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Wednesday 23 August 2023
Clay County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Shawntae Jamell Clark (44, Clay County) has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Clark faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison on the drug charge, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm charge. Clark also agreed to forfeit two firearms, ammunition, and cash traceable to his offenses. Clark was arrested on July 6, 2022, and ordered detained. His sentencing is scheduled for November 27, 2023.
According to court documents, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) were investigating Clark based on reports that he was selling drugs, including methamphetamine, out of a hotel room at the Stay Suites on Wells Road in Clay County. On July 2, 2021, deputies observed Clark leaving his hotel room with a backpack and getting into a car. During a subsequent traffic stop of the vehicle, a CCSO canine alerted to the car, indicating that it contained illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of the car revealed a small safe containing a loaded Beretta pistol and Taurus revolver, 7 baggies of methamphetamine, and approximately 100 small baggies. Further investigation determined that the total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 159 grams, and that Clark had multiple prior felony convictions for armed robbery, attempted lewd or lascivious act – sexual battery, and multiple convictions for possession of cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Chalmette Resident Sentenced for Theft of Stolen Mail and Unlawful Possession of a Postal KeyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On August 17, 2023, KELAN PERRY GENNINGS, (“GENNINGS”), age 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to serve five years probation, 150 hours of community service and pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for theft or receipt of stolen mail matter, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708 and unlawful possession of a postal key, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on November 15, 2022, GENNINGS along with his co-conspirators, stole U.S. Mail from a post office mailbox located at the Covington Post Office using a postal arrow key to access said mailbox. GENNINGS then broke into the mailboxes to steal checks and other financial documents, which he later used to commit check fraud.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Buffalo Man Going to Prison for His Role in String of Credit Union RobberiesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ronald Morris, 48, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of aggravated bank robbery, attempted bank robbery, and using, possessing, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, was sentenced to serve 171 months in prison and pay restitution totaling $551,286 by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Morris was involved in robbing three credit unions:
- On February 27, 2019, Morris a/k/a Cracks and Adrian D. Applewhite entered the Tonawanda Community Federal Credit Union on Delaware Street in Tonawanda, armed with a firearm. The two men forcibly took approximately $111,992.18 in United States currency before fleeing in a vehicle.
- On July 25, 2019, the defendant and Myron McCollum entered the South Towns Community Federal Credit Union on South Park Avenue in Lackawanna wearing dark colored clothing and face masks and conducted a bank robbery with pepper spray and a pistol. Morris and McCollum traversed the teller’s counter, sprayed the tellers with pepper spray, and went to the unlocked safe, forcibly taking $290,500 in United States currency.
- On November 7, 2019, Morris and Carl Wilson and Myron McCollum, armed with a pistol and donning masks and gloves, entered the Clarence Community and School Federal Credit Union on Sheridan Drive in Clarence, and conducted a bank robbery while Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby. Morris and his accomplices ordered all the employees to the ground and demanded money. Wilson and McCollum went behind the teller line and went through teller’s drawers, while Morris went to the vault. They forcibly took $148,793.90 in United States currency.
Carl Wilson, Adrian Applewhite, and Myron McCollum were all previously convicted.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory Szarowicz; and the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
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Bogalusa Man Indicted on Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ROMERO MORRIS, age 34, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was charged on August 18, 2023, in an eleven-count indictment with several violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, MORRIS distributed and possessessed with the intent to distribute, different drugs on December 19, 2018, January 17, 2019, April 1, 2019, March 25, 2022, January 26, 2023, February 8, 2023, and February 14, 2023. He also illegally possessed firearms as a convicted felon and, in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, on several of these dates.
In Counts 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 of the indictment, he is charged with the distribution of different drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. As to each of these counts, he will face a sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and not less than three years of supervised release.
In Counts 4 and 9, he is charged with possession with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, and quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. For the fentanyl, he will face a minimum sentence of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of not more than $5,000.000, and at least 4 years of supervised release. For the cocaine and methamphetamine, he will face a sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and not less than three years of supervised release.
For Counts 5 and 10, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm for which he faces a sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, and not more than three years of supervised release.
For, Counts 6 and 11, he is charged with possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces a sentence of not less than 5 years and not more than life in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, and not more than five years of supervised release. Furthermore, any sentence of imprisonment imposed must be served consecutively to any other sentence he will be serving.
Finally, as to each of the charged counts, MORRIS faces payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, the State of Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole, and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
Bluff Man Sentenced to 300 Months Imprisonment for Indian Country MurderRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment and a term of four years supervised release after a federal jury convicted him of murder in the second degree while within Indian Country and using, carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial in May 2023, Perry Maryboy, 59, of Bluff, Utah, unlawfully shot and killed another man while within Indian Country on April 13, 2018. Evidence presented at trial showed that Maryboy, who was parked on the side of the road at the intersection of Country Road 443 and Summerhouse Road, escalated an argument with the victim, who was accompanied by the landowner’s granddaughter, after being told to leave the area by the victim. Maryboy exited his truck, retrieved a revolver from the backseat, loaded the revolver, and shot the victim in the back of the head as the victim was walking away. The victim died on scene in front of his common law wife and her 7-year-old child. Maryboy then fled the scene in his truck.
“This was no accident. My view of that is confirmed by later facts when Mr. Maryboy made no assistance at the scene,” said Senior United States Federal District Court Judge David Nuffer. “Taking a life without apparent justification is an extremely serious matter and doing it in a violent way is extremely serious. It is my judgment that Mr. Maryboy be placed in the custody of Bureau of Prisons for a period of 180 months on count one and 120 months on count two for a sentence of 300 months.”
“Mr. Maryboy’s violent act took the life of another person, causing great loss to his family and friends, who will bear the burden of this crime. That harm cannot be undone,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “We appreciate the work of law enforcement, victim service providers, and the prosecutors in this case who worked hard to ensure justice for the victim’s family and the community.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Monticello Resident Agency, Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Y. Hirata, Angela Reddish-Day, and Stephen Dent of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Billings man accused of illegal possession of firearm in school zoneRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of illegally possessing a gun near a Billings elementary school appeared today in federal court on a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Gabriel Cowan Metcalf, 49, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing a firearm within a school zone. If convicted, Metcalf faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $100,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Metcalf was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from Aug. 2 to 17, the Billings Police Department received multiple calls and weapons complaints regarding Metcalf, who lives at 430 Broadwater Ave., walking on the sidewalk and around the area carrying a firearm. Broadwater Elementary School is directly across the street from Metcalf’s residence. The sidewalk and streets in front of Metcalf’s residence are public property within 1,000 feet from the school and are a “school zone” as defined in federal statutes.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents arrested Metcalf near his residence on Tuesday night, pursuant to a warrant issued by a federal judge, and executed a search on the residence at 430 Broadwater Ave.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey is prosecuting the case. The ATF and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
PACER case reference. 23-130.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
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Beverly Hills Man Arrested on Complaint Alleging He Stole More Than $1.8 Million in Jewelry and Other Goods from Guests at Luxury HotelRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Beverly Hills man is expected to appear in federal court today on a criminal complaint alleging he stole more than $1.8 million in jewelry, clothing, and accessories from victims at a hotel in Beverly Hills in May then traveled to Florida to sell the stolen goods.
Jobson Marangoni De Castro, 37, is charged in a complaint filed Monday with interstate transportation of stolen property. He was arrested Monday evening at Los Angeles International Airport and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, two victims – both residents of Brazil – traveled together to Beverly Hills on May 5 to attend a fashion event scheduled for May 9.
On the evening of May 10, De Castro allegedly traveled by Uber to the victims’ hotel, tricked a hotel employee into giving him a key to the victims’ room, and – while the victims were away having dinner – stole six suitcases belonging to them. The suitcases contained jewelry, clothing, and accessories worth more than $1.8 million.
Later that evening, the victims returned to their hotel room to discover all six of their suitcases were missing. The hotel staff then notified law enforcement about the theft.
De Castro then traveled to Miami and, on May 17, messaged a buyer in Miami on Instagram. De Castro told the buyer that he wanted to sell jewelry – a diamond necklace and luxury watch – and that he did not have papers for them because he had found them in a box belonging to his late mother. The jewelry matched the description of that stolen from the victims in Beverly Hills a few days earlier, according to the complaint. On May 18, the buyer wired De Castro $50,000, for the jewelry, which De Castro allegedly brought to the buyer’s store in Miami.
The name De Castro provided to the buyer was “Jobs Marangoni,” the same name he used for his Uber account, the affidavit alleges.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, De Castro would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah S. Lee of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Attorney Arrested on Charges of Insider TradingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Brazilian national, previously working as a visiting international attorney, is charged by complaint, unsealed today, with insider trading. Romero Cabral Da Costa Neto (Costa), 33, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a licensed attorney in Brazil who had been working as an international visiting attorney in the United States, on a one-year J-1 Visa, at a U.S. law firm (the Law Firm). Costa was arrested on August 22, 2023, in Washington, D.C., by agents with the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
According to the public documents, Costa is an attorney licensed to practice in Brazil and had been working in the United State for the Law Firm since September 2022. During that time, Costa has executed multiple stock trades in companies represented by the Law Firm. As confirmed by the Law Firm records, Costa accessed internal Law Firm files in advance of public market-moving announcement.
According to the complaint, one of these trades involved Company B. Company B is a Seattle-based biotech company represented by the Law Firm. In or around April of 2023, Company C, a Swedish international biopharmaceutical company began negotiations to acquire Company B. Both Company B and C were public companies. Company B’s Board of Directors held several meetings throughout April and into early May discussing transaction prices and terms of the sale. Representatives of the Law Firm attended these meetings and prepared documents relating to these meetings.
