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Friday 15 September 2023
Illinois Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Heroin CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin was convicted by a jury on September 14, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Michael Garrick Denson, age 33, from Illinois, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. The verdict was returned following about an hour of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Denson was a methamphetamine and heroin dealer in the Dubuque, Iowa, area who was nicknamed “Ice Mike.” Between February 2018 and February 2020, Denson conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. On July 23, 2019, investigators observed Denson outside of a hotel in Dubuque. Denson had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and investigators stopped a car he was a passenger in. During the stop, Denson got out of the passenger side of the car and ran from investigators. Investigators located six small baggies containing heroin near where Denson had been seated in the car.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Denson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Denson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force (consisting of the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department) and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-01003-CJW.
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Hudsonville Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Austin Thomas Noel, 27, of Hudsonville, Michigan, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for sexually exploiting children. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker also imposed seven years of supervised release following Noel’s custodial sentence.
“My office takes child exploitation cases very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Mr. Noel used social media to cast a wide net in search of girls and young women to sexually exploit. Now, he will serve over 17 years in prison for his predatory behavior. Our foot is on the gas and others who commit these crimes against children will face a similar fate.”
“This sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering preying on our most innocent and vulnerable members of society,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting violent predators who commit crimes against our children. Successful work like this is made possible thanks to the wide network of law enforcement partners and we appreciate their critical support throughout this investigation.”
In January 2022, a mother reported to the FBI that she discovered her daughter had been engaging in sexually explicit chats with a man using the account name, “official_anoel.” The conversations started when the child was 13 years old and continued for around two years. The FBI identified Austin Noel as the man behind the “official_anoel” account and uncovered more than 700 chat logs and communications between Noel and girls and young women. Approximately 37 of these individuals identified themselves as minors, more than 20 of which were between the ages of 12 and 15 years old. Throughout the chats, Noel made numerous efforts to meet with the minors for sex. In March 2023, Noel pleaded guilty to a Felony Information charging him with sexually exploiting the victim and using her to create child pornography for him.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: https://www.justice.gov/psc. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by FBI Grand Rapids, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Shores Police Department, and the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Trafficking Task Force (WEBCHEX), which is a partnership of FBI, Michigan State Police, and local agencies dedicated to investigating offenses against children.
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Harvey Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FREDERICK TURNER, age 51, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 14, 2023 to 151 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
TURNER previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court documents, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation revealed that TURNER was involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, TURNER regularly distributed amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. Additionally, officers executed a search warrant at TURNER’s residence and seized an illegal shotgun from TURNER.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Gonzales Woman Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a four-count indictment charging Hannah Kinchen, age 39, of Gonzales, Louisiana, with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. Kinchen appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to the indictment, between approximately July of 2020 and at least October of 2020, Kinchen conspired with others to produce and distribute child pornography. If convicted of these charges, Kinchen faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Frewsburg Sex Offender Arrested on New Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jeffrey Paden, 57, of Frewsburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the New York State Police (NYSP) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an individual in Frewsburg, NY, uploaded images of child pornography on the internet. Subsequent investigation traced the images to Paden, who is currently on federal supervised release following a 2015 conviction for possession of child pornography. Paden was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release. On September 12, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant on 12 electronic devices seized earlier in the investigation by the NYSP and recovered multiple images of child pornography.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.
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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Four Honduran Nationals Indicted for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of indictments charging four Honduran nationals, Juan Ariel Molina-Salles (age 33), Elieser Aurelio Gomez-Zelaya (age 32), Allan Oseas Gomez-Zelaya (age 42), and Duglas Hernandez Valladares (age 38) with aggravated identity theft, misuse of Social Security numbers, and making false statements regarding citizenship with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment. If convicted on all counts, each faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years, up to 12 years, in federal prison.
According to the indictments, Molina-Salles, Elieser Aurelio Gomez-Zelaya, Allan Oseas Gomez-Zelaya, and Hernandez Valladares misused the names and Social Security numbers of others and falsely claimed to be United States citizens with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment.
“Identity theft is not a victimless crime,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “HSI, in cooperation with state and local partners, prioritizes the protection of someone’s personal information and works diligently to ensure it is not stolen, traded in an illicit marketplace, or used by criminal organizations.”
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 (HSI), the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Valladares Indictment
Molinas-Salles Indictment
A O Gomez-Zalaya Indictment
E A Gomez-Zalaya IndictmentFormer officer imprisoned for smuggling cocaineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Raymondville resident has been sentenced for trafficking drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury deliberated for two hours before convicting Juan Posas Jr. June 27 of trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to do so.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Posas to serve 162 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At sentencing the Government pointed out Juan Posas knew the consequences of the actions he was taking.
Posas is a former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. At trial, the jury heard that on June 6, 2022, Posas traveled from Raymondville to a Home Depot in Weslaco where he met with Alexis Soria-Soria, 25, a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States. Soria then transferred a box containing approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine into Posas’ truck.
At trial, the jury heard recordings of phone conversations in which Posas helped plan the drug smuggling attempt.
However, the defense attempted to convince the jury that Soria approached him in the parking lot and simply asked if he wanted free fruits, then placed a box of fruits in his car. He said he never checked the box to see what was inside. The jury did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Posas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jongwoo Chung and Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
Former Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Gift Cards and Money from the MailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging Anita Miller, 40, of Jamestown, NY, with six counts of theft of mail by a postal employee and two counts of delay of mail by a postal employee. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on six occasions in February and March 2022, Miller, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition, one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
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 Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Gift Cards and Money from the MailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging Anita Miller, 40, of Jamestown, NY, with six counts of theft of mail by a postal employee and two counts of delay of mail by a postal employee. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on six occasions in February and March 2022, Miller, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition, one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
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 Park City Mental Health Counselor Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A former Park City, Kentucky mental health counselor was sentenced today to 8 years and 4 months in prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual exploitation materials.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville made the announcement.
According to court documents, Carl Anthony Puleo, 55, was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for one count each of receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual exploitation materials. Puleo was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. During an investigation, an HSI Agent downloaded child sexual exploitation materials from Puleo through a file-sharing network. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by HSI Bowling Green.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former Columbia Police Chief Sentenced for Stealing City FundsRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – The former City of Columbia Chief of Police was sentenced today to 5 months in federal prison for stealing city funds.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 2020 and February 2021, Jason Dewayne Cross, 46, of Columbia, Kentucky, the Columbia Chief of Police at the time, stole over $25,000 from the Columbia Police Department evidence room and drug purchase fund.
Cross was sentenced to 5 months in prison, followed by a 1-year term of supervised release, for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), which makes it a federal offense for a city employee to steal more than $5,000 from a city that received over $10,000 in federal assistance in a calendar year. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the Columbia Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser prosecuted the case.
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Former Ambassador and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan for Violating Federal Disclosure Laws and Unlawfully Aiding and Advising Foreign Government After RetirementRead the Press Release
Defendant Admitted Violating “Revolving Door” Prohibitions
WASHINGTON – Richard Gustave Olson, Jr., 63, of Algodones, New Mexico, a former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan and a former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was sentenced today to 36 months’ probation and a fine of $93,350 for two separate courses of conduct, both of which involved misconduct relating to his public office. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada of the Central District of California, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Olson pleaded guilty on June 3, 2022, in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of making a false writing and one count of aiding and advising a foreign government with the intent to influence decisions of United States officers.
Olson served as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from October 31, 2012, through November 17, 2015, and as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from November 17, 2015, through his retirement from government service on November 30, 2016. According to court documents, the defendant intentionally submitted a false ethics form that failed to disclose thousands of dollars of benefits he received from a businessman (“Person 1”) while the defendant was serving in government. When later questioned by the FBI concerning some of these benefits, the defendant falsely claimed that he did not know Person 1 paid for them. After the defendant retired from government service, Person 1 began paying him a consulting fee of $20,000 per month. While receiving these payments, the defendant illegally helped the government of Qatar influence U.S. policymakers in violation of laws meant to prevent recent retirees from leveraging their high-level U.S. government service to further foreign interests.
