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Thursday 5 October 2023
Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed ForcesRead the Press Release
On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Justice Department then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20 order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States.
“With this weapons transfer, the Justice Department's forfeiture actions against one authoritarian regime are now directly supporting the Ukrainian people's fight against another authoritarian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to use every legal authority at our disposal to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
“The forfeiture and transfer of a major ammunition cache, once destined to serve the Iranian regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad, represents the Justice Department’s commitment to countering authoritarian aggression around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Together, with partner agencies and departments, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the nation’s security by vigorously enforcing U.S. sanctions and imposing costs on hostile regimes in accordance with the rule of law.”
“Our office will continue to use all the tools in our arsenal to disrupt the IRGC’s efforts to sow discord,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The transfer of these assets to the Ukrainian armed forces will now aid an important partner in its fight against unwarranted aggression.”
According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the ammunition and other munitions on or about Dec. 1, 2022.
The documents alleged a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons and munitions to entities contrary to U.S. interests.
The government’s forfeiture action was part of a larger investigation of an Iranian weapons-smuggling network. The network was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region.
The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office and Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.
Ogden Man Arrested and Charged with Robbing a BankRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Weber County, Utah man with bank robbery after he allegedly used a threating note to steal cash.
According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, Theophales Kur, 36 of Ogden, Utah, entered Zions Bank located at 2302 South Washington Blvd. in Ogden and stole $500. Wearing a surgical face mask, the suspect later identified as Kur, handed the teller a threatening note. The teller took $500 cash from the cash recycler machine and gave it to Kur. The defendant took the money and the note, made a “finger-gun” with his hand, pointed it at the teller and made a motion with his finger as if he was pulling the trigger. Kur then left the bank on foot.
Ogden Police Department responded and viewed video of Ker just before he entered the bank. Still images of the video were sent to law enforcement officers to aid in the investigation. Three blocks from the bank, an officer saw an individual matching the description of the suspect at a Trax platform. The individual was identified by a white hospital bracelet as Theophales Kur. Police recovered $500 and the threatening note that read “This is a robbery no dye packs, no trace, no silent alarm. I have a gun follow instruction and no one will get hurt. Now give me the money,” from Kur’s pocket.
Kur is charged with bank robbery. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Northern Panhandle men indicted for sex offensesRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Northern Panhandle men were indicted yesterday for federal sex offenses.
Harry Fred Wells, age 53, of Follansbee, West Virginia, was charged with enticement of a minor for sex using a computer, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Wells allegedly tried to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, sent obscene material to the minor, and had child pornography on his cell phone.
David Edward Evans, age 53, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Evans uploaded pornographic images of minors to Google Photos. Investigators then searched Evans’ phone and found more images and videos depicting a pre-pubescent minor less than 12 years old.
Carl Dennis Colvin, age 70, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Colvin had child pornography on his computer depicting children under the age of 12.
Caleb Dale Steiner, age 42, also of Wheeling, was indicted on a charge of failure to register. According to court documents, Steiner must register as a sex offender and traveled across state lines without updating his registration with his new address.
“We will continue to aggressively pursue all those who seek to harm children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, the individuals charged won’t be able to hurt anyone for a long time to come.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.
The West Virginia State Police investigated the Evans case. The Wheeling Police Department investigated the Colvin matter with assistance of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Wells and matter, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the Steiner case.
Indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
North Chili man convicted of 37 counts of COVID relief fraud going to prisonRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Rech, 52, of North Chili, NY, who was convicted at trial of 37 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan K. McGuire and Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Rech was the Director, President, and CEO of Guardian of Humanity, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, as well as the sole member of Eclipse, a limited liability company. Rech applied for eight different Payroll Protection Program loans, fraudulently claiming that Guardian and Eclipse had employees and that he had been paying wages to these employees, which qualified him for the PPP loans. In total, he attempted to obtain over $880,000 in PPP funds. Subsequent investigation revealed that Rech’s companies did not have any employees and did not pay wages to anyone. Rech himself was unemployed and collecting unemployment benefits from the State of New York at the time.
Rech received three PPP loans totaling approximately $277,500. Once he received the loans, Rech took the money out of the bank in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements. The Internal Revenue Service
recovered all of the funds from two safes in Rech’s home and a bank account that Rech had sole control over. As a result of the trial, all $277,500 was forfeited back to the government.The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Small Business Administration.
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North Carolina Man Who Caused Dubuque Man’s Death by Selling Him Heroin and Fentanyl Found Guilty After Jury TrialRead the Press Release
A jury found a North Carolina man who sold fentanyl and heroin to a Dubuque man, causing his death, guilty on October 5, 2023, following a four-day jury trial.
James Adam Earwood, age 38, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, was found guilty after a jury trial. The jury found Earwood guilty of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin and fentanyl, causing the death of another.
Evidence at trial showed that on November 18, 2021, Earwood mailed a package of heroin and fentanyl to another person. Earwood was living in North Carolina at the time and the victim was living in Dubuque, Iowa. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and overdosed in the parking lot of a local business in Dubuque. The victim survived the overdose. One month later, on December 17, 2021, the victim received another package of heroin and fentanyl in the mail from Earwood. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and died shortly thereafter. He was found deceased by hotel staff in a hotel in Dubuque, Iowa.
Evidence showed that Earwood was using social media platforms on the dark web to arrange transactions of heroin and fentanyl with other people. Investigators tracked down at least one other package that Earwood had sent through the US Mail which contained heroin and fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake, and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Dubuque Drug Task Force which includes the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department, and the Rutherford County North Carolina Drug Task Force.
Earwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-1024.
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New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty for Making False Oath in Bankruptcy MatterRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEANNINE DUKES (“DUKES”), age 41, of New Orleans, pled guilty on October 4, 2023 for making a false oath in a bankruptcy matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. DUKES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, DUKES faces a term of supervised release of no less than three (3) years after her release from prison as well as payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
According to the bill of information, on November 19, 2021, DUKES did knowingly and fraudulently make a false oath or account in or in relation to any case under Title 11 in a bankruptcy case. Specifically, DUKES failed to disclose she had applied for a COVID-19 PPP Loan on May 18, 2021, and received approximately $20,527.00 in PPP funds on June 8, 2021.
Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for January 10, 2024 before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the U.S. Trustee, Region 5, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.
National Children’s Advocacy Center Awarded $4.25 Million in Grants from Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Department of Justice has awarded grants totaling $4,250,000 to the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and NCAC Executive Director, Chris Newlin.
“I am proud to announce that the NCAC has received these grants for its important work on behalf of children in Madison County, the Southern Region of the United States, and throughout our nation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “These grants are vital in sustaining this center’s mission to continue to provide training and support to professionals dedicated to responding to child abuse throughout our nation. I am thankful for the ongoing partnership with the NCAC as we work together to provide a safer future for children.”
“We are so thankful for the continuing support from the Department of Justice and our partnership with U.S. Attorney Escalona,” said Chris Newlin. “This grant will provide critical training and support to equip child abuse response professionals and their multidisciplinary teams with the knowledge and skills to be the steadfast guardians of our children's safety, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all."
The NCAC is receiving the funding through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant program. The NCAC was awarded $1,250,000 for the Fiscal Year 2023 Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program and $3 million for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Victims of Child Abuse Act and Training and Technical Assistant for Child Abuse Professionals.
Under the Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program grant, the NCAC operates the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center program which provides coordinated, strategic training and technical assistance, and resources to state chapters, other Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC), and multidisciplinary teams within the southern census region of the United States. The Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center was formed in 1995 and supports more than 41% of the 1,000+ CACs currently operating throughout the United States which served more than 380,494 youth in 2022.
Under the Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals grant, the NCAC will continue to provide model training programs and support for federal, state, tribal and local professionals who assist in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse victims. The grant allows NCAC to continue to provide significant free virtual training through its Virtual Training Center, and continue operating the renowned Child Abuse Library OnlineTM (CALiOTM) which is the largest digital library for child abuse resources in the world.
