 30, and Edward Porter, 30, both of Paterson, New Jersey, previously were charged by indictment with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The superseding indictment charges Diaz and Porter with an additional count of Hobbs Act robbery as well as an additional count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On the evening of Aug. 22, 2022, Powell, Diaz, and Porter robbed a Passaic bodega of several thousand dollars while pointing their guns at a victim and threatening to kill him. Later that same evening, Powell, Diaz, and Porter also robbed a Paterson business of several thousand dollars. During both robberies, Powell, Diaz, and Porter menaced customers with handguns and ordered them to lie on the ground.
On the evening of Aug. 23, 2022, Diaz and Porter robbed a Passaic liquor store of several thousand dollars at gunpoint. While inside the store, Porter used his gun to pistol-whip a victim on the face. Later that evening, Diaz and Porter committed an additional gunpoint robbery of a business in Paterson. While inside the store, Porter pushed one victim and wrestled with a different victim, dragging the victim to the floor while attempting to take the victim’s handbag.
Each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. Hobbs Act robbery carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Richard Berdnik, the Passaic Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Luis A. Guzman, and the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Schuman of the Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
powell.sindictment.pdfSpokane Valley Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison on Drug Charges and Violation of Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Justin Richard Byers, 39, of Spokane Valley, Washington, to 130 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Rice also sentenced Byers to an additional 14 months for violating his term of supervised release.
According to court documents, in February of 2023, the Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit developed information that Byers was selling fentanyl pills and had a federal warrant for his arrest stemming from multiple violations of his term of federal supervised release. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tracked Byers to an RV at a campground in North Spokane. When Byers exited the RV, Agents approached Byers in an effort to arrest him. In response, Byers ran back inside the RV and, despite repeated commands, refused to come out. After approximately 30 minutes, Byers exited his trailer, and surrendered to agents without further incident. Byers was arrested on the federal warrant.
Agents obtained a search warrant for the RV and located 1,000 fentanyl-laced pills as well as a scale with drug residue.
In the sink, Agents located fentanyl pills as well as liquid, indicating Byers had attempted to flush the pills to avoid them being seized by Agents. Unfortunately for Byers, as there was no water in the RV. Byers attempted to pivot; however, unsuccessfully attempted to flush the pills down the sink with a carbonated soda. Agents ultimately removed the p-trap to the sink and located many additional fentanyl pills. Agents also located about 500 fentanyl pills strewn about the RV. Agents also located two handguns, one of which had been stolen.
Agents also learned Byers was connected to two storage units in Spokane. During a search, agents located a variety of ammunition, a loaded magazine, more suspected fentanyl-laced pills and a quantity of methamphetamine.
“Mr. Byers is a repeat offender, who, when released from prison, picked up right where he left off -- pedaling poison in our neighborhoods. Holding individuals accountable who are dealing drugs and removing these narcotics from our streets will make all our neighborhoods and communities safer and stronger,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “I’m grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement partners, who worked to bring Mr. Byers to justice.”
“One would hope that prison would be a deterrent for a convicted felon from pursuing additional illegal actions on release,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “In this case, Mr. Byers was not deterred. ATF will always work tirelessly to investigate those whose actions are a continuing danger to our communities.”
“We are proud of the work done by our Street Crimes Detectives on this case, and grateful for the relationship we have with our ATF partners to bring this to a successful conclusion, ” stated Moses Lake Police Chief David Sands.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
Slidell Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Conspiracy to Commit $250,000 Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Connection with Postal “Blue Box” TheftsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – RONALD S. RILEY, JR. (“RILEY”), age 28, of Slidell, Louisiana was sentenced for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Judge Wendy Vitter sentenced him to 54 months on Count 1 and 24 months on Count 2, that must be served consecutively to Count 1. RILEY was also ordered to pay $200 in mandatory special assessment fees. A hearing will be held on January 30, 2024 to determine specific restitution amounts due to the victims.