Given his high-level position in the U.S. government, the defendant was subject to the “revolving door” prohibitions in 18 U.S.C. § 207(f) for one year after leaving government service. Congress enacted these prohibitions to prevent public officials from unfairly profiting from the contacts, associations, and special knowledge that they gained during their tenure as public servants. The phrase “revolving door” describes the practice of public officials abandoning public service for lobbying positions. Prohibitions on this practice, often referred to as mandatory “cooling-off” or “waiting” periods, forbid individuals from engaging in lobbying activities for a period of time after leaving public service. U.S. law prohibits senior officials—like the defendant—from representing a foreign government before any federal agency or from aiding or advising a foreign entity with the intent to influence the U.S. government for one year after leaving their positions. The defendant knowingly violated these prohibitions by providing aid and advice in furtherance of two Qatari goals: (1) convincing U.S. policymakers to establish U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities at Doha International Airport, and (2) convincing U.S. policymakers to support Qatar, rather than its regional rivals, during the 2017 Gulf Diplomatic Crisis. After learning that the government was investigating his activities on behalf of Qatar, the defendant obstructed the government’s investigation by deleting relevant emails.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. O’Brien of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart D. Allen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Transporting an AlienRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Gerardo Hernandez Anselmo, 34, of Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in prison for illegally transporting an alien. Hernandez Anselmo pleaded guilty to this charge on June 9, 2023.
On June 10, 2022, an officer in the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department received information from a relative that R.E. had not returned home from work the day before. The complainant reported that he went to R.E.’s place of employment to find him, and while there, learned there was a video of the parking lot that showed R.E. getting into the backseat of a car that had parked next to R.E.’s car.
Citizens familiar with R.E. told law enforcement that they suspected R.E. had been driven to Florida to work off a debt he owed to Gerardo Hernandez Anselmo and his wife because they helped R.E. enter the country illegally.
Law enforcement in Florida went to an address in Kissimmee, Florida where they found the defendant and Felipe Engracia-Gonzalez. They also recovered R.E. and interviewed him. R.E. identified the defendant and Engracia-Gonzalez as the people who drove him from Abbotsford, Wisconsin to Kissimmee, Florida against his will.
On September 7, 2023, Judge Conley sentenced Engracia-Gonzalez, who had been in custody since June 2022, to a sentence of time served. Engracia-Gonzalez was illegally in the United States and was deported upon his release from federal custody.
The charge against Hernandez Anselmo was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Colby-Abbotsford Police Department, and the Kissimmee (Florida) Police Department, with assistance from the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Altman and Chadwick Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Fletcher Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Methamphetamine CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 15, 2023, Timothy Gillilan, 43, of Fletcher, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Gillilan previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine in April 2023.
According to court records, Gillilan was arrested on April 6, 2022, pursuant to a federal warrant. Gillilan faced a three-count indictment charging him with various methamphetamine offenses. The investigation showed that the defendant possessed more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, as well as quantities of cocaine and marijuana, at his home in Fletcher, Vermont. Gillilan admitted to having distributed methamphetamine from the home in late 2021.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Northwest Vermont Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. Mr. Gillilan was represented by William A. Vasiliou, II, Esq. and Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Paducah Woman for False Tax Claims and Small Business Administration FraudRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on September 12, 2023, charging a Paducah woman with eight counts of filing false tax claims and one count of wire fraud involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) financial assistance program.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Natasha Harris-Johnson, 49, made a claim against the United States for payment of a refund of taxes on eight separate occasions in various amounts which she knew to be false, fictious, and fraudulent, and to which she knew she was not entitled. Additionally, between March 2020 and June 2020, Harris-Johnson filed a fraudulent application for a CARES Act financial assistance program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and fraudulently obtained over $159,000 by way of this program. EIDLs provided loan assistance (including $10,000 advances) for small businesses and other eligible entities for loans up to $2 million. The EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. In the false EIDL applications Harris-Johnson submitted, she made false claims about the gross revenue and cost of goods sold by her company, HJ&J Development LLC.
Harris-Johnson will make her initial appearance on October 19, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Harris-Johnson faces a maximum of 60 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel 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, among other methods, 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.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eastern Idaho Attorney Indicted for Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Robin Dwain Dunn, 68, of Rigby, was indicted on September 13, 2023, by a federal grand jury sitting in Boise on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
The indictment alleges that from June 2022 to February 19, 2023, Dunn conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in eastern Idaho, and that in October and November of 2022, Dunn knowingly and intentionally possessed fentanyl and methamphetamine, intending to distribute it to others. The indictment also alleges that Dunn distributed fentanyl in November of 2022.
Federal agents with DEA, supported by detectives from Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Falls Police Department, arrested Dunn on September 14, 2023. Dunn is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale on September 18, 2023, to be arraigned on the charges.
The charges in this case are each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Zebari and Christopher Atwood are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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District Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter and Related Charges in Killing of Cousin at 29th and S Streets SoutheastRead the Press Release
Defendant Shot Victim Following a Series of Arguments Started by an Instagram Post
WASHINGTON – Lewkus Turner, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 8.5 years in prison for shooting and killing his cousin in Southeast Washington, D.C., on December 11, 2020. The government sought a 16-year sentence.
On June 9, 2023, a jury sitting in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia found Turner guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, just before 4:00 p.m. on December 11, 2020, the victim, Vincent Gyamfi, drove to the 1600 block of 29th Street SE to speak to Turner, his first-cousin, regarding an Instagram post Turner had made earlier in the week. Shortly after arriving in the area, an argument broke out and Turner left the scene. A short time later, Turner returned armed with a gun and the two men began to argue again before leaving in separate directions.
Mr. Gyamfi subsequently parked his vehicle near the intersection of 29th and S Streets SE. At 4:07 p.m. Turner drove by the same intersection and confronted his cousin for a final time. As a result, Mr. Gyamfi ran at Turner’s car, and Turner shot Mr. Gyamfi three times with a large caliber weapon. Turner then dragged Mr. Gyamfi’s body out from underneath Turner’s vehicle, re-entered the car, and fled the scene without calling for aid. Turner was arrested on December 29, 2020, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI CAST team. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Dan Lenerz and Bryan Han of the Appellate Section; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez; Special Agents Mark Crawford and Durand Odom of the Criminal Investigations Unit; Supervisory Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Tonya Jones and Maenylie Watson; Supervisory Budget Analyst Nikiya Burnette and Accounting Technician Evelyn Miles; Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Kimak, Christopher Carson, and Gauri Gopal, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case.
District Man Convicted of Murdering Woman Who Went Missing in 2010 and Has Never Been FoundRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaac Moye, 46, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today by Judge Anthony Epstein to 35 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the second-degree murder of Unique Harris, a 24-year-old woman who went missing from her home in October 2010 and whose body has never been found. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Moye was convicted at trial on June 23, 2023. According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 9, 2010, Unique Harris hosted a sleepover for her young children and their nine-year-old cousin at her home in Southeast Washington, D.C. At approximately 9:30 p.m. that night, Harris put the children to bed. At 10:39 p.m., Isaac Moye, a man she had known for only two months, arrived at her home, calling her on her cell phone just moments before entering her building. The next morning, the three children awoke to find their mother gone. Her cell phone and keys were also missing. Her purse and all its contents, including her identification and credit cards were left behind. The eyeglasses she never left home without were also there in the home. Her sofa had been mutilated, a hole cut in the fabric, a section of foam removed. There was no blood, no sign of struggle. And she was never seen or heard from again.