The NCAC exists to champion and strengthen the global response to child abuse and give every child the best chance at life, safe from abuse. A global leader and changemaker, the NCAC provides hope, healing, and justice for children through global training for child abuse professionals, community-based child abuse prevention strategies, and a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse that includes forensic interviews, medical and mental health services, and family advocacy. Give every child the best chance at life at www.nationalcac.org.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 4, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Southern Lausane, III, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on June 15, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lausane’s residence in Montgomery. Inside the residence, officers found a handgun and shotgun. Lausane has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On June 7, 2023, Lausane pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in federal court.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuting.
Mingo County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Military Death BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jessica Horton, 53, of Matewan, was sentenced today to four months in prison, four months of home detention, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $181,713.58 in restitution for theft of government money. Horton admitted to stealing United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) survivor’s benefits.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Horton’s great aunt was awarded VA Survivor’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits after the death of her husband in World War II. The great aunt began receiving the monthly benefits on May 1, 1945.
Beginning in or around 1964, the benefits were mailed to the great aunt’s post office box in Matewan. On February 21, 1999, Horton’s great aunt died, and the entitlement to benefits was therefore extinguished. Horton’s mother had access to the post office box. Horton admitted that her great aunt’s name was fraudulently signed on the benefits after the death to allow Horton’s mother to receive the benefits and convert them to her own use.
Horton’s mother fraudulently received the monthly benefits until her death on February 14, 2011. Following her mother’s death, Horton took over the post office box and began signing her great-aunt’s name in order to receive the monthly benefits. Horton admitted that she knew she was not entitled or authorized to sign her great aunt’s name on the benefits.
Horton deposited the benefits in various bank accounts at a Williamson bank where she was an account owner and signatory, and converted the money to her own use. Horton admitted that from around March 2011 until on or around December 31, 2022, she knowingly and willfully took approximately $181,713,58 in VA survivor’s benefits that she was not entitled or authorized to receive. The monthly benefits were terminated by the VA on or around January 12, 2023.
“Month after month for more than a decade, this defendant knowingly and intentionally took money that was intended to aid veterans and their families,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson, the grandson of a World War II veteran. “Fraud of this nature worsens the strain on a vital support system at the expense of those families as well as the American taxpayers and their confidence in our government.”
This case originated from a referral from the Benefits Delivery Protection and Remediation (BDP&R) division of the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. Thompson also commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-49.
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Middletown man arrested for coercing, exploiting children onlineRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Federal agents arrested a Middletown man this morning on charges alleging he exploited and coerced child victims online.
William Scott Elam, 52, allegedly connected with an estimated 20 minor females on sites and apps like Omegle and Discord and pretended to be a 14-year-old.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in July 2023, the FBI in Milwaukee was made aware of a potential child victim through a report to law enforcement that originated with a mandated reporter. The report involved a 12-year-old victim.
It is alleged the victim met Elam on Omegle, a free online chat website that allows users to socialize without the need to register. The service randomly pairs users in one-on-one chat sessions where they chat anonymously using the names “you” and “stranger.”
Elam and the victim allegedly exchanged Discord contact information and began chatting on the app.
Elam allegedly pretended to be a 14-year-old male and coerced the child victim to send him live sexual material by telling her that he would log off Discord and cut himself if she did not comply.
It is alleged that Elam also pretended to be a 14-year-old cousin to his other persona. Using the second persona, he allegedly coerced the victim into sending new live sexual content by threatening to show “his cousin’s mom” her previous encounters with Elam.
A search of Elam’s Discord account revealed similar sexual encounters with at least three other minor victims between October and December 2022.
It is alleged that Elam also instructed one victim to self-harm via cutting on live video in addition to coercing the victim to perform sex acts live on camera.
Elam appeared in federal court in 1:30pm today. His detention hearing is scheduled for 1:30pm tomorrow before Chief Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz.
Sexually exploiting children is a federal crime punishable by a prison range of 15 to 30 years in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelvin Bradley, 49, of Michigan, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Washington Street in Charleston. Bradley was a passenger in that vehicle, and admitted that he possessed a Colt, .38 Special revolver that was found in the vehicle.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bradley knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for aggravated stalking in the Third Judicial Circuit, Wayne County, Michigan, on September 3, 2002.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon, Nowles Heinrich and Negar Kordestani 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-98.
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Medical facility settles claim alleging failure to provide effective communication services to deaf individualsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A local rehabilitation center has agreed to a settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure it provides appropriate auxiliary aids and services to individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired when providing medical services, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
In November 2021, authorities received a complaint alleging Park Manor of CyFair failed to provide effective communication to an individual who is deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL) as his primary means of communication. Park Manor did not provide a qualified ASL interpreter, as the ADA defines, to communicate information related to his medical care, symptoms and treatment plan.
Under the settlement agreement, Park Manor will revamp its training for new and existing employees regarding interpreter services, have specific and uniform criteria for determining when an interpreter is needed and what interpreter services are adequate. They will also keep detailed records of these decisions and accommodations.
“My office is committed to protecting the rights of people who have not traditionally had a voice,” said Hamdani. “Having equal access to health care services - which includes the ability to effectively communicate with your health care provider - is a fundamental right. It must be accessible to all. If not, my office will investigate and bring enforcement actions against you to ensure compliance with the ADA.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Myra Siddiqui handled the matter.
This case is a part of the Department of Justice’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, which seeks to enforce the ADA’s prohibition of discrimination against individuals with disabilities by health care providers. Through the Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the nation and the Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division target their enforcement efforts on a critical area for individuals with disabilities - access to medical services and facilities. The Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative is a multi-phase initiative that includes effective communication for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities and equal access to treatment for people who have HIV/AIDS.
The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities to comply with the ADA, including a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings. Visit the ADA for more information and to access these publications. ADA Complaints may be filed Department of Justice or within the Southern District of Texas.
Maryland man admits to fentanyl chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony Matthews, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthews and a co-defendant supplied fentanyl to at least 10 others who live in the Moorefield/Petersburg area of West Virginia. The others traveled to Matthews’ apartment and purchased fentanyl on hundreds of occasions, each time purchasing more than a personal-use quantity for the purpose of sales in West Virginia.
Matthews is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Man Sentenced for Running Child Obscenity WebsiteRead the Press Release
A California man was sentenced today to 33 years and nine months in prison for multiple obscenity crimes involving children.
According to the indictment, Ron Kuhlmeyer, 65, of Santa Rosa, operated a website that globally distributed stories about the rape, murder, and sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Law enforcement determined that Kuhlmeyer was running his obscenity website from Belize. Kuhlmeyer wrote many of the stories himself but also published the works of other offenders, including stories that had been previously published on Mr. Double, another website dedicated to publishing writings that detail the sexual abuse of children. Some of the stories on Kuhlmeyer’s website described the rape, torture, and murder of children, while others were accompanied by lifelike computer-generated images of prepubescent children being sexually abused.
On June 13, Kuhlmeyer pleaded guilty to five counts of importation or transportation of obscene matters and one count of distributing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Kuhlmeyer was previously convicted of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child in Sonoma County, California, in 2008 and served six years in state prison.
In June 2021, Thomas Arthur, the owner of Mr. Double, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Francisco Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement.
HSI and the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the government of Belize.
Trial Attorneys Austin M. Berry and Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Young for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possessing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine intended for distribution.
Juan Ramos, a/k/a/ “Bebo,” 22, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2024. Ramos was charged in May 2023.
In April 2023, law enforcement identified an apartment in Lynn that was fraudulently rented under a fictitious name. A subsequent investigation determined that the listed tenant did not exist and that the premises was being utilized as a hub for drug distribution and packaging.