According to court documents, RILEY was involved in stealing mail from postal receptacles located in the Greater New Orleans area. Items stolen from the mail included monetary instruments and banking information that RILEY used to create fraudulent checks. These fraudulent checks were then used to defraud several federally insured financial institutions. RILEY also stole and used the identity of other persons to execute the scheme to defraud. Additionally, RILEY admitted to bank fraud of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Louisiana State Police, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit and Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
Rochester man pleads guilty to stealing checks from the mailRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shydequan C. Wynn, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to financial institution fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated between October 2019, and March 2022, Wynn executed a scheme, with others, to defraud financial institutions. Wynn stole checks included in mail from unattended mailboxes. He then forged or altered the stolen checks, often changing the amounts and making them payable to himself or another co-conspirator. He or a co-conspirator then cashed the fraudulent checks for financial gain. The scheme involved approximately 112 victims and stolen and altered checks totaling approximately $179,447. Of this amount, approximately $74,911.50 involved checks that were successfully altered and negotiated.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2024, before Judge Siragusa.
Rochester man pleads guilty to possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Mark Frey, 35, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that on two separate dates in February 2020, a law enforcement officer connected with Frey on a peer-to-peer network where the law enforcement officer downloaded two images of child pornography from Frey’s electronic device. On March 14, 2022, an individual recovered a cellular phone from a vehicle that Frey had recently used for work purposes. The individual searched the phone and determined that it belonged to Frey and contained images of child pornography. The individual contacted law enforcement, who further searched the phone and located 15 images and 27 videos containing child pornography. On August 15, 2022, Frey was arrested, and a search of his cellular phone recovered approximately 140 images containing child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2024, before Judge Wolford.
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Registered sex offender going to prison for more than 19 years for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Juan Quinones-Rivera, 41, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeve E. Huggins and Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that in late 2020, Quinones-Rivera, a registered sex offender residing in the Western District of New York, began communicating with a 17-year-old female (Victim) on Snapchat. Quinones-Rivera told the Victim he was 19 years old. In late 2020 or early 2021, conversations between Quinones-Rivera and the Victim became sexual, with the two exchanging sexually explicit pictures and videos. Quinones-Rivera directed the Victim on what he wanted her to do in the videos and images. In all, the Victim sent Quinones-Rivera approximately 50 images and videos via Snapchat. In exchange, Quinones-Rivera sent money to the Victim via CashApp, in increments of approximately $20 and $50, for a total of approximately $700. In April 2021, a New York State Parole Officer located a cellular phone on Quinones-Rivera and found that he had been using Snapchat to communicate with the Victim. The phone also contained evidence of CashApp transactions to an account belonging to the Victim.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Daniel F. Martuscello III, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger; and the Greene County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Steven Smith.
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Reading Man Sentenced to 14 Years’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Fidanqui-Marten, age 21, formerly of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to serve 14 years’ imprisonment to be followed by five years’ supervised released based upon his previously entered guilty plea to distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In addition, he was ordered to pay $3,500 in restitution, as well as a $300 special assessment.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Fidanqui-Marten engaged in the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in 2020. During the course of a drug sale for one pound of methamphetamine in September 2020, he and co-defendant Damar Coad pointed handguns at an undercover police officer and robbed him of $7,500. When the police attempted to apprehend Fidanqui-Marten and Coad, a high-speed car chase ensued and Fidanqui-Marten drove into a ditch and was apprehended in possession of a .9mm handgun and $4,000 of the buy money used to purchase the drugs. Coad was sentenced on July 18, 2023, to seven years’ imprisonment to be followed by three years’ supervised release.
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pennsylvania State Police and was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Baer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler.
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Pulaski County Man Indicted for Cyber Intrusion, Identity Theft, and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. - A Somerset, Ky., man, Jesse Kipf, 38, has been indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in London, on five counts of computer fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of making false statements on applications in connection with federally insured financial institutions.
