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14 November 2023
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to producing visual depictions of four different minor survivors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Chad Lawlor, 48 pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for February 29, 2024. Lawlor was charged on October 12, 2021.
Lawlor was identified during an online undercover investigation as being the administrator of an online chat group that was devoted to the exchange of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Lawlor used the chat group to both send and receive images of CSAM with other users. Lawlor is a registered sex offender based on a 2005 Massachusetts conviction for indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.
In April 2021, federal agents seized and examined two cell phones belonging to Lawlor, one of which contained numerous videos Lawlor created while engaged in online video chats with minors. During the chats, Lawlor directed the minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct while livestreaming the video feed. Lawlor used the screen recording function of his cell phone to create videos of the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from the livestream video chats. Lawlor pled guilty to charges relating to four identified minor survivors ranging in age from 8 to 13 years old.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of 5 years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and other monetary assessments, including restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing with Intent to Distribute More Than 2 Pounds of CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing with intent to distribute a kilogram of cocaine in New Hampshire, First Assistant Jay McCormack announces.
Michael Francis, 36, pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for February 20, 2024. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment on December 13, 2021.
On September 1, 2021, law enforcement conducted a search of the defendant’s vehicle and found a gift bag containing a brick of cocaine that weighed 1000.5 grams and $10,000 in cash. The defendant intended to distribute the cocaine for profit.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no less than 5 years and no greater than 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of no greater than $5,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande, Charlie Rombeau, and Jarad Hodes prosecuted the case.
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Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm after High-Speed Chase with Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
A man who fled from law enforcement with a loaded firearm in his vehicle was sentenced today to more than 8 years in federal prison.
Jacques Eugene Robinson, age 50, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 8, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Robinson was previously convicted of Murder in the Second Degree in the Iowa District Court for Scott County on June 11, 1990.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on March 25, 2022, law enforcement stopped Robinson as he was driving. Before the traffic stop ended, Robinson sped away. During the following car chase, Robinson reached a speed of 107 miles per hour, and he ran two red lights. Officers were eventually able to stop Robinson’s vehicle and take him into custody. Robinson’s blood alcohol concentration was determined to be .128%. Officers located a loaded handgun inside the vehicle Robinson had been driving. Robinson later told officers that he carried a firearm daily.
Robinson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Robinson was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Robinson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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 prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-60.
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Man Accused of Kidnapping Resulting in Death Dies Awaiting TrialRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Gerald Bennett, 63, from Detroit, Michigan, died in the hospital on November 13 due to medical complications while awaiting trial. Bennett was charged with (1) conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death, (2) kidnapping resulting in death, (3) kidnapping of a minor victim, and (4) solicitation to commit a crime of violence. If convicted of count one or two, Bennett could have been sentenced to a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dismissing the pending case now that the defendant is deceased.
“The allegations in this case were heinous and I deeply regret we will never present the evidence against Mr. Bennett in open court,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “At best, our efforts can secure only a measure of justice. We can’t bring Mujey back. But the truth-telling role of a conviction matters. I am grateful for the investigators who worked for years to secure justice and my heart remains with her family as they mourn the loss of one they dearly loved.”
"I commend the dedicated men and women of the investigative and prosecutorial teams for their continued pursuance of justice for the victims and their families in this case," stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "While the defendant's case will not be brought before the court due to his untimely passing, the FBI, alongside our local and state law enforcement partners remain committed in using our collective resources to hold those individuals responsible who conspire or commit violent acts in our communities."
In 2017, a high-school student named Mujey Dumbuya accused Grand Rapids resident Quinn James of sexually assaulting her when she was 15 years old. Upon learning of the criminal complaint, James hired Bennett to help him kidnap and murder Dumbuya, who was then 16 years old. James and Bennett communicated for several weeks before abducting Dumbuya from a bus stop on January 24, 2018. Her body was found days later in a wooded area in Kalamazoo. James and Bennett were both charged in state court for her murder. James was convicted after trial and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Bennett, however, convinced the state court he was not competent to stand trial. In March 2022, Bennett’s state case was dismissed.
Federal and state investigators remained convinced that Bennett was competent and presented the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In June 2022, Bennett was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that alleged Bennett worked with James to kidnap the 16-year-old girl who had accused James of sexually assaulting her. A federal grand jury reviewed evidence against Bennett in August of 2022 and returned an indictment formalizing the charge of kidnapping a minor.
Bennett was then transported to a special Federal Bureau of Prisons facility for a competency evaluation by a forensic psychologist. The evaluation report concluded that Bennett was not only competent but malingering, that is, faking his incompetency. While Bennett was in custody awaiting his competency hearing, he allegedly solicited another murder for hire in an effort to silence a key witness. Bennett also allegedly admitted to inmates in the jail that he was faking his incompetency. On April 18 of this year, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent reviewed the evaluation and ruled that Bennett was competent to stand trial.
Afterwards, a grand jury considered additional evidence and added charges accusing Bennett of conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. The grand jury also included a fourth charge for solicitation to commit a crime of violence for Bennett’s efforts to hire someone to murder a witness in his case. Jury selection for trial was scheduled to begin on February 26, 2024.
On November 7, Bennett was admitted to the hospital for cancer treatment. The next day his health declined substantially and he was placed on life support. On November 13, Bennett died. Bennett was the sole defendant in the federal case and with his death, prosecution is no longer possible.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Mekaru and Austin Hakes. The investigation of Bennett was an inter-agency effort led by the Grand Rapids Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the Michigan State Police, with the assistance and cooperation of the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office.
Click here to view the Motion to Dismiss# # #
MEDIA NOTE: Previous press releases concerning this case are included below.
Further Charges Added Against Detroit Man Held in Murder-For-Hire PlanAmong Additional Charges, Defendant Allegedly Plotted to Kill a Witness Against Him
Alleged Kidnapper Competent to Stand Trial
Evidence Shows Defendant Faking Incompetency
Malachi Crockett Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Malachi Alan Crockett pled guilty to three counts of carjacking and aiding and abetting and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Crockett, 18, of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
In his plea agreement, Crockett admitted that on March 21, 2023, he and two juvenile accomplices committed three carjackings in Albuquerque. During each of the carjackings, Crockett was armed with a loaded pistol and possessed it in furtherance of the carjacking.
Crockett faces imprisonment of up to 15 years for each carjacking count and a consecutive term of up to life in prison for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew T. Nelson and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.
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23-265
Lee’s Summit Business Owner Indicted for CARES Act Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., business owner has been indicted by a federal grand jury for spending more than $900,000 in federal COVID-19 business relief funds on personal real estate purchases and a Chevrolet Camaro.
Sammy Adam Joseph, 47, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Nov. 8. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Joseph’s arrest and initial court appearance.
Joseph remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled. According to the government’s motion for detention, Joseph is a flight risk because he owns a condominium in Lebanon and has traveled to Lebanon three times in 2023. Joseph also poses a risk to the community because he has been identified in social media photos with assault weapons.
Joseph is the owner of Adams & Joseph, Inc., which operates two gas stations in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. According to the indictment, his business received nearly $1.9 million under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The purpose of the CARES Act was to provide emergency financial assistance due to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Small Business Administration to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans to eligible small businesses that experienced substantial financial disruption due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the indictment, Adams & Joseph received a total of $1,869,900 in EIDL disbursements between June 2020 and November 2021.
The indictment alleges that Joseph fraudulently used at least $900,000 of the EIDL proceeds for his own personal benefit by using EIDL money to purchase a residence in Lee’s Summit, parcels of land in Kansas City, Mo., and Lee’s Summit, a building in Grandview, Mo., and a blue 2019 Chevrolet Camaro.
Joseph is charged with six counts of theft of government property, which are related to EIDL proceeds he allegedly spent on unauthorized purchases. Joseph is charged with two counts of money laundering, which are related to monetary transactions of criminally derived property.
The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Joseph to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including a money judgment of at least $948,120 and three parcels of real estate in Kansas City, Mo., Lee’s Summit, and Grandview.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Task Force
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Task Force was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
Leader in Operation Ghost Busted, other defendants sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An incarcerated leader in a massive, gang-related drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges brought in the largest-ever indictment in the Southern District of Georgia.
James D. NeSmith, a/k/a “DG,” 26, an inmate serving life in prison for murder at Telfair State Prison, was sentenced to a consecutive term of life in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. NeSmith’s federal sentence would begin if he is released from state custody, and U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood ordered that he would be housed at a facility no less than 500 miles from his Brunswick residence.
“James NeSmith’s sentence and others in this case represent significant milestones in this effort to dismantle a major drug trafficking operation in south Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt traffickers as they distribute deadly, addictive drugs and endanger the safety of our communities and prison facilities.”
Operation Ghost Busted, unsealed in January as USA v. Alvarez et al., charged 76 defendants with involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy – linked to the white supremacist Ghost Face Gangsters – that distributed large amounts of high-grade methamphetamine, along with fentanyl, heroin, and alprazolam in the greater Glynn County area. Nearly 70 of the defendants have been sentenced or await sentencing after entering guilty pleas in U.S. District Court, while the remainder await further court proceedings and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For more than two years, investigators from the FBI Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force, the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Glynn County Sheriff's Office, and the Camden County Sheriff's Office collaborated with multiple federal, state and local agencies to identify a sprawling drug trafficking network operating in multiple south Georgia counties. The network operated inside and outside Georgia prisons, coordinated by members of the Ghost Face Gangsters working with affiliates of other criminal street gangs including the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, and Gangster Disciples. NeSmith is a member of the Gangster Disciples.
Key figures adjudicated in Operation Ghost Busted include:
- Desiree M. Briley, 26, of McRae-Helena, Ga., sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine. Briley was a guard at Telfair State Prison where she helped move contraband into the facility at NeSmith’s direction.
- John E. Harrison, 26, of Brunswick, sentenced to 190 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Harrison acted with others as a courier and drug distributor in the conspiracy.
- Charles W. Walrath, a/k/a “Boomer,” 52, of Brunswick, sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Walrath was identified as a mid-level drug distributor in the conspiracy.
- Clinton Taylor, 34, of Brunswick, sentenced to 105 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Taylor, who illegally possessed an SKS assault-style rifle, has two prior convictions for illegal firearms possession, and faces state charges related to a machete attack on a Brunswick resident.
- Marissa D. Davis, 32, of Brunswick, sentenced to 97 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Davis worked with Walrath and others as an illegal drug distributor.
- Wendell McClain, 35, of Brunswick, sentenced to 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Rachael P. Byrd, a/k/a “Byrd is the Word,” 26, of Brunswick, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. Byrd served as a leader in the drug trafficking organization, relaying instructions from her boyfriend James NeSmith and distributing multiple kilos of methamphetamine to distributors and dozens of street-level dealers, and delivering contraband to Briley for delivery to NeSmith in prison.
NeSmith’s mother and sister also are being prosecuted for participation in the conspiracy. Authorities also are seeking a fugitive, David D. Young, a/k/a “Khaos,” of Hortense, Ga., on multiple federal charges.