During a search of the apartment on May 2, 2023, Ramos fled from law enforcement by way of the balcony before being apprehended a short distance away. At the time, Ramos was on pretrial release for an unrelated domestic violence offense and wearing a court-ordered GPS bracelet. A review of the GPS bracelet’s records showed that Ramos frequently travelled to the apartment. Inside the apartment, approximately 500 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, 30 pounds of cutting agent, blenders, scales and other paraphernalia used in the distribution and packaging of drugs as well as a .38 Taurus revolver was found. A search of Ramos’ vehicle outside the apartment revealed an additional 200 grams of fentanyl and a .40 caliber Glock pistol concealed inside a hidden compartment underneath the driver’s seat.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Los Angeles Resident Convicted of Mailing over a Kilogram of Methamphetamine to MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California resident pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sending more than one kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent in Massachusetts.
Hagen Dunphy, a/k/a “Molly Ruin” and “~Haley,” 36, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2024. Dunphy was indicted on Dec. 8, 2021, and was arrested in Los Angeles on Feb. 18, 2022.
In March 2020 and again in October 2020, Dunphy agreed to send packages containing methamphetamine to an undercover agent. One of the packages was found to contain approximately 698.3 grams of 98% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride (also known as “ice”). The second package contained approximately 294.69 grams of 75% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride in one bag and approximately 204.41 grams of 97% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride inside a second bag.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by Los Angeles’ Divisions of the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case 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.
Lead defendant in nationwide foreclosure rescue scam sentenced to 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Hamilton, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for his role in a foreclosure rescue scheme that defrauded at least 780 financially distressed homeowners throughout the United States, including more than 100 individuals in the Southern District of Ohio.
Lorin Kal Buckner, 67, preyed on homeowners who had defaulted on their mortgages and convinced the victims to pay to take part in fraudulent programs on the promise it would save their homes.
Buckner was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud following a jury trial in November 2022. He is one of 11 individuals charged in the scheme.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from 2013 through 2018, the defendants took advantage of homeowners’ desperation to save their homes and used money from homeowner victims to personally enrich themselves.
Co-conspirators promised affiliates commissions by recruiting distressed homeowners to companies including:
- MVP Home Solutions, LLC, also known as
- Stay In or Walk Away;
- Bolden Pinnacle Group Corp., also known as
- Home Advisory Services Network
- Home Advisory Services Group Inc.; and
- Silverstein & Wolf Corp.
Affiliates were encouraged to be aggressive in recruiting homeowners. Affiliates used online databases and court records to identify vulnerable, financially distressed homeowners who had recently received notice of foreclosure on their home.
Buckner and his co-conspirators mailed more than 56,000 postcards in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere promising that they could “stop foreclosure” or “stop the sheriff sale” for a fixed fee. Buckner and his co-conspirators also reached out to homeowners using Craigslist ads, websites, email and social media platforms.
On the promise of reducing or eliminating mortgage obligations in exchange for a fee, recruiters like Buckner would collect payments from homeowners and refer the victims to the co-conspirator companies.
Among other things, the defendants promised:
- to negotiate with mortgage lenders on the homeowners’ behalf for the purchase of the mortgage notes at a discount;
- to negotiate the sale of their home and release of their mortgage loans through a short sale and/or deed in lieu of foreclosure sale;
- to stop an imminent foreclosure sale;
- to remove the mortgage lien via a tender offer; and
- achieve short sale prices at a fraction of the value of the outstanding lien/note.
Further, defendants represented that they had “proprietary” methods or “legal tactics” to help homeowners stall or completely avoid foreclosure. In actuality, the defendants persuaded homeowners to file chapter 13 bankruptcies to delay foreclosure actions.
Defendants filed skeletal bankruptcy petitions that they called “pump fakes” or “missiles,” These petitions intentionally failed to disclose the defendants as preparers giving the appearance that the homeowners had filed the petitions pro se. Any relief from foreclosure delay was temporary until the bankruptcy court dismissed the proceeding. As a result of the defendants’ scheme, victims lost thousands of dollars and in many cases lost their homes.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Northeast Region; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge, USPIS, New York Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.
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- MVP Home Solutions, LLC, also known as
Laredo ophthalmologist charged in repetitive harmful eye procedure fraud schemeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A 54-year-old Austin resident has been indicted for health care fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Michael Hochman made his initial appearance today and is set for arraignment Oct. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos.
A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment Sept. 27.
According to court documents, Hochman is an ophthalmologist who owned and operated Michael A. Hochman P.A. and Laredo Laser & Surgery Ltd. in Laredo.
The charges allege Hochman falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients with ophthalmological diseases and various degenerative eye conditions. Hochman allegedly directed optometry staff to conduct fraudulent, repetitive and excessive medical procedures on patients to maximize profits.
According to the indictment, Hochman caused Medicare and other health care benefit programs to remit payment for millions of dollars in proceeds into various corporate and personal bank accounts.
The false and fraudulent claims Hochman allegedly submitted to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare totaled $402,536,174. As a result of the false and fraudulent claims, Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare paid approximately $13,317,914, according to the charges.
The indictment also alleges Hochman used the proceeds of the fraud scheme to purchase a private airplane, luxury vehicles, high-end antiques, collectible coins and other luxury items.
If convicted, Hochman faces up to 10 years in prison for one count of health care fraud. He also faces four counts of money laundering, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Veteran Affairs – OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tina Ansari, Cynthia Villanueva, Tyler White and Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Lackawanna County Man Charged with Commercial Bribery and Tax Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jason R. Bonnewell, age 41, of North Abington Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiring to commit honest services fraud and filing false tax returns.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment returned against Bonnewell alleges that, during his tenure as a supervisor at a Pennsylvania food services company from 2014 to 2019, he and his coconspirators accepted cash bribes and other things of value from other coconspirators who owned and operated Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing. Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing were two companies that leased temporary employees to Bonnewell’s company. In exchange for the kickbacks, Bonnewell and his coconspirators entered contracts with and hired the temporary employees of the two staffing companies. Allegedly, over $13,000,000 were paid to the two staffing companies, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.
Bonnewell also was charged with three counts of filing false tax returns, for tax years 2017 through 2019. Bonnewell allegedly failed to disclose the cash payments on his tax returns, thus underreporting his total income and adjusted gross income for each year.
Five other individuals were previously prosecuted in this investigation:
- Mark Holmes, age 66, of Hughes Springs, Texas, pleaded guilty to accepting, as the General Manager of the Pennsylvania food services company, approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing, in exchange for hiring their employees. The two temporary staffing companies, in turn, received approximately $7,800,000 from Holmes’s employer. Holmes also pleaded guilty to failing to remit approximately $135,000 in employment taxes to the IRS that were owed by Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, another temporary staffing company that he owned and operated. Encore Staffing Solutions LLC leased temporary employees to manufacturing businesses throughout Pennsylvania. Holmes awaits sentencing.
- Nari Lam, age 31, of Wilmington, Delaware, pleaded guilty to failing to remit employment taxes to the IRS. From 2016 through 2020, Nari Lam, as the owner of temporary staffing company Penns Independent Staffing, failed to pay approximately $300,000 in employment taxes owed by Penns Independent Staffing to the IRS. Nari Lam awaits sentencing.
- Madeline Nieves, age 49, of Plains, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a tax fraud conspiracy. Nieves conspired with other individuals to defraud the IRS, from 2018 to 2020, in connection with staffing company Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, which she owned and operated. Nieves failed to report Encore Staffing Solutions LLC employee wages to the IRS, resulting in approximately $67,000 in employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Encore to the IRS. Nieves also failed to report her own personal income from Encore Staffing Solutions LLC to the IRS. Nieves awaits sentencing.
- Danny Sing, age 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiring with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees, and to failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes to the IRS. Danny Sing and his coconspirators paid Global Staffing Services, Inc. employees in cash, paid themselves in cash, and cashed all checks received from Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s clients, to conceal the income and wages from the IRS. The criminal activities occurred between 2013 and 2020. Sing also pleaded guilty to providing in excess of approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks to managers and supervisors at Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s client, to obtain business for Global Staffing Services, Inc. Sing awaits sentencing.
- Den Lam, age 49, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged in an information alleging that he conspired with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees. Den Lam also was charged with failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to the IRS.
