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15 September 2023
Pearl River Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking on Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents, Antoniel Thomas Jr. 29, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, distributed methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation from January 2020 to February of 2020.
In August of 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Thomas in a four-count indictment involving the possession and distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. On January 27, 2021, Thomas entered a plea of guilty to count one of the indictment charging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian Burns.
Pawn Shop Owner Sentenced for $744,000 Scheme to Sell over 14,000 Stolen Items OnlineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The owner of a Kansas City, Mo., pawn shop was sentenced in federal court today for engaging in a $744,000 scheme to fence more than 14,500 stolen items and sell them on eBay.
Dennis G. Russell, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Russell to pay a $100,000 fine and to forfeit to the government $744,222, which represents the proceeds obtained from the conspiracy.
On March 24, 2023, Russell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines. During the scheme, Russell was one of two members of the board of directors of Rison of KC, Inc., which does business as National Pawn at 6223 E. Truman Road in Kansas City, Mo. Rison of KC is also charged with the same offense but has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Russell admitted that he participated in a nearly five-year-long conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2017, to July 27, 2021, to purchase items he knew had been stolen from various retail locations in the Kansas City metropolitan area, then sell those items on eBay. Russell shipped approximately 14,672 stolen items across state lines, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $744,222.
Multiple thieves, known as “boosters,” stole items from Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, CVS, Walgreens, and other retail locations. They sold such stolen items as robot vacuum cleaners, textbooks, Roku and Google Chromecast television streaming devices, and Crest Whitestrips to Russell at a fraction of their retail price. Russell then posted the stolen items for sale on eBay, using one of two accounts, and shipped them to purchasers in numerous other states.
According to court documents, Russell continued his scheme during the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, 2020 was his most profitable year, selling 7,089 stolen items on eBay and receiving $324,842 in gross proceeds. In one instance, from Feb. 20 to April 2, 2020, two boosters — who were working in tandem — provided him with 641 stolen items.
Russell only stopped his illegal conduct after a federal search warrant was executed at National Pawn and he was served with a target letter. On Oct. 21, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at National Pawn and seized 3,400 items, which Russell and National Pawn do not contest were stolen property and which have been forfeited to the government.
Rison of KC has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Under the terms of that agreement, the business admits to the criminal conspiracy and accepts responsibility for the acts of its officers and employees. The government will defer prosecution of Rison of KC for that conduct during the three-year term of the agreement and will not continue with prosecution if the business fully complies with its obligations under the agreement, which include:
- National Pawn must keep a current list of all employees, all financial accounts, and all auction websites it utilizes;
- National Pawn must obtain and retain a verifiable third-party receipt for any new product purchased;
- Russell must not work at or profit from National Pawn.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle, Matthew Wolesky, and Anthony Brown. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Owner of Temporary Employment Agency Sentenced for Tax Fraud and Workers Compensation Insurance SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dorchester woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for tax and fraud offenses in connection with her operation of a temporary employment agency.
Dam Ngoc Luong, 70, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Luong was also ordered to pay $3,993,169 in restitution to IRS and $155,870 in restitution to Traveler’s Insurance Co. On April 18, 2023, Luong pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false corporate and individual tax returns, three counts of failure to collect and pay over employee taxes and one count of mail fraud.
From at least 2015 through 2019, Luong owned and operated Four Seasons Temp, Inc., an agency providing temporary workers for client businesses. A temporary employment agency is responsible for paying wages to the employees, processing employee payroll, collecting and paying all employee payroll taxes and maintaining workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees who suffer work-related injuries. The agency collects payments from the client businesses to cover the agency’s expenses and a profit for the agency.When collecting payments from business clients of her temporary employment agency, however, Luong cashed most checks rather than deposit the funds into her business account. Then, on annual corporate tax returns, Luong reported to the IRS only the amounts deposited to the business account and failed to pay federal taxes on more than $14 million of the company’s income. Additionally, because Luong created Four Seasons as an S-corporation, the net business income and expenses flowed through to her Form 1040 individual tax returns. As a result, Luong failed to report more than $3 million in pass-through income and failed to pay $885,000 in personal income taxes.
As the owner of the company, Luong also had an obligation to withhold taxes from wages paid to the employees. Despite this obligation, Luong paid more than $12 million of employee wages in cash “under the table.” She failed to withhold taxes from the cash wages and failed to pay more than $3 million in employment taxes she owed to the IRS.
Finally, Luong defrauded the insurance carrier she engaged to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employees, by concealing the cash wages paid to her employees. By concealing the wages she paid, Luong paid lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums and defrauded the insurance carrier of $155,000 in premiums she should have paid.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
North Tonawanda Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Daniel Rodriguez, 40, of North Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine up to $8,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that leading up to September 11, 2020, Rodriguez and co-defendant Adrienne Czosnyka resided together on Center Avenue in North Tonawanda. Rodriguez was a suspect in an investigation being conducted by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. On September 11, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at the Center Avenue residence and on a vehicle belonging to defendant Czosnyka. They recovered over 500 grams of cocaine, four digital scales, 10 cellular telephones, and over $4,700 in currency. Investigators also recovered a 12-gauge shotgun, and three rounds of ammunition. Rodriguez was previously convicted of felonies in 2001 and 2007, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
In addition, co-defendant Adrienne Czosnyka pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of cocaine and faces up to a year in prison.
The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger; the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith T. Glass; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2023 before Chief Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
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New Jersey Construction Company Operator Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes and Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
A New Jersey man pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion, employment tax crimes, aiding the filing of false tax returns and making false statements in bankruptcy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zeki Donuk, of Landing, operated a construction business first under the name Titan Builders LLC and later as Titan Steel Construction LLC (collectively, “Titan”). From at least 2016 through 2019, Donuk cashed checks payable to Titan instead of depositing them into business bank accounts. Donuk concealed the cashed checks and did not report them either as gross receipts on Titan’s corporate tax returns or as income on his or his wife’s personal returns.
As part of his plea, Donuk admitted that from the third quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2017, he also did not collect, account for or pay over to the IRS employment taxes withheld from employees’ wages, despite a legal obligation to do so. For those quarters, Donuk also did not file quarterly employment tax returns on behalf of the businesses.
In 2019, Donuk made false statements on documents he filed in a personal bankruptcy case. Specifically, he concealed from the bankruptcy court that he owned a vacation property in Pennsylvania, had signatory authority over certain bank accounts, owed tax debts to the IRS and operated his construction business as Titan Builders and Titan Steel.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas for the District of New Jersey set sentencing for Jan. 4, 2024. Donuk faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion, failure to account for and pay employment taxes and bankruptcy fraud, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Melissa S. Siskind of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.
New Hampshire Doctor Indicted for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids and BenzodiazepinesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A doctor practicing in the north country of New Hampshire was indicted in connection with his unlawful distribution of opioids and benzodiazepines, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Robert G. Soucy Jr., D.O., 70, of Columbia, New Hampshire, was indicted on 12 counts of distribution of controlled substances. Soucy made his initial appearance in federal court today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dr. Soucy allegedly distributed fentanyl, oxycodone, hydromorphone, methadone, lorazepam, and diazepam to individuals outside the usual course of professional practice, and without a legitimate medical purpose. He recently surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration registration and also did not renew his medical license, and, therefore, is no longer permitted to prescribe controlled substances.
If convicted, Dr. Soucy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
The New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force led the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W.R. Ward of the District of New Hampshire’s United States Attorney’s Office and Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Fraud Section.
The NEPO Strike Force is a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for three federal districts, as well as law enforcement partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI. The mission of the NEPO Strike Force is to identify and investigate health care fraud schemes in the New England region, and to effectively and efficiently prosecute individuals involved in the illegal distribution of prescription opioids and other prescribed controlled substances. The NEPO Strike Force primarily targets criminal conduct by physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals, focusing upon both health care fraud and drug diversion offenses, as relevant based upon the facts of the particular case.
Medications obtained illicitly are very dangerous as they are often not what they appear, and frequently contain contaminants and extremely potent substances such as fentanyl that greatly increase the risk of overdose and death.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Navmar to Pay $4.4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Double-billing and Cost-ShiftingRead the Press Release
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (Navmar), headquartered in Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $4.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly double billing and shifting certain labor and material costs under a series of contracts with the Department of the Navy (Navy) to manufacture, design and test emerging intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies.