“Gangs that operate out of our prison systems not only bring drugs and violence into prison facilities – they also breed drug-fueled violence in our communities,” said Will Clarke, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Savannah Office. “We are committed to dismantling violent gangs like the Ghost Face Gangsters and holding their members and those who conspire with them accountable for criminal conduct.”
“This action serves as a textbook example of the impact that can be achieved when we blend our investigative resources with our state and local partners as we continue to aggressively dismantle major drug trafficking that plagues our communities,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF remains committed to targeting violent offenders and dismantling their criminal organizations.”
“Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI is committed to working with our local and federal partners to investigate the horrific crimes connected to criminal street gangs.”
Operation Ghost Busted was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office; and sheriff’s offices from Pierce, Camden, Wayne, Treutlen, McIntosh, Toombs, Telfair, Dodge, and Ware counties. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Criminal Division Deputy Chief E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Leader of Georgian Crime Syndicate and Associates Charged with Extortion OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging VAZHA GABADADZE, a/k/a “Natan Yusupov,” KAKHA KATSADZE, TEIMURAZ TAVBERIDZE, a/k/a “Tava,” and DAVIT TIKARADZE, a/k/a “Dato,” with extortion offenses. GABADADZE, KATSADZE, TAVBERIDZE, and TIKARADZE were arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the indictment, Gabadadze, a leader within an international criminal syndicate, and his associates threatened their victim with physical violence in order to extract money. Thanks to the dedication of the FBI and the prosecutors of this Office, all four defendants now face federal charges.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Forcing a victim to pay money using intimidation and threats of violence is illegal and not how business is conducted in our city. This illicit behavior is exactly what these defendants are alleged to have conspired to carry out over several months. The FBI will not stand idly by while organized crime members take part in violence and extortion, instead we will hold them accountable in the criminal justice system.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
From about September 2022 through about August 2023, GABADADZE, KATSADZE, TAVBERIDZE, and TIKARADZE engaged in a scheme of extortion. GABADADZE is a leader within an organized criminal group. He holds the title of “vor v zakone” or “vor,” which are Russian phrases translated roughly as “Thief-in-Law” or “Thief,” and which refer to an order of elite criminals from the former Soviet Union who receive tribute from other criminals, offer protection, and use their recognized status as “vor” to adjudicate disputes among lower-level criminals. As part of the organized criminal group, GABADADZE and his associates, KATSADZE, TAVBERIDZE, and TIKARADZE, induced their victim to make monetary payments through the use of threatened force and fear.
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GABADADZE, 41, KATSADZE, 45, TAVBERIDZE, 54 and TIKARADZE, 53, all of Kutaisi, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and one count of extortion. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. Mr. Williams also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises and General Crimes Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anden Chow and Chelsea Scism are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Helena felon sentenced to three years in prison for illegally possessing firearms while employed at pawn shopRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Helena man who admitted to illegally possessing firearms while on state supervision for a felony conviction and working at a pawn shop was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Brandon Wade Kurns, 29, pleaded guilty in June to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from about June through July in 2021, Kurns, a convicted felon on state supervision, was a customer and briefly employed at Modern Pawn in Helena. In both capacities, he possessed firearms and ammunition. An investigation determined that Kurns handled firearms and ammunition inventory and possessed at least eight or more firearms. Kurns was convicted of felony criminal endangerment in 2020 in Lewis and Clark County and was prohibited from possessing firearms. A related investigation of Modern Pawn by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led to the convictions of other defendants on various crimes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Hartford Man Admits Trafficking Cocaine and HeroinRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HIDELBRANDO QUINONES, also known as “Gordo,” 48, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a narcotics distribution offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2023, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force made two controlled purchases of cocaine from Quinones. Quinones was arrested on March 1, 2023. On that date, a court-authorized search of his Standish Street residence revealed approximately 200 grams of cocaine, 20 grams of crack cocaine, and 100 grams of heroin, and various items used to process and package narcotics for street sale.
Quinones pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for February 6, 2024.
Quinones is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.
Franklin County Man Sentenced to 280 Months for the Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort man, Richard Benson, 49, was sentenced on Tuesday, to 280 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, following his conviction for receipt of child pornography. Benson faced an enhanced penalty because he was previously convicted of a qualifying sexual offense involving a minor.
According to Benson’s plea agreement, law enforcement received information that Benson was uploading child pornography images utilizing his Google storage account. On April 18, 2022, law enforcement interviewed Benson and he admitted to receiving, accessing, and viewing child pornography. A search warrant revealed Benson’s devices contained at least 17 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Benson further admitted that he was previously convicted in Wisconsin of one count of Sexual Assault 2nd degree and one count of Sexual Assault 3rd degree, in 1995.
Under federal law, Benson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 25 years. Benson was additionally ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Founder of Medical Charity in St. Joseph Pleads Guilty to $8 Million Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The founder of a so-called Christian health care sharing ministry in St. Joseph, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to leading an $8 million wire fraud conspiracy that cheated hundreds of members, and to making false statements on a personal tax return.
Craig Anthony Reynolds, 61, of St. Joseph, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to a federal information that charges him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making false statements on a tax return.
Reynolds incorporated and ran Medical Cost Sharing, a tax-exempt organization, as its president and chief executive officer from 2014 through December 2022.
By pleading guilty today, Reynolds admitted that he and his co-conspirators used false and fraudulent promises to market Medical Cost Sharing as a “Health Care Sharing Ministry” to defraud hundreds of “ministry members.” Reynolds and his co-conspirators collected more than $8 million in member “contributions,” yet paid only 3.1 percent in health care claims so that they could personally profit and take most of the members’ contributions for themselves.
The co-conspirators included an executive vice president and chairman of Medical Cost Sharing, who ran the organization with Reynolds. This co-conspirator, identified in court documents as “CC1,” has not been charged.
Reynolds marketed Medical Cost Sharing as a “Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry” through insurance brokers, radio stations, social media, and its website. Medical Cost Sharing sales materials promoted its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation, advertising that it was different from for profit health insurance. The Medical Cost Sharing website claimed, “while we are not an insurance company, many think of us as a Christian Health Insurance, or Christian Medical Insurance because, like conventional insurance plans, we help you pay your healthcare costs. We help you protect your family. But unlike these corporate, profit based plans, we are a healthcare sharing ministry … your healthcare costs are shared with other Christians enrolled in our medical sharing plans.”
Medical Cost Sharing promised its member that if they paid monthly “contributions,” Medical Cost Sharing would pay claims after the members’ “personal responsibility” (deductible) was met.
In reality, Reynolds admitted today, Medical Cost Sharing rarely paid members’ health care claims. Sometimes Medical Cost Sharing would pay a part of a claim if the member filed a complaint with their state attorney general and/or hired an attorney to represent them against Medical Cost Sharing.
Non-profit organizations file IRS Forms 990, which are accessible to the public. Medical Cost Sharing filed false Forms 990 for tax years 2016 through 2019 that understated Reynolds’s and CC1’s compensation. Medical Cost Sharing filed no tax returns for tax years 2020 – 2022.
According to today’s plea agreement, Medical Cost Sharing collected more than $8,035,544 in member contributions from 2015 through 2022. During that time, Medical Cost Sharing paid no more than $245,982 in claims, which constitutes only 3.1 percent of the member contributions collected. The $245,982 includes payments to members who filed complaints with their state attorney general and/or hired legal counsel to represent them against Medical Cost Sharing.
Medical Cost Sharing paid no claims at all from Feb. 22, 2021, through December 2022, although it collected a total of nearly $1.2 million in dues in 2021 and 2022.
Reynolds admitted that he and CC1 pocketed at least $5,168,268 from the member contributions from December 2015 through December 2022. Reynolds and CC1 took at least 64 percent of total member contributions for their personal profit.
On Dec. 13, 2022, federal agents served search warrants on the Medical Cost Sharing business location and Reynolds’s residence and seized property generated from Medical Cost Sharing proceeds. Medical Cost Sharing continued to try to collect membership dues after the search and seizure warrants. On Dec. 27, 2022, the court entered a temporary restraining order that prohibited Medical Cost Sharing, Reynolds, and CC1 from continuing to perpetrate a fraudulent scheme and from processing Medical Cost Sharing member payments, among other actions.
In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy, Reynolds also pleaded guilty to making false statements on a personal tax return. Reynolds admitted that he filed a return that claimed he had no taxable income in 2019. Reynolds actually received at least $354,292 in taxable income in 2019.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Reynolds must forfeit his gain from Medical Cost Sharing as well as any property obtained from his criminal activity, including two residences in St. Joseph, the contents of his bank account, and a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle. He must also pay $167,799 in restitution to the government.
Under federal statutes, Reynolds is subject to a sentence of up to 23 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen D. Mahoney, Patrick Daly, and John Constance. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
FBI Website for Victims of Medical Cost Sharing Fraud
Those who believe they are victims of this fraud and wish to receive restitution for any losses suffered as a result may provide their information through the MCS Victim Information Page that has been established by the FBI.
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/mcs-victim-information-page
Fort Peck Tribal corrections officer admits deprivation of rights in assault of inmateRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A corrections officer who worked at the Fort Peck Tribe’s detention center admitted today to a civil rights violation for assaulting an inmate, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Devin Gray Hawk, 20, of Poplar, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with deprivation of rights. Gray Hawk faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, 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. The court set sentencing for April 3, 2024. Gray Hawk was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on April 8, 2022, the Fort Peck Tribe’s Department of Law and Justice contacted the FBI about an assault that day of an inmate, identified as John Doe, by a corrections officer, identified as Gray Hawk, at the Tribe’s Adult Detention Center. While John Doe was shackled and not resisting, Gray Hawk fired his Taser at John Doe and then, while John Doe was sitting on the floor, kicked him in the head, causing John Doe’s head to hit an open metal food tray slot on the cell door. John Doe was treated for injuries at Poplar Community Hospital and returned to the detention center. The government alleged that Gray Hawk, while acting under color of law as a corrections officer, willfully deprived John Doe of the right protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Vestal for the District of Montana and Trial Attorney Eric N. Peffley, of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, are prosecuting the case.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Fort Myers Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Steven Dewayne Barnes, Jr. (26, Fort Myers) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The court also ordered Barnes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Barnes had been found guilty following a bench trial on July 12, 2023.
According to court records, during the afternoon of November 14, 2022, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department encountered Barnes walking along Washington Avenue in Fort Myers and engaged him in conversation. During their conversation, the officers made serval observations which led them to believe that Barnes was concealing a weapon on his person. As a result, the officers conducted a pat down of Barnes and found a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun concealed under his clothing and tucked into his waistband. An inspection of the firearm revealed that its serial number had been scratched out. As a convicted felon who had previously served prison time, Barnes is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Forensic ballistics analysis later linked the firearm retrieved from Barnes to two recent drive-by shootings in Fort Myers.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.
Former San Jose State University Director of Sports Medicine Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Female Student AthletesRead the Press Release
A former San Jose State University (SJSU) Director of Sports Medicine was sentenced today in the Northern District of California to 24 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a $15,000 fine and restitution to be determined at a later date for sexually abusing female student-athletes under the guise of providing medical treatment.