Over the course of the next few years, Isaac Moye was interviewed multiple times by members of the Metropolitan Police Department. He changed his story between interviews – denying, then admitting, then denying that he and Unique Harris had ever been intimate, denying that he had ever been in her home overnight, and denying that he had seen her the day that she went missing. Eventually, Moye’s semen was identified on the mutilated sofa cushion and his GPS records placed him at the decedent’s home for the entire night. Moye also made statements to another person, who testified that Moye said there was a missing girl, but that police were “never going to find her” because he “did it, but did it the right way.” Ms. Harris was reported missing on Oct. 10, 2010. Moye was arrested and charged with the murder on Dec. 19, 2020. He has been in custody ever since.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Vinét Bryant and Erin DeRiso.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Serve 92 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, TORY DREW DEERE, 29, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 92 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On February 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against Deere, charging him with felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public record, on or about November 18, 2022, law enforcement responded to an Oklahoma City convenience store in reference to a domestic violence incident. The reporting party told Oklahoma City Police officers that following an argument between the two, Deere pointed a firearm at the victim and threatened to kill her, before driving away in her car. According to public documents, officers located Deere shortly after at a nearby residence, with the firearm still in his possession. Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) records indicate Deere had been released from custody under the DOC’s GPS monitor program on a previous felony conviction, Oklahoma County CF-2019-1074, one day before the event.
Public records reflect Deere holds multiple felony convictions. These convictions include:
- Oklahoma County CF-2010-6136, second degree burglary
- Oklahoma County CF-2021-3656, illegal possession of a firearm
- Oklahoma County CF-2019-1074, driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia
On April 19, 2023, Deere pleaded guilty to Count 1, felon in possession of a firearm.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Deere to 92 months in federal prison. In announcing the sentence, Judge Friot noted the dangerousness of the defendant—specifically, that he pointed a firearm at his significant other just one day after being released from DOC custody via an ankle monitor and his criminal history.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of "Operation 922" and "Operation Shots Fired." "Operation 922" is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. "Operation 922" prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. "Operation Shots Fired" targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 38 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a PersonRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Farmington man was sentenced today to 456 months in federal prison without the possibility of parole followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $10,000.00 in fines on one count of Distribution of a Mixture or Substance that Contained Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Person. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on February 3, 2022, the Fayetteville Police Department responded to a 911 call that reported the location of a dead body in an apartment building on Mt. Sequoya. Upon arriving to the scene, officers located the deceased body of a 29-year-old adult male. Next to the deceased’s body, officers located a small amount of a white substance, later determined to be fentanyl, and a syringe. Shortly after, family members of the deceased contact agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fayetteville Resident Office, who launched a federal investigation.
DEA agents determined that on the night of January 31, 2022, the deceased and his girlfriend combined their money to purchase what they believed was heroin from Ethan Scott Driskill, age 33. The drug transaction took place in the parking lot of a gas station located on Leverette Street in Fayetteville. Upon arriving back to the Mt. Sequoya apartment, the couple diluted some of the white substance with water and injected it into their bodies via a syringe. The following morning, the deceased drove his girlfriend to her place of work and told her that he would pick her up later that evening. However, he never returned and had stopped responding to text messages and calls. On February 3, 2022, the girlfriend went to check on him and discovered his body. DEA agents were able to determine that upon returning to his apartment on the evening of February 1, 2022, the deceased male again injected himself with the fentanyl purchased from Driskill. Approximately nine (9) minutes later, he fell to the floor where his body remained until being discovered 2 days later.
During the ensuing investigation, DEA agents, conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl directly from Driskill. On or about February 12, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Driskill’s Farmington residence and located, among other items, approximately 730 counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl, 240 gross grams of Fentanyl powder, and 2 firearms. Driskill and his co-conspirator Amber Adair, were arrested. During a post-Miranda interview, Driskill admitted to selling fentanyl in both powder and counterfeit pill form in Northwest Arkansas. Driskill also admitted to the drug transaction that occurred at the Leverette gas station on January 31, 2022. At the time of this conduct, Driskill was on active supervision from Arkansas Probation and Parole based on a previous state felony conviction.
Other members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally are as follows:
Amber Nichole Adair: age 28, Farmington Arkansas – Aiding and Abetting Ethan Driskill, and others, in the Possession of 40 grams or more of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute– sentenced to 96 months imprisonment and 4-year term of supervised release.
Marchello Stephano Oliver: age 34, Farmington, Arkansas - Possession of 40 grams or more of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute. Sentencing date set September 21, 2023.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad Harper of the Drug Enforcement Administration Little Rock Field Office made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Bentonville Police Department, Rogers Police Department, Benton County Drug Unit, Farmington Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Springdale Police Department, 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas National Guard Counter Drug Unit investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Harris prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov. WDAR Case No. 5:22 CR 50032-001-003.
Convicted Felon Charged with Fentanyl Distribution Following His Release from PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon has been charged with allegedly contacting a law enforcement officer – whom he believed was a drug customer – to coordinate a drug deal after being released from state prison.
Ruben Depina, 23, of Rockland, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the charging documents, in May 2023, a law enforcement officer – who previously worked in an undercover capacity – allegedly received a call from Depina who introduced himself as “Jake.” Depina allegedly told the officer that he recently got out of jail and was contacting his best customers because he was selling drugs again. On or about May 16, 2023, Depina allegedly sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness during a controlled purchase.
Weeks later, on June 11, 2023, local law enforcement allegedly observed the same vehicle Depina had used to participate in the controlled purchase speeding in East Bridgewater. It is alleged that the vehicle sped off after being stopped by law enforcement. While being pursued Depina’s vehicle collided with a van at an intersection.
It is alleged that, when law enforcement approached the vehicle, Depina was observed reaching towards the passenger side floor before complying with instructions to show his hands. Depina was immediately removed through the passenger side window and arrested. During a search of Depina’s vehicle, a loaded firearm, multiple cellphones, a digital scale and a satchel containing at least 20 grams of cocaine base were allegedly recovered.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; the Massachusetts State Police; the Suffolk, Plymouth and Bristol County Sheriff's Departments; and the Boston, Brockton, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Rockland and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Child Predator from Texas Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man from Katy, Texas, entered a plea of guilty Wednesday to coercion and enticement of a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Lee Finch II, 48, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark T. Steele and pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
“Lee Finch II groomed the 14-year-old victim and traveled from Texas multiple times to engage in sexual activity with her. The U.S Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners with continue to marshal our resources to apprehend and prosecute child predators,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
“Through his deplorable crimes, this defendant has proven to be a threat to his community,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Dallas’ Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Division. “He pled guilty to sexually exploiting a vulnerable child on numerous occasions, stripping the victim’s innocence without regard for the adverse impact it would cause. HSI and our law enforcement partners will never relent in our efforts to stop the communities we live from becoming a proving ground for child predators.”
Finch admitted in his plea that he began grooming the victim when she was 12 years old and that between February 2018 and April 2018, he knowingly communicated with the victim, a then 14-year-old girl, multiple times and used text messages to discuss engaging in sexual activities and to coordinate in-person meetings to engage in sexual activity. He further admitted that he knew the true age of the victim; and that he traveled from his home in Katy, Texas, to Tulsa multiple times, where he met the victim and engaged in illicit sexual activities.
Finch faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. A date for sentencing has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Federal sentences do not allow for parole or early release.
Finch has been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.
The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case.
The case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which coordinate federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Chickasha Man Sentenced to Serve 25 Years in Federal Prison for Killing His Father with a Cinder BlockRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, PHILLIP KEITH RAY, 45, of Chickasha, was sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for murder in the second degree in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 1, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against Ray, charging him with murder in the second degree.
According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, on October 19, 2021, law enforcement responded to a distress call at a home in Chickasha. Once on scene, Chickasha Police officers located a deceased male victim in the backyard, with significant injuries to his head. A concrete block was found near the body. Ray, the son of the victim, was home at the time of the murder. Another family member told Chickasha Police they believed Ray was responsible for the crime.
On September 14, 2022, Ray pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree. As part of his plea, Ray admitted to striking the victim on the head with a cinder block.
The case is charged in federal court because Ray is a citizen of the Comanche Nation and the crime took place within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Ray to serve 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the need to incapacitate the defendant and protect the public from any potential future violence.