The United States alleged that Navmar knowingly billed certain labor and material costs on one Navy contract, subsequently billed the same costs on another contract and was therefore paid twice for the same costs. The United States further alleged that Navmar knowingly and improperly shifted material costs incurred under certain contracts to other contracts in violation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation requirement that costs incurred under a contract be allocable to that contract, resulting in Navmar recovering costs it otherwise would not have.
“Companies that do business with the government must ensure that they are properly billing the government for the goods or services that they provide,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those who misuse taxpayer funds for their own self-enrichment.”
“This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to take appropriate action when it determines that taxpayer dollars have been double-billed and improperly accounted for,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Cases such as this one should be seen as a warning to defense contractors that false claims have no place in military purchasing.”
“Investigating allegations of cost mischarging on Department of Defense (DoD) contracts is a top priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General,” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The DCIS is committed to working with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Justice Department to protect the integrity of the DoD procurement process. The Defense Contract Audit Agency’s Operations Investigative Support Division provided valuable expertise during this investigation.”
“Procurement fraud threatens military readiness and therefore poses a significant threat to our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crime Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to ensuring the good stewardship of U.S. taxpayer dollars by thoroughly investigating all allegations of fraud that damage the integrity of the Department of the Navy procurement process.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with assistance from the DCIS, NCIS, Defense Contract Audit Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency.
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney K.L. Grace Moseley of the Justice Department's Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Landon Jones and Mark Sherer for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
navmar_settlement_agreement_executed_sept_15_2023.pdfNavmar Applied Sciences Corporation Agrees to Pay $4.4 Million to Resolve Claims of Double-Billing and Cost-Shifting Under U.S. Navy ContractsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC), headquartered in Warminster, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $4.4 million to resolve allegations that NASC violated the False Claims Act by knowingly and improperly double-billing and shifting certain labor and material costs under a series of contracts with the U.S. Department of the Navy. Separately, NASC has also agreed to resolve administrative claims arising out of an audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency of NASC’s incurred cost proposals for Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The United States’ allegations under the False Claims Act arise from a series of contracts, awarded by the Navy to NASC between 2010 and 2012, for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, hardware, maintenance technical support services, and the development and rapid deployment of various advanced sensors and Unmanned Aerial Systems.
The United States alleged that under those government contracts, NASC knowingly and improperly billed the Navy for certain labor and material costs on one contract, and then billed the same costs on another contract, and was improperly paid twice. The United States further alleged that in multiple instances, NASC knowingly and improperly shifted the costs of materials from one contract to another, to avoid cost ceilings and maximize payments from the government to which NASC was not entitled.
“This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to take appropriate action when it determines that taxpayer dollars have been doubled-billed and improperly accounted for,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Cases such as this one should be seen as a warning to defense contractors that false claims have no place in military purchasing.”
“Investigating allegations of cost mischarging on Department of Defense (DoD) contracts is a top priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General,” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The DCIS is committed to working with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Department of Justice to protect the integrity of the DoD procurement process. The Defense Contract Audit Agency’s Operations Investigative Support Division provided valuable expertise during this investigation.”
“Procurement fraud threatens military readiness and therefore poses a significant threat to our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Gross of the NCIS Economic Crime Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to ensuring the good stewardship of U.S. taxpayer dollars by thoroughly investigating all allegations of fraud that damage the integrity of the Department of the Navy procurement process.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with investigative assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and the Defense Contract Management Agency.
The matter is being handled in the U.S. Attorney’s Office by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Landon Y. Jones and Mark J. Sherer, and Auditor Dawn Wiggins.
Morgantown physician charged with tax fraudRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David M. Anderson, age 62, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with filing a false tax return.
According to court documents, Anderson, a physician, filed false tax returns that understated his taxable income.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Travis Lee Young, 47, Milwaukee, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 144 months for possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and maintaining a drug trafficking place. Young pleaded guilty to these charges on June 6, 2023. This period of imprisonment will be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
On August 3, 2022, officers arrested Young at a hotel in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Young had been connected to a purchase of methamphetamine two weeks prior at the same hotel. Inside of Young’s hotel room, officers found over 600 grams of methamphetamine, over 940 M-30 fentanyl pills, and 17 grams of cocaine. These controlled substances were packaged for distribution. Officers also found a loaded semiautomatic firearm underneath the mattress of the bed. Young’s DNA was found on the firearm.
A witness involved in this investigation told officers that they had purchased methamphetamine from Young before. The same witness had driven Young to and from Milwaukee on drug-related trips around Wisconsin. A search of Young’s cellphone revealed that Young had been having multiple conversations about his drug trafficking.
Young was convicted in 2017 of the felony offenses of possession of a firearm by a felon and a burglary in Milwaukee County. Young was still serving the extended supervision portion of those sentences at the time of his arrest. Young had been convicted of eight felonies before the date of this arrest.
After his arrest, Young attempted to persuade witnesses to change their stories by sending letters from the jail, instructing them to recant and blame a different individual for the drugs and firearm.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson remarked that these crimes were really serious as involved a significant quantity of drugs. The judge voiced his concern that a firearm was involved, remarking that the gun was there to protect Young’s drug trafficking. The judge opined that Young had been a bad influence on the community. He stated that Young’s drug dealing harmed the public, as he was “making money off the illness of others.” The judge considered Young’s criminal history to be “serious” and “aggravated”, specifically focusing on Young’s previous involvement in violent crimes.
The charges against Young were the result of an investigation conducted by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle River Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn E. Ginsberg.
Mexican Man Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Mexican man has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Ramon Alfaro-Orona, 38, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon, Alfaro-Orona was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Sept. 19, 2023 at noon.
According to the charging documents, Alfaro-Orona was deported from the United States on eight prior occasions, with the most recent being Sept. 30, 2014. It is alleged that sometime after his September 2014 removal, Alfaro-Orona unlawfully reentered the United States. On Aug. 23, 2023, Alfaro-Orona was taken into custody by immigration authorities following his arraignment in Leominster District Court for three counts of larceny by check over $1,200.
Alfaro-Orona was convicted for unlawful reentry on two prior occasions in November 2013 and March 2014.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Sentenced for Strangling Spouse in JapanRead the Press Release
A Michigan man was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for assaulting and strangling his spouse at their off-base residence outside of U.S. Army Garrison Japan in Sagamihara, Japan.
According to court documents, on July 19, 2021, Robert Hammock, 39, of Detroit, and his spouse got into an argument inside their residence. The argument escalated and Hammock punched his spouse in the eye twice, hit her on the head and body, pushed her to the ground, and then strangled her. She was able to escape only when Hammock stopped assaulting her as he attempted to take her cell phone, which she had dropped due to the force of the strangulation. The victim sustained injuries, including bruising around her eye and on her cheekbone, and lacerations on her neck.
On May 4, Hammock pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of assault of a spouse by strangulation.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan, and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeFamio of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) Far East Field Office made the announcement.
Army CID investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Taylor for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case.
Linesville Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearm LawsRead the Press Release
ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Linesville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Suzanne Ray King, 48, 15520 Hindman Road, Linesville, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around August 2021, King possessed three firearms while being a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm. In addition, one of the firearms was an illegal, unregistered sawed off shotgun.
Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for January 9, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued King on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Molly W. Anglin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of King.
Leader of International Gift Card Fraud Scheme ConvictedRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Chinese national residing in Washington, D.C. yesterday on charges of conspiracy, access device fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Qinbin Chen, 29, masterminded a criminal conspiracy that obtained, trafficked, used, and laundered gift cards and debit cards purchased by victims, who were mostly elderly, from across the United States. The victims were manipulated into buying Walmart gift cards by fraudsters who told the victims a range of lies, such as their social security numbers had been compromised, their bank accounts had been hacked, or there was an issue with their computer software. The victims sent the gift cards to fraudsters who soon transferred them to Chen. Chen employed conspirators to use the Walmart gift cards to buy other gift cards. Chen then sold those “clean” gift cards to overseas buyers. Though Chen reported little legitimate income, his bank accounts showed hundreds of thousands of dollars in incoming international wires. Evidence at trial suggested that Chen trafficked about $7 million in fraudulently obtained gift cards.