The cases were investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations Division. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each tax offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the commercial bribery offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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King County man who shot at another driver following road rage collision convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunitionRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old King County man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Robby Lee Robinson was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for just over an hour before returning the verdict. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2023.
“This case exemplifies why we restrict gun ownership when it comes to felons,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Robinson had a history of poor choices that resulted in prison sentences. On November 8, 2022, he chose poorly yet again, grabbing a gun and firing at another driver while traveling down a busy highway. He is fortunate no one was injured or killed. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.”
According to records filed in the case, just after 10:00 PM on November 8, 2022, a victim called 9-1-1 reporting that he had been involved in an accident and now the other driver was shooting at him. The incident occurred on the southbound lanes of Highway 18. The driver was able to get away from the car Robinson was driving and reported to police that it appeared the car had exited the highway.
King County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the car with the shooter and followed it to Maple Valley where the driver finally stopped the vehicle and surrendered. In the car police found two firearms, ammunition, and shell casings.
At trial Robinson and his wife claimed the guns belonged to her and that Robinson did not know the guns were in the car. Robinson was alone in the car at the time of the accident. He testified that he felt threatened following the collision, and then described how he chased after the driver and repeatedly fired the gun he found on the floor of the car at the taillights of the other driver. The bullets broke a window on the victim car, and law enforcement recovered bullet fragments in the vehicle.
Robinson faces up to 15 in prison.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), the Washington State Patrol, and King County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Rachel Yemini.
Kern County Residents Charged with Federal Explosives ViolationsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Joseph Roy Vigneault, 20, of Lake Isabella, and Michael Roy Anglin, 21, of Wofford Heights, charging them with the receipt and transportation of explosives without a license and distributing explosives to a non-licensed person. Vigneault was also charged with stealing explosive materials from a licensed manufacturer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in May 2023, Vigneault is alleged to have been involved in the theft of over 700 pounds of Hydromite, an explosive and blasting agent, from Austin Powder West LLC, a licensed explosives manufacturer. The Hydromite contained ammonium nitrate, which is used militarily as an explosive and has been used in several terrorist acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing. Vigneault then recruited Anglin to assist in selling the Hydromite to another individual for a profit. The buyer resided in Wofford Heights. Neither Vigneault, Anglin, nor the buyer were licensed to handle or transport explosives as required by federal law.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Robbery, Assault with Intent to Rob, and Two Counts of Felony ThreatsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Kevin Diaz, 18, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of robbery, assault with intent to rob, and other charges in an early morning hold-up that took place in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, on Apr. 25, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m., a construction worker and a roofer arrived near the 1600 block of Lamont Street, NW to begin remodeling and repair work on a local business. As the construction worker waited in the alley near Lamont Street, Diaz, wearing chin-length hair, a distinctive outfit, bright red shoes, and brandishing an ice pick, approached him. Diaz demanded money, claimed membership in the 18th Street gang, and threatened to kill the worker if he did not comply with his demands. That worker did not give Diaz any money, so Diaz turned his attention to the roofer, who had arrived in his truck minutes after the construction worker. Diaz again brandished the ice pick, demanded money, claimed membership in a gang, and threatened to kill the roofer. The roofer, who was scared for his life, went to his truck, pulled out $20, and gave it to Diaz. Diaz took the money and left.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene and collected surveillance footage that showed Diaz wearing the distinctive haircut and outfit as described by the two victims and an eyewitness. They then began to canvas the area.
About an hour later, officers found Diaz about 10 blocks away, wearing his chin-length hair and the same outfit. After Diaz was identified by the construction worker and roofer as the assailant, he was taken into custody. He has remained held since the incident.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel White and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Yarbro and William Lawrence who prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Syracuse Man of Attempting to Entice a Minor and Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Bruce Wakker, age 68, of Syracuse, was convicted yesterday of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities and attempting to transfer obscene materials to a minor, following a 3-day trial. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The trial evidence established that from November 2019 to June 2020, Wakker exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with people he believed to be a 9-year-old girl and her mother, respectively. In these text messages, Wakker, among other things, discussed performing different sexual acts with the 9-year-old and sent the 9-year-old pictures of his genitalia. Wakker arranged to meet with the presumed mother and 9-year-old in person. On June 11, 2020, he traveled from Syracuse to New York Mills, New York, for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the 9-year-old. Wakker was arrested shortly after his arrival.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2024, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby in Syracuse, at which time the defendant faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He will also have to register as a sex offender. The 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 FBI Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carling Dunham and Douglas Collyer prosecuted this case.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Jefferson County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
The jury returned a guilty verdict against Terrell Corey McMullin, 30, of Fairfield, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. McMullin was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“The illegal possession of firearms by repeat offenders is a persistent threat to the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Our ongoing collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement has been instrumental in removing illegal firearms from our communities. Together, we are making our communities safer every day.”
“Today’s announcement is a perfect answer to one of our most important whys, why we chose to protect and serve the public,” said SAC Watson. “This is a positive result of a job well done by the ATF and our partners who work tirelessly to combat violent crime within our communities. We will continue to use all our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms and bring those individuals to justice who continue to disregard the law and the brave men and women who enforce them.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 1, 2022, a Pleasant Grove police officer conducted a traffic stop on McMullin. The officer attempted to make contact with McMullin, but he sped away. The chase ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle and wrecked a short distance later. McMullin exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The pursuit ended when McMullin crossed into the Fairfield city limits. During the search of the abandoned vehicle, the officer found a tan Glock 9mm pistol with an installed Glock switch in the driver’s seat. The Glock was later determined to be stolen.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.
The ATF investigated the case along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Royster and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County Agencies Awarded $800,000 to Enhance Responses to Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center (One Place) $800,000 to support its mission as the comprehensive service provider for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Jefferson County. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) and the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) partnered with One Place in its application to enhance services to survivors of domestic violence in Jefferson County. The award comes to One Place through OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses grant program.
The collaborative application developed by One Place, ¡HICA!, and JCDH addresses key barriers to victims of violence that are seeking assistance, as well as significant risk factors that correlate with an increased risk of homicide for domestic violence victims.
“The awarded funds will allow our team of partners at One Place to expand on-site resources and offer more comprehensive support for survivors of domestic violence,” said Kelly Klehm, One Place’s Deputy Director. “This award advances our shared goals, which are to improve care for the survivors we serve and to make the process of receiving help less intimidating and more efficient.”
One Place’s successful grant application with ¡HICA!, and JCDH emphasized addressing barriers and risks faced by survivors. Through the grant by OVW, ¡HICA! will provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence, who might be hesitant to seek help due to language or cultural barriers. Also, JCDH will ensure the provision of specialized nursing services to victims of strangulation. When strangulation occurs in relationships with domestic violence, the risk of lethality to the victim increases by 750%.
“This grant allows us to expand our existing work at One Place and underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Latino community has full access to the essential legal services they need during their most challenging times. Working collaboratively with our partners, we aim to break down language barriers and create a haven where all victims feel heard, understood, and supported,” said Carlos Alemán, Chief Executive Officer of ¡HICA!.
“Violence, in any form, has direct and indirect deleterious impacts on society and is a public health concern. JCDH is committed to violence prevention and supporting survivors of violent acts. Receipt of this grant demonstrates the importance of collaborative partnerships to serve those in need,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks.
Since 2014, One Place has served as Jefferson County’s one-stop community response center for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Local agencies who are on-site partners at One Place include ¡HICA!, the YWCA of Central Alabama, Legal Services of Alabama, United Counseling, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office – Birmingham Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Birmingham Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. At One Place, victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive wraparound services from one central location, with an emphasis on maintaining a survivor-centered approach.
“I am grateful to the Office on Violence Against Women for their support of our partner’s work in Jefferson County. Victims of domestic violence face numerous and life-threatening barriers to seeking help, and they deserve our best efforts and fullest support,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “One Place’s work, alongside ¡HICA! and JCDH, will improve protections for victims most at risk of domestic homicide and will address cultural and language barriers that too often separate victims from life-saving care”.