This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office with assistance provided by the Chickasha Police Department, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle London and Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Sex Trafficking Eight WomenRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Somorie Moses, also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy,” pleaded guilty in the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to sex trafficking eight women and to the 2017 murder of one of the women, Leondra Foster. The plea proceeding took place before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. When sentenced, Moses faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years, and up to life in prison. This prosecution is the first use of the federal statute criminalizing murder in the course of sex trafficking.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the guilty plea.
“With today’s guilty plea to every count in the indictment, Moses is held fully responsible for preying on women and girls, forcing them to become prostitutes, and then brutally murdering and dismembering one of his many victims,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “While the defendant’s total admission of guilt cannot undo the terrible harm he has caused, we hope it will bring a measure of closure to his victims who suffered the defendant’s extreme cruelty and brutality, and to the family of Ms. Foster.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
“Moses exploited vulnerable women and robbed them of their freedom and dignity for his own personal gain, and even brutally robbed one woman of her life”, stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “Stopping human trafficking remains a top priority of the FBI and our partners, and we hope that this plea will result in some solace for the survivors to know that Moses will pay for his crimes and no longer be able to harm anyone else.”
“Today’s guilty plea brings finality to a case of reprehensible sexual exploitation, brutal assault, and murder,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I commend and thank our dedicated NYPD detectives, along with our partners in the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their commitment to investigating and prosecuting this important case.”
According to court filings and admissions made in court, since at least 2003, Moses forced women and girls, including minors, into prostitution for his benefit using violence, threats of violence, and psychological manipulation. Moses used false promises of love and marriage to initiate sexual relationships with his victims before demanding that they work as prostitutes and turn over the money they earned to him. Moses pressured many of his victims into tattooing his first name, “Somorie,” on their bodies.
Moses used brutal beatings, rape, torture, and threats to coerce his victims to work in prostitution in Brooklyn and Queens. When one victim, identified at today’s guilty plea proceeding as Jane Doe 1, refused to engage in prostitution, Moses used a taser against her until she complied. Another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, was slashed on her arms and back with a razor by Moses who also beat her with a belt before pouring lemon juice on her wounds, leaving her permanently scarred. When a victim identified as Jane Doe 7 told Moses that she did not want to work as a prostitute, he put a shotgun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her child.
On January 13, 2017, Moses murdered Leondra Foster, one of his sex trafficking victims. That same day, using a knife and a saw, Moses dismembered Foster’s body inside their shared apartment in Brooklyn. Four days later, on the morning of January 17, 2017, Moses transported Foster’s torso and limbs to the Bronx for disposal at a sanitation site. Foster’s head, hands and feet — including a foot with the name “Somorie” tattooed on it — were subsequently recovered by law enforcement inside the deep freezer of Moses’s apartment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel and Tanya Hajjar are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from paralegal specialist Anna November.
The Defendant:
SOMORIE MOSES (also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy”)
Age: 47
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-232 (CBA)
Bronx Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Armed Robbery of Jewelry Store Using A Gun, Bear Spray, and HammersRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that PABLO ARMANDO VALENZUELA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to 70 months in prison for committing an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York. VALENZUELA previously pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant committed a violent armed robbery of a Bronx jewelry store and injured innocent employees and bystanders by spraying a can of extremely hazardous bear spray directly into their faces. Violent criminals who commit firearms offenses and terrorize hardworking New Yorkers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and court filings:
On August 10, 2022, VALENZUELA, along with at least five other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York, using a firearm, bear spray, and hammers. On the evening of August 10, VALENZUELA entered the jewelry store wearing a ski mask and sprayed a can of bear spray into the eyes of jewelry store employees, temporarily blinding them. As customers, including young children, attempted to flee the jewelry store, five other masked robbers entered the store and used hammers to destroy glass display cases. At least one robber brandished a firearm. VALENZUELA and the other robbers then stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry. VALENZUELA fled the jewelry store and sprayed bear spray into the eyes of bystanders, many of whom were then rushed to the hospital. The robbers then fled in various directions on foot, in cars, and on the backs of mopeds driven by co-conspirators who stood nearby as lookout and getaway drivers.
Photographs of VALENZUELA committing the offense are below:
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In addition to his prison term, VALENZUELA, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
VALENZUELA’s co-defendant, AARON MILLER, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and will be sentenced on December 1, 2023.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution.
Brockton Man Under Indictment Arrested for Illegally Receiving a Firearm and Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man currently under indictment for state charges, was arrested yesterday and charged in U.S. District Court for firearm and fentanyl distribution offenses.
Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 22, was indicted on one count of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment and two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday, Fernandes was detained pending a hearing set for Sept. 19, 2023.
According to the indictment, in January 2022, while under indictment in state court for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, Fernandes allegedly received a Glock Model 48, 9mm pistol. Additionally, in January and February 2022, Fernandes is alleged to have distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The charge of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; and the Brockton, Taunton, Whitman, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Bridgewater State University Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ardmore Man Sentenced to Serve Life in Federal Prison for Second-Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, KEVIN BRUCE MCGUIRE, 60, of Ardmore, was sentenced to serve life in federal prison for murder in the second degree, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against McGuire, charging him with murder in the second degree for causing the death of another person while driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on September 14, 2022, law enforcement received multiple calls of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 35 near Purcell, Oklahoma. While responding to the reports, Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers learned the driver had caused a collision with another vehicle, which resulted in the death of the driver of that vehicle, a 28-year-old man. The complaint alleges once on scene, troopers detected an odor of alcohol coming from McGuire. McGuire stated he was unaware he was traveling on the wrong side of the Interstate. A blood test taken at a nearby hospital showed McGuire’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit.
Public records reflect that since 1990 McGuire has had six previous felony DUI convictions.
This case is in federal court because McGuire is a citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the alleged crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
On April 19, 2023, McGuire pleaded guilty to Count 1, murder in the second degree.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced McGuire to serve life in prison. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the need to protect the public from McGuire, in light of his history of DUI-related convictions.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public records for additional information.
Alleged Fentanyl Traffickers Arrested in Bell CountyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – Four individuals were arrested in Bell County Thursday on criminal charges related to their alleged fentanyl trafficking.
According to court documents, Anthony Perez-Diaz aka “Krosty,” 37; Anthony Perez-Perez aka “Mundo,” 43, Jose Ublies-Rivera aka “Wichy,” 49; and Emanuel Giovanni Hernandez-Miranda aka “Goldo,” 30, were identified as narcotics distributors in January by Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) special agents.
The four defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. They made their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, they each face 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.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
TX DPS CID; the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division; Killeen Police Department; Copperas Cove Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Blanton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Alleged Drug and Firearm Smugglers Federally Indicted in El PasoRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A federal grand jury in El Paso returned an eight-count indictment Wednesday charging four alleged members of a drug trafficking organization with charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as straw purchasing and trafficking firearms.
According to court documents, Maria del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 37, of Mexico coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from Mexico into the United States through the El Paso ports of entry, using codefendant Bryan Alexis Munoz-Castro, 20, of El Paso as a courier. The indictment details that, upon a search of the residence, FBI special agents discovered approximately 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, $6,480 in drug proceeds, and two cell phones at Munoz-Castro’s residence.
The indictment claims Navarro-Sanchez and Munoz-Castro coordinated the trafficking of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico. In mid-summer of 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) intercepted communications of Navarro-Sanchez and learned of an agreement to purchase 20 AK-47 type rifles and two Barrett .50 BMG caliber rifles for $66,000.
On Aug. 21, codefendant Rene Hernandez-Cordero, 51, of Mexico, allegedly crossed into the U.S. from Mexico with approximately $63,000 in his possession to meet codefendant, Jesus Gerado Ramos, 52, of El Paso, and purchase the firearms. Ramos allegedly intended to transport the weapons into Mexico, however he and Hernandez-Cordero were arrested at the site of the purchase.
Navarro-Sanchez is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, she faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for each of the two controlled substance charges and a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms.