Chen faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on December 18. 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.
Chen is the seventh defendant convicted as part of this investigation. Co-conspirators He Li, 45; Shouming Sun, 44; Jin Hong, 40; Yuchen Zhang, 26; Mouluan Wu, 47; and Zhizhan Chen, 26, have pleaded guilty to related charges.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Javan S Wilson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the verdict.
The Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office also assisted in the prosecution of Chen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hood and Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. are prosecuting the case.
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. 1:22-cr-216.
Joplin Man, Woman Indicted for Mail Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to steal mail from Joplin residents and in a separate conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
Aaron M. Blake, 27, and Emily Anna-Lee Sturgis, 30, were charged in a nine-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Aug. 29, 2023.
The federal indictment alleges that Blake and Sturgis participated in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and, in a separate count, a mail theft conspiracy, from December 2022 to Jan. 26, 2023.
According to the indictment, Blake and Sturgis stole checks, credit cards, debit cards, cash, and documents that contained personal identification information from the mailboxes of their victims in Joplin. The indictment alleges they stole Pandora jewelry from one victim’s mailbox, and a Christmas card that contained a $500 check from another victim’s mailbox. The indictment also alleges they stole a W-2 form from a mailbox and used it to fraudulently obtain a credit card; when the credit card was mailed to the victim’s address, they allegedly stole it from the mailbox as well. In another instance, the indictment says, they stole a credit card from a victim’s mailbox and used it to make purchases.
Blake and Sturgis allegedly used the stolen credit cards to purchase items from area businesses. They allegedly used the stolen personal identification information of their victims (such as bank account numbers, bank routing numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers) to open other credit and bank accounts.
Blake and Sturgis rented a motel room in Carthage, Mo., the indictment says, where they kept the stolen mail.
In addition to the two conspiracy charges, Blake and Sturgis are charged together in three counts of bank fraud and three counts of possessing stolen mail. Blake is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft.
Deputies with the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department responded to a call on Jan. 26, 2023, about the occupants of a blue sedan stealing mail and parcels from residences. The deputies located Blake and Sturgis at Casey’s General Store in Carl Junction, Mo., in possession of various pieces of stolen mail, and arrested them.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Carthage, Mo., Police Department and the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Jersey City Attorney Admits Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jersey City attorney today admitted defrauding his clients of more than $2 million dollars and other crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
James R. Lisa, 68, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of obstructing the IRS, one count of failing to file an individual income tax return, and one count of wire fraud while on pretrial release.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“James Lisa used his law license to execute a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme and rip off clients who placed their trust in him. Then, after being charged for that fraud, Lisa committed another when, posing as his own lawyer, he sent a bogus letter to a lender that falsely described the status of his criminal case. Lisa’s multiple criminal acts were serious violations of his oath as an officer of the court and a betrayal of his clients’ trust. He will now face justice for these crimes. The people of New Jersey must be able to rely on their attorneys without having to worry that they are being defrauded. Lisa’s guilty plea should reassure the public that our office will bring the full weight of the justice system on attorneys who violate federal the law.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In 2014, Lisa was retained by a family to help repatriate millions of dollars that had been transferred by other family members to offshore bank accounts decades earlier. Lisa was also retained to help resolve the tax issues related to the repatriation of the funds. In 2015, Lisa successfully repatriated more than $6 million of the family’s funds, but proceeded to falsely advise the family that the funds remained offshore. In 2017, Lisa provided $4 million of the repatriated funds to the family but continued to falsely represent that the remaining $2 million remained beyond his control.
Lisa falsely told the family that he successfully resolved the tax implications of repatriating the funds. In 2016, Lisa sent the family a fraudulent IRS “closing agreement” reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $3 million in taxes and penalties for the repatriated funds. In 2018, Lisa sent the family another fraudulent closing agreement reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $2 million in taxes and penalties because only $4 million was purportedly repatriated. In fact, the IRS never entered into these agreements and the IRS employees who purportedly signed the documents never did so. When one member of the family was audited by the IRS, the IRS issued Lisa a summons for records related to the family’s assets. In response to the summons, Lisa produced false and fraudulent documents suggesting that the IRS had agreed to closing agreements with the family.
In January 2023, Lisa was arrested after being charged with this fraud scheme and placed on pretrial release. One condition of his pretrial release was that he not commit another crime. In April 2023, Lisa committed wire fraud when he applied for a $22,000 loan. In order to obtain the loan, Lisa caused the creation and submission to the lender of a fraudulent document that purported to be a letter from the attorney then representing him in his criminal prosecution. Lisa caused the letter to be sent in order to defraud the lender about the status of the criminal prosecution so that the lender would approve the loan.
Lisa also admitted that he failed to file individual income tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2022, and as a result, caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $550,000.
The count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The count of aggravated identity theft carries a statutory mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. The count of obstructing the IRS carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The count of failure to file a tax return carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The count of wire fraud while on pretrial release carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss to the victim or gain to the defendant, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Mid Atlantic Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay; and IRS - Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
lisa.sinformation.pdfIndictment in Nine Year Old Cold CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dawayne Joseph Spriggs, 37, of Washington D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland, was arraigned today on charges stemming from a 2014 cold case involving a stranger sexual assault, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, on July 6, 2014, Spriggs encountered the victim near the Minnesota Ave. Metro station at approximately 1 a.m. He followed her and physically and sexually assaulted her in an alley. After the assault was over, the victim reported the offense to police and obtained a sexual assault examination, including a rape kit. The evidence was timely tested for DNA in 2014 and was entered into a national database. In 2016, the database reported a match between the DNA profile obtained from the rape kit and another sexual assault offense that had been reported in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 2013. In 2023, detectives with MPD’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit obtained a lead as to the assailant’s identity that led them to lawfully collect DNA samples from defendant Spriggs. These DNA samples were tested by both law enforcement entities and resulted in a match to both rape kits.
On September 13, 2023, a District of Columbia Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Spriggs in the D.C. cold case with two counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse and two counts of Third Degree Sexual Abuse. If convicted, Spriggs faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $125,000, followed by not less than five years’ supervised release, and would be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his lifetime. Trial is scheduled to begin on October 12, 2023, before the Honorable Michael O’Keefe.
The defendant is also currently charged by criminal complaint in Anne Arundel County for unrelated offenses reported in Maryland in 2013.
This case was brought as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative and investigated by MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit. In February 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia created the Cold Case Sexual Assault Initiative. The goal of the Initiative is to collaborate with law enforcement partners to reinvestigate, solve and bring charges in previously unsolved cases of sexual assault against adults and juveniles. The Cold Case Initiative works with the MPD, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and state and local law enforcement agencies in the DMV area.
This case is being investigated by the MPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Amy Zubrensky.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Indian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Marriage Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Vikrant Chauhan, 35, a citizen of India living in Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Fabian, who is handling the case, stated that on April 2, 2018, Chauhan, a citizen of Indian, married a female United States citizen in Worcester, Massachusetts. The marriage was fraudulent in that Chauhan and the female United States citizen were not in a genuine relationship, never resided together, and entered the “contract marriage” only for the purpose of obtaining a Permanent Resident Card. also known as a Green Card, for Chauhan. On June 1, 2018, using his Indian passport, Chauhan submitted an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status to the Department of Homeland Security citing the April 2, 2018, fraudulent marriage. In May 2019, Chauhan was interviewed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), during which his “wife” stated that she lived together with Chauhan in Connecticut. In November 2021, Chauhan was interviewed a second time by USCIS, during which he falsely claimed to continue to reside with his “wife” in Connecticut. He also falsely claimed that his “wife” was pregnant with his child. During the course of the conspiracy, the female United States citizen whom Chauhan married brokered multiple fraudulent marriages that were conducted in Hamburg, NY, and facilitated multiple USCIS interviews that were conducted in Buffalo, NY.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Chicago Field Office under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Karen Whalen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, and the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Dienes.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2024 before Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
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Illinois Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Heroin CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin was convicted by a jury on September 14, 2023, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Michael Garrick Denson, age 33, from Illinois, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin. The verdict was returned following about an hour of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Denson was a methamphetamine and heroin dealer in the Dubuque, Iowa, area who was nicknamed “Ice Mike.” Between February 2018 and February 2020, Denson conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. On July 23, 2019, investigators observed Denson outside of a hotel in Dubuque. Denson had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and investigators stopped a car he was a passenger in. During the stop, Denson got out of the passenger side of the car and ran from investigators. Investigators located six small baggies containing heroin near where Denson had been seated in the car.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Denson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Denson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force (consisting of the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department) and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-01003-CJW.