As part of the plea agreement, Scott Shaw admitted that, between 2017 and 2020, he violated the civil rights of four students who played on women’s athletics teams by touching their breasts and buttocks without their consent and without a legitimate medical purpose.
“This sentence should send a clear message that public school officials who exploit their positions of authority to sexually abuse and harass students will face serious consequences for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of civil rights committed under the guise of legitimate medical treatment by those in positions of power and trust.”
“Scott Shaw was entrusted to care for athletes in the California State University system,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins for the Northern District of California. “Instead, he used his power over female athletes to violate their civil rights by sexually groping them without their consent and without any medical justification. Such criminal assaults on college athletes will be investigated and prosecuted; anyone abusing their power over student athletes in this way should expect to spend time in prison for doing so.”
“A patient necessarily places enormous trust in a healthcare provider; that relationship is privileged and inviolable for good reason,” said Special Agent In Charge Robert Tripp of the FBI San Francisco Field Office. “Shaw’s violation of that relationship is reprehensible, as was reflected in his sentence. I commend the student athletes for their moral courage in coming forward to challenge Shaw. Their bravery prevented Shaw from committing further harm to others, and civil rights violations will continue to be a top priority for the FBI.”
According to court documents, from 2008 until August 2020, Shaw served as the Director of Sports Medicine and head athletic trainer at SJSU, a public university that is part of the California State University system, and was an employee of the State of California. His duties included treating injuries sustained by student-athletes at SJSU.
Additionally, Shaw admitted that he engaged in all the conduct described above on SJSU’s campus, and in his capacity as an SJSU athletic trainer, and the student-athletes only allowed him to have physical contact with them because of his status as an SJSU athletic trainer. Shaw also admitted that he touched each of the student-athletes as described above without any legitimate diagnostic or treatment purpose and without seeking or securing their consent in advance. Shaw further admitted that his conduct was not the result of mistake, carelessness or accident.
The FBI San Francisco Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pitman for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan and Attorney Advisor Sarah Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Former San Jose State University Director of Sports Medicine Sentenced for Groping Female Student AthletesRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Scott Shaw, a former San Jose State University (SJSU) Director of Sports Medicine, was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison for unlawfully touching female student-athletes under the guise of providing medical treatment. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that public school officials who exploit their positions of authority to sexually abuse and harass students will face serious consequences for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of civil rights committed under the guise of legitimate medical treatment by those in positions of power and trust.”
“Scott Shaw was entrusted to care for athletes in the California State University system. Instead, he used his power over female athletes to violate their civil rights by sexually groping them without their consent and without any medical justification,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins for the Northern District of California. “Such criminal assaults on college athletes will be investigated and prosecuted; anyone abusing their power over student athletes in this way should expect to spend time in prison for doing so.”
“A patient necessarily places enormous trust in a healthcare provider; that relationship is privileged and inviolable for good reason,” said FBI Special Agent In Charge Robert Tripp. “Shaw’s violation of that relationship is reprehensible, as was reflected in his sentence. I commend the student athletes for their moral courage in coming forward to challenge Shaw. Their bravery prevented Shaw from committing further harm to others, and civil rights violations will continue to be a top priority for the FBI.”
Shaw pleaded guilty to the charges on August 15, 2023. As part of the plea agreement, Shaw admitted that, between 2017 and 2020, he violated the civil rights of four students who played on women’s athletics teams by touching their breasts and buttocks without their consent and without a legitimate medical purpose.
According to court documents, from 2008 until August 2020, Shaw served as the Director of Sports Medicine and head athletic trainer at SJSU, a public university that is part of the California State University system, and was an employee of the State of California. His duties included treating injuries sustained by student-athletes at SJSU.
Shaw admitted that he engaged in all the conduct described above on SJSU’s campus, and in his capacity as an SJSU athletic trainer. Shaw admitted that female student-athletes allowed him to have physical contact with them only because of his status as an SJSU athletic trainer. Shaw further acknowledged that female student-athletes sought treatment from him because they were in pain, seeking relief, and wanted to continue participating in SJSU Athletics. Further, the student-athletes trusted him because he was an experienced athletic trainer. Shaw also admitted that he inappropriately touched each of the student-athletes as described above without any legitimate diagnostic or treatment purpose and without seeking or securing their consent in advance. Shaw further admitted that his conduct was not the result of mistake, carelessness, or accident.
In sum, Shaw pleaded guilty to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 242. In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman ordered Shaw to serve one year of supervised release, to begin after he has served his prison term, and to pay a $15,000 fine. Judge Freeman also scheduled a hearing to take place on February 6, 2024, to determine issues related to restitution.
Judge Freeman ordered Shaw to surrender on or before March 6, 2024, to begin serving his prison term. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pitman for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan and Attorney Advisor Sarah Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by the FBI.
Former Oil City Resident Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Conviction of Robbery and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Oil City, Pennsylvania, plead guilty and has been sentenced to 96 months in prison on his conviction of Hobbs Act robbery and violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Mark Daniel Fenstermaker, 39.
According to information presented to the court, on or about October 14, 2021, Fenstermaker committed a robbery of Spanky’s Tobacco World in Venango County, Pennsylvania and used or carried a firearm which was brandished in furtherance of the robbery.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul S. Sellers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Oil City Police Department, and Venango County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fenstermaker.
Former Navy Civilian Employee and Defense Contractor Indicted in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 14, 2023
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury has indicted a former civilian employee of the Naval Information Warfare Center in San Diego and the owner of a Virginia-based defense contractor for a bribery scheme.
According to the indictment, Phillip Flores, owner of Intellipeak Solutions, bribed James Soriano, the former employee, with free dinners at San Diego restaurants including De Medici Cucina, the University Club and Bluewater Boathouse Grill and Ruth’s Chris in Virginia as well as tickets to the 2018 World Series and the 2019 Super Bowl.
In return, Soriano allowed Flores to draft procurement documents for various contracts, including contracts for which Flores and Intellipeak ostensibly were in competition with others. Soriano also steered millions of dollars in contracts to Intellipeak that Flores subcontracted to others, including contractors ineligible to receive the contracts.
To conceal their activity, Soriano falsified government paperwork and Flores falsely affirmed that Intellipeak had completed 51 percent of the work on awarded contracts when the company had not. On October 29, 2019, in a recorded call, Flores coached Soriano to be “very careful” about how he answered questions from federal agents and to falsely say contractors drafting government documents was “market research.”
“Our nation’s military depends upon the honesty of its civilian workforce and the contractors who provide invaluable services to the men and women who help defend our country,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “Those who choose greed and corruption breach that sacred trust.”
“The announced indictment is a critical first step in holding all three parties accountable for their alleged criminal efforts to enrich themselves financially by subverting the integrity of the government’s acquisition process through the improper awarding or promise of awarding lucrative contracts,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate and deter public corruption within the Department of Defense.”
“Bribery and procurement fraud within the Department of the Navy threatens warfighter safety and perpetuates unfair contracting practices that negatively affect honest businesses,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain committed to exposing those who abuse the DON procurement process for personal gain.”
“The indictment alleges that Mr. Soriano and Mr. Flores put national security at risk by actively trying to skirt the government contract process that exists to ensure our warfighters are equipped to fight and win in a complex environment,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “CI is committed to working with our fellow law enforcement partners to root out corrupt activities by following the money to help protect our heroes in uniform.”
“Using a position of public trust as a means to fraudulently grant access to federal programs for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Our office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr2282-TWR
James Soriano Age: 63 Las Vegas, NV
Philip Flores Age: 52 Nashville, TN
Intellipeak Solutions, Inc. Virginia
RELATED CASE Case Number 23cr2192-TWR
Dawnell Parker Age: 54 Athens, AL
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine
Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201
Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; $250,000 fine for an individual or $500,000 for an organization, or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater.
AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.
Former Gow school administrator charged with possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Matthew Fisher, 50, of South Wales, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 15, 2023, Fisher turned his school-owned laptop into the IT Department because the keyboard was not working properly. On October 24, 2023, an IT employee was notified of a “Low Severity Alert” on Fisher’s school-issued laptop. While searching the laptop, the employee recovered files, which included links such as “Neverland” and “lost boys.” The employee accessed one of the webpages, which depicted naked boys under the age of 10 conducting sexual acts on each other. The employee copied and moved the files to a thumb drive and notified the Head of The Gow School. The thumb drive was turned over to the FBI and the Western New York Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory conducted a preliminary forensic analysis, which recovered images of child pornography. Some of the images appear to be from a covert camera and depict clothed, male children in a bedroom believed to be on campus of The Gow School. The images include timestamps ranging from January of 2019 through September of 2023. Fisher has been terminated from his position at the Gow School.
Fisher made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on November 17, 2023.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation 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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Former Customs Employee Pleads Guilty to Auctioning Online A Customs Declaration Form Signed by A CelebrityRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Alan Nordman, 75, of Denver, North Carolina, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to one count of conveyance of a government record, for auctioning online a customs declaration form signed by a celebrity, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to filed court documents and today’s plea hearing, from 1984 to 2014, Norman was an employee of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the John F. Kennedy International Airport Port of Entry. As Nordman admitted in court today, on April 9, 2022, he unlawfully sold on eBay for $795 an official Customs and Border Protection form 6059B, which is a customs declaration document, signed by Michael Jackson upon his entry into the United States. The form is an official government record belonging to the United States.
Nordman was released on bond following the plea hearing. The charge of conveyance of a government record carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing hearing has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Felon Who Fired Pistol in Residential Neighborhood Convicted on Federal Charges for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, VA – A federal jury convicted a Roanoke man for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.
Robert Overstreet II, 31, was previously convicted for malicious wounding, attempted burglary, and distribution of methamphetamine. Overstreet also had a disqualifying misdemeanor conviction for assault and battery on a family member.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on December 14, 2022, a detective with the City of Roanoke Police Department saw Overstreet fire a pistol from an SUV parked in the 1200 block of Hanover Avenue NW. Police stopped the SUV and found a pistol in the driver’s lap. Forensic analysis revealed gunshot residue on both of Overstreet’s hands.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Washington Field Division, made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Roanoke Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Andrew Bassford, Lee S. Brett and Drew O. Inman 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.
Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine, Firearms, and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Manchester man was sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
John Rivera, Jr., 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 96 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On April 14, 2023, Rivera plead guilty to unlawfully possessing fentanyl and crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On September 16, 2021, the New Hampshire State Police, working in conjunction with the Manchester Police Department, conducted a traffic stop on Rivera’s vehicle in Manchester. During the stop, officers observed a firearm under the driver’s seat. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found approximately 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 19.68 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen firearm, a loaded magazine, loose ammunition, drug packaging materials, and a digital scale. Rivera was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on a prior felony conviction.
“The defendant was a felon that had lost his right to carry firearms and ammunition, and even worse, he illegally possessed a stolen gun while also in the possession of dangerous narcotics,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to thwart efforts to distribute drugs, which often includes enforcing the laws that keep the tools of the trade, like guns, out of drug dealer’s hands.”
