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Thursday 27 July 2023
Smithfield Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison after Pointing a Gun at a Police OfficerRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Louis Melvin Hill, 55, of Smithfield was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records and evidence presented in court, on the evening of April 10, 2022, a Johnston County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a shots fired call on Bakers Chapel Road in Smithfield, NC. Once on scene, the deputy approached Louis Melvin Hill, who was sitting in a parked truck. During the ensuing encounter, Hill retrieved a loaded, .22 caliber revolver and pointed it at the deputy. The deputy grabbed the firearm and pulled it away from Hill. Hill ignored commands to exit the truck and instead drove away from the deputy at a high rate of speed, instigating a pursuit. Eventually Hill stopped the truck and ran on foot but was located with the assistance of a law enforcement K-9 officer. Hill is a convicted felon and may not lawfully possess any firearm.
Hill was named in a single-count indictment on July 21, 2022, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on May 11, 2023.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Former Special Assistant United States Attorney, M. Yasir Sadat, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Sarah E. Nokes and Jaren Kelly prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-176-D.
Shooter in Lynchburg Walmart Shootout Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Salem, Virginia man who was involved in a shootout in Lynchburg during a methamphetamine deal in November 2021, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 20 years in federal prison.
Jeriwon Lee Taylor, 42, pled guilty in May 2023 to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is proud to partner with ATF and the Lynchburg Police Department to hold accountable those individuals who commit violent crimes in our communities,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “This case is emblematic of the relationship between the illegal drug trade and violent crime – a pattern we are seeing throughout the Western District of Virginia – and one we are working to stop.”
“It is clear that drug traffickers have no respect for human lives and conduct criminal business in the open public, disregarding the damage they can cause to human life or property. Thanks to the combined efforts of our local law enforcement partners, subsequent search warrants were executed at locations associated with Taylor’s Drug Trafficking Organization that resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, heroin, fake pills, methamphetamine and the retrieval of the firearm used in the shooting. We will continue our efforts aimed at disrupting and stopping these illegal endeavors,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division.
“We are grateful for the assistance of our federal and state law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting this case to ensure those who endanger our community are held fully accountable for their actions. This incident could have easily taken an innocent person’s life. Our partnerships with our community and other law enforcement agencies are critical to a safer Lynchburg,” said Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema.
“When we as law enforcement professionals collaborate effectively, our communities see tangible results such as this,” ATF Washington Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel said. “We will continue to work alongside our partners to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence that negatively impact public safety.”
According to court documents, on November 21, 2021, Taylor arranged to meet an individual in a Walmart parking lot in Lynchburg, Virginia to sell methamphetamine. When the buyer, Kendall Simonton arrived, he got into Taylor’s vehicle, pointed a gun at Taylor’s face and took the drugs from him.
After the robbery, Simonton left Taylor’s vehicle and began walking away. However, Taylor also got out of his vehicle with a firearm, and the two men began shooting at each other. Both Taylor and Simonton fired multiple shots at each other, ducking behind various cars in the parking lot. Eventually, Simonton ran out of the parking lot and Taylor drove away.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department, with assistance from the Virginia State Police, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jones and Special Assistant United States Attorney J. Parker Gochenour, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section prosecuted the case.
Sexual Predator Gets LifeRead the Press Release
TULSA Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for multiple crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
A federal jury convicted Elga Eugene Harper, 41, a Choctaw Nation citizen on Feb. 9, for kidnapping in Indian Country; aggravated sexual abuse by force and threat in Indian Country; assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country; and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.
U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III, who presided over the trial and sentencing, noted that the case was easily the most serious he had seen. He sentenced Harper to a total of life in prison on July 27.
“Elga Harper violently beat and sexually assaulted an elderly woman in her home for four hours,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The victim bravely faced her attacker and testified; and through her perseverance, strength and courage, justice was served in this case.”
“The victim in this case bravely took the witness stand to recount the tremendous suffering she endured at the hands of Elga Harper,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “If not for her compelling testimony, Harper may not have received the two life sentences he indisputably deserves. The citizens of Oklahoma can rest assured he will never again be able to harm an innocent person.”
Harper had previously performed work at the victim’s home, and the two had numerous conversations about philosophy and her work in counseling. The woman eventually paid Harper in full and told him she no longer needed his assistance.
On May 4, 2022, several months after their last meeting, Harper returned unexpectedly to the victim’s home. After a brief conversation, he asked to use the bathroom. When Harper did not exit the bathroom, the victim walked toward the back of the home and found Harper standing naked in her room. Harper immediately attacked her.
During the next four hours, Harper violently assaulted the victim both physically and sexually. She pleaded for him to call 911, but he refused. He also ransacked her home, took her car keys, and told her to “shut up” when she prayed aloud. She called 911 as soon as he fled, reporting the assault and that Harper was responsible.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim gravely injured, with extensive injuries to her face, head, neck, arms, hands, and legs.
Harper was located and taken into custody on May 10, 2022.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department Special Victims Unit conducted the investigation with extensive support from other units in the Tulsa Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chantelle D. Dial and Melody N. Nelson prosecuted the case.
Sex Offender Who Possessed Millions of Child Sex Abuse Images and Videos Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICHARD E. SMITH, 67, of Southington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 144 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing millions of child sex abuse images and videos.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith’s criminal history includes convictions related to his sexual assault of boys in 1990 and 1998.
On October 1, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents conducted a court-authorized search of Smith’s Southington residence. At the time of the search, Smith’s computer was running and connected to a website on the dark web dedicated to child pornography, and one of Smith’s four computer monitors displayed a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing numerous child pornography filenames and internet hyperlinks. Investigators seized Smith’s computer and electronic devices. Forensic analysis of the seized devices revealed millions of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers.
Smith has been detained since his arrest on October 1, 2020. On November 28, 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Southington Police Department, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Doherty and Nancy V. Gifford through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Ringleader in Major Drug Trafficking and Money-Laundering Conspiracy Sentenced to 121 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
St. George, Utah – A foreign national was sentenced today to 10 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to distributing large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in St. George.
According to court documents, Angel Rubio-Quintana, 42, of St. George, Utah, was first discovered by agents in March 2020, after learning that an individual in St. George was receiving large amounts of methamphetamine from a Mexican cartel. During an extensive investigation dubbed “Operation Sour Cream,” agents learned that Mr. Rubio-Quintana led the organization’s efforts to import and distribute drugs from Mexico. Between October 2021 and February 2022, agents intercepted over 200 phone calls in which Mr. Rubio-Quintana negotiated drug prices and quantities with his Mexican drug suppliers. Agents conducted at least 13 controlled buys in which they purchased methamphetamine and fentanyl from conspiracy members. In the first controlled buy, the drugs were delivered in a large sour cream bucket that contained methamphetamine. This case involves thousands of fentanyl pills, 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 45 pounds of marijuana. Between June 2021 and January 2022, Rubio-Quintana’s organization sent over 60 wire transfers to Mexican drug suppliers, totaling over $58,000. As part of his plea agreement, Mr. Rubio-Quintana has agreed to forfeit $23,666. He faces deportation following his 121 months prison sentence.
“Mr. Rubio-Quintana’s actions jeopardized the safety of the St. George community,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Not only did he distribute dangerous narcotics, but he also took advantage of naïve young people convincing them to join in his conspiracy. We appreciate the efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation and in removing this harm from our communities.”
"The community in Southern Utah can now feel safer knowing Mr. Rubio-Quintana was sentenced to a long time in prison," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Salt Lake City FBI. "As the head of a drug trafficking organization, Rubio-Quintana was responsible for importing deadly drugs into St. George and other areas in the Western United States. He even recruited young members of the community, including his own teenage son, to participate in the local drug trade. It is the FBI's mission, along with our law enforcement partners, to ensure our communities remain safe. This sentencing serves as a warning to others that drug trafficking will result in serious consequences."
“Mr. Rubio-Quintana was the leader of one of the most prolific and sophisticated drug trafficking organizations in Southern Utah. His sentencing, along with the dismantlement of his distribution network, signifies the Drug Enforcement Administration’s relentless pursuit of individuals distributing poison throughout our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie. “Today’s sentencing is the result of a strong collaborative effort with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Utah.”
The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Washington County Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Angela M. Reddish-Day of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Repeat Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A repeat child sex offender who admitted to possessing graphic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in an investigation involving the tattooing of children was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison this week.
Kenneth Scott Queen, 35, of Forsyth, Georgia, and formerly of Dayton, Tennessee, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release and pay $20,000 restitution to a minor victim by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on July 24, after he previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of failure to register as a sex offender. Queen will also have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from prison.
“Children will be safer because law enforcement quickly responded to reports of minors being tattooed and unveiled a predator,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Protecting the most vulnerable citizens from harm—and holding criminals who prey on them accountable—is a priority for law enforcement at every level.”
"Despite his prior conviction, Queen continued to abuse children, which the FBI will not tolerate," said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. "Queen's 35 years in prison will give him plenty of time to think about his unacceptable and repeated behavior, but more importantly while in federal prison, he won't be able to do harm to any more children."
“A case like this highlights the importance and utility of our local and federal partnerships. Each agency played a specific and vital role in developing a comprehensive case for the prosecutors,” said U.S. Marshal Stephen D. Lynn for the Middle District of Georgia. “The successful prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office will keep a dangerous predator off the streets for many years and will prevent him from targeting additional young children. This was a job well done.”