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Hudsonville Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Austin Thomas Noel, 27, of Hudsonville, Michigan, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for sexually exploiting children. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker also imposed seven years of supervised release following Noel’s custodial sentence.
“My office takes child exploitation cases very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Mr. Noel used social media to cast a wide net in search of girls and young women to sexually exploit. Now, he will serve over 17 years in prison for his predatory behavior. Our foot is on the gas and others who commit these crimes against children will face a similar fate.”
“This sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone considering preying on our most innocent and vulnerable members of society,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting violent predators who commit crimes against our children. Successful work like this is made possible thanks to the wide network of law enforcement partners and we appreciate their critical support throughout this investigation.”
In January 2022, a mother reported to the FBI that she discovered her daughter had been engaging in sexually explicit chats with a man using the account name, “official_anoel.” The conversations started when the child was 13 years old and continued for around two years. The FBI identified Austin Noel as the man behind the “official_anoel” account and uncovered more than 700 chat logs and communications between Noel and girls and young women. Approximately 37 of these individuals identified themselves as minors, more than 20 of which were between the ages of 12 and 15 years old. Throughout the chats, Noel made numerous efforts to meet with the minors for sex. In March 2023, Noel pleaded guilty to a Felony Information charging him with sexually exploiting the victim and using her to create child pornography for him.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: https://www.justice.gov/psc. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by FBI Grand Rapids, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Shores Police Department, and the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Trafficking Task Force (WEBCHEX), which is a partnership of FBI, Michigan State Police, and local agencies dedicated to investigating offenses against children.
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Harvey Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FREDERICK TURNER, age 51, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 14, 2023 to 151 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
TURNER previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
According to court documents, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation revealed that TURNER was involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, TURNER regularly distributed amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. Additionally, officers executed a search warrant at TURNER’s residence and seized an illegal shotgun from TURNER.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.
Gonzales Woman Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a four-count indictment charging Hannah Kinchen, age 39, of Gonzales, Louisiana, with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and distribution of child pornography. Kinchen appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to the indictment, between approximately July of 2020 and at least October of 2020, Kinchen conspired with others to produce and distribute child pornography. If convicted of these charges, Kinchen faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Frewsburg Sex Offender Arrested on New Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jeffrey Paden, 57, of Frewsburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the New York State Police (NYSP) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an individual in Frewsburg, NY, uploaded images of child pornography on the internet. Subsequent investigation traced the images to Paden, who is currently on federal supervised release following a 2015 conviction for possession of child pornography. Paden was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release. On September 12, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant on 12 electronic devices seized earlier in the investigation by the NYSP and recovered multiple images of child pornography.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Four Honduran Nationals Indicted for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of indictments charging four Honduran nationals, Juan Ariel Molina-Salles (age 33), Elieser Aurelio Gomez-Zelaya (age 32), Allan Oseas Gomez-Zelaya (age 42), and Duglas Hernandez Valladares (age 38) with aggravated identity theft, misuse of Social Security numbers, and making false statements regarding citizenship with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment. If convicted on all counts, each faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years, up to 12 years, in federal prison.
According to the indictments, Molina-Salles, Elieser Aurelio Gomez-Zelaya, Allan Oseas Gomez-Zelaya, and Hernandez Valladares misused the names and Social Security numbers of others and falsely claimed to be United States citizens with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment.
“Identity theft is not a victimless crime,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “HSI, in cooperation with state and local partners, prioritizes the protection of someone’s personal information and works diligently to ensure it is not stolen, traded in an illicit marketplace, or used by criminal organizations.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the United States Border Patrol, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.
Valladares Indictment
Molinas-Salles Indictment
A O Gomez-Zalaya Indictment
E A Gomez-Zalaya IndictmentFormer officer imprisoned for smuggling cocaineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Raymondville resident has been sentenced for trafficking drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal jury deliberated for two hours before convicting Juan Posas Jr. June 27 of trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to do so.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Posas to serve 162 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At sentencing the Government pointed out Juan Posas knew the consequences of the actions he was taking.
Posas is a former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. At trial, the jury heard that on June 6, 2022, Posas traveled from Raymondville to a Home Depot in Weslaco where he met with Alexis Soria-Soria, 25, a Mexican national illegally residing in the United States. Soria then transferred a box containing approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine into Posas’ truck.
At trial, the jury heard recordings of phone conversations in which Posas helped plan the drug smuggling attempt.
However, the defense attempted to convince the jury that Soria approached him in the parking lot and simply asked if he wanted free fruits, then placed a box of fruits in his car. He said he never checked the box to see what was inside. The jury did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.
Posas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jongwoo Chung and Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
Former Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Gift Cards and Money from the MailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging Anita Miller, 40, of Jamestown, NY, with six counts of theft of mail by a postal employee and two counts of delay of mail by a postal employee. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on six occasions in February and March 2022, Miller, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition, one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Former Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Gift Cards and Money from the MailRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging Anita Miller, 40, of Jamestown, NY, with six counts of theft of mail by a postal employee and two counts of delay of mail by a postal employee. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on six occasions in February and March 2022, Miller, while employed by the U.S. Postal Service, stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition, one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent-in-Charge Northeast Field Office.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Former Park City Mental Health Counselor Sentenced to over 8 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A former Park City, Kentucky mental health counselor was sentenced today to 8 years and 4 months in prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual exploitation materials.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville made the announcement.
According to court documents, Carl Anthony Puleo, 55, was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, for one count each of receiving, distributing, and possessing child sexual exploitation materials. Puleo was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. During an investigation, an HSI Agent downloaded child sexual exploitation materials from Puleo through a file-sharing network. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by HSI Bowling Green.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former Columbia Police Chief Sentenced for Stealing City FundsRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – The former City of Columbia Chief of Police was sentenced today to 5 months in federal prison for stealing city funds.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 2020 and February 2021, Jason Dewayne Cross, 46, of Columbia, Kentucky, the Columbia Chief of Police at the time, stole over $25,000 from the Columbia Police Department evidence room and drug purchase fund.
Cross was sentenced to 5 months in prison, followed by a 1-year term of supervised release, for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), which makes it a federal offense for a city employee to steal more than $5,000 from a city that received over $10,000 in federal assistance in a calendar year. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the Columbia Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser prosecuted the case.
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Former Ambassador and U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan for Violating Federal Disclosure Laws and Unlawfully Aiding and Advising Foreign Government After RetirementRead the Press Release
Defendant Admitted Violating “Revolving Door” Prohibitions
WASHINGTON – Richard Gustave Olson, Jr., 63, of Algodones, New Mexico, a former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan and a former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was sentenced today to 36 months’ probation and a fine of $93,350 for two separate courses of conduct, both of which involved misconduct relating to his public office. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada of the Central District of California, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Olson pleaded guilty on June 3, 2022, in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of making a false writing and one count of aiding and advising a foreign government with the intent to influence decisions of United States officers.
Olson served as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from October 31, 2012, through November 17, 2015, and as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from November 17, 2015, through his retirement from government service on November 30, 2016. According to court documents, the defendant intentionally submitted a false ethics form that failed to disclose thousands of dollars of benefits he received from a businessman (“Person 1”) while the defendant was serving in government. When later questioned by the FBI concerning some of these benefits, the defendant falsely claimed that he did not know Person 1 paid for them. After the defendant retired from government service, Person 1 began paying him a consulting fee of $20,000 per month. While receiving these payments, the defendant illegally helped the government of Qatar influence U.S. policymakers in violation of laws meant to prevent recent retirees from leveraging their high-level U.S. government service to further foreign interests.