“I am very encouraged by this sentence,” says Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “John Rivera, Jr represents the dangerous offenders we are targeting in Manchester. Drug sales and associated gun violence are a top priority for this agency. I would like to commend the Manchester detectives and our law enforcement partners on their commitment to this case. The positive outcome is a testament to their hard work.”
This investigation was led by the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis prosecuted the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts 23 MS-13 Members and Associates for Alleged Widespread Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement officials this morning announced the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment charging 23 members and associates of the Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) transnational street gang who allegedly trafficked pound quantities of methamphetamine and illegally possessed ammunition found in a “ghost gun.”
Today’s takedown resulted in the arrests of 17 MS-13 members and associates who are expected to be arraigned on the 36-count indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Four of the federal defendants were already in state custody, and authorities continue to search for two defendants named in the indictment.
As part of this morning’s takedown, law enforcement seized multiple pounds of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. Authorities this morning also seized nine firearms and approximately $94,000 in cash – with about $50,000 seized from one residence.
“MS-13, one of the largest and most violent gangs in North America, perpetuates a cycle of violence and destruction, the victims of which are most often immigrants from Central America and Mexico and other Latinos,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The widespread methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy we have charged reveals that drug-trafficking is the primary method MS-13 uses to finance its modus operandi of murder and mayhem.”
“MS-13 members, allegedly at the direction of an incarcerated Mexican Mafia member, were able to wreak havoc on communities in Los Angeles,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This case is just the latest joint operation targeting MS-13’s transnational criminal enterprise as we continue to make an impact on their ability to intimidate and threaten law abiding citizens in and around Los Angeles.”
“The Los Angeles Police Department appreciates the partnership, commitment and dedication from our partner law enforcement agencies,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore. “These arrests will have a meaningful and lasting impact on crime in Los Angeles by taking the leadership and the most violent of these gang members off the street.”
“These street gangs use the sales of illicit drugs to further their criminal enterprise and victimize our communities,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Through our collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was able to assist in the takedown of several violent MS-13 gang members and associates that use fear and intimidation to threaten public safety.”
“Transnational street tangs that prey on our communities with drugs and violence will always be a priority of HSI and their partners,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “This collaborative takedown shows the resolve of the law enforcement community to make our streets safer.”
Mara Salvatrucha was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, and the street gang is now comprised of tens of thousands of individuals in at least 10 states and several Central American countries, notably El Salvador. In the mid-1990s, Mara Salvatrucha became associated with the Mexican Mafia and added the number 13 to its name (“M” is the 13th letter of the Spanish and English alphabets).
This case focuses on MS-13 in Los Angeles and its efforts to traffic methamphetamine in their “territory.” The indictment returned November 8 and unsealed today alleges that an imprisoned MS-13 member who also was a member of the Mexican Mafia controlled MS-13 Los Angeles by imposing a rule on all the gang’s Los Angeles-area cliques that required them to buy methamphetamine from Herlyn Barrientos, 46, a.k.a. “Doctorazo,” of Huntington Park, and others. Once the various cliques redistributed the methamphetamine, some profits from that distribution flowed to the imprisoned MS-13 member.
During the period of July 2021 to August 2023, the MS-13 inmate allegedly first designated Pavel Hurtado, 36, a.k.a. “Temper,” of Oxnard, and, later, Eli Grijalva, 34, a.k.a. “Skinny,” of South Los Angeles, to be the overall shot caller for MS-13 Los Angeles. In this role, Hurtado and Grijalva – the indictment’s top two defendants – allegedly oversaw MS-13’s drug trafficking activities and communicated with the MS-13 inmate to coordinate drug trafficking activities for the gang.
MS-13 members used violence and intimidation to control narcotics trafficking in territories controlled by the gang and narcotics sales comprised most of the revenue generated by MS-13. To sell narcotics within MS-13’s territory, one must either be an MS-13 member, an associate, or otherwise have permission from – and pay extortionate rent payments to – MS-13.
Each MS-13 member and associate, along with wholesale narcotics suppliers and street drug dealers, would receive authorization from the shot callers to sell drugs within individual clique territories, and in return, would be required to pay a portion of the drug proceeds, known as a “tax,” to his or her respective MS-13 shot caller for the areas in which narcotics were trafficked.
Agustín Aquino-Martínez, 46, a.k.a. “Chino,” of Lancaster, allegedly acted as treasurer for MS-13 Los Angeles, coordinated the collection of the drug proceeds and “taxes” from each MS-13 Los Angeles clique and was responsible for forwarding those profits and taxes to the MS-13 inmate.
The indictment charges all 23 defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine. Thirty-four of the indictment’s 36 counts charge individual MS-13 members and associates – including Hurtado, Grijalva and Barrientos – with distribution of methamphetamine. One of the indictment’s counts accuses an individual gang member of being a felon unlawfully possessing ammunition inside a “ghost gun.”
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, each defendant charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The distribution of methamphetamine count is punishable by a statutory maximum of life in federal prison. The illegal possession of ammunition count carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs is investigating this matter. This task force is comprised of the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. IRS Criminal Investigation and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Shawn T. Andrews of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Hava Mirell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this 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.
Federal Court Shuts Down San Joaquin County Pharmacy and Orders $1 Million in Civil PenaltiesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nor-Cal Pharmacies Inc., doing business as Lockeford Drug, and pharmacist/owner Lawrence Howen have agreed to pay $1 million in penalties to resolve allegations of violations of the Controlled Substances Act, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
In the settlement announced today, the defendants agreed to the entry of a permanent injunction against them that permanently bars them from dispensing controlled substances, owning a company that dispenses controlled substances, or employing another person that dispenses controlled substances.
The injunction, signed by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba today, includes findings that the defendants knew or deliberately ignored that they were dispensing controlled substances pursuant to prescriptions that were not for a legitimate medical purpose. Specifically, the injunction states that the defendants dispensed 116,330 pills, including more than 100,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, based on invalid prescriptions presented by Joe Anthony Bernal, a defendant charged in the Northern District of California in a separate criminal case (4:19-cr-00585). They did so despite circumstances that were highly suggestive that Bernal was not presenting them with legitimate prescriptions. As also stated in the injunction, the defendants took no steps to determine the validity of Bernal’s purported prescriptions and were not concerned if those medications caused patient harm. Bernal is charged with conspiring with several others to illegally acquire and distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone. The charges against Bernal are pending and are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“As a pharmacy that fills prescriptions for opioids and other dangerous drugs, the defendants had an obligation to fill only legitimate prescriptions,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “The defendants failed to comply with that obligation, and thereby failed in their responsibility to prevent the opioids from being diverted into illicit channels. This case demonstrates our firm commitment to enforcing federal laws involving prescription drugs.”
“The defendants went from pharmaceutical provider to drug dealer when they knowingly provided controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. “This egregious behavior by a trusted individual and entity not only fuels the fire of the opioid epidemic, but also wreaks havoc on the community they serve. DEA is committed to keeping our communities safe and healthy and will hold registrants accountable by ensuring they are in compliance with the law.”
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Board of Pharmacy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven S. Tennyson handled the case.
Fayette County Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin MixtureRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky.— A Lexington, Ky., man, Allante Ramone Brown, 27, was sentenced to 99 months in federal prison and 5 years supervised release on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl and heroin mixture.
According to Brown’s plea agreement, on November 3, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Brown. Law enforcement searched Brown’s vehicle and found 97.7 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture and $1,670 in cash, both amounts being consistent with drug distribution amounts. Brown has two prior felony convictions for Robbery Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brown had been released from prison just 12 days before his arrested on this charge. Brown was also on federal supervised release at the time of the commission of this offense.
Under federal law, Brown must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Elkhart Man Convicted of Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Nathan Keosackdy, 24 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Senior Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Keosackdy is scheduled for sentencing on March 14, 2024. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department and the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Lydia T. Lucius.
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.
Eleven Individuals Involved in International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization IndictedRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Federal, state, local, and international law enforcement officials today announced that 11 individuals were charged for their roles in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the importation of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and synthetic cannabinoids into the United States, and the distribution of those drugs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and elsewhere domestically. Several charged defendants were arrested earlier this morning and transported to federal court in Cleveland, while the others are in custody elsewhere, including Italy.
This announcement is made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene, and Ohio Director of Public Safety Andy Wilson.
“From the confines of the Ohio Penitentiary, Brian Lumbus led an international and interstate drug trafficking organization that brought fentanyl and other, more potent synthetic drugs from overseas factories to the streets of our region,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “Several others, both in the United States and outside it, acted in concert with Lumbus to do what he physically could not: obtain, assemble, and repackage those drugs, then mail or deliver them to other conspirators for further distribution. As this indictment reflects, the United States Attorney’s Office will continue its collaborative efforts with federal, state, local, and international partners to identify, target, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, whether the suppliers of such poisons are in the Northern District of Ohio or a continent away. I thank our partners at DEA, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Italian government for their tireless efforts to identify and apprehend significant players in the illegal drug trade.”
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the defendants orchestrated an international conspiracy to peddle fentanyl and other deadly drugs across the Ohio Valley, with complete disregard for the lives of their victims,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Alongside our law enforcement partners across the country and around the world, the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue all those who seek to profit from poisoning Americans—including when they try to exploit international boundaries and digital currencies to disguise their illicit trade.”
“Brian Lumbus led an elaborate drug trafficking network that imported dangerous synthetic drugs and other substances from foreign-based suppliers to then distribute to customers throughout the region” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene. “The outstanding assistance and support DEA received from our foreign and domestic counterparts led to the successful apprehension of Lumbus and his co-conspirators. Today’s actions send a clear message that law enforcement will work locally, and even across international borders, to seek justice against criminal organizations."
“Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Public Safety are extremely proud of the work done by the investigative team in this case,” said Director Andy Wilson, “This investigation is an excellent example of the great work that can be done when you have seamless cooperation between state, federal and international partners. The work done by this investigative team will truly make Ohio a safer place for our friends, our families, and our children.”
The following defendants are charged in the 34-count indictment:
- Brian Lumbus, Jr., AKA B, 43, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Giancarlo Miserotti, AKA Karl, 51, of Italy,
- Brianna Lumbus, 22, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Kayla S. Goudlock, 25, of North Royalton, Ohio,
- Jennifer Robinson, 38, of Tennessee,
- Latasha Harris, 40, of Toledo, Ohio,
- Dominique Hammond, 37, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
- Wanda Ward, 46, of Johnson City, Tennessee,
- Marchello Lumbus, AKA Chello, 42, of Cleveland, Ohio,
- Jessica Cochran, 28, of Lorain, Ohio,
- Braisia Lumbus, 23, of Cleveland, Ohio.
The defendants were all charged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, six defendants were charged with substantive possession with intent to distribute controlled substances offenses. Nine defendants were charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and eight were charged in an international money laundering conspiracy. Finally, nine of the defendants were charged with using a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
According to the indictment, between as early as April 28, 2016, and continuing through November 1, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance; as well as Isotonitazene, Metonitazene, Alpha-PiHP, and ADB-BUTINACA, all Schedule I synthetic opioid or cannabinoid controlled substances.