In Jefferson County, offenders with a domestic violence history are responsible for the vast majority of homicides committed each year. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has identified that more than 70% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County for 2021, 2022, and 2023 have previously committed acts of domestic violence.
In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama launched Operation Safe Families to bring federal law enforcement alongside local victim service providers, local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities.
OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses program is designed to encourage partnerships between state and local governments, courts, victim service providers, coalitions, and rape crisis centers to ensure that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are treated as serious violations of criminal law.
Including this award, the Department of Justice has committed more than $1.6 million of funding for new projects to address domestic violence within the Jefferson County since 2022. The Office of Violence Against Women has awarded $500,000 to One Place Metro Family Justice Center to facilitate and implement the Domestic Violence and Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) in Jefferson County, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham approximately $340,000 to enhance the response of local law enforcement and prosecutors in Jefferson County. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has dedicated Project Safe Neighborhoods grant resources to enhance protections for domestic violence victims within the Northern District of Alabama.
For more information on One Place and its services contact (205) 453-7261.
Jamestown sex offender charged with production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Timothy Douglas, 63, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 12, 2023, a customer at a grocery store in Jamestown found a blue Moxee phone sitting on a table in the entryway to the store and turned it over to a store employee, who took it to the security office. The employee unlocked the phone, noticed that the photo gallery was open, and observed a naked photo of a juvenile female, approximately 5-6 years old. The employee decided to wait until the next day to contact the store’s General Manager. The next day another employee saw the phone in the security office, unlocked it, observed another photo of a naked minor female, and called the Jamestown Police. Subsequently, investigators executed a search warrant on the phone and recovered images and videos of child pornography, and traced the phone to Douglas, a New York State Registered Sex Offender. Douglas was convicted in 2003 of multiple child sexual abuse charges. A total of three minor victims have been identified.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Iowa Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Francisco J. Zapata, Jr., 22, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sexual abuse of a minor. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Zapata to 30 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from federal prison, Zapata will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Zapata will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), a federal law.
An FBI investigation identified a minor victim who disclosed meeting Zapata through social media in the Spring of 2021. The minor reported having sexual contact with Zapata on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. At the time of the sexual contact, the minor was 14 years old, and Zapata was 20 years old. Because the offense happened on an Indian Reservation and the minor was less than 16 years old, there was federal jurisdiction for the offense.
When the FBI interviewed Zapata, he admitted having sexual contact with the minor.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Indictment Charges Registered Sex Offender with Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Aaron Christopher Davis, 32, of Suitland, Maryland, a registered sex offender, was indicted in U.S. District Court, on October 3, 2023, on charges of distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On August 25, 2023, an FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) Task Force Officer (TFO) was acting in an undercover (UC) capacity as part of the Metropolitan Police Department – Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force. The UC was monitoring a dating application that law enforcement has come to learn is used by some individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The UC encountered the defendant who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. The defendant expressed a desire to sexually assault the UC’s purported child. He then sent the UC a video showing an adult male anally raping a little boy whose mouth is taped closed and his hands are restrained with handcuffs. As the conversation continued, the defendant expressed a desire to meet up with the UC to watch videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, while they assaulted the UC’s purported son.
On September 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home. During a post-Miranda interview with law enforcement, Davis admitted that he exchanged messages with the UC, and that he distributed child pornography. The defendant told law enforcement that he used other encrypted messaging applications to communicate with individuals who have a sexual interest in children, and to exchange child sexual abuse material. These communications, and a collection of child pornography, have been discovered on mobile devices belonging to Davis.
Davis was convicted of possession of child pornography, on October 16, 2017, in Prince George’s County. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but was only required to serve 18 months of that sentence. As a result of this conviction, Davis is required to register as a sex offender.
Davis was arrested on September 19, 2023, and he will be detained pending trial.
Because of Davis’s prior conviction, the distribution of child pornography carries a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years, in prison, with a statutory maximum of 40 years. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Larson, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Possession and Distribution of Narcotics Results in Federal Prison Sentences for Two MenRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two men from North Louisiana for illegal possession and distribution of narcotics and a firearm.
Johnathan Davon Hill, 28, of Vivian, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 117 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of narcotics and a firearm. On July 1, 2022, law enforcement agents with the U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in which Hill was a passenger but the vehicle fled from law enforcement. The vehicle eventually reached a dead-end street and Hill fled from the vehicle and ran into the woods. A K9 unit arrived, and officers entered the woods and found Hill hiding. He was arrested for having for outstanding warrants.
While officers were searching for Hill, the driver of the vehicle in which Hill was a passenger was detained. Officers observed in plain view inside the vehicle bags with what appeared to be marijuana, white powder, and pills. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and officers found a large amount of suspected ecstasy pills, marijuana and cocaine, as well as a firearm under the driver’s seat. Hill admitted to officers that the narcotics and firearm belonged to him. Hill pleaded guilty to the charges on June 7, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Weber.
In a case from the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana, United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Joshua Bosley, 35, of Sterlington, to 110 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on March 8, 2022, in the Western District of Louisiana, Bosley knowingly and intentionally distributed 109.5 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual in exchange for cash. An indictment was returned by the grand jury in February 2023 and Bosley pleaded guilty to the charge on June 12, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon.
The investigation and conviction of Bosley is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Husband and wife sent to prison for $8M health care fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two Missouri City home health agency owners have been ordered to federal prison after admitting to defrauding millions from Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Vincent Nwabeke, 72, pleaded guilty April 20 to false statements in a health care matter, while Victoria Nwabeke, 70, admitted to conspiracy to commit health care fraud Sept. 16, 2019.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Victoria Nwabeke to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. She must also pay $8,523,917.11 in restitution to Medicare. Vincent Nwabeke was previously sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,084,996 in restitution to Medicare.
The Nwabekes co-owned Vital Ambulatory Healthcare Inc. from 2012 to 2018, Victoria Nwabeke obtained patient referrals by paying kickbacks to marketers and patients and bribing physicians to authorize medically unnecessary home health services for Vital patients. She also admitted to billing Medicare over $8 million in fraudulent claims for home health services.
Vincent Nwabeke was Vital’s Chief Financial Officer. He admitted that in 2018 he filed a fraudulent cost report to Medicare attempting to disguise the kickback payments his wife made as legitimate business expenses.
The Nwabekes were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services‐Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson and DOJ Trial Attorney Drew Pennebaker are prosecuting the case.
High Desert Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl Pills to Victim Who Died Hours Later After Ingesting One of the PillsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man pleaded guilty today to knowingly selling two fentanyl pills to a 28-year-old man who – hours later – ingested one of the pills and suffered a fatal overdose.
Luis Enrique Diaz, 23, of Victorville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled a March 7, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time Diaz will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Diaz has been in federal custody since April.
According to his plea agreement, late in the evening on April 9, 2021, Diaz met with the victim – identified in court papers as “R.L.” – in a supermarket parking lot in Victorville. Diaz knowingly sold the victim two blue fentanyl pills.
The victim later ingested one of the pills and died on April 10, 2021.
That same day, law enforcement arrested Diaz and, in his pocket, found a pill bottle that contained approximately 50 blue pills that contained fentanyl. Diaz admitted in his plea agreement to intending to distribute some of those pills.
On April 21, 2021, law enforcement arrested Diaz and searched him. In a bag he possessed, investigators found 454 blue pills that contained fentanyl.
In a related case, Christopher Martin Sanchez, 25, a.k.a. “Chi Chi,” of Hesperia, who allegedly provided Diaz the fentanyl pill that led to R.L.’s death, is charged along with Stephanie Michelle Cruz, 24, of Hesperia, in a six-count indictment alleging, in part, that they distributed the fentanyl that resulted in R.L.’s death.
Sanchez and Cruz are charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Sanchez faces additional charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a November 7, 2023 trial date is scheduled in his criminal case. Cruz is in state custody on unrelated charges and has not yet appeared in the federal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation OD Justice Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Response Team investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter H. Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Jamarquis Vasean Tate, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Hattiesburg Police Department after officers responded to a reported disturbance at a local area hotel on December 3, 2021. Hattiesburg police officers encountered Tate, who fled on foot but was detained shortly thereafter. The officer observed Tate throw a firearm away from his body during the chase, and this was confirmed by bodycam video that recorded the incident. The firearm was recovered.