Given his high-level position in the U.S. government, the defendant was subject to the “revolving door” prohibitions in 18 U.S.C. § 207(f) for one year after leaving government service. Congress enacted these prohibitions to prevent public officials from unfairly profiting from the contacts, associations, and special knowledge that they gained during their tenure as public servants. The phrase “revolving door” describes the practice of public officials abandoning public service for lobbying positions. Prohibitions on this practice, often referred to as mandatory “cooling-off” or “waiting” periods, forbid individuals from engaging in lobbying activities for a period of time after leaving public service. U.S. law prohibits senior officials—like the defendant—from representing a foreign government before any federal agency or from aiding or advising a foreign entity with the intent to influence the U.S. government for one year after leaving their positions. The defendant knowingly violated these prohibitions by providing aid and advice in furtherance of two Qatari goals: (1) convincing U.S. policymakers to establish U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities at Doha International Airport, and (2) convincing U.S. policymakers to support Qatar, rather than its regional rivals, during the 2017 Gulf Diplomatic Crisis. After learning that the government was investigating his activities on behalf of Qatar, the defendant obstructed the government’s investigation by deleting relevant emails.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. O’Brien of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart D. Allen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Transporting an AlienRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Gerardo Hernandez Anselmo, 34, of Kissimmee, Florida, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in prison for illegally transporting an alien. Hernandez Anselmo pleaded guilty to this charge on June 9, 2023.
On June 10, 2022, an officer in the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department received information from a relative that R.E. had not returned home from work the day before. The complainant reported that he went to R.E.’s place of employment to find him, and while there, learned there was a video of the parking lot that showed R.E. getting into the backseat of a car that had parked next to R.E.’s car.
Citizens familiar with R.E. told law enforcement that they suspected R.E. had been driven to Florida to work off a debt he owed to Gerardo Hernandez Anselmo and his wife because they helped R.E. enter the country illegally.
Law enforcement in Florida went to an address in Kissimmee, Florida where they found the defendant and Felipe Engracia-Gonzalez. They also recovered R.E. and interviewed him. R.E. identified the defendant and Engracia-Gonzalez as the people who drove him from Abbotsford, Wisconsin to Kissimmee, Florida against his will.
On September 7, 2023, Judge Conley sentenced Engracia-Gonzalez, who had been in custody since June 2022, to a sentence of time served. Engracia-Gonzalez was illegally in the United States and was deported upon his release from federal custody.
The charge against Hernandez Anselmo was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Colby-Abbotsford Police Department, and the Kissimmee (Florida) Police Department, with assistance from the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Altman and Chadwick Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Fletcher Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Methamphetamine CaseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 15, 2023, Timothy Gillilan, 43, of Fletcher, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Gillilan previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine in April 2023.
According to court records, Gillilan was arrested on April 6, 2022, pursuant to a federal warrant. Gillilan faced a three-count indictment charging him with various methamphetamine offenses. The investigation showed that the defendant possessed more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, as well as quantities of cocaine and marijuana, at his home in Fletcher, Vermont. Gillilan admitted to having distributed methamphetamine from the home in late 2021.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Northwest Vermont Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. Mr. Gillilan was represented by William A. Vasiliou, II, Esq. and Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Paducah Woman for False Tax Claims and Small Business Administration FraudRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an indictment on September 12, 2023, charging a Paducah woman with eight counts of filing false tax claims and one count of wire fraud involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) financial assistance program.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Natasha Harris-Johnson, 49, made a claim against the United States for payment of a refund of taxes on eight separate occasions in various amounts which she knew to be false, fictious, and fraudulent, and to which she knew she was not entitled. Additionally, between March 2020 and June 2020, Harris-Johnson filed a fraudulent application for a CARES Act financial assistance program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and fraudulently obtained over $159,000 by way of this program. EIDLs provided loan assistance (including $10,000 advances) for small businesses and other eligible entities for loans up to $2 million. The EIDL proceeds could be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. In the false EIDL applications Harris-Johnson submitted, she made false claims about the gross revenue and cost of goods sold by her company, HJ&J Development LLC.
Harris-Johnson will make her initial appearance on October 19, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Harris-Johnson faces a maximum of 60 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne E. Keel is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eastern Idaho Attorney Indicted for Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Robin Dwain Dunn, 68, of Rigby, was indicted on September 13, 2023, by a federal grand jury sitting in Boise on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
The indictment alleges that from June 2022 to February 19, 2023, Dunn conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in eastern Idaho, and that in October and November of 2022, Dunn knowingly and intentionally possessed fentanyl and methamphetamine, intending to distribute it to others. The indictment also alleges that Dunn distributed fentanyl in November of 2022.
Federal agents with DEA, supported by detectives from Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Falls Police Department, arrested Dunn on September 14, 2023. Dunn is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale on September 18, 2023, to be arraigned on the charges.
The charges in this case are each punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis Zebari and Christopher Atwood are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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District Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter and Related Charges in Killing of Cousin at 29th and S Streets SoutheastRead the Press Release
Defendant Shot Victim Following a Series of Arguments Started by an Instagram Post
WASHINGTON – Lewkus Turner, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 8.5 years in prison for shooting and killing his cousin in Southeast Washington, D.C., on December 11, 2020. The government sought a 16-year sentence.
On June 9, 2023, a jury sitting in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia found Turner guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, just before 4:00 p.m. on December 11, 2020, the victim, Vincent Gyamfi, drove to the 1600 block of 29th Street SE to speak to Turner, his first-cousin, regarding an Instagram post Turner had made earlier in the week. Shortly after arriving in the area, an argument broke out and Turner left the scene. A short time later, Turner returned armed with a gun and the two men began to argue again before leaving in separate directions.
Mr. Gyamfi subsequently parked his vehicle near the intersection of 29th and S Streets SE. At 4:07 p.m. Turner drove by the same intersection and confronted his cousin for a final time. As a result, Mr. Gyamfi ran at Turner’s car, and Turner shot Mr. Gyamfi three times with a large caliber weapon. Turner then dragged Mr. Gyamfi’s body out from underneath Turner’s vehicle, re-entered the car, and fled the scene without calling for aid. Turner was arrested on December 29, 2020, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI CAST team. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Dan Lenerz and Bryan Han of the Appellate Section; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez; Special Agents Mark Crawford and Durand Odom of the Criminal Investigations Unit; Supervisory Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Tonya Jones and Maenylie Watson; Supervisory Budget Analyst Nikiya Burnette and Accounting Technician Evelyn Miles; Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Kimak, Christopher Carson, and Gauri Gopal, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case.
District Man Convicted of Murdering Woman Who Went Missing in 2010 and Has Never Been FoundRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaac Moye, 46, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today by Judge Anthony Epstein to 35 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the second-degree murder of Unique Harris, a 24-year-old woman who went missing from her home in October 2010 and whose body has never been found. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Moye was convicted at trial on June 23, 2023. According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 9, 2010, Unique Harris hosted a sleepover for her young children and their nine-year-old cousin at her home in Southeast Washington, D.C. At approximately 9:30 p.m. that night, Harris put the children to bed. At 10:39 p.m., Isaac Moye, a man she had known for only two months, arrived at her home, calling her on her cell phone just moments before entering her building. The next morning, the three children awoke to find their mother gone. Her cell phone and keys were also missing. Her purse and all its contents, including her identification and credit cards were left behind. The eyeglasses she never left home without were also there in the home. Her sofa had been mutilated, a hole cut in the fabric, a section of foam removed. There was no blood, no sign of struggle. And she was never seen or heard from again.
Over the course of the next few years, Isaac Moye was interviewed multiple times by members of the Metropolitan Police Department. He changed his story between interviews – denying, then admitting, then denying that he and Unique Harris had ever been intimate, denying that he had ever been in her home overnight, and denying that he had seen her the day that she went missing. Eventually, Moye’s semen was identified on the mutilated sofa cushion and his GPS records placed him at the decedent’s home for the entire night. Moye also made statements to another person, who testified that Moye said there was a missing girl, but that police were “never going to find her” because he “did it, but did it the right way.” Ms. Harris was reported missing on Oct. 10, 2010. Moye was arrested and charged with the murder on Dec. 19, 2020. He has been in custody ever since.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Vinét Bryant and Erin DeRiso.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Serve 92 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, TORY DREW DEERE, 29, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 92 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On February 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against Deere, charging him with felon in possession of a firearm.