While incarcerated in an Ohio state prison, Brian Lumbus, Jr., orchestrated the operation, ordering significant quantities of these drugs from Giancarlo Miserotti, an Italian citizen and resident. Miserotti arranged for kilogram quantities of these controlled substances to be exported from several foreign countries first to Italy, then to the United States, for redistribution by conspiracy members. Investigators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction discovered evidence of the criminal activity of this group in the institution and they immediately alerted the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the DEA for further investigation. It was determined that U.S.-based conspirators received the foreign shipments, cut and mixed the drugs, and redistributed them. Other members of the conspiracy used Bitcoin cryptocurrency to pay Miserotti for the drugs.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation 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.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the DEA, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Egan and Robert J. Kolansky. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
Eleven Individuals Involved in International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization IndictedRead the Press Release
Federal, state, local, and Italian law enforcement officials today announced that 11 individuals were charged for their roles in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the importation of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and synthetic cannabinoids into the United States, and the distribution of those drugs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and elsewhere domestically. Several charged defendants were arrested earlier this morning and transported to federal court in Cleveland, while the others are in custody elsewhere, including Italy.
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the defendants orchestrated an international conspiracy to peddle fentanyl and other deadly drugs across the Ohio Valley, with complete disregard for the lives of their victims,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Alongside our law enforcement partners across the country and around the world, the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue all those who seek to profit from poisoning Americans – including when they try to exploit international boundaries and digital currencies to disguise their illicit trade.”
“From the confines of the Ohio Penitentiary, Brian Lumbus led an international and interstate drug trafficking organization that brought fentanyl and other, more potent synthetic drugs from overseas factories to the streets of our region,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Several others, both in the United States and outside it, acted in concert with Lumbus to do what he physically could not: obtain, assemble, and repackage those drugs, then mail or deliver them to other conspirators for further distribution. As this indictment reflects, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its collaborative efforts with federal, state, local, and international partners to identify, target, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, whether the suppliers of such poisons are in the Northern District of Ohio or a continent away. I thank our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Italian government for their tireless efforts to identify and apprehend significant players in the illegal drug trade.”
“Brian Lumbus led an elaborate drug trafficking network that imported dangerous synthetic drugs and other substances from foreign-based suppliers to then distribute to customers throughout the region,” said Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene of the DEA Detroit Field Division. “The outstanding assistance and support DEA received from our foreign and domestic counterparts led to the successful apprehension of Lumbus and his co-conspirators. Today’s actions send a clear message that law enforcement will work locally, and even across international borders, to seek justice against criminal organizations."
The following defendants are charged in the 34-count indictment:
- Brian Lumbus Jr., aka B, 43, of Cleveland;
- Giancarlo Miserotti, aka Karl, 51, of Italy;
- Brianna Lumbus, 22, of Cleveland;
- Kayla S. Goudlock, 25, of North Royalton, Ohio;
- Jennifer Robinson, 38, of Tennessee;
- Latasha Harris, 40, of Toledo, Ohio;
- Dominique Hammond, 37, of Pittsburgh;
- Wanda Ward, 46, of Johnson City, Tennessee;
- Marchello Lumbus, aka Chello, 42, of Cleveland;
- Jessica Cochran, 28, of Lorain, Ohio; and
- Braisia Lumbus, 23, of Cleveland.
The defendants were all charged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, six defendants were charged with substantive possession with intent to distribute controlled substances offenses. Nine defendants were charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and eight were charged in an international money laundering conspiracy. Finally, nine of the defendants were charged with using a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.
According to the indictment, between as early as April 28, 2016, and continuing through Nov. 1 of this year, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance; as well as Isotonitazene, Metonitazene, Alpha-PiHP, and ADB-BUTINACA, all Schedule I synthetic opioid or cannabinoid controlled substances.
While incarcerated in an Ohio state prison, Brian Lumbus Jr. orchestrated the operation, ordering significant quantities of these drugs from Giancarlo Miserotti, an Italian citizen and resident. Miserotti arranged for kilogram quantities of these controlled substances to be exported from several foreign countries first to Italy, then to the United States, for redistribution by conspiracy members. Investigators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction discovered evidence of the criminal activity of this group in the institution and they immediately alerted the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the DEA for further investigation. It was determined that U.S.-based conspirators received the foreign shipments, cut and mixed the drugs, and redistributed them. Other members of the conspiracy used Bitcoin cryptocurrency to pay Miserotti for the drugs.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This investigation 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.
The DEA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Egan and Robert J. Kolansky for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
El Cajon Woman Admits to Coordinating the Transportation of More than 75 Undocumented Immigrants and Collecting $1 Million in PaymentsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 14, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Blanca Estella Gomez of El Cajon pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she managed and directed drivers who transported undocumented immigrants within the United States.
In her plea agreement, Gomez said she coordinated with individuals in Mexico who smuggled immigrants across the border. Gomez directed her drivers to pick up the immigrants in the United States, told the drivers where to take the immigrants, and told them how much money to collect.
According to her plea agreement, Gomez admitted that one driver working for her transported more than 75 immigrants from October 2021 to April 2022. Gomez said that the same driver collected and delivered to her more than $1 million in payments for alien smuggling.
“The coordinated effort to bring this defendant to justice underscores the power of our law enforcement partnerships along the southern border to dismantle criminal smuggling operations at every level,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath.
“Human smuggling is a serious and dangerous offense,” said Sidney K. Aki, Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego Field Office. “This effort was an outstanding demonstration of law enforcement partnership and commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.”
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2024, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel D. Shin and Michael A. Deshong of the Southern District of California.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr1120-RBM
Blanca Estella Gomez Age: 47 El Cajon, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Transport Aliens – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) and (v)(I)
Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
United States Customs and Border Protection
Dual Brazilian/U.S. Citizen Indicted for Producing, Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Octavio Nogueira Pessoa (31, Largo) with three counts of production, one count of distribution, one count of receipt, and one count of possession of child sex abuse material. If convicted, Pessoa faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each possession count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts. Pessoa has been ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in open court, in December 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pessoa’s residence after receiving a tip related to child sexual abuse material. During the search, law enforcement discovered that Pessoa was in a romantic relationship with his adult cousin who lived in Brazil. As part of that relationship, the couple openly discussed sexually abusing children in their family and recording those acts. On occasion, Pessoa directed his cousin to sexually abuse children and record the explicit conduct, including conduct involving an 8-year-old victim. In addition to these conversations, during the search warrant, law enforcement discovered thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Pessoa’s devices.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Largo Police Department and the Brazilian Department of Federal Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Defendant Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that EFREM ZELONY-MINDELL was sentenced to 90 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer for distribution of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
From April 2022 to December 2022, ZELONY-MINDELL communicated with two undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agents on an encrypted messaging service. In the conversations, ZELONY-MINDELL repeatedly expressed in graphic and unambiguous terms their desire to engage in sexual activity with minor children and sent the undercover agents numerous images and videos containing child pornography.
In conversations with one of the undercover agents who was posing as the father of a nine-year-old boy, ZELONY-MINDELL made clear that they wanted to engage in sexual activity with the purported child. ZELONY-MINDELL and the undercover agent discussed a plan to meet for the purpose of ZELONY-MINDELL engaging in sexual activity with the child. When told by the undercover agent that the child would be “knocked out a little bit” on sleep medication during the planned sexual activity, ZELONY-MINDELL agreed to have sex with the drugged child.
ZELONY-MINDELL and the undercover agent agreed to meet on December 16, 2022, in lower Manhattan with the understanding that they would return to the undercover agent’s apartment afterward, and ZELONY-MINDELL would then engage in sexual activity with the child. ZELONY-MINDELL arrived at the scheduled time and location and was arrested. Subsequently, law enforcement identified thousands of images and videos containing child pornography on the defendant’s phones and computers.
* * *
In addition to the prison term, ZELONY-MINDELL, 36, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the FBI and the members of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U. S. Attorney Lisa Daniels is in charge of the prosecution.
Convicted Felon Accused of Lying on COVID-19 Loan Applications to Obtain over $182,000Read the Press Release
UPDATE
Upon motion of the United States, the indictment described in the press release below against Carter Lane Lucas in this case was dismissed on November 21, 2024.
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Utah resident with wire fraud after he allegedly lied about his criminal history when applying for multiple small business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Carter Lane Lucas, 47, of Herriman, Utah, defrauded the COVID-19 relief programs dubbed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) out of approximately $182,800 in loan funds. From April 2020 to August 2021, Lucas submitted multiple fraudulent PPP- and EIDL-Loan applications through Mountain America Credit Union and the Small Business Administration (SBA) and then used the loan proceeds for his personal benefit. According to court documents, during his PPP-Loan application submission, Lucas falsely asserted that he had not been convicted of a felony within the last five years, when in fact he had. In his EIDL-Loan application, and when submitting his EIDL-Loan modification request, Lucas falsely claimed that other than a minor vehicle violation, he had no criminal history. Lucas submitted his fraudulent PPP-Loan application and EIDL-Loan application and modification request using interstate wires.Lucas is charged with three counts of wire fraud. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for Nov. 15, 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 Utah Federal COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force is investigating the case, which includes the Office of Inspector General U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA-OIG), U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
carterlanelucas.motionforleavetodismissindictment.pdf carterlanelucas.ordergrantingleavetodismissindictment.pdf CarterLLucas.Indictment.Unsealed
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Congressional Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Earlier today, Samuel Miele pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Central Islip to wire fraud committed while he was working as a fundraiser for a candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives (Candidate #1). Miele agreed to pay $109,171 in restitution, $69,136 in forfeiture, and a separate stipulated payment of $470,000 to a contributor. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Anne T. Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County, announced the guilty plea.
"The defendant used fraud and deceit to steal more than one hundred thousand dollars from his victims, funneling this money into the campaign committees of candidates for the House, and into his own pockets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Defrauding potential political contributors undermines our democracy, and we will vigorously prosecute such conduct.”
“Today, Samuel Miele admitted to engaging in multiple frauds designed to improperly raise election campaign funds and for his own personal benefit. Miele now rightly faces punishment in the criminal justice system for his criminal acts. The FBI is committed to enforcing the laws that protect the integrity of electoral process – the hallmark of our democracy,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith.
“This defendant misrepresented himself as a high-ranking congressional aide to deceived political donors and used their money to pad his own pocket and the coffers of a candidate,” District Attorney Donnelly stated. “The integrity of fundraising practices is essential for fair elections. We stand alongside our federal partners to protect our electoral institutions and are proud to assist in this prosecution.”
As part of the scheme, Miele impersonated a high-ranking aide to a member of House leadership while soliciting funds for Candidate #1’s campaign. As part of his plea, Miele also admitted that he committed access device fraud by charging credit cards without authorization for contributions to the campaigns of Candidate #1 and other candidates, as well as for Miele’s personal use. When sentenced, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Integrity Section and Long Island Criminal Division, and the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, and Laura Zuckerwise, along with Trial Attorneys John Taddei and Jacob Steiner are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rachel Friedman.