Munoz-Castro is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, he faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for four of the controlled substance charges, a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms, and a penalty of five to 40 years for a fifth controlled substance charge.
Hernandez-Cordero is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, one count of trafficking in firearms, and one count of bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, he faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for four of the controlled substance charges, a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms, and a maximum penalty of 10 years for the bulk cash smuggling charge.
Ramos is charged with one count of straw purchasing firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years for each charge.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II for the ATF Dallas Field Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater for the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement.
The ATF and FBI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Adair County Resident Sentenced for Discharging Firearm During Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kaleb Thomas Linville, age 24, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 10, 2022, Linville pleaded guilty to brandishing and discharging a firearm during a robbery. According to investigators, Linville robbed an area fisherman in the early hours of March 4, 2022. During the robbery, Linville brandished a semi-automatic rifle at the fisherman, ordered him into the water, fired a round, struck him with the rifle butt, stole his phone, wallet, and car keys, then drove off in the victim's car.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“You wake up bright and early to go fishing and meet the likes of Mr. Linville; it’s not the big fish story anyone should have to tell. Mr. Linville’s behavior was violent and aggressive; two adjectives that don’t go well with firearm possession. Because of his thoughtless actions, he gets to spend 10 years in federal prison,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I would like to thank our partners at Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office for helping to put a stop to Mr. Linville’s violence.”
“This office is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who disrupt the safety and security of our communities, especially when defendants use firearms to perpetrate their crimes,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Linville will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Robert Wilson Hinkley, age 37, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography, second or subsequent conviction. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 11, 2023, which includes 10 years of supervised release following Hinkley’s prison term. According to court documents, Hinkley was on federal probation for a child pornography conviction and had a prior state conviction for the same offense. His probation officer suspected that Hinkley had searched for and downloaded child pornography. A subsequent search confirmed that Hinkley had downloaded over 1,000 child pornography files onto his laptop. The case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Violent Crime
George Anthony Quiver Sr., age 39, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 12, 2023. According to court documents, Quiver kicked and stomped the victim’s head, resulting in trauma and bleeding on the brain. Quiver was charged by complaint in April 2023, and pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson.
Darrell Moss Jr, age 40, of Fremont County, Wyoming was sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment for assault by strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on September14, 2023. According to court documents, Moss hit, bit, and strangled the victim during an incident that occurred in October 2022. The defendant was charged by information then plead guilty in June 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson.
Postal Service Crimes
Derick Lee Spadi, age 28, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for possession of stolen mail. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on September 14, 2023. According to court documents, in December 2022, the Laramie Police Department received a report of a suspicious person stealing mail from the area of North 11th Street in Laramie, Wyoming. An officer responded and attempted to execute a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Spadi. Instead of stopping, Spadi fled at a high rate of speed. The officer terminated the pursuit for safety reasons. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Again, Spadi fled at a high rate of speed. Eventually, the Wyoming Highway Patrol stopped Spadi on Interstate 80 by using spike strips. Spadi had more than 40 pieces of mail in the vehicle, including mail from the 600 block of N. 11th Street in Laramie. Spadi was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023 and pled guilty to the charge in June. The stolen mail crime was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore.
Drug Trafficking
Anthony Rodriguez, a/k/a “Charlie Brown,” age 51, of Porterville, California, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 12, 2023. According to court documents, around October 2021, an agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) identified Rodriguez as the source for methamphetamine being distributed in the Lovell, Wyoming area. The DCI agent and a United States Postal Inspector intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine sent to Lovell by Rodriguez through the U.S. Mail. A controlled delivery of the package confirmed that Rodriguez was supplying methamphetamine for distribution in Lovell. Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wyoming and pled guilty in June 2023. This crime was investigated by DCI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
26 Defendants Charged for Drug Trafficking in Multi-State OperationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that an indictment was unsealed charging 26 defendants of drug trafficking, possessing a firearm during drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges.
These charges were brought as the result of Operation Lights Out, an FBI-led investigation in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The defendants have been indicted for the following charges:
Name
Age
Hometown
Charges
Cortez Dayshawn Bumphus, aka “Co”
34
Newport News
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Felon in possession of Firearm
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dontae Lamont Dozier, aka “2 Chains”
35
Chesapeake
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money;
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Maintaining Drug Involved Premise
Use of a Communications Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Zuri Anthony Dre-Oliver Reeves, aka “Zu” or “ZuWaap”
26
Spotsylvania
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Amanda Bell
22
Chesapeake
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dilquon Best, aka “Quon” or “DQ”
31
Atlanta, GA
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Stephon Lamount Bumphus, aka “Fon”
34
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Damian Deshawn Gay, aka “Hatch”
25
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Andrea Hunt
28
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Obstruction of Justice
Ervin Orlando Linares, aka “Ery”
23
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Brandon Lamar Martin, aka “Lil B”
37
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Carl Eugene Mitchell, Jr., aka “Lil Man”
27
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Earvin Jerome Moore, aka “Gooch”
43
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises
Freddie Jamaul Moore, aka “Goons”
37
Portsmouth
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dominique McKenzie Osborne
24
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Rahkim O’Neil Perry, aka “Rahk”
25
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Graciela Ruiz-Bernabe, aka “Grace”
33
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Nathan Caleb Schlosser-Goodson, aka “Nasty”
25
Yorktown
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Camille Lache Smith
30
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Anastasia Suyas
25
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Nyra Taylor
23
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Christina Michele Thompson
26
Spotsylvania
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Terrance Leonard Vick, aka “V”
36
Rio Linda, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Thaddeus Williams IV, aka “Thad”
31
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Korea Woods
26
Irvine, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Guang Yang, aka “Ryan”
26
Rosemead, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Alicia Zamora
22
Chesapeake, VA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Shannon Saylor, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.
“The unsealing of this indictment reflects months of incredible efforts by law enforcement. We are able to bring these charges because of the effective cooperation and collaborative effort of our local, state and federal partners on this case,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I am grateful to all our attorneys, agents and officers who work diligently every day to take massive amounts of illegal guns and drugs off of our streets.”
“The arrests made in this operation is the culmination of years of investigative work between the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. “Today, I want to sincerely thank those partners for their teamwork and patience as we gathered the evidence needed for this investigation to come to a logical conclusion, as our law enforcement partners have been dealing with some of these offenders for over a decade. I hope that this operation gives them a return on investment for all the officers and resources they dedicated to assisting the investigation. This operation is a testament to the strong partnership the FBI has with local and state police, as well as sheriff’s offices, and how that partnership better protects our communities.”
“These arrests are just one of the many successful operations achieved over the years through the collaborative agency partnerships within the FBI Peninsula Safe Streets Task Force,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Chesapeake Field Office is proud to have played a role in dismantling what had become a very violent, multi-tiered, drug trafficking organization spanning much of the Hampton Roads region.”
“Combating violent crime, illegal firearm possession and narcotics distribution within our communities remains at the forefront of the ATF mission,” said Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division. “I am proud that our agents and partner agencies worked to bring some peace of mind back to the affected communities. ATF will continue leveraging its expertise to ensure that illegal firearms and deadly narcotics are removed from our streets.”
“Our community and surrounding jurisdictions are not immune to the violence stemming from illegal drug trafficking,” said Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police. “It has become a top priority to take illegal drugs and guns off our streets and holding those accountable for endangering our communities. We are proud to have been part of this proactive approach and are honored to have served with the U.S. Attorney’s office, and other federal and local agencies to combat this issue. We believe that together we can make a difference and create a safer environment for our community.”
“Today's arrest is a clear demonstration of the exceptional cooperative effort among law enforcement in the Hampton Roads area,” said Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police. “It exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies who have united to combat a suspected violent drug trafficking organization. This operation not only underscores the commitment of both federal and local law enforcement but also highlights their unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety of our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-54.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Thursday 14 September 2023
Zuni Man Charged with Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Daryl Jay Dickson appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dickson, 37 years old, of Zuni, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing set for Monday, September 18, 2023.