Tate was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Hartford Felon Admits Possessing Loaded HandgunRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GABRIEL HORACE WILLIAMS-BEY, 34, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2022, Hartford Police seized a loaded semi-automatic pistol from inside a vehicle that Williams-Bey was driving.
Williams-Bey’s criminal history includes a state firearms conviction, multiple state narcotics convictions, and a federal narcotics conviction for which he was sentenced, in June 2016, to eight years of imprisonment and four years of supervised release.
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.
Williams-Bey was released from federal prison in August 2021 and was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense.
At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Williams-Bey faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. He also faces additional penalties for violating the conditions of his supervised release.
Williams-Bey has been detained in federal custody since July 12, 2022.
This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham 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.
Frank James Sentenced to Life in Prison for Subway Mass ShootingRead the Press Release
Frank James, 62, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 10 concurrent life sentences in prison, plus 10 years to run consecutively for shooting 10 people during an attack on the New York City subway in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on April 12, 2022. James previously pleaded guilty to all 11 counts of a superseding indictment, which included 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation vehicle – one count for each gunshot victim – and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of his violent attack.
“Nothing can undo the damage that Frank James’s mass shooting inflicted on the 10 victims who were shot or the dozens more who suffered other injuries, but this sentence ensures that he will spend the rest of his life in prison for the devastation he caused,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence also makes clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for crimes that terrorize our communities and will ensure accountability for those who perpetrate them.”
“Whenever domestic violent extremists violate our laws and commit heinous acts of violence against the American public, the FBI will work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners at all levels to pursue justice for the victims and hold criminals accountable for their abhorrent actions,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The public we serve deserves nothing less.”
“In an act of cold-blooded terrorism, this defendant shot 32 rounds at defenseless victims trapped in a subway car during their rush hour commute,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF agents immediately responded to the scene of the shooting and joined their state, local and federal law enforcement partners in the investigation. When a gun was recovered on the subway platform, ATF conducted an urgent trace of the crime gun to identify the purchaser, ultimately leading to the name of the shooter. Today’s sentence not only reflects the heinousness of the crimes committed, but it reflects the extraordinary work of all the law enforcement and prosecutors involved. It takes the best of the best to catch the worst of the worst.”
“Today’s sentence delivered the necessary penalty for Frank James who callously carried out a terroristic mass shooting on a crowded subway car, intentionally attempting to kill innocent people, and spilling much blood,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “He wounded 10 victims in his planned out attack and affected the lives of many more. Every one of the victims who experienced that horror feared that they would never see their children or loved ones again. It is appropriate that the defendant will never know freedom again and will spend the rest of his life in prison so that no one can be harmed further by him. I hope that this sentence brings some closure to the many victims of this violent attack and brings comfort to the city at large in knowing that justice was done.”
During rush hour on the morning of April 12, 2022, James used a Glock 17 pistol he legally purchased to conduct a mass shooting on an N subway train in Brooklyn. James planned his act of terror for years – purchasing smoke bombs, disguises, firearms, and ammunition. He scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. As part of his attack, James, disguised in an orange reflective jacket and yellow hard hat to look like a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee, set off a smoke-bomb in a subway car before opening fire on his captive victims. Panicked passengers ran to the far end of the subway car, allowing James to shoot at his victims more easily. When the defendant started shooting, the train was between stations and then temporarily stalled, leaving victims trapped. In total, 10 victims were struck by 16 bullets fired by the defendant. Dozens more suffered from smoke inhalation and other mental and physical injuries due to the defendant’s attack. James then fled the scene of the attack, changing his clothing frequently to evade detection while law enforcement engaged in a 36-hour manhunt to find him and bring him to justice.
At some point after the shooting, James purchased a burner phone which he used to follow the coverage of his attack while hiding from law enforcement. For example, James watched 31 videos of news reports about his subway shooting. He also watched a James Bond chase scene from the movie “No Time to Die” 10 times after the attack. Finally, James turned himself in by calling the NYPD crime stoppers hotline on April 13, 2022, the day after the mass shooting.
The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Ellen H. Sise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Frank James Sentenced to Life in Prison for Subway Mass ShootingRead the Press Release
Frank James was sentenced today by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II to 10 concurrent life sentences in prison, plus 10 years to run consecutively for shooting 10 people during an attack on the New York City subway in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on April 12, 2022. James previously pleaded guilty to all 11 counts of a superseding indictment, which included 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation vehicle—one count for each gunshot victim—and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of his violent attack.
Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Today’s life sentence delivered the necessary penalty for Frank James, who callously carried out a mass shooting on a crowded subway car, attempting to kill innocent people, and spilling much blood. He wounded 10 victims in his calculated attack and terrorized many more,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I hope that this sentence brings some closure to the many victims of this violent attack and comfort to the city at large in knowing that justice was done.”
Mr. Peace praised the exceptional efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for the investigation and speedy apprehension of the defendant. He also extended his appreciation to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their assistance.
“Today, Frank James was rightfully sentenced for his deliberate and calculated act of terror against our city. He aimed to kill innocent people, who were simply going about their daily lives amid the morning rush. It is because of the dogged determination and vigilance of the investigators of the FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task force that James was brought to justice and is facing the consequences he rightfully deserves,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“Today’s outcome hopefully brings solace to the many victims of Mr. James, who carried out a horrifying act of terrorism in a cold, calculated, premeditated manner,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “From the moment Mr. James committed this appalling crime, we and our law enforcement partners shrank his world until he had nowhere to turn – and the people of New York City worked alongside us. In addition to our colleagues at the FBI, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, I thank and commend New Yorkers for their vigilance in helping bring this unseemly episode to a just conclusion.”
During rush hour on the morning of April 12, 2022, James used a Glock 17 pistol he legally purchased to conduct a mass shooting on an N subway train in Brooklyn. James planned his act of terror for years—purchasing smoke bombs, disguises, firearms, and ammunition. He scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. As part of his attack, James, disguised in an orange reflective jacket and yellow hard hat to look like an MTA employee, set off a smoke-bomb in a subway car before opening fire on his captive victims. Panicked passengers ran to the far end of the subway car, allowing James to shoot at his victims more easily. When the defendant started shooting, the train was between stations and then temporarily stalled, leaving victims trapped. In total, the defendant fired at least 32 bullets and 10 victims were struck by his gunfire. Dozens more suffered from smoke inhalation and other mental and physical injuries due to the defendant’s attack. James then fled the scene of the attack, changing his clothing frequently to evade detection while law enforcement engaged in a 36-hour manhunt to find him and bring him to justice.
At some point after the shooting, James purchased a burner phone which he used to follow the coverage of his attack while hiding from law enforcement. For example, James watched 31 videos of news reports about his subway shooting. He also watched a James Bond chase scene from the movie “No Time to Die” 10 times after the attack. Finally, James turned himself in by calling the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline on April 13, 2022, the day after the mass shooting.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Ellen H. Sise are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Magdalena St. Surin and the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The Defendant:
FRANK JAMES
Age: 64
Milwaukee, WisconsinE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-214 (WFK)
Former husband and wife real estate investment team indicted for $2.25 million fraud schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A pair of real estate professionals, who as a married couple operated a real estate investment fund, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Paul Waln, 58, of Dallas, Texas, and his ex-wife Tamara King, aka Tamara Waln, 54, of Toledo, Ohio, previously resided in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington. The pair are scheduled to appear on the indictment on October 12.
According to the indictment, between August 2009 and December 2013, Waln solicited investments in a real estate fund called Halcyon. Twenty-two victims, most of whom were Seattle residents, invested $2.25 million in the fund. Waln told investors their funds would be pooled to purchase and renovate an apartment building in West Seattle, and then used for other real estate projects. Investors were required to leave their money in the investment pool for ten years. Waln said that at the end of the 10-year period, Waln would return the investment principal and earnings, which he estimated amount to a 20 percent annual return. Waln was entitled to receive a 1% fee for managing the investment fund.