The Defendant:
SAMUEL MIELE
Age: 27
New York, NYE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-327 (JS)
Congressional Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
A congressional campaign staffer pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain political contributions.
According to court documents, Samuel Miele, 27, of New York, worked as a fundraiser for a candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives (Candidate #1). As part of the scheme, Miele impersonated a high-ranking aide to a member of House leadership while soliciting funds for Candidate #1’s campaign. Miele also admitted that he committed access device fraud by charging credit cards without authorization for contributions to Candidate #1’s and other candidates’ campaigns, as well as for Miele’s personal use.
Miele is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Assistant Director in Charge James Smith of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
Trial Attorneys Jacob Steiner and John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Harris, Anthony Bagnuola, and Laura Zuckerwise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rachel Friedman.
Cicero Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Federal Prison After Sexually Exploiting Children He Lured by Offering Vape Pens on SnapchatRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jacob Glenn, 26, of Cicero, Indiana, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of a child.
According to court documents, Jacob Glenn used Snapchat to communicate with girls between 13- and 15-years-old, falsely claiming to be a teen boy and offering to purchase nicotine or vape pens in exchange for sex. Glenn’s Snapchat username, “theplugfogshyde” was intended to indicate that he could obtain vape pens for others he met online.
On two occasions in 2021, Glenn coerced and enticed a girl between 12- and 15-years-old, to sneak out of her home after midnight to get vapes from him, including on Christmas Eve. Glenn picked the child up and drove her to a nearby truck stop where he told her that he would not accept cash for the vapes. Instead, Glenn stated that they could work out a “deal” where she could pay him with sex. Glenn picked up the same child again on January 17, 2022, and coerced and enticed her to engage in sex acts in exchange for vape pens. He used his phone to record the sexual conduct he engaged in with the child and instructed her to not tell anyone about his abuse. Glenn later used Snapchat to send a copy of the child sexual abuse video to two other minor girls.
Glenn engaged in a similar course of criminal conduct with another minor girl he met on Snapchat between December 2021 and January 2022. The second victim was less than 14-years-old. On January 9, 2022, after a conversation via Snapchat, Glenn picked the second victim up near her home, drove her to a nearby truck stop, and engaged in sexual conduct in exchange for vape pens. Glenn also attempted to convince a child who was a friend of the second victim to engage in sex in exchange for vapes, but they did not meet in person.
A law enforcement review of Glenn’s Snapchat account found conversations between Glenn and multiple other girls between thirteen and fifteen years old. In some of these conversations, Glenn offered nicotine or alcohol in exchange for sex or nude images.
Glenn has a history of engaging in unlawful sex acts with children. In October 2020, Glenn engaged in sex with a girl who was between 14- and 15-years-old. Glenn was 23-years-old at the time. On October 19, 2020, Glenn was arrested and charged in Madison County for crimes related to this abuse. Glenn admitted to law enforcement that he engaged in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl on multiple occasions, and that he knew her true age during at least some of the time he was engaging in sex acts with the child. Glenn was out on bond for these charges at the time he exploited the two children in December 2021 and January 2022.
“These heinous crimes are one of a family’s worst nightmares. The sad truth is that applications like Snapchat not always safe spaces, they are often hunting grounds for predators who seek gratification from their sexual abuse of our children,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana “The federal prison sentence imposed here ensures that the public will be protected from this criminal for decades to come. Other online predators should take notice that the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the FBI, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors, will work tirelessly to hold them accountable and make our children safer from abuse.”
The FBI and IMPD investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and the Chesterfield Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Glenn be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multi-agency task force led by the Indiana State Police, charged with the prevention, interdiction, investigation, and prosecution of individuals who use the Internet to exploit children. The Indiana ICAC seeks to combat crimes against children through the Internet by vigorously investigating and prosecuting offenders. The task force aims to educate children and parents on Internet safety and responsibility through community outreach. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/ to learn more about their efforts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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Camp Verde Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Embezzlement of $670,000 from Yavapai-Apache NationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Savannah Sandoval, 36, of Camp Verde, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Sandoval also was ordered to pay over $650,000 in restitution. Sandoval pleaded guilty on August 9, 2023, to Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Between August 2017 and May 2022, Sandoval, the former Comptroller and Executive Director of the Yavapai-Apache Nation Housing Department, embezzled $670,908 from the Yavapai-Apache Nation, including over $133,000 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Indian Housing Block Grant Funds.
As Comptroller and Executive Director, Sandoval was the supervisor of the accounting department and oversaw day-to-day activities and financial transactions. As such, she had access to Housing Department credit cards and knowledge of its vendor accounts. In 2022, it was discovered that there had been hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases via Tribal credit cards. On at least 184 occasions funds were fraudulently transferred by Sandoval into her personal accounts.
“Indian Tribal Organizations have historically been vulnerable to theft and embezzlement,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “The theft here meant that roofs and floors and appliances in houses on the Nation could not be repaired or replaced. The Court’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message to those who steal from Native American communities.”
“HUD OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of funds meant to assist with housing on Native lands,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Kaminsky with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who would misuse federal tax dollars for personal gain.”
“Financial crimes have long been at the forefront of the FBI’s efforts, and we will continue to meticulously investigate any and all fraudsters in pursuit of our mission of protecting the American people,” said Akil Davis, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field office.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation of this case, with assistance from the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-08089-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-177_Sandoval# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.California Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Leading Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Bakersfield, California, man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a significant drug trafficking organization operating in Missouri and Oklahoma that distributed hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine.
William D. Johnson, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 22 years in federal prison without parole.
On Feb. 22, 2022, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from May 20, 2019, to Jan. 28, 2021, in Newton, Laclede, Lawrence, and Greene Counties.
According to court documents, Johnson utilized a storage unit that was found to contain 231 pounds of methamphetamine, two rifles, and nearly $500,000 in cash. He also maintained two separate residences where law enforcement officers executed search warrants and seized a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine, three handguns, and more than $40,000 in cash.
Johnson was stopped by Joplin, Mo., police officers on June 12, 2019, while he was in possession of 90.63 grams of methamphetamine and $16,327 in cash.
Lebanon, Mo., police officers searched Johnson’s black 2013 GMC 2500 Duramax after he had left the vehicle on May 1, 2020, and found two items that contained drug residue and a Diamond Back 9mm pistol. While searching for Johnson, officers found a backpack he had been seen carrying, which contained approximately 180 grams of methamphetamine, a stolen Ruger .380-caliber firearm, and $33,234 in cash.
When Johnson was arrested on Jan. 28, 2021, he was in possession of a smoking device with methamphetamine residue, two cell phones, and $11,375 in cash.
Johnson is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. Douglas S. Ward, 35, of Lebanon, Mo., was sentenced on Oct. 17, 2022, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Rita M Glasgow, 33, of Joplin, Mo., was sentenced on June 8, 2023, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Joshua T. Davenport, 42, of Miami, Oklahoma, was sentenced on June 12, 2023, to five years and nine months in federal prison without parole.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Apache County, Arizona, Sheriff’s Department, the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
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.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Robbery and ShootingsRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DIJON CHAMPAGNIE, 23, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 132 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from a violent drug-related robbery and shootings in West Haven.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 1, 2019, Champagnie arranged to buy a half-pound of marijuana from an individual in West Haven. After Champagnie arrived at the seller’s residence, he removed a gun from his backpack, pointed it at the victim’s face, and demanded all the marijuana the victim had. After the victim gave Champagnie the half-pound of marijuana he had arranged to sell, Champagnie shot the victim in the leg, causing significant injuries. The victim’s neighbor, who had known Champagnie, heard the gunshot and saw Champagnie fleeing the scene.
In the days following the shooting, Champagnie posted videos on his Snapchat account of him shooting a gun into the air, pointing a handgun with an extended magazine at the camera, and showing a bag of marijuana that he presumably had stolen. Champagnie also sent several text messages threatening to harm the victim’s neighbor. In the early morning hours of July 7, 2019, Champagnie fired four shots into the neighbor’s apartment.
Champagnie has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 20, 2019. On August 18, 2023, he pleaded guilty in federal court to discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
This matter was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the West Haven, New Haven, and Hartford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Ansonia-Milford State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the prosecution of this case.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on U.S. Funds to International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against UkraineRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of State that the United States will provide $1 million to the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA), which was established in The Hague at Eurojust with the support of the European Commission:
“The United States stands in steadfast and unwavering support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy against the brutal and unjust war being waged by the Russian regime.
That is why, earlier this year, I traveled to The Hague to announce the appointment of the first U.S. prosecutor in nearly 80 years to be engaged in efforts to build cases on the crime of aggression, Jessica Kim.
As the U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression, Jessica has been and will continue to work closely with the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine, which was established at Eurojust with the support of the European Commission. The resources announced today by the State Department will build on this important work.
This announcement, and the Justice Department’s continued work alongside our Ukrainian and international partners make clear that we are not waiting for the hostilities to end before pursuing justice and accountability. We are gathering evidence and building cases so that when the time comes, the United States and our partners will be ready to ensure accountability for Russia’s war of aggression.”
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Judges of the Data Protection Review CourtRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today held a formal investiture ceremony for the Data Protection Review Court (DPRC) at the Justice Department, formally swearing in six judges of the eight-member, fully independent court, following the Constitutional oath they have already taken, and marking another milestone in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
“In October 2022, I issued new regulations establishing the Data Protection Review Court to serve as the second level of a new redress process established by the President’s Executive Order on Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities,” said Attorney General Garland. “Although this court has been established at the Department of Justice, its judges will independently decide what remedies, if any, are appropriate for the cases in front of them, and the intelligence agencies will be expected to abide by their decisions.”
Last October, the Attorney General issued regulations creating the DPRC within the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties at the Department of Justice. The DPRC serves as the second level of the new redress process established by the President through Executive Order 14086, which also strengthened other safeguards for U.S. signals intelligence activities. The DPRC will independently review determinations made by the Civil Liberties Protection Officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in response to qualifying complaints sent by individuals through appropriate public authorities that allege certain violations of U.S. law in the conduct of U.S. signals intelligence activities.
The Executive Order and the new Justice Department regulations are a critical part of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and the UK-U.S. Data Bridge Extension. These arrangements reflect the strength of U.S. partnerships with the European Union and the United Kingdom and the shared commitment to the rule of law and respect for the value of individual privacy.
Two additional judges were unable to attend today’s ceremony in person.
The judges on the court include:
- James E. Baker
- Rajesh De
- James X. Dempsey
- Mary B. DeRosa
- Thomas B. Griffith
- Eric H. Holder Jr.
- David F. Levi
- Virginia A Seitz
For full bios and more information on the Data protection Review Court, visit https://www.justice.gov/opcl/redress-data-protection-review-court.
Also in attendance at the investiture ceremony was Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD), European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and members of NSD, the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State, ODNI, and the National Security Council.