In early May 2023, Company B, whose stock was trading at around $4.80 informed Company C that they would sell to Company C for a price above $9.00 per share. On May 9, 2023, Company C relayed an offer to buy all outstanding common stock in Company B for $9.10 per share. The stock was trading at $4.82 on May 9, 2023. The Board of Directors approved the sale at $9.10 and both Company B and C announced the $1.7 billion transaction in the early morning hours of May 10, 2023. Trading in Company B opened at $8.91 per share on May 10, 2023.
According to public documents, Costa used two online trading firms to purchase 10,400 shares in Company B on May 9, 2023, for $49,976. Costa then sold his holdings in Company B on May 10, 2023, for $92,635.24, resulting in a one-day investment profit of $42,649.13.
According to the Complaint, Costa improperly accessed Law Firm files related to Company B in the lead up to this merger. Costa was not assigned to this transaction and had no legitimate reason to access and view these files related to this matter. Costa accessed files over 100 times in advance of the sale.
The complaint further alleges that on June 2, 2023, Costa purchased stock in Company E – another company that was represented by the Law Firm – one day before Company E went public with information about drug treatment for patients with a specific cancer. The stock rose following the announcement. Costa sold his position on June 5, 2023.
On June 6, 2023, the Law Firm issued an opinion related to a secondary stock offering on behalf of Company E which had the effect of driving down the value of the stock. Costa was able to purchase shares of Company E immediately before a positive market event and then quickly sell before the subsequent negative market event, profiting by approximately $1,000 from these transactions. According to the complaint, Costa improperly accessed Law Firm files related to this matter in the lead up to the announcements. Costa was not assigned to this matter and had no legitimate reason for accessing these files.
Costa is again alleged to have improperly accessed Law Firm documents and files related to Company F, another firm client. On June 15, 2023, Company F and Company G announced a merger in an all-stock deal to create a $5.4 billion oilfield services firm. Between June 8, 2023, and June 12, 2023, Costa purchased approximately 7,000 shares of Company G in advance of this merger announcement. He subsequently sold the shares and profited approximately $8,500 from the transactions. Costa was not assigned to this matter and had no legitimate reason to access these files.
Insider trading carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. The charge also carries potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Today, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Philadelphia Regional Office, which provided invaluable assistance in this matter, filed a parallel civil complaint charging Costa with securities violations.
A Complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Armed Drug Trafficker that Fled from Law Enforcement Sentenced to over 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Luis Oceguera, 21, of Sampson County, was sentenced to 140 months in prison. The sentence followed a multi-agency drug investigation that spanned multiple North Carolina counties.
According to information presented in court, Oceguera was an integral part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed kilograms of drugs in Eastern North Carolina. Oceguera regularly received, transported, and distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana. During the investigation, Oceguera was stopped by law enforcement three separate times while armed with handguns and rifles. One of the handguns seized was an unregistered “ghost gun” that Oceguera admitted to building himself.
On another occasion, Oceguera fled from law enforcement in a vehicle, reaching speeds over 120 mile per hour. During the chase, Oceguera threw a package containing over two kilograms of pure methamphetamine out of the window on the side of the road. Law enforcement searched the flight path and were able to recover the methamphetamine package.
Ultimately, Oceguera was arrested and the house he was staying at was searched pursuant to a search warrant. During the search, law enforcement seized drug trafficking materials, ammunition, loaded magazines, and another firearm.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The DEA, ATF, United States Postal Service, United States Marshals Service, NC National Guard, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and Dunn Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-86-M-5.
Antlers Resident Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Stetson Bruce, age 34, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for engaging in sexual acts with a child under 12 years of age.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 21, 2022, a federal jury found Bruce guilty at trial of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. The crimes occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant in this case is a depraved predator whose actions robbed a young child of their innocence,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “He will always be a danger to the community and thanks to the work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners, he will spend the rest of his natural life behind prison bars for his horrific crimes.”
“The defendant will spend the remainder of his life in prison, a fitting penalty for his atrocious crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Our office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who victimize the innocent and defenseless among us.”
The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City. Bruce 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 Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Dominic Allan Marks was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Marks, 37, of Albuquerque, pled guilty in federal court on March 7, 2023, to enticement of a minor.
According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2022, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant for an address in Carlsbad associated with an online account for a fetish website that had been discussing the sexual molestation of a 9-year-old minor and sending child pornography of that minor. After execution of the search warrant, the FBI was able to verify that the adults living at the address, Joseph and Rachel Crutcher, had been sexually abusing three children in their care and had been setting up meetings with other individuals to sexually abuse one of the children.
During a subsequent safehouse interview, the minor child disclosed that just the day prior, Joseph and Rachel had taken her to meet a man in the Lowe’s parking lot and had forced her to engage in sexual activity with the man. Subsequent investigation led the FBI to identify the man that sexually abused the 9-year-old minor in the Lowe’s parking lot as Marks. The FBI uncovered that Marks has molested multiple minors in addition to the 9-year-old, including a minor as young as 5 years old.
Rachel Crutcher, 38, of Carlsbad, pled guilty to production of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Rachel will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on supervised release for life. Joseph Crutcher, 59, of Carlsbad, pled guilty to one count each of production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. At sentencing, Joseph faces 70 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Upon his release from prison, Marks will be subject to a lifetime term of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Roswell Resident Agency and Albuquerque Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Eric Castañeda, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that Eloy Romero was sentenced to 195 months in prison. A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Romero, 47, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 30, 2023, on one count each of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court records, on February 25, 2021, during a tactical operation by the Albuquerque Police Department in the Southwest Area Command, members of the APD Gang Unit observed Romero engage in suspicious behavior in a business parking lot. They approached Romero’s vehicle with emergency equipment engaged, but Romero drove away from the area, disregarding their lights and sirens. APD followed but temporarily disengaged to avoid a dangerous pursuit. Eventually, Romero pulled over and was approached by the investigating officers.
Officers determined that Romero’s vehicle had a suspended registration and Romero had a suspended driver’s license. Officers decided to tow the vehicle, pursuant to department policy. During an inventory of the vehicle, officers discovered suspected fentanyl and a firearm. They immediately sealed the vehicle and sought a search warrant. During the execution of the search warrant, officers located a black backpack in the back seat that contained 352 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, 1,876 tablets of fentanyl, numerous rounds of .22 ammunition and a .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Upon his release from prison, Romero will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nora Wilson and Joseph M. Spindle.
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Albion Man Going to Prison for 10 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Spencer Hart, 39, of Albion, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and having a prior conviction under the laws of any state relating to the possession or receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the case, stated that in October 2018, Hart was convicted in Orleans County Court of attempted possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child. On July 16, 2020, a search warrant was executed at Hart’s residence and child pornography was found on a computer belonging to Hart. In total, Hart possessed more than 600 images of child pornography, some of which included prepubescent minors and depicted violence against children. Hart also admitted that he distributed child pornography using a peer-to-peer software program in June 2020.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke.
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Alabama Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Craig Anthony (25, Alabama) with distribution of child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Anthony faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release.
According to court documents, beginning on May 31, 2023, Anthony distributed multiple videos depicting child sexual abuse to a filesharing account operated by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent in Lake County, Florida. Anthony also discussed with the undercover agent his desire to travel to Florida to have sex with a minor. On August 3, 2023, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Anthony’s residence. At least one image of child sex abuse was confirmed on Anthony’s cellphone.
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.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
ADA Settlement Will Make Ridgefield Restaurant More AccessibleRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Baja Cocina, a restaurant located at 426 Main Street in Ridgefield, has agreed to make changes to become more accessible to persons with mobility disabilities. The changes are required under a settlement agreement signed by Ridgefield Taco LLC, the owner of Baja Cocina, and the United States under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The settlement resolves a complaint made with the U.S. Department of Justice that claims that Baja Cocina is not physically accessible to persons with mobility disabilities. Under the agreement, Baja Cocina must work with its landlord to provide an accessible parking space for the restaurant. It must also continue to provide curbside service to persons with mobility disabilities and ensure that it provides accessible dining surfaces in its outdoor dining area. Inside the restaurant, Baja Cocina must install ADA-compliant signage and make changes to its accessible bathroom, including relocating the toilet flush controls, relocating a grab bar, and relocating a soap dispenser.
Under federal law, private entities that own or operate places of “public accommodation,” including restaurants, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of disability. The ADA authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate complaints and undertake periodic compliance reviews of covered entities. The Justice Department is also authorized to commence a civil lawsuit in federal court in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance, and to seek injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties.
U.S. Attorney Avery noted the cooperation of Baja Cocina’s owner in resolving this matter without litigation.
The settlement will remain in effect for three years, and Baja Cocina must submit certifications concerning its compliance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office every six months until it has fully complied with the agreement.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart C. Dearing.
Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation or public entity in Connecticut is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 203-821-3700 and ask for the Civil Rights Intake Specialist.
Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Justice Department’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TTY). More information about the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
Tuesday 22 August 2023
Woman Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jacquelyn Moore made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging her with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Moore, 47, a registered member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 18, 2023, the victim, Jane Doe, was standing outside the To’hajiilee Chapter House, which is located within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation, when Moore drove over a cement wheel stop and pinned Jane Doe’s lower body against the building, amputating her left leg. Jane Doe’s husband pulled Moore out of her car and reversed it, freeing Jane Doe so that a bystander could apply a belt to her leg as a tourniquet. Others poured water on her and tried to shade her until medical personnel arrived. Jane Doe was transported to UNMH and underwent surgery.