According to public records, Queen was convicted of sexual battery against a child under age 16 and child molestation in Madison County, Georgia, Superior Court on Oct. 27, 2008. Queen was required to register as a sex offender for life. After his conviction, Queen relocated to Tennessee, where he registered as a sex offender. Queen was residing in Monroe County, Georgia, in the summer of 2020 when it was reported to authorities that he was unlawfully tattooing children. Queen was found in possession of graphic child sexual abuse material he captured involving a young child. Queen was required to be registered as a sex offender at the time but had not registered himself in Monroe County as the law required him to do. For the protection of the minor victim, a portion of Queen’s plea agreement will remain sealed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Queen case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case
Registered Sexually Violent Predator Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Kevin Troutman, 45, of Westfield, Indiana was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting two minors and possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, on January 24, 2022, Westfield Police Department detectives and the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force opened an investigation into Kevin Troutman after receiving an online tip submitted to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The tipster stated that they walked in on Troutman viewing an image of the sexual exploitation of a 4–6-year-old girl.
After an investigation, on January 27, 2022, officers executed a search warrant at Troutman’s home in Westfield. Law enforcement officers seized numerous electronic devices and data storage media, which were found to contain multiple sexually explicit images or videos of children.
Further investigation of Troutman’s cell phone revealed that he had been anonymously searching the internet for child sexual abuse material using an encrypted browser. A complete investigation of Troutman’s devices revealed evidence showing Troutman’s sexual exploitation of a child less than 14 years of age and the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of a child who was less than 6 years of age.
In 1997, Troutman was convicted of Vicarious Sexual Gratification, a Class C felony. Due to his previous felony conviction, Troutman was registered as a Sexually Violent Predator in Indiana at the time of this arrest.
“Across nearly three decades, the defendant sexually abused or exploited at least three different children and gratified himself through the exploitation of many more,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “There is no place in our communities for dangerous, repeat child predators. The sentence imposed today shows that our office, HSI, and local child exploitation task force partners will work tirelessly to ensure these heinous offenders are behind bars, where they cannot cause further harm to our children.”
“HSI works with its local, state and federal partners around the clock to protect children from victimization by predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago area of operations Sean Fitzgerald. “Because of exceptional efforts by our HSI agents, a previously convicted child sex offender has been sent to federal prison to serve a lengthy sentence, where he will be unable to victimize other vulnerable children.”
This investigation was a result of the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Fishers Police Department, Westfield Police Department, Carmel Police Department, and the Hamilton County Metro Child Exploitation Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Troutman be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 to each victim. Additionally, Troutman must remain registered as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
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Readout of Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer’s Visit to Federal Correctional Institution AlicevilleRead the Press Release
On July 26, Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and members of her team visited Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Aliceville, a low-security Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility for women, in Aliceville, Alabama. The Pardon Attorney and her team provided a series of educational sessions about the federal clemency process and answered questions from inmates and staff. The Pardon Attorney and her team met with over 500 inmates and staff during their visit.
The visit to FCI Aliceville was the third in a series of quarterly educational events that the Pardon Attorney is conducting for inmates and staff at different Bureau of Prisons locations.
The first took place at FCI Fort. Dix, a low-security institution in New Jersey in January 2023. During that visit, the Pardon Attorney and her team met with over 700 inmates and staff in a day-long series of trainings throughout the facility. The second took place at USP Lewisburg, a medium-security institution in Pennsylvania in April 2023. During that visit, the Pardon Attorney and her team met with over 300 inmates and staff in a day-long series of trainings throughout the facility.
These educational sessions within the BOP are part of a year-round initiative by the Office of the Pardon Attorney to increase the accessibility and transparency of the clemency process through education and community engagement.
Readout of Department of Justice Federal/Tribal Regional Summit in Spokane, WashingtonRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref for the Eastern District of Washington hosted a Federal/Tribal Regional Summit in Spokane, Washington, July 25-26, alongside co-hosts from the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), the Office of Environmental Justice and the Office of Tribal Justice. The Federal/Tribal Regional Summit built on a November 2022 Tribal Listening Session in Washington, DC and a national Federal/Tribal Summit in Columbia, South Carolina in early 2023. The Summits are intended to deliver on the promise in the Department’s Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy to work with Tribal governments and other federal agencies to find “ways to address and incorporate Tribal concerns into the Department’s enforcement work.” This meeting was the first of three Regional Summits planned for this calendar year.
At the Spokane meeting, U.S. Attorney Waldref welcomed representatives of Tribal nations from Idaho, Washington, and Montana. U.S. Attorney Waldref acknowledged that the gathering was taking place on the ancestral lands of the Spokane Tribe. The meeting was held in the Spokane Public Library overlooking Spokane Falls and artwork by Virgil “Smoker” Marchand, a member of the Lakes Band of the Colville Confederated Tribe, who passed away earlier this year. Monica Tonasket, a member of the Spokane Tribal Council also gave a land acknowledgement and blessing to the group to start off the Summit.
In his remarks to the group, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for ENRD challenged the group to identify new ways to work together to address the substantial challenges that Tribes face in establishing and preserving sustainable homelands. AAG Kim noted the unique government-to-government relationship that the United States has with Tribes, and the Justice Department’s role in upholding and asserting federal reserved water rights claims and other tribal and treaty rights. He then linked Summit goals to three key Administration priorities: respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, furthering environmental justice and combating the climate crisis.
In her remarks, U.S. Attorney Waldref noted the criminal prosecutions that her office has pursued in Indian Country and announced that the Justice Department has selected the Eastern District of Washington to house a federal prosecutor focused on addressing the crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People for the Western Region of the United States. She also conveyed her commitment to environmental justice, reflected in her position as Chair of the Environmental Justice & Environmental Issues Subcommittee that advises Attorney General Merrick Garland. U.S. Attorney Waldref also emphasized that environmental protection is a critical component of public health and safety.
The Summit then progressed into short presentations followed by in-depth discussions around three issues: tribal water rights, challenges Tribes are facing with a rapidly changing climate and treaty rights related to hunting and gathering of natural resources.
The second day began with remarks by Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10. The Federal Bureau of Investigation then presented on its work in Indian County, including emerging trends related to pollution crime, theft of natural resources and illicit activity tied to extractive industries. Additional presentations provided information on federal grant opportunities, the National Ocean Justice Strategy and grant and investigatory resources at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“It was an honor for the Eastern District of Washington to host the Justice Department’s first regional summit focused on defending and strengthening Tribal homelands, climate adaptation, resilience and environmental justice,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref after the event. “It was humbling to gather together with several Tribal nations at the base of Spokane Falls, where Tribes from across the Columbia Plateau have historically gathered to fish for the Chinook Salmon that once spawned beneath these sacred waterfalls. The Justice Department and our District are fully committed to enforcing laws to achieve environmental justice, working together to combat the climate crisis, and protecting civil rights, all while continuing to recognize and respect Tribal sovereignty.”
Future Regional Tribal Summits are scheduled for Sept. 26-27, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Oct. 16-17, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Preci Manufacturing to Pay $150,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Preci Manufacturing Inc. (Preci) has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by selling parts to the United States military that Preci failed to test, despite clear contract testing requirements meant to ensure the strength and durability of the parts.
Preci, located in Winooski, Vermont, manufactures nuts, bolts, and other fasteners, which it supplies to the federal government. The fasteners provided by Preci are used in military equipment, including aircraft, and thus require precise manufacturing protocols and careful post-production testing. The United States’ investigation uncovered evidence that Preci repeatedly flouted safety requirements, with employees directed to skip mandatory testing. The government alleges that these deceptive acts violated the False Claims Act, a civil fraud statute that prohibits the knowing submission of false claims to the government.
“Preci’s sales to the United States of parts that it chose not to test are reprehensible, with Preci appearing to have prioritized its own profits over the safety of the products it provided to the military,” said United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. “Our office takes seriously allegations related to cutting corners and evading regulations and will continue to pursue companies that betray the trust of the government and the public.”
Specifically, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019, Preci sold fasteners to the federal government, including through contracts that imposed strict testing requirements on Preci but did not require government inspection prior to delivery. As set forth in the settlement agreement, Preci admits that, for some of the parts it sold to the government under these contracts, it failed to perform required testing, including but not limited to stress durability testing, fatigue testing, double shear testing, and tensile testing. Preci admits that it then submitted claims for payment as if it had met all contract specifications, when in fact the company knowingly provided untested parts to the government.
“The integrity of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain is of vital importance to the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” stated Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The DoD expects its contractors to adhere to contract requirements and provide quality products to the U.S. military. The DCIS will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to hold DoD contractors accountable for circumventing testing protocols and putting America's servicemembers at risk.”
To resolve the claims against it, Preci has agreed to pay to the United States a total of $150,000.
“The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has strong partnerships with other federal and state law enforcement agencies focused on investigative efforts to collectively identify, disrupt, deter, and dismantle unlawful activity,” said Supervisory Special Agent Michael D. Conner, CID, Northeast Fraud Resident Agency. “We are thankful for the collaborative efforts from all agencies involved, and resolutions such as this one show our resolve in bringing to justice those who would seek to defraud the U.S. Government and put the safety of our Soldiers at risk”
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Almquist Lively handled this matter for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont. Investigative support was provided by the DoD DCIS and the Department of the Army CID. Attorneys Zachary M. Dayno and Matthew B. Byrne of Gravel & Shea PC represented Preci.