Appraiser in Billion-Dollar Fraudulent Tax Shelter Sentenced to A Year in PrisonRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for his role in conspiring to defraud the United States in a syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme – involving inflated charitable contribution deductions – that claimed more than $1.3 billion in fraudulent tax deductions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2008 to 2019, Walter “Terry” Douglas Roberts II, of Flat Rock, North Carolina, conspired with others to fraudulently inflate the value of the conservation easements upon which the tax deductions were based.
At the trial of his co-conspirators, Jack Fisher and James Sinnott, Roberts testified that he became a licensed appraiser in 2007 and began providing appraisals of conservation easements that same year. From 2008 through 2019, as part of the scheme, Roberts said that he fraudulently inflated the values of at least 18 conservation easements by, among other things, not following normal appraisal methods, making false statements and either personally manipulating or relying on knowingly manipulated data to reach a targeted appraisal value – communicated to him by co-conspirators – that would result in the desired tax deduction amount. Roberts admitted that he inflated some of his appraisals by at least 600%. The 18 conservation easements Roberts fraudulently appraised as part of the scheme claimed approximately $466,961,000 in tax deductions, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $129,000,000.
Fisher and Sinnott were convicted at trial and are presently awaiting sentencing for their crimes. To date, at least five additional defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to Fisher’s syndicated conservation easement tax shelters, including Stein and Corey Agee, Ralph Anderson, James Benkoil and Randall Lenz.
In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten for the Northern District of Georgia ordered Roberts to serve three years of supervised release, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $129,210,760 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and Chief James C. Lee of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
IRS-CI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Grace Albinson, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr. of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case,
Agoura Hills Property Developer Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Prison for Lying on Bankruptcy Petition and Filing False Federal Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Agoura Hills real estate developer was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for failing to disclose on a bankruptcy petition that he had earned nearly $2.3 million in income and for failing to report almost $6.9 million in income on his tax returns.
Mark Handel, 69, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also fined Handel $20,000 and ordered him to forfeit approximately $3,545,712, which represents the proceeds of the sale of real estate in Alameda County. Judge Wright also ordered Handel to pay the IRS approximately $1,618,836 in outstanding tax liabilities, including penalties and interest.
Handel pleaded guilty on February 23 to one count of making a false statement in bankruptcy and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
Prior to today’s hearing and pursuant to his plea agreement, Handel paid the IRS approximately $1,618,836 in outstanding tax liabilities, including penalties and interest.
In April 2015, Handel filed a bankruptcy petition in Los Angeles in which he claimed under penalty of perjury he had no income from 2013 until April 2015. In fact, he earned approximately $2,263,221 in income through DTMM Construction Inc., his West Los Angeles-based real estate development company, which, according to court documents, stood for “Don’t Touch My Money.” To further conceal his income from the bankruptcy court and creditors, Handel arranged for DTMM to be registered in his wife’s name but used the company to deposit the profits from his own work as a real estate developer and to pay for his and his family’s living expenses.
Handel concealed his income from his creditors by depositing it into DTMM’s accounts. Among the assets Handel hid from creditors included his interest in real estate in Livermore, California, which later was sold for approximately $3,545,712, the proceeds of which he agreed to forfeit.
In October 2016, Handel signed and filed a false federal income tax return for the tax year 2015 that failed to disclose approximately $1,096,175 in additional income. For the tax years 2010 to 2017, Handel failed to report a total of approximately $6,886,877 of income on his federal tax returns.
Handel also falsely reported a net operating loss of $7,259,119 on his 2017 federal income tax return as well as underreported his income on his 2018 tax return by $1,411,050 and admitted to failing to pay $460,408 in additional tax.
“[Handel’s] crimes were not born out of desperation, nor done on a whim without much thought,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “His crimes required planning, calculation, and an almost insatiable drive to break the law time and time again. Indeed, given the brazenness of his conduct, including bragging to others that his company stood for ‘Don’t Touch My Money,’ [Handel] believed he was above the law.”
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee.
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.
13 November 2023
Vaiden man sentenced to prison for identity theftRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – A 38-year-old Vaiden man has been sentenced to serve six years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and possessing fraudulent identity documents. At a sentencing hearing on Monday, Senior U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Marcus D. Brown to a 72-month term of incarceration, followed by 3 years of court-supervised release.
Brown plead guilty on August 7, 2023, to possession of fraudulent identification documents with intent to use them in criminal activities and aggravated identity theft. Court records show that Brown was in possession of a fraudulently obtained vehicle which contained the actual identification documents of approximately 40 individuals who lived in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
The Court had previously ordered Brown into custody after he attempted to escape the custody of state authorities.
“In this case, the lives of dozens of innocent citizens have been damaged and disrupted by the acts of one dishonest individual who sought to unjustly enrich himself at their expense,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We applaud the sentence and the work by officers and investigators who brought this fraudulent conduct to light.”
“The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to take advantage of victims while trying to exploit our nation’s financial systems,” said Kyle Smith, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, this individual will be held responsible for these crimes.”
The United States Secret Service and Winona Police Department investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Roberts.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Suicide Committed by Person Evading PoliceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who were present for the February 2023 death of S.P., a 40-year-old District resident who died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian eyewitness accounts, security camera footage, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, the autopsy report, and reports from MPD.
According to the evidence, at about 12:18 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2023, officers with the MPD were called to the 1400 block of Park Road, N.W. for a report of sounds of gunshots. As the police were conducting their initial investigation, including a review of security camera footage depicting an altercation between S.P. and another person, S.P. returned to the scene. Because S.P. matched the image in the footage, officers attempted to make contact with S.P. S.P. initially ran from the police. At one point, S.P. turned around, brandished a handgun and fired multiple shots at the police. The police returned fire. However, all of the shots by S.P. and the police missed their intended targets. S.P. then ran into an alley located in the 1400 block of Meridian Place, N.W. As two officers waited for assistance at the entrance to the alley, S.P. committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any officer on the scene used excessive force under the circumstances or otherwise willfully violated S.P.’s rights.
Use-of-force investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney's Office Settles Disability Discrimination Complaint with Skilled Nursing FacilityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights reached an agreement today with North End Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (North End), a skilled nursing facility in Boston, to resolve allegations that the facility denied admission to individuals being treated with medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Patients suffering from opioid use disorder are too often faced with the agonizing decision between accessing life-saving medication to treat their addiction, or accessing other critical health care. Patients’ health and rehabilitation are negatively impacted when nursing facilities deny admissions simply because someone is engaged in recovery,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “We thank North End Rehabilitation for its cooperation and its commitment in working with us to ensure access to addiction treatment for those who may also need long term care.”
“It is against the law to deny an individual placement in a facility because they are undergoing treatment for an opioid use disorder. This kind of action is not only illegal but leads to further stigma and is contra to efforts to support recovery which is critical,” said Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. “Today’s announcement supports this Administration’s national strategy to prevent, treat, and provide long term recovery supports for individuals with behavioral health needs or substance use disorders, as well as the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration, which implements the National Strategy by promoting equity in access to affordable, high quality, culturally appropriate care.”
Following a review, several instances were found between December 2020 and April 2022 where patients were denied admissions because they were taking Suboxone or methadone to treat their OUD. Individuals receiving treatment for OUD are generally considered disabled under federal civil rights laws, which prohibits private healthcare providers from discriminating on the basis of disability.
Under the terms of the agreement, North End will, among other things, adopt a non-discrimination policy, revise its admissions policy and provide training to admissions staff. North End will also pay the United States a $111,614 civil penalty. All but $10,000 will be forgiven if North End complies with the terms of the agreement for a two-year period.
Since May 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has settled with 13 healthcare providers to resolve ADA violations related to OUD treatment. These agreements have addressed compliance at 53 skilled nursing facilities.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HHS OCR Director Fontes Rainer made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of the Office’s Civil Rights Unit handled the matter.
U.S. Attorney for Alaska announces sentence in $26M investment fraud scheme, discusses financial crime priorityRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for defrauding at least 177 victims of more than $26 million through an investment fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Garrett Elder, 30, convinced victims to transfer funds to him for investment in stocks and foreign currencies on their behalf through deceptive and false representations of his trading methods between 2016 and October 2022. Some of the defendants’ victims were family members and friends.
The defendant executed the scheme primarily through his two entities, Tycoon Trading LLC and the Daily Bread Fund LLC. Elder solicited investments based on misstatements and omissions about his trading methods and returns. He then provided falsified account reports showing positive returns.
In total, the investigation revealed that Elder falsely told his investors that they had made over $11 million dollars in non-existent profits when, in fact, the defendant had been consistently losing money for years. The investigation identified that the defendant lost around $20 million trading, and used the remainder to fund a lavish lifestyle, finance commissions and payments to business associates, purchase assets and gifts, and pay other personal expenses.
In addition to time in prison, the defendant is required to pay $26 million in restitution to approximately 177 victims and serve three years of supervised release as part of his sentence.
"Mr. Elder’s case is one of the worst fraud cases our office has handled with respect to the number of victims and amount of money he stole. This case shows that white collar crime can impact anyone and cause immense damage to people, families and communities, and that no person or company is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Prosecuting criminals who choose to commit calculated financial crimes will remain a priority for our office, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice for victims of these crimes.”
“In what’s regarded as the largest investment fraud scheme perpetrated in Alaska, Mr. Elder’s greed and deception is an affront to the honest, hard-working victims he bilked out of millions of dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With dedicated special agents, forensic accountants, and analysts who work tirelessly to unravel complex fraud schemes, the FBI is dedicated to investigating financial crimes to hold criminals accountable and to protect the financial security of all Alaskans.”
Elder is the most recent fraud case the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska has successfully prosecuted in their prioritization of holding financial and white-collar criminals accountable. The office has dozens of open cases covering a range of financial crimes, including health care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, fraud on federal agencies, and federal program fraud surrounding misuse of COVID-19 recovery funds.
These cases are a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement and are often a product of thousands of hours’ worth of investigation and expertise due to the complexity of financial crimes.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the Elder case with assistance from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), Division of Banking and Securities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Heyman and Seth Beausang prosecuted the Elder case.
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Two Admit 2020 Jefferson County CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted their involvement in a 2020 carjacking in Jefferson County, Missouri that permanently injured the victim.
Matthew Carver, 31, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Monday to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brandon Vandoren, 29, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty November 8 to one count of carjacking.
Both men admitted that on May 20, 2020, they arrived at a Jefferson County, Missouri MotoMart gas station and convenience store in a stolen Dodge Dart, intending to steal a vehicle. Carver was driving, and dropped off Vandoren, who got into a Saturn Aura and began driving away. The Aura’s driver, who was inside the store, ran outside and threw a Coke can at the Aura. Vandoren hit the victim with the Aura and fled. The victim nearly died due to the carjacking and has been left with permanent injuries.
Both vehicles then fled from law enforcement. Carver ultimately crashed, fled on foot and was captured after resisting arrest, his plea says.
The next day, officers found the Aura at America’s Best Value Inn in St. Louis County. They arrested Vandoren when he answered their knock on his motel room door, and found a firearm in the room, his plea says. Vandoren is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm.
Carver and Vandoren are scheduled to be sentenced in February. The carjacking charge carries a potential penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Carver’s felon in possession charge carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.