The indictment alleges that Kipf intentionally accessed a computer without authorization and then obtained information from a protected computer for his own private gain and in furtherance of identity theft. According to the indictment, Kipf illegally accessed the following websites: State of Arizona, State of Hawaii, GuestTek Interactive Entertainment, Ltd., State of Vermont, and Milestone, Inc. GuestTek Interactive Entertainment and Milestone are vendors of large hotel chains; but at this time, investigators have no evidence that hotel customer personal identifying information was compromised.
The indictment also alleges that Kipf knowingly and unlawfully used the identification of three different persons to commit wire fraud and computer fraud. Kipf is also alleged to have made false statements to federally insured corporations, in order to open credit accounts.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Division; Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky; Anna E. Lopez, Attorney General for Hawaii; and Bobby Jones, Pulaski County Sheriff, jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by FBI Louisville, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, Department of the Attorney General for Hawaii, and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Dieruf.
Kipf appeared for his initial appearance on November 9, 2023, and a jury trial is currently set for January 17, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., in London. For each of the computer fraud charges, Kipf faces up to five years in prison; for each of the identity theft charges, he faces up to two years in prison; and for the bank fraud charges, he faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
Individuals believing they may be victims of the cyber intrusion scheme described herein are encouraged to visit the following website to obtain more information: https://justice.gov/usao-edky/information-victims-large-cases.
Tips on how to protect yourself and your personal information against cybercrime can be found by clicking here and on the FBI Cyber Division’s website.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial NumberRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Possession of a Firearm with an obliterated serial number, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Raymond Young, age 20, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on January 12, 2022, Allegheny County detectives were working in the Homestead area on a violent crime suppression detail when they retrieved a loaded Glock 23 semi-automatic handgun with a round in the chamber from Young’s pants. The serial numbers on the slide and frame of the weapon had been removed, and the weapon had been reported stolen. It is a violation of federal law to knowingly possess a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for April 18, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Allegheny County Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Young.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 16, 2023, REGINALD HUMBLES, age 34, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). HUMBLES faces a sentence of up to10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. His sentencing is set for March 14, 2024.
On December 28, 2020, HUMBLES, a convicted felon, used a firearm to threaten a victim into giving HUMBLES a waste removal truck. After using the vehicle’s onboard camera system and GPS, law enforcement located it driving west on Interstate 12. After pursuit by the Causeway Police Department, Louisiana State Police, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle was eventually stopped. Following HUMBLES’s arrest, investigators located a firearm on the driver seat of the vehicle.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit .
New Haven Man Admits Illegal Possession of 2 Handguns, Including One Converted to a Machine GunRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DUAYNE NELSON, 31, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 14, 2022, Nelson was arrested in West Haven after he was found with a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun with 12-round magazine, and a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun with a 13-round extended magazine and fitted with a “sear switch” that made the gun fully automatic.
Nelson’s criminal history included state convictions for criminal weapon possession and robbery in the second degree. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Nelson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford on February 20, 2024, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
Nelson is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the West Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders 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.
Muskegon Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Federal Prison for Repeatedly Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Dareese Devon Hewlett, 41, of Muskegon, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Mr. Hewlett is a serial offender who had demonstrated blatant disrespect for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to ridding our streets of guns in the hands of felons and illegal “switches” that pose grave danger to our communities by converting a firearm into a fully automatic machinegun.”
Police caught Hewlett, a felon, with guns on three occasions. During the first incident, he shot at a man at a Muskegon memorial celebration. Police subsequently recovered the gun from Hewlett’s hotel room. There was a conversion device, or switch, attached, making the gun a fully automatic machinegun. Police found a second gun at defendant’s house. Two months later, police found another gun and a bulletproof vest at Hewlett’s home.
Hewlett’s sentence was increased pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act because he is a repeat offender. The Act provides for enhanced penalties for those who possess a firearm after being convicted of three or more serious drug offenses. Hewlett had previously been convicted of offenses involving the trafficking of narcotics; those offenses occurred in September 2010, June 2016, and April 2017.