The settlement agreement between the United States and Preci is available at this link: Preci Signed Settlement Agreement.
Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearm LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Isaac Duku, Jr., 22, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on May 28, 2022, Duku Jr. unlawfully possessed ammunition as a convicted felon. Under federal law, a convicted felon is prohibited from possessing ammunition.
The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Isaac Duku, Jr.
Physician Convicted of Creating Fake Documents to Help Immigrants Fraudulently Obtain CitizenshipRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Dr. Muhammad S. Awaisi, 64, of Pontiac, Michigan, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury of five charges relating to a scheme in which he created fraudulent medical documentation in order to assist immigrants obtain United States citizenship, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Christopher Perry.
Awaisi was convicted after a four-day trial before United States District Judge Victoria A. Roberts. Awaisi was found guilty of one count of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States and to defraud the United States; two counts of attempted procurement of naturalization contrary to law; and two counts of making and using a false document.
The evidence demonstrated that Awaisi, a medical doctor, conspired with Firoza Van Horn, a local psychologist, to create fraudulent medical documentation for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship. The fraudulent medical documentation was designed to be used by citizenship applicants who were seeking medical waivers of the requirement that they demonstrate a knowledge of the English language and pass a citizenship test. As part of the scheme, Awaisi conducted sham medical examinations and falsely purported to diagnose citizenship applicants with a variety of medical conditions. Awaisi also wrote medically unnecessary controlled substance prescriptions, including for an opioid drug, to bolster his fraudulent diagnoses.
Van Horn previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with Awaisi and is currently awaiting sentencing.
“Our country proudly celebrates those who immigrate to the United States and work hard to meet the citizenship requirements. Dr. Awaisi’s fraud is an affront to all those honest immigrants as well as to his most basic ethical requirements as a physician,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
“The defendant’s actions show a blatant disregard for our country’s legal process for citizenship and the oath he made as a physician,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division. “The alleged fraud, scheming, and conspiracy in this case is overwhelming. Unraveling the complexities could not have been possible without the assistance of our partners at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and we would like to thank them for their assistance in our pursuit of justice.”
“The recent conviction of Dr. Awaisi underscores the gravity of fraudulent activities that undermine the principles upon which U.S. citizenship is granted. Our dedication to maintaining the sanctity of the process remains unwavering, as we continue to ensure that those who earn the privilege of U.S. citizenship do so through lawful and just means," stated U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Christopher Perry.
Awaisi faces a maximum five-year term of imprisonment for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States and defraud the United States; up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of attempted procurement of naturalization contrary to law; and up to five years’ imprisonment for each count of making and using a false document.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Customs and Border Protection, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services—Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome F. Gorgon and Andrew J. Yahkind.
Pharmacy Owner Convicted of Payment of Illegal Kickbacks and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Northern District of Texas convicted the owner of several compounding pharmacies today for paying illegal marketing kickbacks involving TRICARE, a federal program that provides health insurance benefits to active duty and retired service members and their families. He was also convicted of a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the unlawful activity.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richard Hall, 53, of Fort Worth, Texas, worked with others to create and market expensive compounded medications, which are medications that are intended to be custom-tailored to individual patient needs. Hall and others paid marketers, who recruited area doctors to write prescriptions for these expensive compounded medications, including by creating so-called “investment opportunities” so that doctors who wrote prescriptions to the pharmacy could profit from the pharmacy operations. Hall paid illegal kickbacks to these marketers and engaged in a conspiracy to launder the unlawful proceeds.
The jury convicted Hall of four counts of paying and receiving unlawful kickbacks, and one count of money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each kickback count, and 10 years in prison on the money laundering count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentavlos of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Chad B. Yarbrough of the FBI Dallas Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Steven Grell of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Central Regional Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office made the announcement.
The DCIS, HHS-OIG, FBI, DOL-OIG, and VA-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant Chiefs Kate Payerle and Brynn Schiess and Trial Attorneys Lee Michael Hirsch and Jacqueline DerOvanesian of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Pharmaceutical President and Company Sentenced in Counterfeit Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Florida-based pharmaceutical president has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Adam P. Runsdorf, 58, of Boca Raton, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit drugs, and money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. Runsdorf was also ordered to forfeit $5 million and a McLaren sportscar.
According to the indictment, from April 2014 until August 2021, Runsdorf, the owner and president of Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC based in Boca Raton, Florida, conspired with drug traffickers in Houston, Texas, to distribute misbranded and counterfeit cough syrup. Runsdorf’s company pleaded guilty to the same charges and was ordered to forfeit $1 million and fined $50,000.
According to information presented in court, Byron A. Marshall, 43, of Houston, utilized Woodfield Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing facility and employees in Houston to produce more than 500,000 pints of counterfeit cough syrup. Marshall’s drug trafficking organization sold the counterfeit drugs across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Arkansas, and Ohio. Prices generally ranged from $100 to more than $1,000 per one-pint bottle. Depending on the market and brand of cough syrup, prices went as high as $3,800 to $4,000 per pint.
During the conspiracy, Marshall communicated directly with Runsdorf regarding production of the counterfeit cough syrup. At Runsdorf’s request, Marshall paid Woodfield Pharmaceutical in cash only, and Woodfield employees mailed the cash directly to Runsdorf in Boca Raton.
All eleven defendants charged in the indictment, including Runsdorf and Marshall, pleaded guilty. Six have been sentenced in addition to Runsdorf. Tunji Campbell pleaded guilty to conspiracy, trafficking in counterfeit drugs, and money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. Chauntell D. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit drugs and was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment. Cheryl A. Anderson, Ashley A. Rhea, and Maria Anzures-Camarena, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy and were sentenced to 60 months imprisonment. Five others, including Marshall, are awaiting sentencing.
“In his role as owner and president of Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC, Adam Runsdorf knew his company was producing thousands of gallons of counterfeit cough syrup—labeled to be nearly identical to a discontinued product—to be distributed to drug traffickers in Texas and other states,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “Runsdorf knew that drug traffickers were selling the counterfeit cough syrup to street-level users and he profited greatly from the sale of the counterfeit cough syrup. Runsdorf’s greed earned him a significant prison sentence. Food and drug products, particularly pharmaceuticals such as cough syrups, undergo rigorous testing and inspection by federal authorities to ensure their safety. When companies evade inspection and certification requirements, innocent consumers are put at risk. EDTX is committed to ensuring public safety and upholding public trust through the vigorous prosecution of those that skirt these safety requirements.”
“This sentence sends a strong message to anyone misusing their trusted role and privilege granted by DEA to handle controlled substance,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux.” “This case shows how collaborative efforts between state, local and federal partners on multiple fronts are capable of holding large pharmaceutical distribution companies like Woodfield Distribution accountable by immediately suspending its dangerous operations and bringing its CEO behind bars.”
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the laws of the land apply to everyone, regardless of position or power,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Dallas Field Office. “Adam Runsdorf abused his role as CEO of Woodfield Distributors to participate in the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars derived from illegally manufactured and distributed controlled substances. Mr. Runsdorf’s sentence is a direct result of the excellent partnership between law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office in combating drug trafficking and money laundering. I am extremely proud of the CI special agents who used their unique financial expertise to help unravel this complex fraud and money laundering scheme. IRS-CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop criminals like Mr. Runsdorf from endangering the American public.”
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.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Marshals Service; Houston Police Department; Galveston Police Department; Galveston County Sheriff’s Office; Dickinson Police Department; League City Police Department; Pearland Police Department; Pasadena Police Department; Texas City Police Department; Harris County Precent #2; Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office; Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; and the Texas National Guard. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Jonathan C. Lee.
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Peru, Indiana Man Sentenced to 348 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – James Rippy, 40 years old, of Peru, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Rippy was sentenced to 348 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, Rippy took photos and videos of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, he possessed other images of child pornography downloaded from the internet.
This case was investigated by United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Peru Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Maciejczyk.
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Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offense Against A MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kyle Andrew Umstead, 35, of Douglasville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 18, 2023, Umstead traveled from Douglasville, Pennsylvania, to Kanawha County, West Virginia, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Umstead was arrested by law enforcement officers in Kanawha County. Following his arrest, officers found videos and images of child pornography on Umstead’s cell phone.
Umstead is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Umstead must also register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-47.
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Parker Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Anthony William Delgado, 28, of Parker, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Delgado pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter.
On October 24, 2021, Delgado struck the victim multiple times in the head and face with a sledgehammer, causing the victim to sustain fatal injuries. The victim died one week later. Delgado is an enrolled member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) and the offense occurred on the CRIT Reservation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the CRIT Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina J. Reid-Moore and LeighAnn M. Thomas, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00427-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-112_Delgado# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Owings Mills Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for a Fraudulent Gift Card SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Yong Chen, age 34, of Owings Mills, Maryland, yesterday to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a fraudulent gift card scheme resulting in $561,000 in losses to more than 10 victims. Chen was also ordered to pay restitution of $169,950.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”) Mid-Atlantic Field Division.
According to Chen’s plea agreement, Chen managed a scheme to fraudulently obtain gift cards from retail stores, which he and his co-conspirators used to purchase high-end electronics, including cell phones, iPads, and laptop computers. For example, victim R.E.S., a resident of Hampstead, Maryland, responded to an email claiming that a technical support service contract would automatically renew unless the victim cancelled the service by calling the number listed in the email. R.E.S had never subscribed to such a service, but he called the phone number to make sure it would not be renewed.