Moore was arrested at the scene. When she was interviewed by a Navajo Criminal Investigator the next day, Moore admitted that she was intoxicated and claimed to have blacked out and have no memory of the incident.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Moore faces up to 10 years in prison.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
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West Sacramento Woman Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kimberly Acevedo, 53, formerly of West Sacramento, was sentenced today to four years and seven months in prison and ordered to pay $113,400 in restitution for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between March 2019 and March 2021, Acevedo and co‑defendant Philip Rich, 51, of West Sacramento, perpetrated a mail fraud scheme that involved theft of U.S. mail, identity theft, and unlawful possession of dozens of stolen bank cards. Generally, Acevedo and Rich obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of victims and used that information to apply for new credit cards, debit cards, checkbooks, and other financial instruments to be sent to the victims’ real home addresses. The defendants then submitted change-of-address requests to USPS using the victims’ PII. These change-of-address requests rerouted the victims’ mail to defendants’ shared home address, where they would open the mail and use the contents to make fraudulent purchases and cash fraudulent checks.
When federal agents executed a search warrant at defendants’ residence on Oct. 14, 2020, they seized dozens of notebooks filled with at least hundreds of identity-theft victim PII. The notebooks were scattered throughout the house, though mainly located in defendants’ shared bedroom. In addition, agents recovered an envelope, labeled “ID Templates,” in the bedroom containing approximately 10-15 fake California driver’s licenses in the names of various victims, but featuring Acevedo and Rich’s photographs and fake authentication features. Agents also recovered the tools required to construct the fake IDs as well as a magstripe device. Further, agents recovered over 50 credit and debit cards in the home as well as approximately 40 checkbooks in victims’ names as well as in the names of Acevedo and Rich. In total, defendants’ scheme caused over $110,000 in actual loss.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.
Acevedo pleaded guilty in October 2022. Rich previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. On Oct. 4, 2022, he was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. He was ordered to pay $113,400 in restitution, jointly and severally with Acevedo.
Violent felon convicted of gun chargeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 31-year-old Pharr man has been ordered to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Christian Shauntrell Garcia pleaded guilty May 2.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Garcia to serve 50 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information about Garcia’s history of drug trafficking and gun violence. In imposing the prison term, the court noted he represented an ongoing threat and needed a sentence to “provide for the safety of the community.”
Authorities believed Garcia had discharged a firearm at a residence in Pharr in 2021. On Nov. 26, 2021, authorities attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop, but he fled. A high-speed chase ensued, and law enforcement was able to take him into custody. At that time, they found a firearm in his possession along with an array of various controlled substances.
As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
Garcia was prosecuted as part of a joint Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Attorney’s Office initiative known as Operation: Knock Down. It started in 2022 and focuses federal resources on armed and violent offenders in the Rio Grande Valley.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. prosecuted the case.
Violent Detroit Street Gang Indicted on RICO ChargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Members of a violent Detroit gang were indicted on various federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, trafficking controlled substances, firearm charges, and unemployment insurance fraud, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
The members of the Purple Heart Vets gang who were indicted by a federal grand jury include:
- Devin King, 24, of Detroit
- Trevon Mathis, 23, of Detroit
- Jordan Gilmore, 24, of Novi
- Devon Hill, 25, of Taylor
- Vincent McKinney, 24, of Detroit
- Malik Thomas, 24, of Detroit
U.S. Attorney Ison was joined in the indictment unsealing announcement by Special Agent in Charge James Deir, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Division, and Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge of the Great Lakes Region of the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General.
According to the indictment and other court records, the Purple Heart Vets gang allegedly promote themselves as soldiers in battle, engaging in violence on the streets of Detroit on behalf of the gang. Operating primarily on the northwest side of Detroit, the leaders rewarded gang members who engaged in acts of violence with Purple Hearts. They obtained guns and coordinated attacks on their rivals. The attacks led to multiple shootings in and around Detroit, which resulted in serious injuries and fatalities. In one instance, a minor was caught in the crossfire during an attack on a rival gang member. The gang also sold controlled substances and engaged in significant unemployment insurance fraud to raise money to further their criminal activities.
“This indictment is another example of our office’s commitment to addressing violent crime in the City of Detroit. We believe that by removing the individuals who are the primary drivers of violent crime we can provide our neighborhoods with the peace we should all expect and deserve,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.
“Serious crimes have serious consequences. Gang members using the streets of Detroit as a battlefield to settle scores can expect to be shut down by law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “It should be common knowledge throughout metro-Detroit: If you pack an illegal firearm, you should pack your bags for prison…Everyone deserves to live in a community without the threat of senseless gun violence.”
“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving unemployment insurance programs. This is particularly true when an allegation involves racketeering and violent crimes in our communities. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to aggressively investigate these type of allegations,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in- Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. This case in being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Utah Fugitive and Alleged Drug Trafficking Ringleader Among 28 Defendants Charged in Major Multi-Agency OperationRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an 18-count indictment Wednesday charging a fugitive and 27 other defendants with multiple drug related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession and distribution of drugs, aiding and abetting and firearm offenses.
According to court documents, Llobani Federico Figueroa, aka “Pablo,” 32, of Magna, Utah, is the alleged ringleader in a major drug trafficking organization that operated in the District of Utah. Figueroa was taken into custody on August 3, 2023. Figueroa had been a fugitive since he was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2020 for distribution of methamphetamine. See full news release here: Fugitive and Alleged Drug Dealer Behind Bars After Three Years in Hiding.
In the 2023 indictment, Figueroa is listed as the main defendant with 27 additional co-defendants, many of whom were also taken into custody. Some of the main conspirators in the drug trafficking conspiracy include Lorena Inez Herrera, aka Lorena Duran, aka Melissa Valencia, 40, of West Valley City, Utah; Isaac David Valdez, 39, of Salt Lake City; Christopher Kin Chun, aka, “Sinner,” aka, “C Kin,” 25, of West Jordan, Utah; and Candelario Lopez-Perez, 21, a foreign national. According to the indictment, beginning but not later than December 2022 and continuing through August 2023, in the District of Utah, Figueroa and the defendants named in the indictment, conspired to distribute narcotics, including 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During this same time period, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled narcotics purchases from different distributors working on behalf of Figueroa’s drug trafficking organization. As part of their alleged drug trafficking conspiracy, Figueroa served as the primary conduit among multiple Californian and Mexico-based sources of supply and broker/distributors in the District of Utah. Figueroa and other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy allegedly rented residences on a short-term basis, often referred to as “trap houses,” from which members of the conspiracy possessed with the intent to distribute narcotics under Figueroa’s direction. According to court documents, at the time of Figueroa’s arrest, he possessed more than $300,000 in cash, three Glock firearms with ammunition, 3.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 328 grams of heroin, 1.6 pounds of “crack” cocaine, and 409 grams of powder cocaine. Figueroa is also a known member of the nationwide criminal organization “LaRaza.” At the time of Herrera’s arrest, she possessed more than 46 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 37 pounds of cocaine. At the time of Lopez-Perez’s arrest, he possessed approximately 700 grams of methamphetamine, more than 240 grams of heroin, 189 grams of cocaine, more than $15,000 in cash and a loaded firearm.
Figueroa is charged with a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute heroin; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; possession of heroin with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. All defendants in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Defendants charged in counts three through 18 are listed in the indictment. Figueroa’s arraignment on the indictment was Monday, August 21, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. His trial date will be scheduled at a later date. Initial court appearances on the other defendants can be found in the court docket.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force and West Valley City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.
Remaining defendants named in the indictment:
1. Steven Kay Langley, aka Steven Vernon Johnson, 55, of Ennis, Montana
2. Tammie Lynn Salstrom, aka Tammie Lynn Tumsuden, 51, of Ennis, Montana
3. Brandon Leon Simmons, aka, Adam Lee Evans, 42, of North Salt Lake, Utah
4. Irineo Brito, aka’s Neo Brito, and Neo Trujillo, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah
5. Glen Anthony Witham, 62, of Salt Lake City, Utah
6. Jon Tyler Pearson, aka’s Treetop, Droopee, 34, of West Jordan, Utah
7. Monique Maria Garcia, 45, of West Valley City, Utah
8. Buff Joseph Boss, 46, of Heber, Utah
9. Coty Lee Stiehl, 44, of Murray, Utah
10. Kimberly Sue Stubbs, 50, of Clarkston, Utah
11. Irene Mary McIntosh, aka Irene Douglas, 35, of Salt Lake City, Utah
12. Harold Brent Larsen, 66, of Gusher, Utah
13. Paul Casey Krehbiel, 38, of Murray, Utah
14. Kimberly Johnson, 38, of Salt Lake City, Utah
15. Jack Eugene Lamb, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah
16. Anthony Vincent Barbera, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah
17. Crystal Ann Beck, 42, of Heber City, Utah
18. Travis K. Hansen, aka’s Christopher J. Stevens, and Chris Steven, 53, of Park City, Utah
19. Mary Emilia Herrera, 41, of Salt Lake City, Utah
20. Jessica Archuletta, 32, of West Valley City, Utah
21. Alisha Nicole Brown-Reinsimar, 43, of West Valley City, Utah
22. Cree Williams, 43, of Salt Lake City, Utah
23. Megan Olmos, 40, of Stansbury Park, UtahAn indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Union County Investment Advisor Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Stealing Client MoneyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former investment advisor who stole over $600,000 from his clients to fund his gambling and personal expenses was sentenced today to 42 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Mario E. Rivero Jr., 39, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count each of wire fraud and securities fraud. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2018 through November 2020, Rivero, while serving in his capacity as an investment advisor employed by a large brokerage firm, misappropriated $626,478 from five clients. Rivero, who had been entrusted to manage client funds responsibly, instead perpetrated a scheme to defraud multiple clients. He obtained his clients’ money under the fraudulent pretense that he would invest the funds, but instead, Rivero unlawfully diverted the funds to enrich himself and others.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Arleo sentenced Rivero to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
U.S. Attorney’s Office offers “United Against Hate” civil rights eventRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – The United States Attorney’s Office will offer a civil rights outreach event in the Eastern Panhandle.
“United Against Hate: Protecting the People of West Virginia” will take place at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney on Tuesday, August 22 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. The event will highlight the Department of Justice United Against Hate initiative and explore other civil rights topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.