“Fostering cooperation by local, state, and federal agencies is paramount to develop and implement strategic approaches to reduce violent crime, particularly gun crimes,” said Muskegon Police Chief Timothy Kozal. “The City of Muskegon Police Department will continue to diligently investigate every violent crime, taking every opportunity to collaborate with our partner agencies to prosecute violent, serial offenders like Mr. Hewlett.”
This case was investigated by the Muskegon Police Department, the Muskegon Heights Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
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Multiple Project Safe Neighborhood Cases Prosecuted in Tallapoosa CountyRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced developments in multiple Project Safe Neighborhood cases arising out of Tallapoosa County. The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) played a pivotal role in the investigation of these cases.
Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
In the first highlighted case, Alan Lyrenski Sandlin, 23, of Alexander City, Alabama, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun in federal court. According to the plea agreement and other court records, in April 2023, law enforcement agents conducting a narcotics investigation arrested Sandlin at his residence. When searching the house, agents found a machine gun conversion device installed on a handgun. Machine gun conversion devices allow a firearm to operate as a fully automatic weapon, firing up to 20 rounds per second. These devices have grown in popularity over the past few years and pose a significant threat to communities. Sandlin entered his guilty plea on October 30, 2023. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 20, 2024. At that hearing, Sandlin will face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Additionally, on November 7, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Jeremy Glenn Dye, from Alexander City, Alabama, to 130 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense and for possessing a stolen firearm.
Lastly, three Tallapoosa County residents were recently charged with federal firearm offenses. On November 1, 2023, a grand jury indicted Vincent Darrell Bias, 54, of Alexander City, Alabama, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement arrested Bias on November 15, 2023. Previously, in June 2023, the same grand jury indicted 44-year-old Jeffery Monkentee Hill and 33-year-old Carstavious Shadon Stovall, both from Camp Hill, Alabama, on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a controlled substance crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF investigated these cases, with assistance from the Alexander City Police Department, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Eric M. Counts are prosecuting the cases.
Montgomery County Felon Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bernardo Tovar, age 34, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty today to a drug trafficking conspiracy, possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl pills, cocaine and methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
Tovar admitted that from May 2022 to December 2022, he conspired to distribute counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, as well as cocaine and methamphetamine. Tovar admitted that the combined amount of fentanyl that he distributed exceeded 160 grams. Tovar, who has a prior violent felony conviction for attempted robbery, also admitted to possessing fentanyl pills, cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as a loaded handgun in his apartment to protect his drugs and drug proceeds, on December 7, 2022, when his apartment was searched.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2024, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, at which time Tovar faces at least 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $8 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 8 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.
The DEA and ATF investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Mescalero Man Charged with Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Theodore Ian Chavez, IV appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling and assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. Chavez, 25, of Dulce, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain on conditions of release pending trial.
According to the indictment, on Aug. 6, 2023, Chavez assaulted Jane Doe, his intimate partner, by strangling her and the assault resulted in substantial bodily injury to Jane Doe.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Chavez faces 10 years in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Stahl is prosecuting the case.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Counterfeiting U.S. CurrencyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to his role in a conspiracy in which he sold nearly $150,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.
Maximo Morillo, 64, pleaded guilty to three counts of counterfeiting U.S. currency outside of the U.S. and one count of conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Feb. 13, 2024. Morillo was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2019 along with co-conspirator Ruben Diario Diaz Sanchez.
According to the charging documents, in or about October 2014, Diaz Sanchez, who resided in the Dominican Republic, allegedly solicited an individual in the United States to purchase and smuggle counterfeit U.S. Currency into the United States. Morillo served as the point of contact with a printer manufacturing the counterfeit U.S. Currency in the Dominican Republic. Between May 2015 and January 2016, in the Dominican Republic, Morillo and, allegedly, Diaz Sanchez arranged three sales of counterfeit $100 bills for a total face value of $149,900.