As detailed in the plea agreement, the man who answered the call had a heavy accent that R.E.S could not understand, so he gave the phone to his daughter. The man identified himself as “Brian,” and explained that R.E.S was entitled to a $300 refund. If the daughter would download a computer application which would give “Brian” temporary control over the computer, he would directly deposit the $300 into R.E.S.’s bank account. After the daughter downloaded the application and opened her father’s bank account, the daughter typed $300 as “Brian” had instructed, but the amount somehow appeared as a $3,000 deposit into R.E.S’s bank account.
To fix the purported overpayment, “Brian” asked the daughter to go to a Target store to buy Target gift cards to reimburse him. After unsuccessfully using credit cards to buy gift cards at Target and Best Buy (R.E.S’s bank would not authorize the transactions), the daughter cashed a check at her father’s bank, then used the cash to buy five $500 Target gift cards for a total of $2500. The daughter then gave “Brian” the gift card numbers and access codes printed on the back of each gift card. To make up for the remaining balance of $100 still allegedly owed to “Brian,” the daughter purchased an Amazon gift card. Using the application again, “Brian” accessed her computer, obtained the Amazon gift card number from her email, then deleted all traces of the email from her email account.
The next day, R.E.S. met with a customer service representative at his bank and learned that he had been defrauded, because “Brian” had never actually deposited money into his bank account. Instead, using the downloaded computer application to access his bank account, “Brian” had transferred money from R.E.S’s credit card account into his checking account, thereby setting up the withdrawal of cash to pay for the gift cards. The fraudulent scheme was reported to the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit (“MSPCCU”), which initiated an investigation.
As detailed in the plea agreement, transactional records and video footage from Target revealed that the five gift card numbers and access codes purchase by R.E.S. were used that same day at three different Target stores in two different states. For example, less than an hour later, Young Chen used two of the cards to purchase two Apple watches at the Target store in Owings Mills. At the same time, co-conspirator Bin Tang was using the numbers of the other three gift cards to purchase Apple watches at a Target store in Dumfries, Virginia and later at a different store in Glen Allen, Virginia. Target security personnel discovered that they had more video footage of Chen at the Owings Mills store using different gift cards on February 12, 2020 to purchase two iPads and other Apple products and an attempted purchase of similar products on February 14, 2020.
A search warrant was executed at Chen’s house in Owings Mills, Maryland on March 3, 2020. Law enforcement recovered four boxes containing new high-end electronics, including dozens of iPad tablets and Apple watches that were purchased with proceeds of the fraud scheme. A notebook that served as a ledger for the gift card scheme was found in Chen’s bedroom and contained the dates that gift cards were fraudulently obtained and how they were redeemed, including the names of the people Chen and co-defendant Bin Tang paid to use the cards. The purchased electronics were intended to be sold to foreign buyers. The notebook also listed the projected profit for each product purchased. Cell phones belonging to Chen and Tang were seized and subsequently searched, revealing messages on a Chinese messaging platform among Chen, Tang and Liang Liang Zeng discussing the scheme.
According to his plea agreement, Chen used the message platform to acquire the stolen gift card numbers and access codes, and then shared that information with others involved in the scheme. He regularly purchased the stolen gift card numbers through his bank account in China at a price that is about 20% less than the value preloaded on the cards, so a $100 gift card cost him $80. Chen said that the stolen gift card numbers he purchased had to be redeemed that same day, sometimes within hours, before the cards got canceled. Chen also provided his buyers, also referred to as “runners,” with Target employee numbers (Target Team Member Numbers) to display at the cash register to get a ten percent employee discount, which increased the scheme’s profit margin. He and the “runners” he hired would go to multiple stores during the same day, sometimes in different states, because Target might limit the amount of purchases. Each runner was told what type of product to buy with the numbers based on a price list Chen and Tang received from potential buyers overseas. The messages also showed that the runners shared information with Chen and Tang throughout the day about the remaining balances on their cards and any trouble they were having redeeming them. At the end of the day, the runners brought the receipts and the products to Chen’s house, where products were boxed and labeled for shipment overseas.
According to the plea agreement, dozens of victims in many different states were defrauded and the cards purchased by the victims were primarily redeemed in the mid-Atlantic region to illegally purchase approximately $561,000 of Target products.
Co-defendants Liang Liang Zeng, age 58, a Chinese national residing in Staten Island, New York, and Wen Fu Zeng, age 55, of Brooklyn, New York were sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and to 10 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the fraud scheme. Both defendants were also ordered to pay restitution of $145,228 and L. Zeng was ordered to forfeit $43,633. Bin Tang, age 33, is a fugitive.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the Maryland State Police and TIGTA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin J. Clarke, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that George Buck, 34, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 26, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Buck to 120 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Buck will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
From July of 2016 to January of 2022, Buck was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana, in the Omaha area. Buck was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. During the conspiracy, on October 2, 2017, law enforcement found Buck in possession of a Ruger LCP .380 handgun. On October 8, 2020, and October 15, 2020, Buck sold fentanyl to a confidential informant.
Co-defendants Ty-Sean Nunn, Willis Parker, Anthony Hill-Gaines, Dominique Thomas, and Jerrell Jackson have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the conspiracy. Thomas was sentenced on June 7, 2023, to 90 months of imprisonment. The others are pending sentencing. Only co-defendant Terrance Traynham is pending trial.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Omaha Police Department, and the Bellevue Police Department.
Omaha Attorney Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Thomas O. Campbell pleaded guilty today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for willfully filing a false tax return, a felony. United States Magistrate Judge Susan M. Bazis conducted the plea hearing and will recommend to United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher that he accept Campbell’s guilty plea and plea agreement.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2014 and 2018, Campbell, of Omaha, was the owner and manager of TLN Law, a solo practice law firm. During this time, Campbell filed annual personal tax returns that understated TLN Law’s gross receipts by more than $2.8 million. In total, Campbell caused a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) exceeding $250,000.
Campbell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. District Judge Buescher will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
Ohio Man Indicted for Threatening a Reproductive Health Services FacilityRead the Press Release
An Ohio man was indicted by a federal grand jury for threatening a reproductive health services facility.
According to court documents, Mohamed Farah Waes, of Columbus, made telephonic threats to a health services clinic operated by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. The first count charges Waes with a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a federal crime to threaten the use of force to intimidate anyone receiving or providing reproductive health services. The second count charges Waes with making threatening statements through interstate communications and the third count charges Waes with threatening to unlawfully damage and destroy a building by means of fire and explosive.
The charges stem from a phone call that Waes made to the health services facility on July 5, 2022, in which Waes threatened to burn down the facility and everyone inside of it.
If convicted of the felony offenses, Waes faces up to a maximum of 10 years in prison on each felony count, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio and Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Cincinnati Field Office, Columbus Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rausch for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARVIN SIMS, age 34, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, in violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
SMIS had previously admitted to being caught dealing drugs during a Title III wire intercept. He admitted that the intercepted calls showed his participation in a conspiracy to distribute heroin.
Judge Fallon sentenced SIMS to serve 110 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by four years of supervised release after his release from imprisonment. Judge Fallon also ordered SIMS to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting Theft of Federal Grant FundsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Aleksey Krylov, 42, of South Orange, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting theft from programs receiving federal funds. Krylov admitted to diverting $94,197.93 in federal abandoned mine land (AML) remediation sub-grant funds to Jerry D. Elkins, 54, of Danville, West Virginia, while Elkins was an employee of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
According to court documents and statements made in court, from on or about April 2017 until on or about August 7, 2019, Elkins assisted Krylov and one of his companies with their application for a DEP AML pilot program sub-grant. The DEP receives grant funding from the United States Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) for, among other purposes, accelerating the remediation of eligible sites for economic revitalization and community development purposes under the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program.
Since 2016, West Virginia has received $181 million in AMLER block grant funds. Numerous private entities apply to receive AML sub-grants, and the process for selecting projects to receive sub-grant awards is competitive.
Elkins was initially a regional planner and later an inspector for the DEP during the time period, and had become acquainted with Krylov prior to joining the DEP. Krylov and his company proposed to construct and operate an aquaponics facility that would produce commercial quantities of vegetables and fruits at a project site near Madison, West Virginia. To assist Krylov and his company, Elkins collected water samples, provided contacts for public support, boosted Krylov’s project internally at DEP, provided his opinion and suggestions for improving the sub-grant application, and continuously monitored the application’s status.
Krylov admitted to paying Elkins for his services with checks and electronic fund transfers drawn from federal sub-grant disbursements totaling $94,197.93. Krylov further admitted that Elkins had no right to receive these funds and that he aided and abetted Elkins’ actions in fraudulently obtaining the $94,197.93.
Krylov is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Krylov also owes $94,197.93 in restitution. Elkins pleaded guilty to theft from programs receiving federal funds on My 31, 2023, and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General- Office of Investigations, and the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson made significant contributions to the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-99.