According to court documents, Dickson allegedly possessed a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted in New Mexico state court of a felony offense. Dickson was also prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because he was an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dickson faces up to 10 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release thereafter.
The Zuni Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of Zuni Fish and Wildlife and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
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23-224
Yuba City Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Possessing and Selling GunsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Billy Glyn Sims Jr., 29, of Yuba City, pleaded guilty today to one count of unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between April 1, 2022, and March 9, 2023, Sims, who is not a licensed firearms dealer, unlawfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. In three separate transactions in motel and apartment complex parking lots, Sims sold an FBI confidential source a Mossberg Shotgun, a Ruger single-action revolver, and a black powder revolver and a box containing .45 caliber ammunition. The transactions occurred in Yuba, Yolo, and Sutter Counties. At least one of the transactions occurred after Sims became aware that the source was a “double felon” and thus prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Sims also offered to sell the source several other firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, although these transactions were never completed. Sims was prohibited from possessing any firearms because of his own prior felony convictions, including for domestic violence and burglary.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Lee and Dhruv M. Sharma are prosecuting the case.
Sims is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on January 18, 2024. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for unlawfully dealing in firearms, and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 U.S. Department of Justice 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
Woman Charged with Armed Trespass onto Kennedy Space CenterRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Katie Jeane Mahai (41, Ocala) with armed trespass, fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers, and unlawfully bringing a firearm onto Kennedy Space Center. If convicted on all counts, Mahai faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Mahai violated National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) regulations in place for the protection and security of the Kennedy Space Center, which is within the special territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Specifically, on February 10, 2023, Mahai unlawfully entered a secured NASA area, armed with a firearm. Additionally, Mahai is charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement during the same incident, while driving at a high rate of speed and in a manner which demonstrated a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
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 the NASA Office of Inspector General, Kennedy Space Center Security Police Officers, and the Titusville Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel S. Lyons.
Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Firearm While Trafficking DrugsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN.– A Kansas man pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, Grant Lubbers, 37, of Wichita was arrested in April 2021 in Andover, Kansas. Law enforcement had been investigating Lubbers for fentanyl trafficking. Using a search warrant, agents searched Lubbers' vehicle and found a backpack containing approximately 3,000 pills that later tested positive for fentanyl, $22,000 in cash, and a firearm.
Lubbers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2023, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
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Wedgefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm and Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Martez Mandel Coleman, 44, of Wedgefield, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of October 10, 2022, a deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of a Mercedes. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana and saw a baggy of what he believed to be illegal narcotics on the center console. Coleman was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the car.
Coleman admitted to having marijuana and a gun in the car. Deputies recovered a loaded 9mm handgun and several baggies of fentanyl and marijuana. A drug analysis later showed that it was approximately 126 grams of fentanyl and approximately 47 grams of marijuana. The investigation revealed the gun as having been previously reported as stolen in Florence.
Federal law prohibits Coleman from possessing firearms and ammunition based on his 2001 federal convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute/distribution of crack cocaine; murder in relation to felony drug offense; and using/carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, causing death of a person through use of firearm.
He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 on the gun charge and a mandatory minimum of 10 years with a maximum of life, along with a fine of $8,000,000, on the drug charge. He also faces a term of supervision of at least 8 years.
Coleman was on federal supervised release at the time of the October 2022 incident and faces up to two additional years in prison for violating the terms of supervision.
Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Coleman after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes is prosecuting the case.
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Washington man lands prison time for attempting to coerce minor for sexual activity in undercover investigationRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — Kenton Alan Shaull, a 59-year-old Washington man who traveled to Missoula expecting to meet a child for sex, was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy sentenced Shaull to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor in April 2023 after he had been arrested in an undercover investigation.
The government alleged in court documents and in statements in court that from January to May 2022, Shaull used his cellular phone to communicate on an internet-based social media service with a profile he believed belonged to a child, identified as “E,” who was under the age of 14. Shaull reaffirmed multiple times his belief that “E” was a child under the age of 14. Shaull also expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with “E” and sent several sexually explicit videos of himself. Shaull further expressed his desire to meet “E” in person for sexual activity and traveled to Missoula on May 14, 2022 to meet with “E” at a pre-determined location, where law enforcement officers arrested him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wilson County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE –Edward Alan Kuiper, 39, of Watertown, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for the attempted production, production, and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. That term of imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
In 2020, the defendant repeatedly victimized two girls under the age of 12. He placed a hidden camera in a bathroom and took videos of both girls using the bathroom. He also took sexually explicit videos of the girls. The defendant kept those videos on his phone, along with over 8,000 images and 1,500 other videos that constituted child pornography.
A federal grand jury indicted the defendant in 2021 on two counts of attempted production of child pornography, four counts of production of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On November 28, 2022, he pled guilty to all seven counts in the indictment.
“Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant will not pose a risk to children for at least the next three decades,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “We are grateful for the excellent work done in this case by our partners at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.”
“The sentencing of this predator validates HSI’s commitment to investigate and prosecute those who sexually exploit the innocence of our children,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “We must remain vigilant as digital technology makes it easier for criminals to engage in this type of deviant behavior. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to target those who prey upon the vulnerability of our children.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Levine prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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West Virginia Man Sentenced to More Than 22 Years in Federal Prison on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE –Shaun J. Sanders, 45, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 22 1/2 years in federal prison for the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. That term of imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.
In July 2022, the defendant, who was a registered sex offender, communicated with an FBI online covert employee, who was posing as a thirteen-year-old female, on an online dating platform. The defendant engaged in sexually explicit chats with the online covert employee, sent the online covert employee an explicit photo of himself, and requested nude photos and videos of the person he believed to be a minor female.
A federal grand jury indicted the defendant in 2022 on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to an individual under the age of sixteen, and the penalty for registered sex offenders. On May 8, 2023, he pled guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Virginia man convicted of exporting heavy equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions lawsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – A federal jury has convicted Jalal Hajavi of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (“ITSR”), smuggling goods from the United States, unlawfully exporting and reexporting goods from the U.S. to Iran without a license, and unlawfully engaging in transactions and dealings based on his participation in a scheme to unlawfully export heavy equipment from the U.S. to Iran by routing the shipments though the United Arab Emirates.
“Hajavi chose to leverage his Florida business to illegally export materials to Iran rather than to lawfully contribute to the U.S. economy,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The U.S. trade sanctions against Iran exist to help keep our country and citizens safe. Those who seek to profit by evading these prohibitions will be held accountable.”
“Falsifying export documents in an attempt to obfuscate the transshipment of U.S. commodities through the United Arab Emirates to Iran is a serious violation of U.S. export laws, and will be vigorously investigated,” said John Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Export Enforcement’s Miami Field Office. “By disrupting illicit procurement networks, we continue to deny U.S. dual-use commodities to countries such as Iran that threaten U.S. national security interests.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Hajavi, through his company JSH Heavy Equipment, LLC, conspired with an individual in Iran to export U.S. heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). Hajavi orchestrated the scheme by locating heavy equipment for sale, such as bobcats and wheel loaders, and sending information about the equipment to his co-conspirator in Iran. Hajavi purchased the items from U.S. sellers and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to the U.A.E. Hajavi falsely claimed that the items were destined for his U.A.E. customers, which typically were general trading companies located in free trade zones in the U.A.E. But in truth, Hajavi intended for his Iranian co-conspirator to transship those items from the U.A.E. to Iran in circumvention of the U.S. export licensing requirement.
Utilizing this scheme, Hajavi purchased an Ingersoll Rand blasthole drill from a U.S. company. The drill is a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are usually then filled with controlled charges. In a sham transaction, Hajavi sold the drill to a U.A.E. company that, in turn, provided the drill to Hajavi’s Iranian co-conspirator, who shipped the tool to Iran.