Twenty-three gang members and associates indicted on racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – A 12-count indictment was unsealed last week in the Northern District of Georgia, charging 23 defendants, all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates, with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.
“Gang activity poses a grave risk of harm to our communities as well as to many of our institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The defendants charged in this case allegedly perpetrated numerous violent and other criminal offenses, including multiple murders, brutal assaults, and drug trafficking crimes, on behalf of the gang Sex Money Murder. For more than a decade, these gang members and their associates allegedly orchestrated a criminal enterprise within and outside of multiple prisons to earn money for, boost their status in, and impose discipline required by, the gang. This indictment is the culmination of a lengthy and carefully coordinated federal and state law enforcement investigation aimed at dismantling this violent group.”
“The defendants and their criminal associates are alleged to have committed murder, engaged in stabbings and attempted murder, and distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of illicit drugs inside and outside the Georgia prison system, all to enhance the power and prestige of their gang, the Sex Money Murder set of The Bloods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With this RICO indictment, the Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, again shows its commitment to hold accountable and bring to justice violent gang members who terrorize our communities and attempt to control our country’s prison systems.”
“For too long, criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on our streets, destroying families, neighborhoods, and communities. Georgia residents deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by violent gangs,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “To alleged gang members and others infecting our streets—the FBI and our law enforcement partners will find and prosecute you no matter how long it takes or where you are living.”
“This extremely labor-intensive investigation would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the investigating Agents, Task Force Officers, and Prosecutors. These indictments are a culmination of the collaborative efforts by all agencies involved; our communities are safer because of this investigation,” said Dan Salter, the Director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
“It’s alarming to think that these criminals were brazen enough to distribute dangerous drugs and commit heinous crimes while behind bars,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “They must now face the consequences.”
“Gang activity inside correctional facilities throughout our state continues to be a challenge, and we are using every resource at our disposal to combat this issue,” said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. “As one of Governor Kemp’s initiatives is to fight gang activity, our agents work non-stop with our law enforcement partners statewide, and this is yet another example of that vital collaboration,” continued Oliver. “We appreciate the support of our local, state, and federal partners in ensuring that justice is served on these individuals.”
“With the creation of Georgia’s first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit, we’re working with all levels of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminal gang activity wherever it occurs,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Alongside our partners at the Georgia Department of Corrections, we will continue to hold accountable those who use a contraband cellphone to direct further violence from behind bars. Our top priority is to protect our fellow Georgians, and that’s exactly what we’re fighting to do each day.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: SMM is a national gang and subset of The Bloods gang, which originated in the early 1970s in Los Angeles, California. The SMM subset spread from the Bronx, New York area across the East Coast, including Georgia, where it operates inside and outside prisons and jails.
The indictment alleges an extensive criminal enterprise in which inmates within the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC), often using contraband cellphones, orchestrated numerous crimes, including murders, attempted murders, attempted arson, drug trafficking – within and outside the GDOC, and fraud. Eleven of the defendants were in prison when they allegedly committed or ordered the charged offenses.
The indictment alleges that SMM is organized into subgroups, called “sets” or “lines,” which are responsible for carrying out the affairs of the gang within their individual territories. Typically, each set or line is responsible for representing SMM through the commission of criminal activities, the generation of financial proceeds, the resolution of internal and external conflicts, and the enforcement of strict adherence to SMM rules and protocols. Each set or line has its own “line-up,” or hierarchy of ranked gang members from each territory. A set or line and its leaders fall under higher-ranking national leaders, including the “Royal Flush,” and are ultimately subject to the overall command of “Royal Flush” members.
Certain SMM members hold a specific rank within the gang or within a specific set or line. Specific duties and responsibilities are associated with each rank. The SMM rank structure often includes a delineation between incarcerated members (“behind the wall”) and non-incarcerated members (“on the streets”). In many instances, leadership “behind the wall” also exerts control over membership “on the streets.”
The indictment alleges that the defendants committed multiple acts of violence in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, including that:
- On or about May 10, 2014, following the directive of an SMM leader, four SMM members and associates stormed a home in DeKalb County, Georgia and shot multiple rounds of ammunition into a bathroom, killing a nine-month-old boy.
- On or about March 13, 2017, at Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia, defendant Cedric Pierre and another SMM member repeatedly stabbed another inmate on orders from defendant Chase Pinckney.
- On or about October 11, 2017, defendant Demarco Draughn murdered an inmate at Hancock State Prison on orders from defendant Anthony Jernigan because the inmate had allegedly violated one of SMM’s rules.
- On or about March 20, 2019, defendant Rontavious Fowler murdered an inmate at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia.
- On or about May 10, 2020, at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, SMM members isolated another SMM member in a prison cell, tied him up, and repeatedly stabbed him on suspicion that the SMM member had allegedly violated one of the gang’s rules.
- On or about May 11, 2020, at GDOC’s Special Management Unit, defendants Demarco Draughn and Rontavious Fowler repeatedly stabbed another inmate, as directed by SMM leadership.
- On or about November 5, 2020, defendant Chase Pinckney authorized the beating of an inmate at Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia on suspicion that the inmate had allegedly violated one of SMM’s rules.
- On or about December 9, 2020, an SMM member shot and killed another gang member in Griffin, Georgia, on belief that the member had cooperated with law enforcement.
- Between on or about January 31 through on or about February 4, 2021, defendant Cedric Pierre directed SMM members to set fire to a drug customer’s home in Colbert, Georgia.
The following defendants have been charged in the indictment for conduct related to their alleged roles in the RICO conspiracy and related crimes:
- Ryan Brandt, a/k/a Street Life and Robert Kraft, 44, of Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring, aiding and abetting, and possessing a controlled substance and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
- Kyle Oree, a/k/a Nasty Nu, 52, of Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
- Chase Pinckney, a/k/a Chase Pickney, Three Shots, Noriega, and Sinatra, 38, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Elton Jackson, a/k/a 2gz and John Madden, 41, of Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Sean Carr, a/k/a Nut and Nutkase, 51, of FCI Talladega in Talladega, Alabama, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Lavorsia Jones, a/k/a Shitbag, 23, of Dacula, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring, attempting, and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
- Danielle Ford, 49, of Ellenwood, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute;
- Charlton King, a/k/a Hell’s Militant Camp, 23 of Valdosta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
- Demarco Draughn, a/k/a Shoota B, 28, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
- Richard Smith, a/k/a Alleyway and Brett Favre, 36, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Rontavious Fowler, a/k/a Lil Hot, 26, of Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
- Shavon Thomas, a/k/a Shavon Edwards, 55, of Decatur, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Lionel Edwards, a/k/a Tony, Tyson, and Python, 41, of USP Florence in Florence, Colorado, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Anthony Jernigan, a/k/a Hell Raiser, 36, of Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
- Cedric Pierre, a/k/a Flip, 23, of Robert A. Deyton Correctional Facility in Lovejoy, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Ricardo Sanchez, 40, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Troy McCraine, 57, of Tennessee, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Qawwee Mitchell, 36, of Gainesville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime;
- Sherri Gandy-Torres, 56, of Lakeland, Florida, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Nyla Blacknell, 43, of Duluth, state, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to of a drug trafficking crime;
- Tracey Wise, 46, Milledgeville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute;
- Shounnette Wooten, 50, of Gray, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; and
- Kierra Williams, 31, of Haddock, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute.
Nine of the defendants were arrested on November 8, 2023 and appeared in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Georgia and Albany, Georgia the same day. Eight additional defendants were arraigned in Atlanta on November 9, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and Drug Enforcement Administration, and Georgia Department of Corrections, with valuable assistance from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia State Patrol, Brookhaven Police Department, Butts County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Police Department, Douglasville Police Department, East Point Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Marietta Police Department, Riverdale Police Department, Sandy Springs Police Department, and South Fulton Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg of the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering (VICAR) Section are prosecuting the case, and former VICAR Trial Attorney Rebecca R. Dunnan previously prosecuted the case.
The indictment is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Todisco Towing Agrees to Resolve Allegations of Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement today with Todisco Services, Inc., a company doing business as Todisco Towing, to resolve allegations that it failed to obtain a court order before enforcing a lien on a vehicle owned by a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant who was deployed overseas, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
The compliant alleged that Todisco Towing impounded the Staff Sergeant’s vehicle, refused to allow him to pay the towing and storage fee by phone, and ultimately sold the vehicle and its contents, which included costly military tactical gear and several irreplaceable items of sentimental value, including a family photograph album and a sweatshirt belonging to a friend who is now deceased.
The SCRA provides financial and housing protections and benefits to military members while they are in military service. One of the SCRA’s protections requires anyone holding a lien on the property of a servicemember to obtain a court order prior to auctioning off, selling, or otherwise disposing of that property. This means that companies have an obligation – before selling or disposing of property – to determine whether the property is owned by a servicemember protected under the SCRA, and if so, obtain court approval prior to disposal. Companies can conduct a search on the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) website, to determine whether an individual is a protected servicemember.
Under the agreement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Todisco Towing must pay the Staff Sergeant $5,000 in damages and the United States a $1,000 civil penalty. Todisco Towing has also implemented new policies and trainings to prevent future SCRA violations.
“While he was serving our country overseas and protecting our national security, this servicemember had his car and items of deep personal significance sold off by Todisco despite his efforts to pay the outstanding fees. This is shameful treatment of people serving our nation as part of the armed forces,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is strongly committed to enforcing the rights of the members of our military who sacrifice so much for all of us to enjoy freedom and security every day.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary H. Harnett and Torey B. Cummings handled the matter.
This lawsuit resulted from a referral to the Justice Department from the U.S. Air Force. Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Tijuana Woman Sentenced to 12 Months for Stealing Dead Mother’s Social Security Benefits for 13 YearsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 13, 2023
SAN DIEGO – Kimberly Kay Brandt, a 51-year-old U.S. citizen living in Tijuana, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 months and one day in prison for concealing her mother’s death from the Social Security Administration for 13 years to steal more than $268,000 in retirement benefits.
Brandt pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud in August 2023. According to her plea agreement, Brandt’s mother, identified in court records as H.B., moved from California to her daughter’s home in Tijuana when her health declined. She died in Mexico in June 2010. H.B. had been receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) via direct deposit into her bank account.
After H.B. died, Brandt did not inform the SSA and continued to use H.B.’s bank card to withdraw the benefits intended for H.B. Brandt admitted that she impersonated H.B. in a call to H.B.’s bank, purportedly to update H.B.’s address and request a new bank card in H.B.’s name. Brandt enlisted a third party to bring the new bank card to her in Mexico. After the SSA discovered H.B.’s death and stopped paying benefits, Brandt impersonated H.B. again in a call to the bank to inquire about the missing payment. Brandt was arrested on June 27, 2023, as she attempted to cross into the U.S. from Mexico, three weeks after the SSA benefits stopped.
Brandt was ordered to pay $268,143 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr1484-BAS
Kimberly Kay Brandt Age: 51 Tijuana, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Social Security Fraud – Title 42, U.S.C., Section 408(a)(4)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
AGENCY
Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General