In 2013, Waln married King, who was also a real estate agent. Waln and King then jointly managed the investment fund. Between February 2014 and December 2018, they conspired to misappropriate money from the fund to pay their personal expenses. The pair secretly transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time from the fund to their management company, and then transferred the money to King’s personal accounts. In some instances, they wrote secret memos characterizing these transfers as “loans,” but the money was never repaid. Investors were never told about the “loans.”
Under the terms of the investment, Waln and King were required to distribute the investment funds to investors in 2019. But by the end of 2018, they had misappropriated all the money. In December 2018, Waln sent investors a letter falsely claiming that the fund’s general contractor had been diagnosed with cancer. Waln told investors that this would result in a two-to-three-year delay before he would be able to return investors’ money. The contractor in question never had a cancer diagnosis.
Finally, in October 2019, King informed the investors that all the money was gone, and the investment had failed. All the remaining investors lost their entire investments.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.
Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson.
indictment_waln.pdfFormer Kentucky Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Civil Rights Offenses for Excessive Force and ObstructionRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Lexington, Kentucky, returned an indictment today charging a former Boyle County Sheriff’s Deputy with five counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of falsification of records and one count of conspiracy.
According to court documents, during 2021, then-Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner M. Abbott, 30, of Danville, Kentucky, violated the civil rights of five people by using excessive force while arresting them. During one of these arrests, Abbott also conducted an illegal warrantless search of a hotel room. The indictment further alleges that on two occasions, Abbott obstructed justice by writing and conspiring with another person to write false police reports to conceal his misconduct.
The civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The falsification of records charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The conspiracy charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
abbott_indictment_october.pdfFormer Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy Charge for Trafficking over 80 FirearmsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gregory Bournes Jr., 31, of Lancaster, Va., and Dream Jackson, 30, of Riverdale, Ga., pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge for trafficking over 80 firearms into the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Bournes and Jackson pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered the defendants detained pending their sentencing hearing, which he scheduled for Dec. 8, 2023.
According to court papers, from February 2021 through February 2022, Bournes and Jackson—who were in a romantic relationship at the time—conspired to purchase firearms from licensed dealers in the States of Georgia and Texas and to transport and transfer the firearms to the District of Columbia and elsewhere, for the purpose of unlawfully reselling the firearms for profit. In total, Bournes and Jackson purchased over 80 firearms, which they then sold to others. As part of their guilty pleas, Bournes and Jackson each admitted that they knew or had to reason to believe that their conduct would result in prohibited persons receiving firearms.
In March 2023, following their indictment by a federal grand jury, Bournes and Jackson were arrested in Georgia—where they both resided at the time—pursuant to warrants issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The defendants were released on their personal recognizance pending trial. Following their guilty plea today, the government moved for their detention pending sentencing. Judge Lamberth granted the government’s motion, and both defendants are now in custody.
Bournes and Jackson face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the Court after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Most of the firearms trafficked by Bournes and Jackson remain unaccounted for, and law enforcement in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area continue to recover the trafficked firearms in connection with criminal activity. One firearm, which Bournes purchased in Georgia in November 2021 and then resold for profit, was recently used in the commission of an attempted murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
In announcing the guilty pleas, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Assistant in Charge Kailimai commended the work of those who investigated the case from the ATF’s Washington Field Division. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Pattison, who indicted and are prosecuting the matter.
Fentanyl Trafficker Linked to Fatal Overdose SentencedRead the Press Release
The drug dealer who sold the fentanyl that killed an Abilene man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Elijah James Perez, 21, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.
According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that he sold fentanyl to a victim, identified in court documents as J.W., on Feb. 11, 2022.
The following day, J.W. was found nonresponsive in his bed. After 40 minutes of attempted resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told law enforcement they believed J.W. had ingested Percocet, but an autopsy found that J.W. died from the toxic effects of fentanyl.
According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that approximately three days before J.W.’s death, Mr. Perez offered to sell him “5 percs.” Three days later, Mr. Perez met with J.W. outside his home around 10 p.m. to make the sale. The pills contained fentanyl.
Six minutes later, J.W. texted his girlfriend that he’d received some “percs” that were “hella strong.” Hours later, he was dead of an overdose.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Tusing prosecuted the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man for fraudulently receiving COVID 19 fundsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Brian A. Smith, 49, of Buffalo, NY, with four counts of wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that Smith, owner of B Smith and Companies, LLC, received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which were administered by the Small Business Administration to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, Smith submitted false documentation to the SBA and/or the financial institutions administering the PPP program, completing loan applications with fictious gross receipts, cost of goods sold, and payroll for businesses under his control. Smith is also accused of filing false tax returns misrepresenting his income to receive COVID relief loans for which he would not otherwise qualify. Smith personally received approximately $119,633.00 in EIDL and PPP loans, which he deposited into bank accounts that he controlled. The funds were ultimately used for personal expenditures at adult entertainment clubs, hotels, restaurants, cash withdrawals, and on retail goods.
In October of 2010, Smith was convicted of wire fraud in the Eastern District of Missouri and served 10 months in prison. In September 2012, Smith was convicted of wire and bank fraud in the Western District of New York and was sentenced to 63 months in prison. In September 2019, Smith was sentenced to serve an additional nine months in prison after violating the terms of his supervised release.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Thomas Fattorusso and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Judge Sentences Rockford Man to More Than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a Rockford man to more than six years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford.
U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard on Tuesday sentenced WILLIE EVANS, 35, to eighty months in prison. Evans pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of illegal firearm possession. As a previously convicted felon, Evans was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
Evans admitted in a plea agreement that while in Rockford on Feb. 23, 2022, he possessed a handgun that had been loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. Evans also admitted that he possessed several small baggies containing cocaine and ecstasy that he intended to sell to others.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Carla Redd, Chief of the Rockford Police Department.
“Defendant’s offense endangered the community because he was not only illegally in possession of a firearm but was engaged in drug trafficking,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand-in-hand and pose a real threat to the community.”
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Honduran Citizen for Violations of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNIOR ALEXANDER MONCADA-VARGAS, age 34, of Honduras, was charged on in a four-count indictment on September 29, 2023. Count One charges him with possession and transfer of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). Counts Two through Four charge him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
Count One of the indictment charged that, on or about July 21, 2023, MONCADA-VARGAS, did knowingly possess and transfer a machinegun, to wit, a Glock Model 22 Gen 5, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, with a Glock auto-sear.
Counts Two, Three, and Four of the indictment charged that, on or about July 21, 2023, August 2, 2023 and September 18, 2023, respectively, MONCADA-VARGAS, knowing that he was an illegal alien and unlawfully in the United States, knowingly possessed a firearm, to wit, a Glock Model 22 Gen 5, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, with a Glock auto-sear, and approximately twenty-two (22) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce; a Kalashnikov USA Model KR103, 7.62 x 39 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and approximately thirty (30) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce; and a Norinco Model SKS, 7.62 x 39 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and approximately thirty (30) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce.
If MONCADA-VARGUS is convicted, he faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count One; and up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for each of the charges described in Counts Two through Four. MONCADA-VARGUS also faces a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.) and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the General Crimes Unit.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- October 2023Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – United States Attorney Clint Johnson announced the results of the October 2023 Federal Grand Jury A.
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.