The West Virginia State Bar is offering legal education credits. The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence is providing social work education credits. The event is free and open to the public.
This event is one of several outreach efforts within the Northern District of West Virginia.
To learn more about the District’s civil rights work, or to report a civil rights violation, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/civil-rights-program.
United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. This initiative will connect federal, state, and local law enforcement with communities to help build trust and encourage people to report hate crimes and incidents.
U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr. Announce the Appointment of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in ShreveportRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the appointment of Jason Waltman to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This appointment is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office in the Shreveport Division of the Western District of Louisiana.
Due to the proliferation of gang and gun violence in the Shreveport area, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr. have joined efforts in a unique way to fight violent crime in that area by adding a specially appointed federal prosecutor to work these types of cases. The goal is for Mr. Waltman to partner as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys to improve the program’s effectiveness in the northwest corner of the district.
“Collaboration with our state and local law enforcement and prosecutive partners is vital. For years, we have had a great partnership with the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, but we want to take our collaborative efforts the next level. I am grateful that District Attorney Stewart is willing to share such a skilled and talented Assistant District Attorney with our office as we jointly fight to eradicate violent crime in Shreveport,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “SAUSA Jason Waltman is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable prosecutor and knows the federal court system, given he was a former federal criminal defense attorney. Over the years, he has developed a great working relationship with our Assistant U.S. Attorneys, federal agents and task force officers, and will give us valuable insight when it comes to charging decisions and prosecutive strategy.”
“This is another example of our cooperative efforts of how we work together to serve the people of the community,” stated Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr.
Jason Waltman has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish since 2016, where he serves as one of the office’s Section Chiefs in the Criminal Division. Prior to working at the District Attorney’s Office, SAUSA Waltman worked as a Trial Attorney with the Capital Assistance Project of Louisiana, and in private practice handling criminal, civil, and administrative law. SAUSA Waltman also previously served as an Instructor at the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Training Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Baylor University and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law.
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Two Men Plead Guilty to Violent Carjackings and Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Two men have pleaded guilty to multiple carjacking and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on January 3, 2022, Jordan James Smith, 26, of Ramsey, approached an individual who was sitting in a parked vehicle. Smith opened the driver’s door of the victim’s Nissan Juke and pushed a gun into the victim’s torso. Smith then stated, “I’ve got a [expletive] gun,” and directed the victim to “give me everything you have and get out of the car.” Smith pulled the victim from the car, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off. The victim’s phone and wallet were still in the car as Smith fled. On January 10, 2022, Smith and an associate used the victim’s Nissan Juke as collateral to test drive a black Maserati. Smith and his associate abandoned the Nissan Juke and stole the black Maserati before being apprehended by law enforcement.
On February 3, 2022, Smith and his co-defendant Carson Thomas McCoy, 22, of Blaine, broke into a local car dealership. They stole several vehicles, including an unlicensed GMC Acadia. Later that morning, at 8:30 a.m., the Minneapolis Police Department responded to a hit-and-run accident. Smith was driving a blue Honda Accord while McCoy—who was driving the stolen GMA Acadia and following Smith’s blue Honda Accord—ran a stop sign and struck another vehicle. McCoy abandoned the GMC Acadia and got into the blue Honda Accord driven by Smith. However, before leaving the area, Smith approached the vehicle McCoy hit, pointed a gun at the driver, and said “give me your purse or I’ll [expletive] kill you.” Smith returned to the blue Honda Accord and fled the scene with the victim’s iPhone, housekeys, and a child’s backpack.
Shortly thereafter, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Smith and McCoy noticed the driver of a silver Honda Accord parked in a nearby residential area. Smith and McCoy exited the blue Honda Accord and approached the silver Honda Accord. Smith tapped on the driver’s side window with a black gun that had a red camouflage slide while McCoy used his hand to gesture that he also possessed a gun. The driver of the silver Honda Accord exited the vehicle and, as the driver attempted to retrieve his wallet, Smith threatened the driver with his gun. Smith and McCoy then drove off in the silver Honda Accord. Because Smith has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
According to court documents, on August 10, 2022, after stealing a black BMW sedan, McCoy broke into a residence in Ham Lake, Minnesota, stealing various items—including a firearm. Less than 30 minutes later, law enforcement responded to a road-rage incident involving a black BMW sedan. A group of motorcyclists reported nearly colliding with a black BMW sedan after which the driver—later identified as McCoy—fired a handgun into the air from the sunroof of the black BMW. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers located the black BMW sedan and attempted a traffic stop. McCoy fled, collided with a marked patrol car, and ultimately crashed into a tree. A search of the black BMW sedan revealed, among other things, the Springfield Armory semi-automatic pistol the defendant had stolen from the Ham Lake residence, another handgun, baggies of controlled substances, and the false identification card the defendant used to test drive the black BMW sedan before he stole it.
Smith pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge John R. Tunheim to two counts of carjacking. McCoy pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023, before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of aiding and abetting carjacking and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Blaine Police Department, the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF), and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
Two Former Lexington Business Owners Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- Two former Lexington business owners, Douglas William Vance, 54, and Molly McKinnon, 59, were sentenced on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 174 months and 156 months, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to evidence at trial, from August 2016 through December 2018, Vance and McKinnon used falsified bank statements, financial reports, purchase orders, sales and production figures, and other fabricated records, to convince different investors that each owned a controlling stake in a company called “Nex-Gen.” The company purported to produce “calcined coal” and other carbon-based products, in Chavies, Kentucky. The false and fabricated documents also convinced two companies to lend money to Nex-Gen, and concealed the fact that Vance and McKinnon were misappropriating both investor and lender funds. The evidence presented at trial established that Vance and McKinnon worked together to defraud multiple investors and lenders, out of more than $2 million.
Vance and McKinnon were convicted of the charges in October 2022.
Under federal law, Vance and McKinnon must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Brian Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Rosenberg and James Chapman.
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Stanislaus County Man Pleads Guilty to Passing Forged Treasury BondsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronnie Douglas Fleming, 37, of Keyes, pleaded guilty today to passing a counterfeit obligation of the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from March to May 2022, Fleming passed counterfeit treasury bonds on 10 occasions at banks in the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The banks paid Fleming more than $134,000 for the bonds.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg is prosecuting the case.
Fleming is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 28, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Fleming faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
St. Louis Woman Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Bank and Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis, Missouri was sentenced Monday to 37 months in prison for committing both check fraud and pandemic fraud.
U.S. District Judge John A. Ross also ordered Nikia A. French, 30, to repay $57,173.
French pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud in March and admitted recruiting people on Instagram who were willing to let French use their bank accounts. French created counterfeit checks, deposited them in the accounts and withdrew the money or made debit card purchases before the bank learned that the checks were bogus.
Between February 2022 and April 2022, French deposited or attempted to deposit counterfeit checks totaling at least $73,515 and received at least $34,109 in proceeds.
French also submitted two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications in April of 2021, seeking a total of about $23,000. She falsely inflated her gross income and submitted false documents to obtain the loans. She used the money at restaurants and clothing stores and took some out in cash.
French lied on the applications when she said she had not been convicted of a felony involving fraud in the last five years. In a 2019 bank fraud case, French was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to repay nearly $62,000. The fraud then was nearly identical to what French did in 2022, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow said in a sentencing memo.
Clow also pointed out that the first fraudulent PPP loan application was submitted about six months after French was released from prison. French exploited the pandemic for personal gain, at the expense of small businesses and employees who were at risk of losing their jobs, he wrote.
“Today’s sentence brings to a conclusion an investigation that began with one stolen check, and ultimately led to Postal Inspectors uncovering the defendant’s involvement in multiple fraud schemes,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça who leads the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. “The defendant will now be held accountable for the thousands of dollars she obtained through various criminal enterprises.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.St. Louis County Man Admits Stealing from QuikTrips Five TimesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted stealing cigarettes or cash from area QuikTrip stores five times.
Terrence Gleason, 52, of Bel Ridge, pleaded guilty to three robbery charges and two charges of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He admitted stealing cigarettes from or robbing three QuikTrip stores, including one in Bel Ridge that he victimized three times.
On Dec. 5, 2021, at about 2:30 a.m., Gleason entered the QuikTrip at 9099 Natural Bridge in Bel Ridge, walked behind the counter and began filling a bag with cartons of cigarettes. When the clerk moved to activate an alarm, Gleason lifted his shirt to show his holstered firearm. The clerk put his hands in the air and Gleason left with the stolen cigarettes.
The next day at about the same time, Gleason returned. The same clerk was working. Gleason had one hand in the front pocket of his coat and the clerk believed Gleason was armed, based on Gleason’s actions the night before. Gleason demanded “all the Newports,” and put a bag on the counter. The clerk put seven packages of cigarettes in the bag. Gleason then said, “Come on bro, I know you got more than that,” at which point the clerk put six or seven cartons of cigarettes in the bag. Gleason then left.
On Dec. 10, 2021, at about 3:00 a.m., Gleason and another man entered the QuikTrip at 5909 Howdershell Road in Hazelwood. Gleason and the other man walked behind the checkout counter and began removing cartons of cigarettes. When that store employee walked behind the counter to trigger the alarm, Gleason’s accomplice pulled back his jacket, displayed a firearm and said, “Press something, I dare you.” The employee backed up and put his hands in the air and Gleason and the man left with cartons of stolen cigarettes.
On Dec. 11, 2021, at approximately 4:12 a.m., Gleason returned to the Bel Ridge QuikTrip, walked up to the counter, reached over it and opened a drawer where cigarette cartons were stored. He grabbed several cartons then approached the clerk who witnessed the two prior incidents and said, “I need Newports,” while grabbing at his waistband. The clerk believed Gleason had a gun and tried to comply, but then said they did not have any more cartons. Gleason walked behind the counter, grabbed several packages of cigarettes and left.