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Monmouth County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for producing multiple videos depicting him sexually assaulting a minor, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Christian Importuna, 27, of Englishtown, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to one count of an indictment charging him with production of child pornography. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In March 2020, Importuna produced at least two videos that showed him sexually assaulting a pre-pubescent victim. The videos came to the attention of law enforcement on March 24, 2020, when Importuna attempted to trade images of child pornography with an undercover law enforcement official on an internet-based application. Law enforcement officials initially linked the videos to Importuna through business records indicating that they were sent from his Englishtown residence. The investigation linked Importuna to the production of the images through physical identifiers that were visible in the subject videos.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Importuna to lifetime supervised release and ordered him to pay $28,000 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents the FBI Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn Barnes, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
Missoula man sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for sexually exploiting childRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted to producing sexually explicit images of a child and downloading sexually explicit images of children from the internet was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Anthony Riley Smith, 29, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
U.C. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court also ordered $133,560 restitution to the victim.
“Smith committed unspeakable crimes against a vulnerable child. His heinous conduct merits the lengthy sentence that the judge imposed today,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “I want to thank the Missoula Police Department for being part of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task and for its hard work rendering justice in this case. We will continue to work with the ICAC Task Force to investigate and prosecute such egregious crimes committed against children. Our office remains committed to prosecuting offenders like Smith and to seeking sentences like today’s, which ensures that he will never harm another child again.”
“Crimes against children are a priority for the Missoula Police Department,” Missoula Police Chief Michael J. Colyer said. “Thorough investigations are an invaluable part of seeking justice for victims, and we hope our role will somehow help victims along the path to recovery. Bringing these complex cases to a successful resolution is the result of tireless work by committed members of the Missoula Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will continue to invest in protecting children in the future.”
In court documents, the government alleged that in August 2021, a Missoula Police Department detective, who is a member of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tips related to sexually explicit images of children being uploaded online. The investigation led to Smith. Law enforcement searched his residence pursuant to a warrant and seized electronic devices. Investigators determined that Smith had produced child pornography of a prepubescent boy with a cellular phone, and that his desktop computer contained images of the boy engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Smith admitted he had been collecting child pornography for more than a year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson prosecuted the case. The Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Missoula Police Department and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, a defendant will likely serve all of a sentence imposed by the court. A defendant may be eligible for a sentence reduction for “good behavior,” however, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Milton Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Engaging in A Child Exploitation EnterpriseRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Christopher E. Hoffman, 35, of Milton, Florida was sentenced to life in federal prison after an earlier guilty verdict for engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, receiving child pornography, and distributing child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”
In May of 2021, while investigating an online child pornography chat group, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents saw a message from the defendant’s online persona “Insario” indicating that he had access to a child that he was sexually abusing and grooming for future abuse. Investigators were able to trace the online profile back to the defendant at his address in Milton, Florida. The arrest of the defendant and the search of his home resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices, which contained multiple images of child pornography, in addition to over 2,000 images stored in his online account.
“This case is another example of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office partnering up with our federal agencies to get an animal off the streets,” said Sheriff Johnson. “The number one responsibility of government is the protection of its citizens. This case is a perfect example of that.”
Agents were able to identify the child victim. Specially trained investigators interviewed the child and revealed details of the abuse. When confronted, the defendant admitted to it as well.
“This well-deserved life sentence should serve as a notice to all who victimize our children -- you will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This is a testament to the professional partnerships with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said, “This is a just sentence resulting from the hard work of multiple law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FDLE is proud to work alongside our partners seeking justice daily.”
If ever released, Hoffman will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life, and he will be required to register as a sex offender. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Walter E. Narramore prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Meth, fentanyl trafficking sends Kalispell man to prison for more than 11 yearsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Kalispell man convicted of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Andrew Joseph Shields, 40, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2022 in Lake County, Montana Highway Patrol troopers made a traffic stop of a vehicle Shields was driving. During the stop, the trooper saw a firearm in the vehicle. In a later search of the vehicle, law enforcement found 478 grams, or a little more than one pound, of meth, fentanyl, additional firearms and more than $8,000 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Northwest Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Manhattan meth trafficker sentenced to seven years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Manhattan man with felony convictions was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking meth and illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jamey Wayne Charon, Jr, 26, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth and to prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in March 2022, the Missouri River Drug Task Force was investigating Charon for distributing meth in Bozeman and conducted controlled purchases of meth from him on two occasions. Law enforcement searched Charon’s vehicle after he was arrested for another offense and found meth packaged in jeweler bags. Charon admitted to selling meth twice a week since February 2022. In addition, law enforcement found a .40-caliber pistol with 12 bullets in his bedroom in Bozeman. Charon was on probation at the time for felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, FBI, Bozeman Police Department and Park County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Man that Previously Possessed a Firearm Illegally Sentenced to Prison After Selling a Gun to Another PersonRead the Press Release
A man who previously possessed firearms illegally was sentenced July 18, 2023, to more than two years in federal prison.
David Tyler Galloway, age 22, from Toronto, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 9, 2023 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the guilty plea, Galloway admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm in September 2019. Galloway sold the firearm to an individual after arranging to sell it and psilocybin mushrooms to the other person. Galloway was previously convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon in Cedar County, Iowa, and received a deferred judgment in July 2019.
Galloway was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Galloway was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Galloway is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Cedar County Sheriff’s Department, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department, Muscatine Police Department, Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, Clarence Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-00093.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Man convicted of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenshipRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - A jury has convicted Mezemr Abebe Belayneh for fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by lying about his role in persecuting teenagers in Ethiopia for their political opinions.
“The jury’s verdict is aligned with our commitment to holding accountable human rights violators who lie to enter the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are grateful for the remarkable effort and perseverance of our law enforcement partners, who sought justice for the courageous victims, several of whom provided testimony of oppressive violence during the trial.”
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting human rights, and those who commit atrocities will not find safe refuge in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the courage of the victims of these horrible abuses and the persistence of investigators and prosecutors, Mezemr Abebe Belayneh is finally facing justice for the violence he inflicted on young people in Ethiopia 45 years ago.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to identifying and apprehending human rights violators who try to evade justice by seeking shelter in the United States,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama. “The United States is not a safe haven for these criminals, and we will never stop looking for them or seeking justice for their victims.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Mezemr Abebe Belayneh unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship in 2008 by lying about and concealing that he persecuted and committed acts of violence against political opponents during a period known as “the Red Terror” in Ethiopia. The Red Terror was a campaign of brutal violence in the late 1970s in which Ethiopia’s ruling military council and its supporters detained, interrogated, tortured, and executed thousands of perceived political opponents.
During the Red Terror, Belayneh served as a civilian interrogator at a makeshift prison known as Menafesha in the city of Dilla, Ethiopia. Belayneh detained teenage victims in a crowded prison for weeks or months, interrogated them about their political beliefs, and directed and participated in severe beatings in which they were whipped or hit with sticks. Belayneh also forced prisoners to physically fight one another for the prison guards’ amusement. Belayneh concealed that conduct when he obtained a visa to enter the United States in 2001 and when he naturalized to become a U.S. citizen in 2008.
Mezemr Abebe Belayneh, 67, of Snellville, was convicted by a jury on July 26, 2023. The jury convicted Belayneh of one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law and one count of procuring citizenship to which he was not entitled. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2023.
The HSI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tal C. Chaiken and Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Senior Historian Dr. Christopher Hayden. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Steven Israel Mendoza, 33, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Mendoza to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months of imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 180 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On October 15, 2019, a confidential source arranged to purchase a half pound of methamphetamine and a shotgun from Mendoza. The confidential source drove to Mendoza’s Blondo Street residence and met Mendoza at the back door before entering the residence. The confidential source purchased methamphetamine for $2,500 and a 12-gauge shotgun for $500. A forensic lab determined the methamphetamine to be 95% pure.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Omaha Police Department.
Man Convicted of Fraudulently Obtaining U.S. CitizenshipRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted a Georgia man yesterday of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by lying about his role in persecuting teenagers in Ethiopia for their political opinions.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mezemr Abebe Belayneh, 67, of Snellville, unlawfully obtained U.S. citizenship in 2008 by lying about and concealing that he persecuted and committed acts of violence against political opponents during a period known as “the Red Terror” in Ethiopia. The Red Terror was a campaign of brutal violence in the late 1970s in which Ethiopia’s ruling military council and its supporters detained, interrogated, tortured, and executed thousands of perceived political opponents.
“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting human rights, and those who commit atrocities will not find safe refuge in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the courage of the victims of these horrible abuses and the persistence of investigators and prosecutors, Mezemr Abebe Belayneh is finally facing justice for the violence he inflicted on young people in Ethiopia 45 years ago.”
“The jury’s verdict is aligned with our commitment to holding accountable human rights violators who lie to enter the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “We are grateful for the remarkable effort and perseverance of our law enforcement partners, who sought justice for the courageous victims, several of whom provided testimony of oppressive violence during the trial.”
During the Red Terror, Belayneh served as a civilian interrogator at a makeshift prison known as Menafesha in the city of Dilla, Ethiopia. Belayneh detained teenage victims in a crowded prison for weeks or months, interrogated them about their political beliefs, and directed and participated in severe beatings in which they were whipped or hit with sticks. Belayneh also forced prisoners to physically fight one another for the prison guards’ amusement. Belayneh concealed that conduct when he obtained a visa to enter the United States in 2001 and when he naturalized to become a U.S. citizen in 2008.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to identifying and apprehending human rights violators who try to evade justice by seeking shelter in the United States,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama. “The United States is not a safe haven for these criminals, and we will never stop looking for them or seeking justice for their victims.”