According to public record, on or about November 18, 2022, law enforcement responded to an Oklahoma City convenience store in reference to a domestic violence incident. The reporting party told Oklahoma City Police officers that following an argument between the two, Deere pointed a firearm at the victim and threatened to kill her, before driving away in her car. According to public documents, officers located Deere shortly after at a nearby residence, with the firearm still in his possession. Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) records indicate Deere had been released from custody under the DOC’s GPS monitor program on a previous felony conviction, Oklahoma County CF-2019-1074, one day before the event.
Public records reflect Deere holds multiple felony convictions. These convictions include:
- Oklahoma County CF-2010-6136, second degree burglary
- Oklahoma County CF-2021-3656, illegal possession of a firearm
- Oklahoma County CF-2019-1074, driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia
On April 19, 2023, Deere pleaded guilty to Count 1, felon in possession of a firearm.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Deere to 92 months in federal prison. In announcing the sentence, Judge Friot noted the dangerousness of the defendant—specifically, that he pointed a firearm at his significant other just one day after being released from DOC custody via an ankle monitor and his criminal history.
This case is a result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of "Operation 922" and "Operation Shots Fired." "Operation 922" is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. "Operation 922" prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. "Operation Shots Fired" targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 38 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a PersonRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Farmington man was sentenced today to 456 months in federal prison without the possibility of parole followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $10,000.00 in fines on one count of Distribution of a Mixture or Substance that Contained Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Person. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, on February 3, 2022, the Fayetteville Police Department responded to a 911 call that reported the location of a dead body in an apartment building on Mt. Sequoya. Upon arriving to the scene, officers located the deceased body of a 29-year-old adult male. Next to the deceased’s body, officers located a small amount of a white substance, later determined to be fentanyl, and a syringe. Shortly after, family members of the deceased contact agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fayetteville Resident Office, who launched a federal investigation.
DEA agents determined that on the night of January 31, 2022, the deceased and his girlfriend combined their money to purchase what they believed was heroin from Ethan Scott Driskill, age 33. The drug transaction took place in the parking lot of a gas station located on Leverette Street in Fayetteville. Upon arriving back to the Mt. Sequoya apartment, the couple diluted some of the white substance with water and injected it into their bodies via a syringe. The following morning, the deceased drove his girlfriend to her place of work and told her that he would pick her up later that evening. However, he never returned and had stopped responding to text messages and calls. On February 3, 2022, the girlfriend went to check on him and discovered his body. DEA agents were able to determine that upon returning to his apartment on the evening of February 1, 2022, the deceased male again injected himself with the fentanyl purchased from Driskill. Approximately nine (9) minutes later, he fell to the floor where his body remained until being discovered 2 days later.
During the ensuing investigation, DEA agents, conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl directly from Driskill. On or about February 12, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Driskill’s Farmington residence and located, among other items, approximately 730 counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl, 240 gross grams of Fentanyl powder, and 2 firearms. Driskill and his co-conspirator Amber Adair, were arrested. During a post-Miranda interview, Driskill admitted to selling fentanyl in both powder and counterfeit pill form in Northwest Arkansas. Driskill also admitted to the drug transaction that occurred at the Leverette gas station on January 31, 2022. At the time of this conduct, Driskill was on active supervision from Arkansas Probation and Parole based on a previous state felony conviction.
Other members of the drug trafficking organization indicted federally are as follows:
Amber Nichole Adair: age 28, Farmington Arkansas – Aiding and Abetting Ethan Driskill, and others, in the Possession of 40 grams or more of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute– sentenced to 96 months imprisonment and 4-year term of supervised release.
Marchello Stephano Oliver: age 34, Farmington, Arkansas - Possession of 40 grams or more of Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute. Sentencing date set September 21, 2023.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad Harper of the Drug Enforcement Administration Little Rock Field Office made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Bentonville Police Department, Rogers Police Department, Benton County Drug Unit, Farmington Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Springdale Police Department, 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas National Guard Counter Drug Unit investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Harris prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov. WDAR Case No. 5:22 CR 50032-001-003.
Convicted Felon Charged with Fentanyl Distribution Following His Release from PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon has been charged with allegedly contacting a law enforcement officer – whom he believed was a drug customer – to coordinate a drug deal after being released from state prison.
Ruben Depina, 23, of Rockland, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the charging documents, in May 2023, a law enforcement officer – who previously worked in an undercover capacity – allegedly received a call from Depina who introduced himself as “Jake.” Depina allegedly told the officer that he recently got out of jail and was contacting his best customers because he was selling drugs again. On or about May 16, 2023, Depina allegedly sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness during a controlled purchase.
Weeks later, on June 11, 2023, local law enforcement allegedly observed the same vehicle Depina had used to participate in the controlled purchase speeding in East Bridgewater. It is alleged that the vehicle sped off after being stopped by law enforcement. While being pursued Depina’s vehicle collided with a van at an intersection.
It is alleged that, when law enforcement approached the vehicle, Depina was observed reaching towards the passenger side floor before complying with instructions to show his hands. Depina was immediately removed through the passenger side window and arrested. During a search of Depina’s vehicle, a loaded firearm, multiple cellphones, a digital scale and a satchel containing at least 20 grams of cocaine base were allegedly recovered.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; the Massachusetts State Police; the Suffolk, Plymouth and Bristol County Sheriff's Departments; and the Boston, Brockton, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Rockland and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Child Predator from Texas Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A man from Katy, Texas, entered a plea of guilty Wednesday to coercion and enticement of a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Lee Finch II, 48, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark T. Steele and pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
“Lee Finch II groomed the 14-year-old victim and traveled from Texas multiple times to engage in sexual activity with her. The U.S Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners with continue to marshal our resources to apprehend and prosecute child predators,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
“Through his deplorable crimes, this defendant has proven to be a threat to his community,” said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Dallas’ Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Division. “He pled guilty to sexually exploiting a vulnerable child on numerous occasions, stripping the victim’s innocence without regard for the adverse impact it would cause. HSI and our law enforcement partners will never relent in our efforts to stop the communities we live from becoming a proving ground for child predators.”
Finch admitted in his plea that he began grooming the victim when she was 12 years old and that between February 2018 and April 2018, he knowingly communicated with the victim, a then 14-year-old girl, multiple times and used text messages to discuss engaging in sexual activities and to coordinate in-person meetings to engage in sexual activity. He further admitted that he knew the true age of the victim; and that he traveled from his home in Katy, Texas, to Tulsa multiple times, where he met the victim and engaged in illicit sexual activities.
Finch faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. A date for sentencing has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Federal sentences do not allow for parole or early release.
Finch has been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.
The Tulsa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case.
The case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which coordinate federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Chickasha Man Sentenced to Serve 25 Years in Federal Prison for Killing His Father with a Cinder BlockRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, PHILLIP KEITH RAY, 45, of Chickasha, was sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison for murder in the second degree in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On March 1, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against Ray, charging him with murder in the second degree.
According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, on October 19, 2021, law enforcement responded to a distress call at a home in Chickasha. Once on scene, Chickasha Police officers located a deceased male victim in the backyard, with significant injuries to his head. A concrete block was found near the body. Ray, the son of the victim, was home at the time of the murder. Another family member told Chickasha Police they believed Ray was responsible for the crime.
On September 14, 2022, Ray pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree. As part of his plea, Ray admitted to striking the victim on the head with a cinder block.
The case is charged in federal court because Ray is a citizen of the Comanche Nation and the crime took place within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Ray to serve 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the need to incapacitate the defendant and protect the public from any potential future violence.
This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office with assistance provided by the Chickasha Police Department, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle London and Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for more information.