On Dec. 12, 2021, at about 4:30 a.m., Gleason entered the QuikTrip located at 11150 St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann and robbed the store at gunpoint, taking $85 from one cash register.
Gleason is scheduled to be sentenced January 25. The first firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, consecutive to any other charge, and the second firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum consecutive term of seven years. The robbery charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The FBI, the Normandy Police Department, the St. Ann Police Department, and the Hazelwood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Rio Rancho Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Christina Joyner was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,025,165.72 in restitution to her former employer. Joyner, 48 of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, pled guilty to wire fraud on September 2, 2022.
According to court records, from approximately July 2014 through September 2021, Joyner used her position as bookkeeper for Quanz Motor Car Company, doing business as Quanz Auto Body, to defraud the company of over $2 million. Joyner accomplished this by issuing checks to herself and coding them to give the appearance they were for legitimate business expenses, using company credit cards to make personal, online purchases, retaining money from cash transactions and creating fraudulent pay stubs for her husband that were used as proof of income to obtain loans. Joyner maintained email reminders to herself to modify entries in the accounting software and manipulated the software to conceal her actions.
Joyner’s employer completely trusted her with the company’s finances, as well as the employees’ personal information, and one reported that her abuse of their trust “has hurt far worse than any financial impact has.” Joyner blamed her deceased husband’s addiction for her theft, however the investigation revealed that Joyner used the money to fund both her and her husband’s lifestyle.
Upon her release from prison, Joyner will be subject to three years of supervised release and must complete 60 hours of community service.
The Albuquerque Resident Office of the United States Secret Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Brawley is prosecuting the case.
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Quincy, Illinois man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois man, Demetrius Fernando, 46, of the 2200 block of Ohio Street in Quincy, Illinois has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 96 months in prison to be followed by 48 months of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Fernando distributed more than 5 grams of methamphetamine in 2020 on two occasions in Quincy, Illinois. He has multiple prior state-controlled substances convictions.
Fernando was indicted in March 2020 and pleaded guilty in April 2023. He has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since March of 2020.
The statutory penalties for distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) are up to 40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
The West Central Illinois Task Force, Quincy Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Fernando was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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.
Permanent Injunction and $650,000 Civil Penalty Imposed on Experian Consumer Services for Allegedly Sending Commercial Emails Without Providing Consumers the Ability to Opt Out of Future Emails, in Violation the CAN-SPAM ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced that ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. dba Experian Consumer Services (Experian), has agreed to a permanent injunction and a $650,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act), the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Rule (CAN-SPAM Rule), and the Federal Trade Commission Act. The CAN-SPAM Act and Rule require senders of commercial emails to notify the recipients of such emails of their right to opt-out of future emails and to provide an opt-out mechanism. Experian shares a parent company, Experian PLC, with Experian Information Solutions Inc., which offers credit information, analytical tools and marketing services.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, involves emails Experian sent to consumers who had created free Experian accounts to control third-party access to their credit reports. Account holders may “freeze” their credit reports to make them inaccessible to identity thieves and legitimate potential creditors such as banks. They can also “unfreeze” their credit reports when they require a credit check, for example, to finance a expensive purchase. The complaint asserts that Experian sent its account holders millions of commercial emails promoting additional Experian services. These emails asked the consumer to confirm whether a car that Experian had associated with the user’s account was theirs, offered a service aimed at boosting the user’s credit score, and advertised a free scan of the dark web. The emails did not give the recipients notice that they could opt-out of future such emails or provide any opt-out mechanism, violating the CAN-SPAM Act and the CAN-SPAM Rule. The complaint alleges that these emails implied that they contained important information about the recipient’s account, even though they were commercial in nature. The government received many consumer complaints that these emails contained no opt-out mechanism.
The stipulated order, entered by the federal district court yesterday, enjoins Experian from sending commercial emails that do not provide notice that the recipient may opt-out of receiving such emails in the future or an opt-out mechanism. The order also enjoins Experian from otherwise violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the order, Experian is also subject to a civil penalty judgment of $650,000.
“Consumers have the right to opt-out of email advertising that they do not want,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to enforcing the CAN-SPAM Act and preventing senders of commercial emails from falsely describing those emails as providing account updates or other transactional information in order to circumvent the opt-out requirements.”
“Signing up for a membership doesn’t mean you’re signing up for unwanted email, especially when all you’re trying to do is freeze your credit to protect your identity,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “You always have the right to unsubscribe from marketing messages, and the FTC takes enforcing that right seriously.”
“It is critical that consumers have the ability to opt-out of unwanted commercial emails, and such emails should not be misleading in any way,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This permanent injunction and civil penalty will provide relief to consumers and help to prevent future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act.”
This matter was handled by Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson and Assistant Director Lisa Hsiao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Cuff for the Central District of California and Frances Kern and Elsie Kappler of the FTC.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov.
Ocean Vessel Operator Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Pay $2 Million for Marine Environmental CrimesRead the Press Release
Ocean vessel operating company Zeaborn Ship Management (Singapore) PTE. LTD. (Zeaborn) pleaded guilty to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and garbage on board the vessel Star Maia. In its plea, Zeaborn has agreed to pay a total monetary penalty of $2 million. The company’s Chief Engineer, Constancio Estuye, and Captain, Alexander Parreno, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the crimes.
According to court documents, Zeaborn and Estuye admitted that – at least four times between June and October 2022 – they dumped over 7,500 gallons of oily bilge water from the Star Maia into the ocean without first processing the oily bilge water through required pollution prevention equipment. They also admitted that these illegal discharges were falsely recorded in the oil record book as having been made using the vessel’s pollution prevention equipment when the equipment had not been used. Oily bilge water typically contains oil contamination from the operation and cleaning of machinery on the vessel.
In addition to the illegal discharges of oily bilge water, Zeaborn and Parreno admitted that on at least three or four occasions between June and August 2022, they had burned garbage – including paper, plastics and oily rags – in barrels on the Star Maia’s deck. The barrels were then thrown into the ocean. This garbage burning and barrel disposal was not recorded in the vessel’s garbage record book, as required by law.
“Illegally dumping oily waste and garbage at sea poses a serious threat to the health and viability of the marine environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who violate environmental laws are held accountable for their criminal conduct.”
“Unlawful oil discharges can cause significant harm to the marine environment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden for the Southern District of California. “We will continue to safeguard our oceans by vigorous enforcement of environmental laws. Today’s case is a reflection of that commitment.”
“This prosecution highlights the Justice Department and the U.S. Coast Guard’s continued dedication in safeguarding our maritime environment against those that seek to deliberately harm our natural resources,” said Sector Commander Captain James W. Spitler of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector San Diego. “Illegal dumping of oil, falsification of oil record books and flagrant disregard for air emission requirements are egregious violations. These guilty pleas should serve as a reminder that the Coast Guard and our partners at the Justice Department will work tirelessly to hold accountable those that seek to deliberately harm the maritime environment.”
Zeaborn pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in San Diego to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The plea agreement, subject to acceptance by the court, includes a $1.5 million fine and a $500,000 community service payment. The community service payment will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects to benefit marine and coastal natural resources located in or around the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Southern California. Zeaborn will also serve a four-year term of probation during which all containerships and conventional bulk carriers operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan.
Estuye and Parreno each pleaded guilty to one felony violation of the APPS for failing to accurately maintain the oil and garbage record books for the Star Maia. Sentencing for defendants Zeaborn, Estuve and Parreno is set for Dec. 1.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.
Note, this release has been updated to specify which types of Zeaborn vessels are subject to the four-year term of probation.
Nomura Securities International Agrees to Pay $35 Million Penalty Stemming from Its Participation in Securities Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Nomura Securities International (“NSI”), a U.S.-based broker-dealer subsidiary of Japanese financial services firm Nomura Holdings, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have entered into a non-prosecution agreement relating to NSI’s fraudulent trading of Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (“RMBS”). As part of this agreement, NSI will pay a monetary penalty of $35 million and pay restitution to victim customers, which include firms affiliated with recipients of federal bailout funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program and firms investing as fiduciaries on behalf of pension funds, charitable and educational endowments, insurance companies, and others.
The government’s investigation revealed that NSI – principally from its trading floor in New York City – perpetrated a scheme from 2009 to 2013 to defraud its customers in RMBS trades. The purpose and effect of NSI’s fraud was to increase its profits on RMBS trades at the expense of victim customers, including victim customers based in Connecticut. NSI conducted this scheme by, through, and with its employees, who acted with the knowledge, encouragement, and participation of NSI supervisors, including those tasked with compliance responsibilities.
NSI conducted its scheme by misrepresenting material facts to deceive and cheat its customers in trades. For instance, in certain transactions, NSI traders lied to the buyer about the seller’s asking price (or vice versa), keeping the difference between the price paid by the buyer and the price paid to the seller for NSI. In other transactions, NSI traders misrepresented to the buyer that bonds held in NSI’s inventory were being offered for sale by a fictitious third-party seller, which allowed NSI to charge the buyer an extra, unearned commission. NSI supervisors instructed its RMBS traders in, and caused them to use, these fraudulent trading practices. NSI, with full knowledge and participation of its supervisors, lied to victims who detected or suspected that they had been the victims of fraud. NSI concealed its fraudulent conduct from its customers, and from its own employees who were not participants in the scheme, in order to prevent or delay discovery.
Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement, NSI agreed to pay a penalty of $35 million and make restitution to victims of $807,717.68. NSI previously paid $20,125,614.59 in remediation to victims as part of its settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This resolution takes into account NSI’s extensive cooperation, acceptance of responsibility for its and its employees’ criminal conduct, remediation efforts, including its discipline and/or termination of employees and its commitment to make complete restitution to all impacted customers, enhanced compliance program, and agreement to continue to cooperate with law enforcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not require NSI to retain an independent consultant to assess and improve NSI’s compliance and ethics program because NSI has already taken steps to reasonably prevent and detect further fraud, and because of certain structural changes in the secondary market for RMBS that would make repetition of the conduct less likely.