The jury convicted Belayneh of one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law and one count of procuring citizenship to which he was not entitled. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI Atlanta investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tal C. Chaiken for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP Senior Historian Dr. Christopher Hayden. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Man Accused of Murder-For-Hire in 2011 St. Louis County DeathRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday in connection with a 2011 St. Louis County, Missouri homicide.
Michael Grady, 68, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Wednesday’s superseding indictment adds Grady to a 2021 indictment against Victoria Rena Williams, 65, that is still pending. Williams has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire.
The indictment accuses Williams of enlisting Grady’s help to find someone to murder Charles Harris III, who was fatally shot on Oct. 5, 2011. Williams and Harris were in a romantic relationship.
On Aug. 27, 2010, Williams started the application process for a $250,000 life insurance police for Harris, specifically asking if the policy would provide coverage if Harris was robbed and killed, the indictment says. Before and after she contacted the insurance company, she regularly was in phone contact with Grady, the indictment says.
The indictment says Williams and Grady discussed how to introduce the killers to Harris, later arranging for potential clients to meet Harris at his home on Oct. 5, 2011. Harris sold suits out of his home to people he knew or through trusted referrals.
After Harris’ death, Williams contacted the life insurance company to collect the proceeds of the insurance policy with Grady’s help, the indictment says. After Williams received $224,444 on Feb. 28, 2014, she obtained a cashier’s check for $110,000 payable to Grady’s wife that was primarily used for Grady’s benefit, the indictment says.
Williams received $175,762 from another insurance policy on April 25, 2014.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI are investigating the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Zendel Rolack, 26, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 72 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. This prison term will be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Rolack pleaded guilty to this offense on March 1, 2023.
The Fitchburg Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence in Oregon, Wisconsin on October 5, 2021, as part of an investigation of a shooting that occurred in Fitchburg on September 29, 2021. At the residence, officers arrested Rolack and the shooting suspect, Alexander Jefferson-Cooper. During a search of a room being used by Rolack as a bedroom, officers located multiple firearms, extra ammunition, firearm magazines, and controlled substances.
DNA testing confirmed the presence of Rolack’s DNA on three of the recovered firearms and the packaging material of some of the controlled substances. A search of Rolack’s phone revealed photos of him with additional firearms, and text messages consistent with drug distribution. One of the other firearms recovered was found to be the firearm used in the September 29, 2021 shooting.
At the time of the offense in this case, Rolack was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of multiple felony convictions, including a 2016 conviction for armed robbery and a 2019 conviction for strangulation and battery.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated a substantial sentence of imprisonment was warranted in light of the Rolack’s history of committing gun offenses and crimes of violence. Judge Conley also noted that Rolack had not responded well to prior sentences of probation.
Jefferson-Cooper was charged in connection with the September 29, 2021 shooting in Dane County Case 2022CF811 and was sentenced to 6 months in jail on November 29, 2022. He was also charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and on January 19, 2023, Judge Conley sentenced Jefferson-Cooper to 60 months in prison.
The charges against Rolack and Jefferson-Cooper were the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.
Louisville Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison for illegal possession a machine gun.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court documents, Cameron Jaimes, 19, was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a machine gun, a Glock switch. Jaimes admitted to possessing a Glock switch which is a device which allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic. A Glock switch is defined as a machine gun under federal law.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF with the assistance from the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Level 3 Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 11-Year-Old via SnapchatRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for extorting a minor to send him sexually explicit photos over Snapchat.
Chayanne Nieves, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 210 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In June 2022, Nieves pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
During a period of four days in November and December 2020, Nieves communicated on Snapchat with an 11-year-old child in Vermont. During those communications, Nieves obtained nude photographs from the victim and then extorted the victim to engage in graphic video chats with him while he masturbated, threatening to post her photographs if she did not comply. The victim’s mother intervened and reported the defendant to local police. During a subsequent search of Nieves’s residence in Lowell, Nieves confirmed that the Snapchat account used to communicate with the child was his. Nieves is a Level 3 registered sex offender based on a 2018 Middlesex Superior Court conviction for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, for which he was on probation when he committed the offense charged in the federal indictment.
“Mr. Nieves is a danger to our communities. While already on probation for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, he targeted and exploited an innocent child for his own sexual gratification. This significant sentence ensures that Mr. Nieves is removed from our communities and unable to cause any more harm for the foreseeable future,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The safety of the public, especially our children, is of the utmost importance to this office. We will continue to do all that we can to hold predators like Mr. Nieves responsible and protect our communities from dangers both off- and on-line.”
“Nieves is a convicted sex offender who used social media to continue to harm children, even while on probation. This significant sentence ensures he will be off the streets and unable to prey on children,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Sextortion, typically a cyber-enabled crime, causes significant harm. HSI continues to work with our partners around the country and the world to track down predators like Nieves. HSI is committed to ensuring that affected individuals and families know that there is help and a way forward after such a troubling event.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; HSI Acting SAC Krol; and Major Dan Trudeau, Commander of the Vermont State Police’s Criminal Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lowell Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Dell’Anno and Anne Paruti of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Leader of Multi-State Jewelry Theft Crew Sentenced to over 6 Years’ of Federal ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Duanne Pierce, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 77 months’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and $606,394.60 in restitution and other penalties by United States District Court Senior Judge Cynthia M. Rufe for conspiring to transport stolen property across state lines and interstate transportation of stolen property.
From May 2018 through February 2020, defendant Duanne Pierce led seven others in a conspiracy to commit 12 retail jewelry store thefts throughout the United States, transporting the stolen jewelry back to Philadelphia after the thefts, where the jewelry was generally resold to stores in the “Jewelers Row” section of the city. Pierce and his crew carried out these thefts all over the country, often committing multiple thefts from different jewelry stores in a single day. This sophisticated approach reduced the likelihood that the crew would be caught because of local law enforcement’s significant challenge in investigating these out-of-state perpetrators. Pierce participated in 11 thefts, and his role was to steal jewelry—including diamond rings and gold chains, often worth several thousand dollars each—from a display case or from the rear, employee-only area of a store, while his co-conspirators “distracted” sales associates. Pierce then resold the stolen jewelry to local jewelers in Philadelphia. The total retail value of the jewelry stolen by Pierce’s crew was approximately $612,670.59.
In March 2022, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count Indictment charging Duanne Pierce and codefendants Charles Tillery, Janel Pierce, Yolanda Fife, David Tillery, Telfa Wills, and Clifton Fleming with conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count 1), and interstate transportation of stolen property and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2 (Counts 2 through 10). In March 2023, Pierce pled guilty to Counts 1 through 10 of the Indictment. Each of Pierce’s codefendants has also pled guilty.
"Thanks to the excellent work of the FBI and the many local police departments that assisted in this case," said U.S. Attorney Romero, "this prolific interstate robbery ring has been fully dismantled. Duanne Pierce’s sentence is the culmination of excellent cross-country collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies."
“Duanne Pierce and his co-defendants were both prolific and strategic in their thefts, sometimes targeting multiple jewelry stores in the same day. Then they’d move on to a different city and do it again, hauling the stolen loot back to Philly to resell,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Through the investigative efforts of the FBI and numerous law enforcement partners across the country, this crew has been dismantled and is being held accountable for their crimes. For his leadership role in the conspiracy, Pierce will now spend years in federal prison.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lancaster (PA) Police Department, Plantation (FL) Police Department, Greenville (SC) Police Department, Concord (NC) Police Department, Anderson (SC) Police Department, Jackson County (GA) Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville (TN) Police Department, Manchester (CT) Police Department, Howard County (MD) Police Department, Arlington County (VA) Police Department, Indianapolis (IN) Metropolitan Police Department, and Miami Township (OH) Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Rice, Katherine Shulman, and Kevin Jayne.
Latin Kings Member Sentenced for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for racketeering.
Josue Carrasquillo, a/k/a “King Playboy,” 28, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (approximately five months in prison) and three years of supervised release. In November 2020, Carrasquillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.
The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. Carrasquillo participated in the violent acts of the gang and distributing controlled substances on behalf of the gang.
In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Carrasquillo is the 60th and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. The two remaining defendants charged in the indictment remain fugitives.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Carol Mici, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Bristol and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The two remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kentucky Woman Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communications to Neighbors Because of Their RaceRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Kentucky woman was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for mailing communications to her neighbors in 2020 threatening to injure them because of their race.
According to court documents, Suzanne Craft, 55, of Louisville, sent multiple threatening communications via the U.S. Postal Service to an interracial couple and their children, who lived in the same Lake Forest neighborhood as Craft. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs.
Following a jury trial in March, Craft was convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications. The jury further found that, for each of these five counts, Craft sent the threatening communications to her neighbors because of their actual or perceived race or color.
“This sentence sends a clear message regarding our commitment to ending hate-motivated violence and threats of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in civilized society for violent threats based on race. We hope that this result brings some measure of peace to victims who had to suffer through the defendant’s terrifying threats of racial violence.”
“I commend the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the trial team for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The citizens of the Western District who live in communities throughout our 53 counties have the right to live and raise their families free from threats of violence made on the basis of race. The nine-year sentence imposed by the court in this case sends a strong message that this type of activity is criminal, will not be tolerated and that this office will take action to protect our citizens from racial hatred.”
“Today’s sentencing is indicative of the egregious behavior Craft levied on her neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Racially-charged threats will not be tolerated in our communities, and if discovered, will be fully investigated and the perpetrators will be held accountable.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett, Special Agent in Charge Cohen and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl for the Western District of Kentucky prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss.