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Sex Trafficking Eight WomenRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Somorie Moses, also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy,” pleaded guilty in the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to sex trafficking eight women and to the 2017 murder of one of the women, Leondra Foster. The plea proceeding took place before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. When sentenced, Moses faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years, and up to life in prison. This prosecution is the first use of the federal statute criminalizing murder in the course of sex trafficking.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the guilty plea.
“With today’s guilty plea to every count in the indictment, Moses is held fully responsible for preying on women and girls, forcing them to become prostitutes, and then brutally murdering and dismembering one of his many victims,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “While the defendant’s total admission of guilt cannot undo the terrible harm he has caused, we hope it will bring a measure of closure to his victims who suffered the defendant’s extreme cruelty and brutality, and to the family of Ms. Foster.”
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
“Moses exploited vulnerable women and robbed them of their freedom and dignity for his own personal gain, and even brutally robbed one woman of her life”, stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “Stopping human trafficking remains a top priority of the FBI and our partners, and we hope that this plea will result in some solace for the survivors to know that Moses will pay for his crimes and no longer be able to harm anyone else.”
“Today’s guilty plea brings finality to a case of reprehensible sexual exploitation, brutal assault, and murder,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I commend and thank our dedicated NYPD detectives, along with our partners in the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their commitment to investigating and prosecuting this important case.”
According to court filings and admissions made in court, since at least 2003, Moses forced women and girls, including minors, into prostitution for his benefit using violence, threats of violence, and psychological manipulation. Moses used false promises of love and marriage to initiate sexual relationships with his victims before demanding that they work as prostitutes and turn over the money they earned to him. Moses pressured many of his victims into tattooing his first name, “Somorie,” on their bodies.
Moses used brutal beatings, rape, torture, and threats to coerce his victims to work in prostitution in Brooklyn and Queens. When one victim, identified at today’s guilty plea proceeding as Jane Doe 1, refused to engage in prostitution, Moses used a taser against her until she complied. Another victim, identified as Jane Doe 2, was slashed on her arms and back with a razor by Moses who also beat her with a belt before pouring lemon juice on her wounds, leaving her permanently scarred. When a victim identified as Jane Doe 7 told Moses that she did not want to work as a prostitute, he put a shotgun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her child.
On January 13, 2017, Moses murdered Leondra Foster, one of his sex trafficking victims. That same day, using a knife and a saw, Moses dismembered Foster’s body inside their shared apartment in Brooklyn. Four days later, on the morning of January 17, 2017, Moses transported Foster’s torso and limbs to the Bronx for disposal at a sanitation site. Foster’s head, hands and feet — including a foot with the name “Somorie” tattooed on it — were subsequently recovered by law enforcement inside the deep freezer of Moses’s apartment.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Siegel and Tanya Hajjar are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from paralegal specialist Anna November.
The Defendant:
SOMORIE MOSES (also known as “Somorie Barfield,” “Sugar Bear,” “Bear” and “Daddy”)
Age: 47
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-232 (CBA)
Bronx Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Armed Robbery of Jewelry Store Using A Gun, Bear Spray, and HammersRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that PABLO ARMANDO VALENZUELA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to 70 months in prison for committing an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York. VALENZUELA previously pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant committed a violent armed robbery of a Bronx jewelry store and injured innocent employees and bystanders by spraying a can of extremely hazardous bear spray directly into their faces. Violent criminals who commit firearms offenses and terrorize hardworking New Yorkers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and court filings:
On August 10, 2022, VALENZUELA, along with at least five other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York, using a firearm, bear spray, and hammers. On the evening of August 10, VALENZUELA entered the jewelry store wearing a ski mask and sprayed a can of bear spray into the eyes of jewelry store employees, temporarily blinding them. As customers, including young children, attempted to flee the jewelry store, five other masked robbers entered the store and used hammers to destroy glass display cases. At least one robber brandished a firearm. VALENZUELA and the other robbers then stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry. VALENZUELA fled the jewelry store and sprayed bear spray into the eyes of bystanders, many of whom were then rushed to the hospital. The robbers then fled in various directions on foot, in cars, and on the backs of mopeds driven by co-conspirators who stood nearby as lookout and getaway drivers.
Photographs of VALENZUELA committing the offense are below:
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In addition to his prison term, VALENZUELA, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.
VALENZUELA’s co-defendant, AARON MILLER, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and will be sentenced on December 1, 2023.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution.
Brockton Man Under Indictment Arrested for Illegally Receiving a Firearm and Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man currently under indictment for state charges, was arrested yesterday and charged in U.S. District Court for firearm and fentanyl distribution offenses.
Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 22, was indicted on one count of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment and two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday, Fernandes was detained pending a hearing set for Sept. 19, 2023.
According to the indictment, in January 2022, while under indictment in state court for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, Fernandes allegedly received a Glock Model 48, 9mm pistol. Additionally, in January and February 2022, Fernandes is alleged to have distributed and possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
The charge of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; and the Brockton, Taunton, Whitman, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Bridgewater State University Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ardmore Man Sentenced to Serve Life in Federal Prison for Second-Degree Murder in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, KEVIN BRUCE MCGUIRE, 60, of Ardmore, was sentenced to serve life in federal prison for murder in the second degree, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count Indictment against McGuire, charging him with murder in the second degree for causing the death of another person while driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on September 14, 2022, law enforcement received multiple calls of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 35 near Purcell, Oklahoma. While responding to the reports, Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers learned the driver had caused a collision with another vehicle, which resulted in the death of the driver of that vehicle, a 28-year-old man. The complaint alleges once on scene, troopers detected an odor of alcohol coming from McGuire. McGuire stated he was unaware he was traveling on the wrong side of the Interstate. A blood test taken at a nearby hospital showed McGuire’s blood alcohol content was over the legal limit.
Public records reflect that since 1990 McGuire has had six previous felony DUI convictions.
This case is in federal court because McGuire is a citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the alleged crime occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation.
On April 19, 2023, McGuire pleaded guilty to Count 1, murder in the second degree.
At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced McGuire to serve life in prison. In announcing the sentence, the court noted the need to protect the public from McGuire, in light of his history of DUI-related convictions.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public records for additional information.
Alleged Fentanyl Traffickers Arrested in Bell CountyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – Four individuals were arrested in Bell County Thursday on criminal charges related to their alleged fentanyl trafficking.
According to court documents, Anthony Perez-Diaz aka “Krosty,” 37; Anthony Perez-Perez aka “Mundo,” 43, Jose Ublies-Rivera aka “Wichy,” 49; and Emanuel Giovanni Hernandez-Miranda aka “Goldo,” 30, were identified as narcotics distributors in January by Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) special agents.
The four defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. They made their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
TX DPS CID; the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division; Killeen Police Department; Copperas Cove Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Blanton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Alleged Drug and Firearm Smugglers Federally Indicted in El PasoRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A federal grand jury in El Paso returned an eight-count indictment Wednesday charging four alleged members of a drug trafficking organization with charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as straw purchasing and trafficking firearms.
According to court documents, Maria del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 37, of Mexico coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from Mexico into the United States through the El Paso ports of entry, using codefendant Bryan Alexis Munoz-Castro, 20, of El Paso as a courier. The indictment details that, upon a search of the residence, FBI special agents discovered approximately 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 300 grams of fentanyl, $6,480 in drug proceeds, and two cell phones at Munoz-Castro’s residence.
The indictment claims Navarro-Sanchez and Munoz-Castro coordinated the trafficking of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico. In mid-summer of 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) intercepted communications of Navarro-Sanchez and learned of an agreement to purchase 20 AK-47 type rifles and two Barrett .50 BMG caliber rifles for $66,000.
On Aug. 21, codefendant Rene Hernandez-Cordero, 51, of Mexico, allegedly crossed into the U.S. from Mexico with approximately $63,000 in his possession to meet codefendant, Jesus Gerado Ramos, 52, of El Paso, and purchase the firearms. Ramos allegedly intended to transport the weapons into Mexico, however he and Hernandez-Cordero were arrested at the site of the purchase.
Navarro-Sanchez is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, she faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for each of the two controlled substance charges and a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms.
Munoz-Castro is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, he faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for four of the controlled substance charges, a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms, and a penalty of five to 40 years for a fifth controlled substance charge.