The charges of counterfeiting U.S. currency outside of the U.S. each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on each of the three counts of five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Four Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Damen Drakeford, age 30, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, pleaded guilty on November 21, 2023, before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to committing multiple bank robberies.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Drakeford admitted to committing four bank robberies, in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in July 2023.
Specifically, Drakeford admitted to robbing the following institutions:
- Fulton Bank, Netcong, New Jersey, on July 7, 2023;
- Provident Bank, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, on July 11, 2023;
- Fidelity Bank, Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, on July 11, 2023; and
- M&T Bank, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 14, 2023.
A total of $32,988 was taken in the robberies. After the M&T Bank robbery, Drakeford was apprehended by members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, after he led the police on a high-speed vehicle chase, crashed his vehicle, and ran into the nearby woods where he was arrested by the police.
The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Members of the Fair Lawn and Netcong Police Departments in New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Police, also assisted with the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.
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.
Under federal law, for each of the robberies, Drakeford faces a maximum sentence of up to twenty years in prison, 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.
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Long Island Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Multiple Minor GirlsRead the Press Release
Earlier today, the defendant Brandon Kern was arraigned on an indictment charging him with five counts of sexual exploitation of minors and possession of child pornography. The defendant made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Lee Dunst in Central Islip where he was ordered detained.
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 arrest and charges.
“Posing as a teen on Snapchat, the defendant allegedly contacted at least six girls, some as young as twelve years old, and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, and when these girls attempted to block further contact with him, he threatened to expose and humiliate them to family and friends,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Minors should be free to use their phones without fear of victimization. Our Office will work tirelessly with our federal and local partners to find those who lurk in the shadows of cyberspace and prey on our children.”
Mr. Peace praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the North Olmstead, Ohio Police Department. Mr. Peace also expressed his thanks to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
“Kern thought he could use technology to outsmart and abuse young girls. His alleged crimes were horrific and the FBI's Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force used every tool available to track him down and arrest him putting a stop to his heinous behavior. There could be more victims and the FBI wants parents or victims to contact law enforcement if they think anyone may have had contact with Kern,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
As set forth in court filings, between December 2020 and October 2021, the defendant exploited numerous victims by forcing them to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos. Thus far, law enforcement has been able to identify six young girls. The defendant was caught when he traveled from Long Island to Ohio to have sex with one victim and threatened her when she got scared and refused to meet him. He was arrested leaving a hotel room with condoms, rope and lubricant. Subsequent searches of his social media accounts revealed contact with numerous other minor victims.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This prosecution is 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, 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.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Alessi is in charge of the prosecution.
The FBI has identified several Snapchat accounts through which the defendant communicated with potential victims. If parents believe their children have communicated with any of the below, they should contact the FBI by at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000.
Snapchat Accounts:
- bsublime10
- bsublime11
- bsublime12
- bsublime20
- bsublime28
- bsublime31
- bsublime33
- punkygreen472
The Defendant:
BRANDON THOMAS KERN
Age: 29
Bayport, New YorkLewistown Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of A Minor to Engage in Prostitution and Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gregory A. Wilson, age 50, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on an attempted enticement of a minor charge.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on November 8, 2023, in Centre County, Wilson attempted to persuade, entice, and coerce a minor child to engage in prostitution and sexual activity.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, Patton Township Police, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office, Williamsport Police, and the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life 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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Lebanon Man Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison for Attempted Online Enticement and Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mason Morey, age 27, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 20, 2023, to 300 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for attempted online enticement and sexual exploitation of children.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between November 28, 2022, and December 8, 2022, Morey used the online application “Wikr” to communicate with an individual who Morey believed was the father of a 13-year-old girl who was offering his daughter for sex. However, Morey was actually communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer. On December 7, 2022, Morey travelled to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to meet and engage in sexual activity with the 13-year-old girl. Law enforcement placed Morey under arrested upon his arrival and seized multiple cell phones in his possession. Law enforcement conducted a digital extraction of the information on Morey’s cell phones and discovered that he was creating pornographic videos and images with two minors and transmitting these images to another individual.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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