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Kentucky Woman Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communications to Neighbors Because of Their RaceRead the Press Release
A Kentucky woman was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for mailing communications to her neighbors in 2020 threatening to injure them because of their race.
According to court documents, Suzanne Craft, 55, of Louisville, sent multiple threatening communications via the U.S. Postal Service to an interracial couple and their children, who lived in the same neighborhood as Craft. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs.
Following the jury trial in March, Craft was convicted of five counts of mailing threatening communications. The jury further found that, for each of these five counts, Craft sent the threatening communications to her neighbors because of their actual or perceived race or color.
“This sentence sends a clear message regarding our commitment to ending hate-motivated violence and threats of violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in civilized society for violent threats based on race. We hope that this result brings some measure of peace to victims who had to suffer through the defendant’s terrifying threats of racial violence.”
“I commend the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the trial team for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “The citizens of the Western District who live in communities throughout our 53 counties have the right to live and raise their families free from threats of violence made on the basis of race. The nine-year sentence imposed by the court in this case sends a strong message that this type of activity is criminal, will not be tolerated and that this office will take action to protect our citizens from racial hatred.”
“Today’s sentencing is indicative of the egregious behavior Craft levied on her neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Racially-charged threats will not be tolerated in our communities, and if discovered, will be fully investigated and the perpetrators will be held accountable.”
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Bennett, Special Agent in Charge Cohen and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl for the Western District of Kentucky prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss.
Kenner Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – DUANE DUFRENE, age 55, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
According to court documents, DUFRENE conspired with RYAN MULLEN, DILLON ARCENEAUX, LANCE VALLO, GRANT MENARD, and ZEB SARTIN to use several shell Louisiana corporations, that were devoid of assets, to defraud a Georgia based merchant cash company. MULLEN and DUFRENE helped establish ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN as the owners of the existing shell corporations. MULLEN and DUFRENE then created fake vendor accounts for the corporations, and MULLEN, along with another person, created falsified bank records for the companies. MULLEN then used an alias and represented himself to be a broker for the shell companies he helped create.
Through the aid of another broker, MULLEN supplied the victim merchant cash advance company with the fake vendor accounts and false bank records in order to obtain funding. The victim cash advance company approved the advances and began to electronically wire ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN millions of dollars in advances. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN laundered a portion of the funds by paying MULLEN and DUFRENE a portion of the funds. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN then closed their non-existent businesses before fully repaying the victim merchant cash advance company, resulting in overall losses to the victim of approximately $6.4 million.
DUFRENE is to be sentenced on November 29, 2023, and faces a maximum sentence of five years on the wire fraud conspiracy, and up to twenty years on the money laundering conspiracy. After imprisonment, the defendant faces up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $500,000 fine on the money laundering count. Each count also requires DUFRENE to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.
Kenner Man Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOAH TORRES (“TORRES”), age 46, of Kenner, Louisiana was arrested and indicted on Friday, July 21, 2023, with one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Materials Involving the Sexual Abuse of Minors and one count of Receipt Materials Involving the Sexual Abuse of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. If convicted, TORRES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571 per count. In addition, TORRES faces a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life after his release from prison as well as payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.
According to the indictment filed in federal court, TORRES administered a chat group with approximately 195 users. TORRES’s chat group shared and distributed images and videos of child sexual abuse material. On Monday, July 24, 2023, TORRES was arrested at his Kenner residence by Special Agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, including the Portland, Oregon and New Orleans, Louisiana offices; the Kenner Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Randell Lee Proctor, 44, of Belle, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 29, 2022, Proctor possessed a Hi-Point, model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the Rand area of Kanawha County.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Proctor knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior convictions for domestic battery on September 15, 2016, November 26, 2013, January 24, 2005 and September 24, 2002, all in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
Proctor is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-74.
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Justice Department Commemorates the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Highlighting Efforts to Address the Criminalization of People with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division hosted a program yesterday to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to highlight the need to address unnecessary interactions between people with disabilities and the criminal justice system. Passed into law in 1990 with broad bipartisan support, the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities, including in workplaces, businesses, and in state and local government services, including law enforcement and corrections.
The program, entitled “Addressing the Criminalization of People with Disabilities,” focused on the department’s efforts to combat disability discrimination that leads to needless criminal justice involvement, particularly with respect to people with mental health disabilities and substance use disorders. The program called attention to the need for more community-based services to address behavioral health needs, rather than deploying the criminal justice system.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke opened the program with remarks detailing the interactions of millions of people with disabilities with the criminal justice system and the Justice Department’s efforts to fight for greater access and greater equity for people with disabilities. The program also featured recorded remarks from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland who acknowledged the progress that has been made toward fulfilling the promise of equal justice and opportunity for people with disabiltities, but that much more work remains.
“The anniversary of the ADA gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the enormous impact the law has had on the lives of people with disabilities – and on our entire country. It also gives us an important opportunity to recognize the many barriers that remain, and to recommit ourselves to breaking them down,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We know that far too often, law enforcement officers are forced to respond to individuals experiencing challenges that do not have a law enforcement solution. This can contribute to significant harm to people experiencing mental health crises, as well as to needless incarceration or institutionalization of such people. At the same time, it puts a great strain on the law enforcement officers who are forced to fill in the gap where community services have failed. The Justice Department is working to address these challenges through our enforcement of the ADA.”
“We are committed to using our federal civil rights laws to address the unnecessary use of law enforcement and criminal justice responses to people with disabilities when our community service systems fail them,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “To fully realize the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we must confront issues that lie at the intersection of disability rights, criminal justice and racial justice. Simply put, people with disabilities should receive the services they need rather than being treated as criminals.”
Equal Justice Initiative Executive Director Bryan Stevenson provided a keynote speech regarding the continued systemic work that must be done to address the criminalization of people with disabilities. He also answered questions posed by Assistant Attorney General Clarke regarding ways to continue to advance progress for people with disabilities.
“When you look at the landscape now where we have one of the largest prison populations in the world, there is no community that has been more severely impacted than people with disabilities,” said Mr. Stevenson. “Our jails and prisons are filled with people with behavioral health disabilities that we have not addressed and it is an urgent and necessary issue to take on. While we can accept and acknowledge that much has been gained, there is tremendous work that needs to happen with regard to this topic of criminalizing people with disabilities.”
Finally, the program included a panel discussion featuring Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman, NYC Justice Peer Initiative Executive Director Helen Skipper and Civil Rights Division attorneys. The panel addressed various reasons for reliance on the criminal justice system to respond to people with disabilities and explored potential solutions.
The Department is also actively enforcing the ADA in this context, and recently found violations of the ADA by police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis for relying on law enforcement as the primary and generally sole responders to behavioral health calls, even when safety does not require a law enforcement presence.
For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov or call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383). For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.
Justice Department Announces Pattern or Practice Investigation of the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department (MPD). The investigation will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by MPD. The investigation will focus on MPD’s use of force and its stops, searches and arrests, as well as whether it engages in discriminatory policing.
This civil investigation is separate and independent from the technical assistance being provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). While the investigation is ongoing, the COPS Office will continue to provide technical assistance to MPD through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), related to MPD’s use of force and de-escalation practices, as well as its use of specialized units. In addition, in the wake of Tyre Nichols’s death, the Associate Attorney General asked the COPS Office to develop a guide for police chiefs and mayors across the country to help them assess the appropriateness of the use of specialized units, like the former SCORPION unit in Memphis, as well as how to ensure necessary management, oversight, and accountability of such units. The COPS Office has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement to inform the recommendations in that guide, which is forthcoming.
This civil investigation is also separate and independent from the federal criminal civil rights investigation of MPD officers related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
“The tragic death of Tyre Nichols created enormous pain in the Memphis community and across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is launching this investigation to examine serious allegations that the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department engage in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct and discriminatory policing based on race, including a dangerously aggressive approach to traffic enforcement. We are committed to working cooperatively with local officials, police, and community members to conduct the thorough and comprehensive review that the residents of Memphis deserve.”
“I know this community is still hurting after the tragic death of Tyre Nichols,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “At the Justice Department, we are committed to using all our tools to help ensure that Memphis residents have a safe community and can trust in the actions of law enforcement. In addition to our pattern or practice investigation, we will continue to deliver technical assistance resources through CRI-TAC and our COPS Office, to help the city and MPD address issues related to use of force, de-escalation, and specialized units in the more immediate term.”
“Every person is entitled to constitutional and non-discriminatory policing in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, there are grounds to open this investigation now. We have reviewed information that indicates that the Memphis Police Department may be using an approach to street enforcement that can result in violations of federal law, including racially discriminatory stops of Black people for minor violations. The Justice Department will conduct a thorough and objective investigation into allegations of unlawful discrimination and Fourth Amendment violations. Unlawful policing undermines community trust, which is essential to public safety.”