Jacob Robin Gilmartin. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Jacob Robin Gilmartin, 30, a Cherokee citizen from Skiatook is charged with second degree murder in Indian country for allegedly causing a fatality collision while under the influence of a controlled substance. Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-315-GKF
Austin Lee Huffman. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; Kidnapping in Indian Country; Witness Tampering by Using and Threatening Physical Force. Austin Lee Huffman, 21, a Cherokee citizen from Broken Arrow, is charged with kidnapping, assault and witness tampering for allegedly assaulting and strangling his live-in girlfriend and then refusing to let her leave. Broken Arrow Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-322-GKF
Jason Mark Long. Assault with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Jason Mark Long, 45, of Pryor is charged with assault with intent to do bodily harm in Indian country and carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence for allegedly pulling the victims hair and placing a gun to her head while threatening to kill her. The Mayes County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melody Nelson and Michele Hulgaard are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-325-GKF
Jin Kai Chen. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Jin Kai Chen, 48, a Chinese national legally residing in Overland Park, Kansas, is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after he was allegedly found with over 100 kg of marijuana. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-316-GKF
Joshua Keller. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Joshua Keller, 39, of Grove is charged with possession of meth with intent to distribute. The Grove Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-324-GKF
Carlon Wayne Smith. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Injury to Personal Property in Indian Country. Carlon Wayne Smith, 50, of Tulsa is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian country and injury to personal property in Indian country. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cyran is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-314-JFH
Juan Antonio Martinez-Pasillas. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Juan Antonio Martinez-Pasillas, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien for unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously deported and removed on or about December 23,2020, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra Williams is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-319-JFH
Eduardo Montoya Ibarra. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Eduardo Montoya Ibarra, 53, a Mexican national is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien for unlawfully reentering the United States after being previously deported on or about December 15, 2006, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-323-GKF
Oscar Gaudalupe Lopez-Lara. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Oscar Gaudalupe Lopez-Lara, 44, a Mexican national is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien for unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously deported and removed on or about March 15, 2010, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-326-GKF
Jose Reyes- Palos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Jose Reyes-Palos, 32, a Mexican national is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien for unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously deported and removed on or about August 7, 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-327-GKF
Elmira man with prior child sex conviction pleads guilty to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eugene R. Criss, Jr., 55, of Elmira, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2013, Criss was convicted of Criminal Sex Act – 1st Degree – Victim Less Than 11 Years Old. On April 5, 2023, Criss possessed a cellphone, a thumb drive, a tablet, and a laptop, which contained over 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct and violence or the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2024, before Judge Siragusa.
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Durham Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to $9.5 Million Scheme to Defraud InvestorsRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO –A Durham man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with a $9.5 million investment fraud scheme, announced Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to court documents, between July 2022 and June 2023, NAYEEM CHOUDHURY, 27, solicited investments for his company, Dream Venture Capital Group, which CHOUDHURY marketed as a fund that traded in option contracts. CHOUDHURY raised approximately $9.5 million from investors and induced victims to invest by promising high rates of return and telling victims that they could invest their capital with no risk. CHOUDHURY also falsely represented to investors that Dream Venture was profitable and that it had a proven track record of successfully trading options. CHOUDHURY lost over $5 million in investor money trading options.
In addition to the massive trading losses, CHOUDHURY used a portion of the investor money on personal expenses, including the purchase of Mercedes Benz, and to make Ponzi-style payments to other investors.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, courtroom number 4, before United States District Judge Loretta C. Biggs. At sentencing, CHOUDHURY faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, restitution, and other monetary penalties.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid.
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Durango Drug Dealer Who Fled Police, Scattering Fentanyl Pills on Main Avenue, Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DURANGO – Robert James Russell Simmons, age 37, of Durango, Colorado, was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years on supervised release, for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents and facts presented during sentencing, investigators with the Southwest Drug Task Force observed a drug deal involving Simmons in the Durango Transit Lot in September 2022. La Plata County Sheriff’s Deputies approached Simmons, who was seated in a Dodge Charger. Deputies asked Simmons to step out of the car. In response, Simmons put the Charger into reverse and accelerated, causing the Charger to hit one Deputy in the arm and knee, requiring a hospital visit. Simmons then accelerated forward out of the Transit Lot, turning onto 8th Street, and then veering the wrong way past “Do Not Enter” signs on Narrow-Gauge Avenue. Halfway down the block, the Charger was blocked by a truck coming the other direction. Simmons pulled into a parking lot, colliding with a parked truck. Simmons then fled on foot carrying a bag of small, blue pills containing fentanyl. He ran through the parking lot, across Main Avenue, and threw the bag of fentanyl pills into a trashcan. Law enforcement later found a trail of blue pills that went from the site of the car crash to the trashcan. Pills were also located on Main Avenue and the nearby sidewalk. Law enforcement later secured a search warrant for the Charger and found 840 grams of a methamphetamine mixture (or roughly 3,360 individual doses).
“Durango is a little safer today with this drug dealer being bars,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Fentanyl is extraordinarily dangerous. We will continue to prosecute the dealers who seek to profit from this poison and endanger everyone in our community.”
“This sentencing sends the very clear message that HSI and our partners will relentlessly investigate and prosecute those who try to transport drugs across the state filling our communities with poison,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Denver. “Every day our agents are on the streets to ensure people like this end up with significant time behind bars.”
“The Southwest Drug Task Force is committed to keeping La Plata County safe for everyone in our community,” said Commander Joey LaVenture of the Southwest Drug Task Force. “ We commend the work of our deputies, officers and federal law enforcement partners in this prosecution of this dangerous fentanyl dealer.”
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 6 out of 10 fentanyl pills tested contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. https://www.dea.gov/onepill
United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing on October 4, 2023, finding that sentencing enhancements applied for use of violence and reckless endangerment based on Simmons’s conduct fleeing from law enforcement. Simmons appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody and was remanded at its conclusion.
This case was investigated by the Southwestern Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves.
Case Number: 23-cr-00006-GPG-JMC
Dunklin County Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a man from Kennett, Missouri to 110 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy involving his twin brother and another man.
Jody Renfro, 35, is the third and final defendant in the case to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty in April to a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In April, Judge Limbaugh sentenced John Andrew Schoolcraft, 32, of Portageville, in New Madrid County, to 15 years in prison for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Jammie Renfro, 35, of Kennett, Missouri, was sentenced in August to 130 months in federal prison for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.
All three pleaded guilty and admitted distributing methamphetamine throughout Dunklin County from May of 2022 through June 23, 2022. The Missouri State Highway Patrol utilized confidential informants and audio and video recording devices to conduct a series of controlled methamphetamine purchases from the group. The case culminated in the execution of a search warrant at Schoolcraft’s residence in Kennett, where officers seized over four pounds of methamphetamine, a .45-caliber pistol and $2,785 in cash.
Jody and Jammie Renfro are twins.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, assisted by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
Dubuque Man Involved in Conspiracy to Distribute Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jason Laufenberg, age 38, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
At a prior hearing, evidence showed that Laufenberg bought and sold hundreds of pounds of ice methamphetamine from multiple drug sources in Dubuque between 2019 and 2022.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Laufenberg remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Laufenberg faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole, a $10,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1008.
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Dodson man admits assault charge after vehicle crash on Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Dodson man today admitted an assault charge after he drifted into the oncoming lane while driving and crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring the other driver, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Marvin James Cole, 27, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Cole faces a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 6, 2024. Cole was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged that on June 22, 2022, Cole crashed his GMC truck into a Dodge Avenger driven by the victim, identified as John Doe, on Highway 66 near Harlem, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Doe suffered serious injuries and ultimately was treated at a hospital in Seattle. A toxicology report showed amphetamine and methamphetamine in Cole’s blood. Cole agreed that he likely drifted into the other lane when he looked at his phone.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement, Montana Highway Patrol and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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District Man Charged in the Murder of a 24-Year Old in a Northeast Apartment BuildingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Tyler, 46, of Washington, D.C., was presented in Superior Court today on charges of first-degree felony murder while armed stemming from the homicide of 24-year-old Nolan Edwards, on July 7, 2023, in the Benning neighborhood, in Northeast, Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Tyler was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Judith Pipe in Courtroom C-10, in D.C. Superior Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty. The court heard arguments and found probable cause to believe that the defendant committed first degree felony murder while armed. The court held the defendant without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 30, 2023, before Judge Michael O’Keefe.
An arrest on a complaint is merely a formally charged allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the charge, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.