Hernandez-Cordero is charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of straw purchasing firearms, one count of trafficking in firearms, and one count of bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, he faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison for four of the controlled substance charges, a maximum penalty of 15 years for each of the charges related to firearms, and a maximum penalty of 10 years for the bulk cash smuggling charge.
Ramos is charged with one count of straw purchasing firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years for each charge.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II for the ATF Dallas Field Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater for the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement.
The ATF and FBI are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Adair County Resident Sentenced for Discharging Firearm During Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kaleb Thomas Linville, age 24, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 10, 2022, Linville pleaded guilty to brandishing and discharging a firearm during a robbery. According to investigators, Linville robbed an area fisherman in the early hours of March 4, 2022. During the robbery, Linville brandished a semi-automatic rifle at the fisherman, ordered him into the water, fired a round, struck him with the rifle butt, stole his phone, wallet, and car keys, then drove off in the victim's car.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“You wake up bright and early to go fishing and meet the likes of Mr. Linville; it’s not the big fish story anyone should have to tell. Mr. Linville’s behavior was violent and aggressive; two adjectives that don’t go well with firearm possession. Because of his thoughtless actions, he gets to spend 10 years in federal prison,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I would like to thank our partners at Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Nation Marshal’s Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office for helping to put a stop to Mr. Linville’s violence.”
“This office is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who disrupt the safety and security of our communities, especially when defendants use firearms to perpetrate their crimes,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Linville will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Robert Wilson Hinkley, age 37, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography, second or subsequent conviction. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 11, 2023, which includes 10 years of supervised release following Hinkley’s prison term. According to court documents, Hinkley was on federal probation for a child pornography conviction and had a prior state conviction for the same offense. His probation officer suspected that Hinkley had searched for and downloaded child pornography. A subsequent search confirmed that Hinkley had downloaded over 1,000 child pornography files onto his laptop. The case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Violent Crime
George Anthony Quiver Sr., age 39, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 12, 2023. According to court documents, Quiver kicked and stomped the victim’s head, resulting in trauma and bleeding on the brain. Quiver was charged by complaint in April 2023, and pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson.
Darrell Moss Jr, age 40, of Fremont County, Wyoming was sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment for assault by strangulation and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on September14, 2023. According to court documents, Moss hit, bit, and strangled the victim during an incident that occurred in October 2022. The defendant was charged by information then plead guilty in June 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson.
Postal Service Crimes
Derick Lee Spadi, age 28, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for possession of stolen mail. U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on September 14, 2023. According to court documents, in December 2022, the Laramie Police Department received a report of a suspicious person stealing mail from the area of North 11th Street in Laramie, Wyoming. An officer responded and attempted to execute a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Spadi. Instead of stopping, Spadi fled at a high rate of speed. The officer terminated the pursuit for safety reasons. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Again, Spadi fled at a high rate of speed. Eventually, the Wyoming Highway Patrol stopped Spadi on Interstate 80 by using spike strips. Spadi had more than 40 pieces of mail in the vehicle, including mail from the 600 block of N. 11th Street in Laramie. Spadi was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023 and pled guilty to the charge in June. The stolen mail crime was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore.
Drug Trafficking
Anthony Rodriguez, a/k/a “Charlie Brown,” age 51, of Porterville, California, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on September 12, 2023. According to court documents, around October 2021, an agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) identified Rodriguez as the source for methamphetamine being distributed in the Lovell, Wyoming area. The DCI agent and a United States Postal Inspector intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine sent to Lovell by Rodriguez through the U.S. Mail. A controlled delivery of the package confirmed that Rodriguez was supplying methamphetamine for distribution in Lovell. Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wyoming and pled guilty in June 2023. This crime was investigated by DCI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
26 Defendants Charged for Drug Trafficking in Multi-State OperationRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that an indictment was unsealed charging 26 defendants of drug trafficking, possessing a firearm during drug trafficking, money laundering, and other charges.
These charges were brought as the result of Operation Lights Out, an FBI-led investigation in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The defendants have been indicted for the following charges:
Name
Age
Hometown
Charges
Cortez Dayshawn Bumphus, aka “Co”
34
Newport News
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Felon in possession of Firearm
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dontae Lamont Dozier, aka “2 Chains”
35
Chesapeake
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money;
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Maintaining Drug Involved Premise
Use of a Communications Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Zuri Anthony Dre-Oliver Reeves, aka “Zu” or “ZuWaap”
26
Spotsylvania
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Amanda Bell
22
Chesapeake
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dilquon Best, aka “Quon” or “DQ”
31
Atlanta, GA
Continuing Criminal Enterprise
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Stephon Lamount Bumphus, aka “Fon”
34
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Damian Deshawn Gay, aka “Hatch”
25
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Andrea Hunt
28
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Obstruction of Justice
Ervin Orlando Linares, aka “Ery”
23
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Brandon Lamar Martin, aka “Lil B”
37
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Carl Eugene Mitchell, Jr., aka “Lil Man”
27
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Earvin Jerome Moore, aka “Gooch”
43
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises
Freddie Jamaul Moore, aka “Goons”
37
Portsmouth
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Dominique McKenzie Osborne
24
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Rahkim O’Neil Perry, aka “Rahk”
25
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Graciela Ruiz-Bernabe, aka “Grace”
33
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Nathan Caleb Schlosser-Goodson, aka “Nasty”
25
Yorktown
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Possession of Firearm During Drug Trafficking
Camille Lache Smith
30
Los Angeles, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Anastasia Suyas
25
Newport News
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Nyra Taylor
23
Hampton
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Christina Michele Thompson
26
Spotsylvania
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Terrance Leonard Vick, aka “V”
36
Rio Linda, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Thaddeus Williams IV, aka “Thad”
31
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
Korea Woods
26
Irvine, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Guang Yang, aka “Ryan”
26
Rosemead, CA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Alicia Zamora
22
Chesapeake, VA
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Cocaine Base
Conspiracy to Launder Money
Distribution of Fentanyl and Marijuana
Use of a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; and Shannon Saylor, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.
“The unsealing of this indictment reflects months of incredible efforts by law enforcement. We are able to bring these charges because of the effective cooperation and collaborative effort of our local, state and federal partners on this case,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I am grateful to all our attorneys, agents and officers who work diligently every day to take massive amounts of illegal guns and drugs off of our streets.”
“The arrests made in this operation is the culmination of years of investigative work between the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office. “Today, I want to sincerely thank those partners for their teamwork and patience as we gathered the evidence needed for this investigation to come to a logical conclusion, as our law enforcement partners have been dealing with some of these offenders for over a decade. I hope that this operation gives them a return on investment for all the officers and resources they dedicated to assisting the investigation. This operation is a testament to the strong partnership the FBI has with local and state police, as well as sheriff’s offices, and how that partnership better protects our communities.”
“These arrests are just one of the many successful operations achieved over the years through the collaborative agency partnerships within the FBI Peninsula Safe Streets Task Force,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Chesapeake Field Office is proud to have played a role in dismantling what had become a very violent, multi-tiered, drug trafficking organization spanning much of the Hampton Roads region.”
“Combating violent crime, illegal firearm possession and narcotics distribution within our communities remains at the forefront of the ATF mission,” said Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division. “I am proud that our agents and partner agencies worked to bring some peace of mind back to the affected communities. ATF will continue leveraging its expertise to ensure that illegal firearms and deadly narcotics are removed from our streets.”
“Our community and surrounding jurisdictions are not immune to the violence stemming from illegal drug trafficking,” said Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police. “It has become a top priority to take illegal drugs and guns off our streets and holding those accountable for endangering our communities. We are proud to have been part of this proactive approach and are honored to have served with the U.S. Attorney’s office, and other federal and local agencies to combat this issue. We believe that together we can make a difference and create a safer environment for our community.”
“Today's arrest is a clear demonstration of the exceptional cooperative effort among law enforcement in the Hampton Roads area,” said Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police. “It exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies who have united to combat a suspected violent drug trafficking organization. This operation not only underscores the commitment of both federal and local law enforcement but also highlights their unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety of our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-54.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.