The agreement announced today addresses only the corporate criminal liability of NSI and not criminal charges for any individual. Several former NSI employees have been charged in connection with NSI trading activities.
This matter was investigated by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Novick, Heather Cherry, and Jonathan Francis.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MELVIN WALKER, age 35, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge, Jay C. Zainey to 37 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. On May 11, 2023, WALKER pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court records, WALKER was standing outside of his residence when the occupants of a white SUV opened fire at him. WALKER removed a nine-millimeter firearm from his waistband and fired back at the fleeing SUV. WALKER sustained a gunshot wound during the gunfire exchange.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene and collected fired casings from WALKER’s nine-millimeter firearm, as well as .223 rifle casings believed to have been discharged by the occupants of the white SUV. WALKER’s residence was searched by deputies who located a bloody nine-millimeter magazine was found on WALKER’s living room couch. The deputies also determined that the ammunition collected from the magazine was the same caliber and brand of ammunition discharged by the nine-millimeter that WALKER discharged. WALKER has two previous convictions for firearms-related offenses and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Following his term of incarceration, WALKER will be placed on supervised release for 36 months. The court also imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.
New Haven Carjacker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIHAJA ORTIZ-TUCKER, also known as “TJ,” 20, of New Haven, was sentenced today U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for carjacking and conspiracy offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between March and July 2022, Ortiz-Tucker and others posed as interested buyers of motor vehicles advertised by Connecticut residents (the “victim-sellers”) on Facebook Marketplace. On three occasions, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators arranged to meet in person with the victim-sellers for the purported purpose of test driving and purchasing the motor vehicles. At the conclusion of the purported test drives, Ortiz-Tucker and his co-conspirators stole, at gunpoint, the vehicles, as well as certificates of title, bills of sale, and other ownership documents. On at least two occasions, Ortiz-Tucker posed as the legitimate owner of stolen motor vehicles, advertised them for sale on the OfferUp online platform, and sold them to unwitting purchasers.
Ortiz-Tucker also participated in two carjackings of Uber drivers in May 2022. In both instances, an Uber driver picked up the carjacker in New Haven and drove to Wallingford where the cars were taken from the drivers at gunpoint. Both cars were later recovered in the same area of Hamden.
Ortiz-Tucker was arrested on July 22, 2022. On May 30, 2023, he pleaded guilty to three counts of taking a motor vehicle from a person by force, violence and intimidation (“carjacking”), and one count of conspiracy. Ortiz-Tucker is detained.
Following Ortiz-Tucker’s sentencing, RUBEN MONTANO, 20, of New Haven, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. On May 2, 2023, Montano pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking, admitting that he participated in one of these carjackings with Ortiz-Tucker in July 2022, and the subsequent sale of the vehicle. He is also detained.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force, the Connecticut State Police and the Wallingford, New Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Tara E. Levens.
U.S. Attorney Avery encouraged those who sell and purchase items online, and need to meet an individual in person to complete the sale, to use a visible, monitored location. Contact your local police department to see if it offers a monitored meeting location, or search online for a nearby monitored location.
Multiple defendants prosecuted on federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Three people have been indicted in the Southern District of Georgia on felony charges including illegal firearms possession, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal charges including illegal possession of firearms.
The cases are prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally possess guns.
“A key factor in our fight against violent crime is to remove guns from the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them – particularly convicted felons,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We commend our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in keeping our streets safe.”
In the past four years, more than 800 defendants have been prosecuted in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
Those indicted during the August term of the U.S. District Court Grand Jury include:
- Tommy Cowart, 60, of Statesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Donyah Rayquan Hardaway, 27, of Statesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and,
- Jamell Williams, 44, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.
Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include:
- Olajuwon Raheem Williams, 25, of Augusta, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Williams after he threatened to shoot up his ex-girlfriend’s home and fled from police while firing at the pursuing officer with an AR-style pistol. Williams was previously convicted of armed robbery.
- Tyrique Marquez Mills, 25, of Waycross, Ga., was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Mills was wanted on felony warrants related to a shooting when he was arrested in July 2022 by Waycross Police officers who found a loaded pistol in his pocket.
- Horatio Trimane Bynes, 65, of Augusta, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found drugs, cash, and a .357 caliber revolver in Bynes’ car during a traffic stop.
- Javonte Deshawn Washington, 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 44 months in prison after pleading guilty to Straw Purchase of a Firearm. In his plea, Washington agreed that in November 2022 he aided and abetted Nygeria Tasheema Brown, 32, of Savannah, in purchasing a semi-automatic pistol for Washington from a Chatham County gun store even though he knew that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Garden City police officers found Washington in possession of the gun later that month when responding to a report of a man pointing a gun at motorists outside an apartment complex. Brown awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm.
- Dequan Donte Payne, 31, of Augusta, was sentenced to 110 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Payne in March 2022 after finding drugs and guns during a search of his residence as part of a drug investigation. Payne previously was convicted of armed robbery.
- Daquan Marquise Rolack, 25, of Grovetown, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Richmond County deputies arrested Rolack as part of Operation Grace during a June 2022 traffic stop in which they found Rolack in possession of a pistol while engaging in drug trafficking.
- Daquan Minor, 32, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Minor’s possession during an August 2022 traffic stop. Minor previously was convicted of illegal gun possession and drug trafficking offenses.
- Joquan K. Clark, 25, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Waynesboro Police officers responding to a domestic dispute arrested Clark after finding a pistol in his pocket.
- Jovonn Courtney Stokes, 26, of Springfield, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and one count of Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. In his plea agreement, Stokes admitted that he brandished a handgun while robbing two Chatham County convenience stores and an Effingham County convenience store in November and December 2022.
- Stephan Dewaine Jackson, 28, of Brunswick, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Glynn County Police officers found a pistol in Jackson’s vehicle during a January 2022 traffic stop.
- Tyrell Smith, 32, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith, who had an active arrest warrant related to a Savannah shooting, ran from police who arrested him when they found him carrying a pistol.
- Isaac Wilford Stewart, 23, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Waynesboro Police officers found a pistol in the floorboard of Stewart’s vehicle in October 2022 after an attempted traffic stop led to a chase and crash.
- Tyrone Dion Lyons Sr., 39, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County deputies and U.S. Marshals found a pistol in Lyons’ vehicle while serving a warrant for his arrest on Gwinnett County, Ga., charges.
- Jared Tyrese Adger, 23, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. In June 2022, Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found Adger in possession of two firearms during a traffic stop as part of Operation Grace.
- William Beau Devore, 21, of Martinez, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Devore in January 2022 as a suspect in a burglary, and determined that he was illegally in possession of five guns.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atfw-form-4473
Missaukee County Man Sentenced to 90 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Multiple ChildrenRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced the sentencing of Nathan Gary Christensen, 45, of Manton, Michigan, to 1,080 months in custody with the Bureau of Prisons. If released, Christensen must spend the rest of his life on supervised release.
“Mr. Christensen’s sexual abuse of innocent children is horrific," said U.S. Attorney Totten. “This 90-year sentence does not begin to undo the harm he’s inflicted on our most vulnerable. No sexual predator who learns of Mr. Christensen’s fate should experience a moment of ease: we will find you and we will hold you accountable.”
“These crimes are nothing less than monstrous,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “My thoughts are with the victims in this case, and it is my hope that today’s sentencing will bring some measure of peace as they heal from these horrific crimes. I would like to thank the Australian Federal Police and the HSI office in Canberra, whose vigilance helped bring this predator to justice.”
At sentencing today, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou denounced Christensen’s conduct as horrific. Judge Jarbou stated that in her 25-years of experience as a lawyer and judge she had not seen anything like this before. He “abused trust in the worse possible way and did it for years and did it to multiple victims” with children as young as “3-days old and 3-months old.” Judge Jarbou observed that the “exploitation will last forever” and that the children and their families will be impacted the rest of their lives. “The damage inflicted is life-long.” Judge Jarbou announced that “a life sentence is appropriate,” and sentenced Christensen to 90 years to protect the community, punish him for his conduct, and to send a message of deterrence to others who might contemplate sexually abusing children.
In September 2022, Christensen was identified by Australian Federal Police as a collector of child pornography and a potential producer and contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In October, HSI and the Michigan State Police (MSP) located Christensen and executed search warrants on his home and another associated residence. HSI and MSP then identified Christensen and recognized rooms in the home as the background of some of the images and videos. Christensen was immediately arrested on state charges of criminal sexual assault.
Computer forensic examination disclosed hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child pornography. Christensen was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023, and transferred to federal custody. In total, eight children were identified as victims and located. The victims were as young as 3-days-old and 3-months-old. Two of the victims had special needs. In March 2023, Christensen pleaded guilty to three counts stemming from his production of child pornography. Each charge had a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a statutory maximum of 30 years. By law, the court was permitted to run the sentences consecutively for a combined maximum of 90 years. In June 2023, Christensen pleaded guilty in Missaukee County to criminal sexual conduct charges and will be sentenced next month with the agreement that his state sentence will run concurrent with the federal sentence.
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: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 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 HSI Grand Rapids, Michigan State Police, MSP Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce in Traverse City, and the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Missaukee County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Metairie Man Pleads Guilty for Use of Communication Device to Faciliate Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on August 17, 2023, BRANDON MARTINEZ, a/k/a “RABBIT,” age 24 of Metairie, pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the superseding bill of information for use of a communication facility to facilitate felony drug trafficking, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b).