“The people of this great city deserve constitutional and lawful policing – and that begins with trust,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Community trust makes policing more effective and less dangerous for both officers and the people they protect. Pattern-or-practice investigations help build and maintain that trust by ensuring law enforcement agencies do their jobs lawfully. I welcome this opportunity to let the facts lead in what will be an ongoing and important discussion about civil rights in our city. I also want to assure the public that our team of federal prosecutors will continue to partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement to vigorously prosecute criminal activity and uphold the rule of law. Together we can build a stronger Memphis — a Memphis that protects the safety and civil rights of all.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. If the Justice Department has reasonable cause to believe that a state or local government has engaged in a prohibited pattern or practice, the Department is authorized to bring a lawsuit seeking court-ordered changes to remedy the violations. In this investigation, the Department will assess law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prior to the announcement, Department officials informed Mayor Jim Strickland, MPD Chief Cerelyn Davis, and Interim Chief Legal Officer Michael Fletcher. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department will reach out to community members to learn about their experiences with MPD.
The case is being investigated by career attorneys and staff from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. They will be assisted by experienced law enforcement experts. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Today’s announcement marks the ninth pattern or practice investigation into law enforcement misconduct opened by the Justice Department during this Administration. The Department has ongoing investigations into the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester (MA) Police Department; and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The Department recently completed investigations in Louisville and Minneapolis, and secured agreements in principle with both jurisdictions to negotiate consent decrees to address the violations found.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
Jury Convicts St. Augustine Addiction Medicine Doctor on 19 Counts of Drug Trafficking and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Scott Andrew Hollington (58, St. Augustine) guilty of 14 counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, and 5 counts of obstructing justice. Hollington faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each of the drug trafficking offenses, and up to 10 years for the obstruction charges. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Hollington was charged in a superseding indictment on March 23, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first learned of Hollington after receiving a tip from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office that Hollington was exchanging narcotic prescriptions for sexual favors. Following additional evidence of Hollington’s illegal prescribing practices, the DEA deployed five undercover agents to Hollington’s addiction clinic, from February 2022 to July 2022, with the purpose of obtaining prescriptions without a legitimate medical need. Through their investigation, the agents managed to secure a total of 17 prescriptions of schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances, including amphetamines (Adderall), benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone), during the five visits.
Throughout the trial, the evidence showed that Hollington asked the agents about their drug preferences, offered prescriptions without proper medical justification, and admitted that he did not care about urine drug screening results. Physical examinations, vital checks, and proper documentation were omitted during most medical encounters with the undercover agents. Further evidence revealed that Hollington altered medical notes in each of the undercover agents’ medical files following his indictment, leading to the obstruction convictions.
Testimony during the trial included statements from three female victims who revealed that Hollington exchanged, coerced, or solicited sexual favors for prescriptions. One victim described him as a “monster” who took advantage of her vulnerability while seeking help for addiction. A fourth victim recounted Hollington asking if she needed a “sugar daddy” and engaging in conversation of a sexual nature instead of discussing her medical history and need for medication.
This case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and State Attorney’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Ashley Washington. The forfeiture of assets is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran.
Jury Convicts Felon of Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. –A South Georgia resident with a criminal history was convicted by a federal jury of illegally possessing a firearm.
Shi-Young Lamar Sharper, 39, of Valdosta, was found guilty of one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at the conclusion of a one-day trial before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on July 26. Sharper faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.
“In this case, the defendant dangerously attempted to avoid arrest and crashed his car into a citizen’s yard. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and he was captured safely,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Working with law enforcement, our office will hold repeat offenders accountable at the federal level when they chose to illegally pick up a gun.”
“Repeat offenders in possession of a firearm pose one of the most serious threats to public safety in our communities,” said Rich Bilson, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Valdosta office. “Sharper's criminal history demonstrates his disregard for the law, and now he will be held accountable at the federal level without the opportunity for parole.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to a traffic stop on the vehicle Sharper was driving in Feb. 2021. Instead of pulling over, Sharper drove through the front yard of a Valdosta residence, struck some bushes and then ran away from the scene. Law enforcement quickly found him with debris from the bushes on his head and shoulders. Officers found a .38 revolver in his car. Sharper has prior felony convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the Government, with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Joplin Woman Sentenced for Failing to Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court yesterday for failing to pay over employment taxes.
Karen Lauridsen, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $242,251 in restitution to the IRS for delinquent employment taxes.
On Nov. 8, 2022, Lauridsen pleaded guilty to failure to pay over employment taxes. In or about 2003, Lauridsen and another individual purchased Company A, with Lauridsen serving as the President of Company A. In her role as president, Lauridsen was solely responsible for Company A’s finances, including, payroll, tax preparations, tax filings, and paying employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, Company A became delinquent on both the trust fund and employer portions of its employment taxes. The Internal Revenue Service began collection efforts by at least September 2017, including an in-person meeting between Lauridsen and a Revenue Officer on September 13, 2017. During that meeting, Lauridsen admitted to the officer that she was responsible for paying Company A’s employment taxes. However, she did not pay the balances due. As a result, in January 2018, the IRS began levying Company A’s known bank accounts, as well as Company A’s customer payments, with limited success.
Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Special Agents interviewed Lauridsen on November 28, 2018. During the interview, Lauridsen admitted to the agents, as she had in her earlier interview, that she was responsible for Company A’s finances, financial decisions, setting employee pay rates, filing the company’s tax returns, and paying the company’s taxes. Further investigation revealed that during the time period that Lauridsen ceased paying Company A’s employment taxes, Lauridsen frequently gambled at casinos in Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, and Oklahoma. Lauridsen’s gambling persisted despite the IRS’s collection efforts and its criminal investigation.
As a result of her conduct, Company A incurred an employment tax liability with the Internal Revenue Service of $242,251, which Lauridsen was ordered to pay as a part of her sentence.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Kempf. It was investigated by the IRS-CI.
Joint Statement from Canada, Mexico, and the United States Following the Second Trilateral Fentanyl Committee MeetingRead the Press Release
On July 25, 2023 Mexico’s Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodriguez hosted U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas (virtually) in the second meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to propel and expand actions on our shared commitment to combat the trafficking of synthetic drugs.
President Joe Biden, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established this trilateral Committee, comprising high-level representatives from the three countries, during the North American Leaders’ Summit on January 9-10, 2023, to guide priority actions to address the illicit fentanyl threat facing North America.
The three co-chairs reaffirmed commitments to jointly confront the deadly scourge of synthetic drugs, and discussed the steps we are taking to fulfill them, including by: 1) intensifying and expanding prosecution of drug traffickers and dismantling criminal networks; 2) targeting the supply of precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl and inviting action by private chemical and shipping companies to prevent diversion; 3) preventing the trafficking of drugs across our borders; and 4) promoting public health services to reduce harm and demand, educate individuals on the risks of substance use, and provide treatment to those seeking it.
The three delegations committed to create an expert working group to identify challenges related to our respective legislative and regulatory frameworks associated with precursor chemicals, and related equipment. The three countries also committed to establishing an agile mechanism to promptly share emerging illegal drugs and drug trafficking trends.
The three countries committed to continue working together to expand international support to address the threat of synthetic drugs, building on the very strong collaboration of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and working through the new Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. To that end, the three countries committed to present progress on their joint efforts within the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to Coalition partners at the next meeting of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
Representing Mexico were the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez; the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra; the Secretary of the Interior, Luisa María Alcalde Luján; the Secretary of National Defense, Gen. Luis Cresencio Sandoval González; the Secretary of the Navy, Adm. José Rafael Ojeda Durán; Secretary of Health, Dr. Jorge Alcocer Varela; the General Attorney of the Republic, Alejandro Gertz Manero; Chief Officer for North America, Roberto Velasco Álvarez; Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán; Ambassador of Mexico to Canada, Carlos Joaquín González (virtual); Deputy Commissioner of the National Migration Institute, Alejandro Tagle Marroquin; the General Secretary of the National Intelligence Center, Saúl Parra Ibarra; the fiscal Attorney General, Arturo Medina Padilla; the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Pablo Gómez Álvarez; and the spokesperson for the Mexican Government, Jesús Ramírez Cuevas.
The U.S. delegation was led by the White House Homeland Security Advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall; and included the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar; the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma; the Deputy Attorney General, Lisa O. Monaco; the Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristie Canegallo; the Senior Advisor to the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Kemp Chester; the Department of Justice Senior Counsel Joshua Handell; and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Mexico, Mark C. Johnson.
Canada was represented by the National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, Jody Thomas (virtually); the Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada, Tricia Geddes; the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister responsible for Crime Prevention at Public Safety Canada, Talal Dakalbab; the Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission of Canada in Mexico, Shauna Hemingway; the Executive Director of the Opioid Response Team at Health Canada, Jennifer Novak; the Senior Policy Advisor to the National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, Shannon Partridge; the Counsellor for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, Lucie Verreault; and the Public Safety Canada Counsellor at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C., Michael Holmes.
Iowa Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine.Read the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Lukas Allen Vogt, 29, of Guttenberg, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vogt to 9 years’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On August 26, 2021, an Omaha Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to maintain its lane at mile marker 441 eastbound on Interstate 80. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Vogt and a passenger was identified as co-defendant Cody Lee Fischer. A Police Service Dog was deployed during the stop and alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from within the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed a bag of methamphetamine in the glove box. Two loaded semi-automatic handguns were found in a black duffle bag on the back seat of the vehicle. A search of the trunk revealed approximately five pounds of methamphetamine in multiple sandwich bags.
After both men were arrested, Fischer admitted traveling from Denver, Colorado, where he purchased the methamphetamine and intended to sell it in Luxemburg, Iowa. Fischer admitted the guns were his and that Vogt was being paid to drive. Fischer was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment on July 6, 2022.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Omaha Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.