In addition to evading OFAC licensing requirements, Hajavi concealed his activities with his Iranian co-conspirator by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (“AES”), a U.S. government database containing information about exports from the United States. Hajavi hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drill’s export from the U.S. to the U.A.E. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee’s name and the ultimate delivery destination. Hajavi lied to the freight forwarder by claiming that the U.A.E. company was the ultimate consignee and that the ultimate delivery destination was the U.A.E. In fact, Hajavi’s co-conspirator in Iran was the true recipient and Iran was the ultimate delivery destination.
Sentencing for Jalal Hajavi, 59, of Sterling, Virginia, is scheduled for December 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracia M. King and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Unlicensed Firearms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Multiple Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO –Craig Bolland pleaded guilty to crimes he committed related to his storage and sale of a firearms arsenal he maintained in his San Francisco home, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Vince Chhabria, United States District Judge.
In his plea agreement, Bolland admitted he was involved in the business of manufacturing and selling firearms from at least June 2021 through May 30, 2023, the date of his arrest. Bolland admitted that he engaged in these activities even though he previously had been convicted of a felony and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms.
According to his plea agreement, Bolland admitted that he manufactured his own firearms using parts he had shipped to himself. He also used manufacturing equipment—including a 3D printer, a drill press, and a machine called a Ghost Gunner 3—to fabricate privately manufactured “ghost guns” (both pistols and rifles) which lacked serial numbers. In addition to manufacturing his own guns, Bolland admitted he used his equipment to modify pre-existing firearms. Modifications included installing “switches” to enable semi-automatic firearms to become fully-automatic firearms.
In addition to illegally manufacturing firearms, Bolland admitted that he also sold the weapons although he did not have a license to do so. Bolland admitted he sold dozens of commercially manufactured firearms and at least five firearms that he manufactured himself privately. Some of the firearms Bolland possessed for sale had obliterated serial numbers. The plea agreement describes how Bolland accepted payment for the firearms in cash, cryptocurrency, and narcotics and how Bolland had reason to believe some of his customers were involved in criminal activity of their own and were legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Moreover, in addition to selling firearms that he manufactured and acquired for resale, Bolland acknowledged in his plea agreement that he also brokered multiple firearms and ammunition sales between other buyers and sellers. Bolland admitted he received a commission for brokering such deals.
Bolland was convicted of a felony in 2007 and therefore was prohibited from lawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. Nevertheless, Bolland admitted that at the time of his arrest he possessed hundreds of rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition, more than a dozen firearm frames and receivers, at least four pistols and an AR-15 style 5.56mm caliber rifle.
On August 2, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Bolland, charging him with the following crimes:
Count
Charge
Statute
Maximum Statutory Penalty
One
Manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license
18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A)
5 years
Two
Felon in possession of a firearm
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)
15 years
Three
Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number
18 U.S.C. § 922(k)
5 years
Four
Possession of a machinegun
18 U.S.C. § 922(o)
10 years
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Bolland pleaded guilty to all four counts. In addition to the penalties listed above, as part of any sentence, Judge Chhabria may order the defendant to serve an additional period of supervised release and to pay a fine of $250,000 per count. However, the court will impose a sentence only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Bolland has been in custody since the date of his arrest. Judge Chhabria has scheduled Bolland’s sentencing for December 6, 2023.
Assistant United States Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Carolyn Young and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF and the San Francisco Police Department.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky Celebrates Funding Awarded to the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet for the Continued Fight to Combat Violence Against WomenRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett joins the United States Department of Justice, and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), in commemorating of the 29th anniversary of the original enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
VAWA’s signature program is the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program, which awards funds to every U.S. state and territory to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors. OVW is awarding $2,445,428.00 under the STOP Program to the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet to enhance the capacity for communities across the country to develop programs to end gender-based violence and hold offenders accountable.
The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is the second largest cabinet in state government with more than 7,000 employees. The cabinet oversees five departments, including the Kentucky State Police, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Criminal Justice Training, and the Department of Public Advocacy. The cabinet also administers the Office of the State Medical Examiner and the Office of Drug Control Policy.
“Prior to the enactment of VAWA, survivors were primarily left to fend for themselves, often cycling in and out of dangerous environments with little help from legal systems or service providers,” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said. “VAWA has changed this landscape by supporting a coordinated community response to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in a more comprehensive manner. It emphasizes survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and community-based approaches and ensures that services are available across every state and territory.”
“The violence goes beyond the victim and the abuser. Children, friends, relatives, and the entire community suffer,” stated United States Attorney Bennett. “Through this important financial support of our state partners, we continue to use all the tools at our disposal to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice.”
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U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Arizona Celebrates Funding Awarded for Community Responses to Gender-Based ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. ⸺ In commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the original enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Justice Department announced yesterday nearly $193 million in formula and discretionary grant awards, including over $3 million for the District of Arizona.
For nearly three decades, VAWA provided the tools and resources to protect and serve survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. To commemorate the 29th anniversary of VAWA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Arizona is proud to announce that the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded grant monies to Arizona to support community responses to gender-based violence.
Specifically, Arizona received the following funds for the 2023 fiscal year:
● OVW awarded $3,609,737 under the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program - the VAWA’s signature program - which awards funds to every U.S. state and territory to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors. The money awarded to Arizona will be used to enhance the capacity to develop programs to end gender-based violence and hold offenders accountable.
“Prior to the enactment of VAWA, survivors were primarily left to fend for themselves, often cycling in and out of dangerous environments with little help from legal systems or service providers,” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said. “VAWA has changed this landscape by supporting a coordinated community response to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in a more comprehensive manner. It emphasizes survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and community-based approaches and ensures that services are available across every state and territory.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-136_OVW Grant Awards
U.S. Attorney's Office Hosts "United Against Hate" Outreach EventRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY– This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, hosted its first “United Against Hate” Community Outreach Event, bringing together law enforcement and Louisville’s Faith Community to discuss effective strategies to prevent, report, and respond to hate crimes and incidents.
“United Against Hate” is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. “We are excited to bring this initiative to the Western District and thankful to our law enforcement partners and community faith leaders for uniting with us to combat hate and protect civil rights, especially in our faith communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett.
The event, held Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Louisville Public Library Main Branch, featured presentations from Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisville Metro Police Department on identifying hate crimes and incidents, the importance of reporting, and strategies to protect places of worship.
“Combating hate crimes and bias incidents is one of the top priorities of the Department of Justice and our office,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “People in the Western District, and across the country, deserve to live without fear of being attacked or harassed because of where they are from, what they look like, whom they love, how they worship, or what they believe.”
As part of its United Against Hate Program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office plans to engage with diverse communities across the Western District to further education and prevention efforts and encourage reporting of hate crimes, bias incidents, and discrimination to local and federal authorities. By convening community forums and providing education about civil rights statutes and incident reporting mechanisms, we will build relationships and root out hate in the district.
If you believe you are the victim of a hate crime or that you witnessed a hate crime, immediately report the crime to your state or local police by dialing 9-1-1, then quickly report the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You can report to the FBI online at tips.FBI.gov or by phone by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). If you believe a bias incident or act of discrimination may not involve a hate crime, you should still report such incident to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov or by contacting the Civil Rights Coordinator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announces $1.4M Grant to the Crime Victims Reparation Commission of New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announced today that, in commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the original enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Department of Justice awarded a $1,464,308.00 grant to the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission as part of VAWA’s signature program, STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program. The program awards funds to every U.S. state and territory to promote a coordinated community response among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, victim services organizations, and other community services to ensure the safety of survivors and the development of programs to end gender-based violence and hold offenders accountable.
“Prior to the enactment of VAWA, survivors were primarily left to fend for themselves, often cycling in and out of dangerous environments with little help from legal systems or service providers.” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said. “VAWA has changed this landscape by supporting a coordinated community response to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in a more comprehensive manner. It emphasizes survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and community-based approaches and ensures that services are available across every state and territory.”