For Count 1, the maximum penalty includes 4 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, not more than 1 year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
According to public records, prior to March 2, 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) was informed that a motorcycle shop located at 5926 Alost Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, was suspected of harboring individuals selling drugs. ATF utilized a confidential informant (“CI”) to approach the shop and investigate if drug sales were occurring. On March 2, 2021, the CI traveled to the shop and met with MARTINEZ. The CI stated he was there to purchase methamphetamine. MARTINEZ utilized a cellphone to facilitate a meeting later that day between the CI and a co-defendant who sold methamphetamine. Co-defendants in this case previously plead guilty to selling an attempting to sell over 50 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to gun charges.
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 track violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit handled the prosecution.
Melvin Hill Convicted by Jury on Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Melvin Hill, 44, of Tignall, Georgia, was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Rutland on five drug and gun charges after a week-long jury trial. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that Hill remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Hill has been held without bail since his arrest in March 2022.
According to court records, in January 2022, a confidential source told Burlington narcotics investigators that the source could buy narcotics from Hill. In February and March, this source made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hill in transactions that were recorded and surveilled by police officers. Officers learned that Hill was staying at a hotel in South Burlington. They obtained a state-court warrant to search Hill’s hotel room and the car he had been driving. Officers arrested Hill on March 10 and recovered a loaded pistol and crack cocaine from his person. In his car and hotel room, officers seized hundreds of folds of fentanyl, hundreds of pills containing methamphetamine, and powder cocaine. They also found narcotics paraphernalia and around $13,000 in cash.
The following day, March 11, state and federal agents searched a storage unit that Hill had rented in Burlington. Inside, authorities found additional fentanyl, a second pistol, and about a pound of pure methamphetamine.
In March 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted Hill’s case for federal prosecution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont had successfully prosecuted Hill in an unrelated drug case in 2012.
In July 2022, a federal grand jury in Burlington charged Hill, in a superseding indictment, with two counts of distributing fentanyl to the confidential source; possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, and large quantities of methamphetamine; and two counts of possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Hill is barred from possessing any firearms because he has several felony convictions in federal court and in state court in Georgia.
“The Burlington Police Department is committed to public safety, and that includes protecting those who suffer from substance use disorder,” said Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. “We do not tolerate trafficking poisonous substances into our community, particularly by traffickers who target vulnerable people. This case shows our resolve to hold these individuals accountable. The BPD’s team, including Drug Unit Sergeant Phil Tremblay, want to acknowledge the fantastic work at trial by Assistant United States Attorneys Stendig and Waples, and their legal team. We would also like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their efforts in this investigation.”
“DEA is committed to investigating individuals like Mr. Hill who are responsible for distributing drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the citizens of Vermont,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this conviction be a warning to those traffickers who are distributing this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.”
Hill faces up to life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisting with firearms evidence.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who combine illegal firearm possession with illegal drug trafficking. The prosecution of Mr. Hill is an example of our commitment and that of our partner investigative agencies. We commend the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to investigate Hill’s conduct and to bring him to justice.”
At trial, Hill served as his own attorney. The prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Waples and Zachary Stendig.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Many, LA Man Sentenced to 12+ Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – John Michael Murphy, 36, of Many, Louisiana, was sentenced today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Murphy to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Murphy was charged in an indictment on June 15, 2022, with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine stemming from an investigation by law enforcement agents working in the Many, Louisiana area. Officers with the Sabine Parish Tactical Narcotics Team conducted an undercover purchase of 60 grams of methamphetamine from Murphy prior to November 2021 and were aware of his drug trafficking activities. Agents received information that Murphy would be traveling to get more methamphetamine and they began conducting surveillance of the vehicle in which Murphy was a passenger. As they were following Murphy, agents lost him and requested assistance from other officers in the area to assist in locating the vehicle.
On November 16, 2021, a Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy observed the vehicle traveling on La. Highway 6 and recognized the female driver who he knew to have an expired driver’s license. The deputy activated his emergency overhead lights and initiated a traffic stop. Both the female driver and Murphy stepped out of the car and the female driver gave deputies consent to search the vehicle. Deputies conducted a pat down search of Murphy and found a large bag between his legs containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine. The drugs were seized, and Murphy was arrested. The suspected drugs were sent to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Crime Lab for analysis and confirmed to be approximately 136.72 grams of methamphetamine. Murphy pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023 to possessing a total of 158.35 grams of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Sabine Parish Tactical Narcotics Team and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick.
The investigation and conviction of Murphy is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Man Who Claimed Bounty for St. Louis Murder Sentenced to 9 years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a man who claimed the $10,000 bounty for a 2017 murder to nine years in prison.
Delvin Bost, 28, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted calling to confirm that a bounty was still in place for Kevin Davis Jr. and then accepting the money after the fatal shooting of Davis, 24, on June 30, 2017 in the 1900 block of Belt Avenue in St. Louis. Bost said he then paid Michael “Beezy” Johnson. A witness told investigators that Johnson fired 25 shots at Davis Jr. after chasing him down the street.
On August 1, Judge White sentenced Johnson, 30, to 18 years in prison.
Both Bost and Johnson were involved in a narcotics conspiracy led by Maurice Herbert Lee II, 35, who had placed a bounty of between $5,000 and $15,000 on any rival gang members or drug dealers.
Lee pleaded guilty May 2 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his guilty plea, Lee admitted to offering and paying the bounty for the killing of two different men. In addition to Kevin Davis, Lee admitted that another fatal shooting occurred in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, that of Alexander Noodel on May 8, 2017.
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced September 7.
Bost also admitted selling drugs on Facebook and being caught with methamphetamine on Feb. 11, 2019. Judge White ordered Bost to pay more than $16,000 in restitution to the victim’s family.
In all, 17 defendants were charged and all pleaded guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul D’Agrosa and Mohsen Pasha are prosecuting the case.
Man Charged with Defrauding Elderly Homeowners and COVID-19 Relief ProgramsRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Freeman man had his initial appearance today on charges of wire fraud, filing a false tax return, tax evasion, and making false statements to a financial institution.
According to the indictment, Howard Lee Stith Jr., 41, allegedly perpetrated a scheme to defraud elderly homeowners in the Richmond Metro area by appearing at their homes and claiming that their slate roofs needed extensive repairs, which Stith offered to provide on a price-per-foot or price-per-material basis. Thereafter, Stith purported to provide the promised services, but, in truth, Stith performed minimal work of poor quality while charging homeowners exorbitant fees. Allegedly, Stith targeted the same homeowners over months and years, returning unsolicited and claiming the homeowners’ roofs needed further repairs. To substantiate the excessive amounts he charged, Stith allegedly created false invoices and misleading receipts, which he provided to various homeowners. From at least 2015 through the present time, Stith is alleged to have fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million from elderly homeowners in connection with this scheme.
According to allegations in the indictment, Stith failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the income he obtained from this scheme by filing a false tax return in 2018; failing to file tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021; and taking affirmative acts to evade the assessment of income tax between 2019 and 2021. Specifically, Stith allegedly directed homeowners to pay him by personal check and then conducted a series of transactions to convert the check into cash without making deposit records. Having thereby concealed the nature and source of his income, Stith thereafter dealt heavily in cash. After learning he was under federal investigation, Stith allegedly began directing homeowners to write personal checks to others to further conceal his receipt of such payments. Through this conduct, Stith evaded the assessment of income tax in the alleged amount of at least $575,000 for tax years 2018 through 2021.
According to further allegations in the indictment, Stith also used cash from his roofing scheme to make large payments on high end cars. When applying to finance some of these vehicles with a local credit union, Stith is alleged to have prepared and provided false tax returns that reported significantly more income than he had claimed in the returns filed with the IRS for those same years. As a result, the credit union approved and funded multiple loans totaling at least $130,000.
Finally, according to the allegations, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stith applied for and received relief funds to which he was not actually entitled. First, Stith applied for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on behalf of various businesses, including a roofing business. These applications included materially false statements about each business’s gross income and number of employees. Based on these material misrepresentations, Stith obtained at least $112,000 in EIDL funds to which he was allegedly not entitled. Stith also applied for and received at least $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits (UI), allegedly falsely claiming that he was not working, not self-employed, and not receiving money from any source. It is alleged that Stith received tens of thousands of dollars from elderly homeowners during the period in which he falsely claimed entitlement to unemployment.
Stith is charged with wire fraud, filing a false tax return, evading the assessment of income tax, failing to file income tax returns, and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years 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; Kyo Dolan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case.
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.
Anyone who believes they have been harmed by Stith’s criminal actions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Coordinator by calling 804-819-7429.
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. 3:23-cr-110.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Man Admits Three St. Louis Area RobberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Florissant, Missouri on Tuesday admitted robbing two area banks and a fast-food restaurant with what appeared to be a handgun.
Ricardo Rusan, 56, of Florissant, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of bank robbery and one other robbery charge. As part of his plea, he admitted robbing the Church’s Chicken at 5720 South Lindbergh Boulevard in Green Park, in south St. Louis County, on Jan. 1, 2019. On April 16, 2019, he robbed the Commerce Bank at 6383 Clayton Road in Clayton. Two days later, he robbed the Bank of America at 4189 Veterans Memorial Parkway in St. Peters. Investigators found blue gloves and a mask in Rusan’s car consistent with what the robber wore in two of the robberies. Rusan’s DNA was on the mask and a glove dropped by the Church’s robber.
Rusan is scheduled to be sentenced November 30. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Peters Police Department, the Clayton Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.
Lewis County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nathan Hotchkiss, age 35, of Lewis County, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo, New York Field Office, and Lewis County District Attorney Leanne K. Moser made the announcement.
As part of Hotchkiss’s guilty plea, he admitted that, from at least October 2021 through August 2022, he sexually exploited two children under the age of five and livestreamed or distributed depictions of the sexual abuse online for cash. When Hotchkiss was arrested in August 2022, he also had a collection of child pornography he had obtained on the Internet or through social media message exchanges with others.
If the parties’ agreed-upon sentence is imposed by the Court at sentencing on January 17, 2024, Hotchkiss will receive a term of imprisonment of 30 years, a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of life, and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. In addition, Hotchkiss will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to forfeit the electronic devices that he used to commit his offenses to the United States.
HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the New York State Police and the Lewis County District Attorney’s Office as part of Project Safe Childhood. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Lafayette Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Angel J. Zanex, 37 years old, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Zanex was sentenced to 84 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $71,000 in restitution to the victims of the charged offense as well as victims of uncharged offenses.
According to documents in the case, on or about December 15, 2021, Zanex distributed child sexual abuse material by posting a video to an online platform.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) GRIT/Merrillville Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Milwaukee Field Office, the Winnebago County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, the Indiana State Police Digital Forensic Unit, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Tak Force (ICAC), the Tippecanoe County Hight Tech Crime Unit, and the Lafayette Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan and former Northern District of Indiana Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Chang and Jill Koster.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Justice Department Secures Title IX Agreement Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Harassment with Case Western Reserve UniversityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, to resolve a federal investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into the university’s response to complaints of student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment. Under the agreement, CWRU will undertake campus-wide reforms so that students can attend school and participate in Greek life programming free from sex discrimination, including sexual assault, sex-based stalking and retaliation for filing complaints of sex discrimination.
“All students should be able to participate in college life without being subjected to sex discrimination. Far too often, students on our nation’s college and university campuses face stalking, harassment or sexual assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When sex discrimination rears its head, universities must respond appropriately to stop the misconduct and provide support so that the student can safely participate in school activities and complete their educational pursuits. This agreement would not have been possible without the many current and former student survivors who came forward and courageously shared their stories. We hope this agreement sends a message to the higher education community about the actions that must be taken to ensure that campuses are safe for all students.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes sex discrimination allegations such as these very seriously. The agreement provides not only for increased training but also for revised policies and procedures along with increased efforts at campus engagement and internal monitoring to address such matters proactively,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This settlement sends a strong message that sexual harassment on college campuses will not be tolerated, and the measures in the agreement will help protect current and future students. We acknowledge and commend the students from CWRU whose efforts shined a light on this issue, and we look forward to working with CWRU to implement this important agreement.”
The department’s investigation, which was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, focused on CWRU’s response to student complaints and hundreds of social media reports alleging sexual harassment on campus and a hostile environment in Greek life. One quarter of CWRU’s undergraduate population participates in the university’s 10 sororities and 16 fraternities. The department’s investigation concluded that, among other things, CWRU did not respond appropriately to a well-known climate of sexual harassment in its Greek life program. Further, CWRU employees did not report sexual harassment complaints to the office tasked with responding to such allegations and providing students with support and resources.
CWRU fully cooperated during this investigation. The agreement requires CWRU to undertake extensive reforms, including:
- Publicizing Title IX policies and protocols and developing user-friendly materials so the CWRU community knows how to report concerns regarding sex discrimination and access resources to address it;
- Delivering comprehensive annual training for all students and employees;
- Implementing new policies, protocols and well-designed trainings to reform the university’s Greek Life programming;
- Providing students who experience sex discrimination with resources to prevent disruptions to their education;
- Funding the women’s center, Office of Greek Life and University Health and Counseling Services, as needed, to support students affected by sex discrimination; and
- Conducting outreach and analyzing trends to strengthen prevention and response to sex discrimination on campus.
A summary of the agreement can be found here.
Individuals with information related to CWRU’s compliance with Title IX are encouraged to contact the Justice Department at 1-866-432-0339 or [email protected]. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Ohio is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh.
Justice Department Secures Title IX Agreement Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Harassment with Case Western Reserve UniversityRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, to resolve a federal investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into the university’s response to complaints of student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment. Under the agreement, CWRU will undertake campus-wide reforms so that students can attend school and participate in Greek life programming free from sex discrimination, including sexual assault, sex-based stalking and retaliation for filing complaints of sex discrimination.
“All students should be able to participate in college life without being subjected to sex discrimination. Far too often, students on our nation’s college and university campuses face stalking, harassment or sexual assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When sex discrimination rears its head, universities must respond appropriately to stop the misconduct and provide support so that the student can safely participate in school activities and complete their educational pursuits. This agreement would not have been possible without the many current and former student survivors who came forward and courageously shared their stories. We hope this agreement sends a message to the higher education community about the actions that must be taken to ensure that campuses are safe for all students.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes sex discrimination allegations such as these very seriously. The agreement provides not only for increased training but also for revised policies and procedures along with increased efforts at campus engagement and internal monitoring to address such matters proactively,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This settlement sends a strong message that sexual harassment on college campuses will not be tolerated, and the measures in the agreement will help protect current and future students. We acknowledge and commend the students from CWRU whose efforts shined a light on this issue, and we look forward to working with CWRU to implement this important agreement.”
The department’s investigation, which was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, focused on CWRU’s response to student complaints and hundreds of social media reports alleging sexual harassment on campus and a hostile environment in Greek life. One quarter of CWRU’s undergraduate population participates in the university’s 10 sororities and 16 fraternities. The department’s investigation concluded that, among other things, CWRU did not respond appropriately to a well-known climate of sexual harassment in its Greek life program. Further, CWRU employees did not report sexual harassment complaints to the office tasked with responding to such allegations and providing students with support and resources.
CWRU fully cooperated during this investigation. The agreement requires CWRU to undertake extensive reforms, including:
- Publicizing Title IX policies and protocols and developing user-friendly materials so the CWRU community knows how to report concerns regarding sex discrimination and access resources to address it;
- Delivering comprehensive annual training for all students and employees;
- Implementing new policies, protocols and well-designed trainings to reform the university’s Greek Life programming;
- Providing students who experience sex discrimination with resources to prevent disruptions to their education;
- Funding the women’s center, Office of Greek Life and University Health and Counseling Services, as needed, to support students affected by sex discrimination; and
- Conducting outreach and analyzing trends to strengthen prevention and response to sex discrimination on campus.
A summary of the agreement can be found here.
Individuals with information related to CWRU’s compliance with Title IX are encouraged to contact the Justice Department at 1-866-432-0339 or [email protected]. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Ohio is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh.
Cover Letter Agreement Agreement SummaryJustice Department Announces $51.86 Million in Grant Awards to Support Victims of Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant funding totaling $51,860,858 to provide victims of sexual assault with services in every state and the District of Columbia, as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This marks a significant increase of nearly 45% when compared to last year’s funding level. OVW Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall announced the 56 Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP) awards in remarks at the National Sexual Assault Conference in San Francisco, California. These are funds that are made available through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
“It is critically important that all victims of sexual assault are able to access support and safety. Research shows that the need for that support is substantial across our nation: more than half of women and nearly one-third of men experience sexual violence in their lifetimes, which is a truly staggering number,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “This significant release of SASP funds reflects our unwavering resolve to combat sexual assault. It represents our dedication to supporting rape crisis centers and other organizations that provide trauma-informed services and counseling, training advocates and ensuring that every survivor receives assistance tailored to their unique needs. We’re not just investing in services; we're investing in dignity, healing and justice for every survivor.”
“While we face significant challenges as a nation in preventing and addressing sexual assault, the increased resources for these programs through SASP funds underscore our dedication to centering the voices of survivors and enhancing services and support,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “We at the Office on Violence Against Women recognize the importance of strengthening a robust community-wide response in aiding survivors of sexual violence. This collective effort ensures that survivors are not just heard, but that they are fully supported in accessing safety, healing and justice. I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to service providers, advocates, coalitions and especially survivors. Their relentless work, bravery and dedication in preventing and addressing sexual violence are not just commendable but essential.”
Congress first authorized SASP in the VAWA Reauthorization of 2005. SASP is the nation’s first federal funding stream dedicated to providing direct intervention and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. OVW administers SASP funding according to a statutorily determined, population-based formula. States and territories, in turn, sub award the funds to rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental or Tribal agencies that provide direct intervention and related services to adult, youth and child victims of sexual assault.
In addition to SASP, OVW administers discretionary grant programs, many of which fund sexual assault services.
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending 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.
Full Award ListJury Convicts Ray City Man for Armed Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Ray City, Georgia, convicted felon was found guilty by a federal jury late last week of armed drug trafficking resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.
Demetris Gervone Bellamy, 31, of Ray City, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on Aug. 17. Bellamy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed drug trafficking conducted by career criminals is a threat to our communities and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are thankful to our local law enforcement partners for collaborating with us to keep our communities as safe as possible.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a cooperating witness in a drug trafficking investigation informed law enforcement they received methamphetamine from a source named “Nitro,” who was later identified as Bellamy. Law enforcement conducted a controlled methamphetamine buy from Bellamy on Sept. 9, 2021, surveilling him exiting his Ray City residence carrying a bag and arriving at the location in Valdosta. Bellamy fled the scene after he realized that law enforcement was present, tossing a bag of nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine immediately before he was apprehended. Investigators located a firearm in his car, along with a scale, baggies, and quantities of other drugs. Post-arrest, Bellamy admitted to acquiring “30 bricks” of methamphetamine as well as the firearm found in his vehicle from another person. A recorded jail call captured Bellamy telling a friend that he was going to get out of his charges because he tossed the drugs while he was running and the firearm was found in his vehicle, as opposed to on his person. Bellamy has a lengthy criminal history, including prior drug trafficking convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the Government, with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Destroying EvidenceRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Raymond Joseph (19, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to destroying records with the intent to impede or obstruct a federal investigation. Joseph faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, FBI was investigating a terrorism case involving a threat to conduct a violent attack against Jewish individuals and synagogues. As part of the investigation, Joseph was interviewed regarding whether he had knowledge of or involvement in this threat. During the investigation, FBI special agents specifically requested that Joseph preserve certain records of communications on his cellphone with a suspect in another district. Within moments of their departure from his residence, Joseph deleted one of the records that the FBI had discussed with him.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler, III and Assistant United States Attorney Cherie Krigsman, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.