“The bravery of survivors makes justice possible,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “They report crimes at tremendous personal risk, they flee the safety of shelter and familiarity, and they courageously testify against their abusers in open court. And, in doing so, they protect others from the violence of their abusers. As a community, we owe these women support outside of the courtroom. With this grant, the Department of Justice lives up to our promise to center the experiences of survivors, keep them safe, and help them heal.”
"The New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission is grateful for the continued support from the Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for the STOP (Services, Training Officers, and Prosecutors) formula grant funding on the 29th anniversary of the enactment,” said Frank Zubia, Director of the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission. “The 15% financing increase of $1,464,308. is vital as most states prepare for the impending VOCA cuts. This funding promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system's response by creating community partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, the courts, victim advocates, and service organizations to enhance victim safety for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking."
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
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Two Louisville Gang Members Charged with Federal Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Two Louisville gang members were charged with federal firearms offenses.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
Virgil Jackson, age 20, of Louisville, Kentucky, is charged with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Jackson was charged by federal complaint, is in state custody, and will be brought to federal custody at a later date. Jackson is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On May 19, 2023, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Jackson was convicted of receiving stolen property – vehicle – over $300 and unlawful transaction with a minor in the second degree in case number 22-CR-001243. On May 19, 2023, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Jackson was convicted of complicity to engaging in organized crime – criminal syndicate, complicity to receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, and complicity to criminal mischief in the first degree in case number 21-CR-001433-005. On May 5, 2023, in Oldham County Circuit Court, Jackson was placed on diversion for complicity to receiving stolen property $1,000 < $10,000, fleeing or evading police in the first degree (on foot), two counts of complicity to wanton endangerment in the first degree, and unlawful transaction with minor in the second degree in case number 21-CR-00124.
Dacorey Hodges, age 19, also of Louisville, formerly of California, is charged with possessing a firearm while being a fugitive from justice. Hodges is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he has an active felony arrest warrant for burglary in Orange County, California, that was issued on August 1, 2023, in case number 19DL0480.
Hodges was charged by a federal complaint and was arrested this week. He made his initial appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. A detention hearing is currently scheduled for September 18, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
According to the complaint, Jackson is a member of the Jack Gang and Hodges is a member of Cali to Victory, a subset of the Victory Park Crips gang. Both gangs have been identified by law enforcement as violent street gangs operating in Louisville, Kentucky. The complaint alleges that on September 4, 2023, at approximately 2:23 a.m., a drive-by shooting occurred at the Waffle House located at 2805 Fern Valley Road in Louisville, Kentucky. A female victim received a gunshot wound to the foot during the shooting. Investigators were able to review video recordings from the Waffle House surveillance cameras and identified Jackson and Hodges as two of the individuals who fired weapons. On September 12, 2023, ATF agents, with the assistance of LMPD, executed federal search warrants at Hodges’ and Jackson’s residences. At Jackson’s residence, law enforcement recovered one firearm with an extended magazine. At Hodges’ residence, law enforcement recovered three firearms along with assorted types of ammunition.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Alicia Gomez are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Bridgeport Gang Members Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
MICHAEL LOCKHART, also known as “Mikey RTN,” 24, and JAHAZ LANGSTON, also known as “Haz,” 23, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to charges related to their involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Lockhart and Langston were members of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
Lockhart was arrested on June 29, 2021, after a search of his residence revealed large bags of marijuana, numerous items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, five handguns, two empty boxes for other handguns, extended magazines, ammunition, body armor, and other gun accessories. Laboratory analysis of the seized items revealed that presence of Lockhart’s DNA on one of the handguns and a magazine. He has been detained since his arrest.
Lockhart pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Langston, who has been detained since his arrest on July 20, 2021, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Two Baltimore Co-Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for the Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer and for a Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Davon Rogers, age 40, to nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for attempted murder of a federal officer in connection with a shooting that occurred on December 29, 2021. Judge Hollander sentenced co-defendant Juan Hester, age 41, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Drugs and guns are a deadly combination,” said Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. “In this case, that combination led to an attack on a law enforcement officer. We will prosecute any such attack on our partners to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to Rogers’ guilty plea, during the evening of December 29, 2021, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) were conducting surveillance in the 2500 block of W. Fayette Street in Baltimore, as part of an ongoing federal drug trafficking investigation. One of the members of the surveillance team was a DEA Special Agent who was in the area in his unmarked vehicle conducting covert surveillance in connection with the narcotics investigation.
As detailed in court documents, while the Special Agent was inside of his vehicle, Rogers and another individual approached the vehicle and began looking inside. The Special Agent tried to avoid being seen by laying down in the rear area the vehicle. After they looked inside of the Special Agent’s vehicle, Rogers and the second individual walked away from the vehicle. Several minutes later, the Special Agent got into the driver’s seat of his vehicle to try to drive away from the area. By that time, Rogers and the second individual had returned to the area. At approximately 9:18 p.m., as the Special Agent began driving away, Rogers and the second individual began shooting at the Special Agent. The Special Agent was nearly struck by one or more of the bullets, and his vehicle sustained multiple bullet strikes. Specifically, bullets struck the driver’s side front and rear doors, the rear window, the trunk, and the passenger’s side sun visor and ceiling area.
As detailed in the plea agreement, the Special Agent was able to drive for approximately one block before crashing his vehicle into a nearby parked car and running to safety. After the shooting, Rogers and the second individual fled the scene. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings, of two different calibers, from the area where Rogers and the second individual shot at the Special Agent.
After the shooting, search warrants were executed at co-defendant Juan Hester’s residence and at Rogers’ residence on December 30, 2021 and January 4, 2022. Investigators recovered 113 grams of almost pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, 814 grams of THC, 34 grams of mixtures containing cocaine, three grams of mixtures containing fentanyl, and various cutting agents from Hester’s residence. Investigators seized approximately fourteen rounds of .40 caliber ammunition from Rogers’ residence. Based on new information received, two additional search warrants were executed on Hester’s residence on January 1, 2022 and January 6, 2022 and investigators recovered approximately 337 grams of mixtures or substances containing fentanyl, 78 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, 32 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition and one handgun magazine. Hester admitted that he maintained the residence as a premises for manufacturing or distributing controlled substances. In addition to the narcotics seized, Hester admitted that approximately three kilograms of fentanyl and 200 grams of methamphetamine were involved in the drug conspiracy.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (“ATF”) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
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 is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Baltimore County Police Departments, the Laurel Police Department, the Annapolis Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anatoly Smolkin and Darryl Tarver, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Trafficker of 3D-Printed “Glock Switches” and “Auto-Sears” Sentenced to over Seven Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Micah Moore, 31, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a machine gun.
According to court documents, on July 18, 2022, investigators with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department executed a search warrant at Micah Moore’s residence in Indianapolis. In the dining room area, police recovered two machinegun conversion devices, also known as “Glock Switches.” Police also recovered three black auto-sears that were created to function as machinegun conversion devices if installed on a semiautomatic rifle.
Machinegun conversion devices, sometimes called “Glock switches” or “auto-sears” are devices that convert ordinary semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machineguns. Machinegun conversion devices are themselves considered machineguns under federal law, even when not installed, and are illegal to possess or sell in almost all cases.
In a recorded interview with investigators, Moore stated that that he was making and selling switches and auto sears using a 3D printer. Moore also stated that he was reselling firearms that he bought from people off the street. Court documents and evidence presented at sentencing further showed that, in addition to manufacturing machinegun conversion devices and selling firearms, Moore was also manufacturing counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl.
“Criminals who put illegal machineguns onto our streets add fuel to the fire of gun violence already devastating far too many of our families,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Possession and sale of these extremely dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in years in federal prison. Our office will continue to work with the ATF, IMPD, and all our partners in law enforcement to get illegal machineguns out of our communities and hold gun traffickers accountable.”
“The proliferation of machine gun conversion devices adds another, even more deadly, layer to the firearms violence in our community,” stated Daryl McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “These devices, because they fire more quickly and are more difficult to control, greatly increase the danger to innocent bystanders and law enforcement. ATF will continue to work with our partners to take these devices off the streets.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Moore be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $750 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this 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.
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