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7 September 2023
Fort Myers Felon Headed Back to Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded RifleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Javonte Keyon Whitfield (25, Fort Myers) to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The Court also ordered Whitfield to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Whitfield had been found guilty by a federal jury on May 11, 2023.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, shortly before 1:30 a.m. on May 14, 2021, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) were alerted to multiple gunshots near the intersection of Linhart Avenue and Evans Avenue in Fort Myers. While investigating the origin of the gunfire, FMPD officers spoke with an occupant of a duplex on Evans Avenue, who denied hearing any gunshots and claimed that he was alone in the residence with his three young children. Shortly thereafter, in direct contradiction to what he had just told the officers, six adult males—including Whitfield—and three young children exited the residence. Officers observed that one of the men who exited the residence was suffering from a gunshot wound, and EMS was summoned. During a later search of the residence, FMPD personnel found seven unsecured firearms, multiple high-capacity magazines, dozens of rounds of ammunition, and cocaine. FMPD recovered a loaded NORINCO SKS rifle equipped with a high-capacity magazine from under the bed in one of the two bedrooms of the home. Subsequent forensic analysis of that firearm determined that a latent fingerprint lifted from the metallic bayonet of the rifle belonged to Whitfield, a previously convicted felon who had been released from prison approximately five months earlier. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth and Patrick L. Darcey.
Former White House Advisor Convicted of Contempt of CongressRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Former White House advisor Peter K. Navarro, 72, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today by a U.S. District Court jury of two counts of contempt of Congress stemming from his failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg, of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 9, 2022, the Select Committee issued a subpoena to Navarro. The subpoena required him to appear and produce documents to the Select Committee on Feb. 23, 2022, and to appear for a deposition before the Select Committee on March 2, 2022. Navarro refused to appear to give testimony as required by subpoena and refused to produce documents in compliance with a subpoena.
In its subpoena, the Select Committee said it had reason to believe that Navarro had information relevant to its investigation. Navarro, formerly an advisor to the President on various trade and manufacturing policies, has been a private citizen since departing the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. He was indicted June 2, 2022.
Each count of contempt of Congress carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of up to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and John Crabb Jr., supported by Paralegal Specialist Sonalika Chaturvedi.
Former Louisiana Correctional Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights and Obstruction Offenses Involving Excessive Force IncidentRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Shreveport, Louisiana, returned a three-count indictment today charging former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO) Correctional Officer Javarrea Pouncy with federal civil rights violations for willfully using unreasonable force against a detainee, failing to obtain medical care for the detainee and obstructing justice.
According to the indictment, on Sept. 27, 2019, Pouncy, acting in his official capacity as a DPSO correctional officer, used unreasonable force against a detainee by repeatedly striking him in the head and body without legal justification while the detainee was being booked into the DeSoto Parish jail. The indictment further alleges that the assault caused bodily injury to the detainee.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Pouncy knew that the detainee had serious medical needs and willfully failed to obtain necessary medical care for him.
The indictment also charges Pouncy with obstruction of justice for knowingly falsifying and making a false entry in a DPSO report with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence an investigation into the assault.
Count one of the indictment charges Pouncy for his unreasonable use of force; count two charges Pouncy for his failure to obtain medical care; and count three charges him with filing the false report. If convicted, Pouncy faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison each for counts one and two, and 20 years in prison for count three.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Reeg for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Erin Monju 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.
Former Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights and Obstruction Offenses Involving Excessive Force IncidentRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A federal grand jury in Shreveport, Louisiana, has returned a three-count indictment charging former DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO) Correctional Officer Javarrea Pouncy with federal civil rights violations for willfully using unreasonable force against a detainee, failing to obtain medical care for the detainee and obstructing justice.
According to the indictment, on September 27, 2019, Pouncy, acting in his official capacity as a DPSO correctional officer, used unreasonable force against a detainee by repeatedly striking him in the head and body without legal justification while the detainee was being booked into the DeSoto Parish jail. The indictment further alleges that the assault caused bodily injury to the detainee. In addition, the indictment alleges that Pouncy knew that the detainee had serious medical needs and willfully failed to obtain necessary medical care for him.
The indictment also charges Pouncy with obstruction of justice for knowingly falsifying and making a false entry in a DPSO report with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence an investigation into the assault. Count one of the indictment charges Pouncy for his unreasonable use of force; count two charges Pouncy for his failure to obtain medical care; and count three charges him with filing the false report.
If convicted, Pouncy faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison each for counts one and two, and 20 years in prison for count three.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement. The FBI New Orleans Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Reeg for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former Cherokee Charter Academy schoolteacher and her husband sentenced for child pornography offensesRead the Press Release
ROME, Ga. – A Calhoun man who distributed images of child sex abuse and his wife, a former middle school special education teacher who received those images and deleted text messages to conceal his crimes, have been sentenced to federal prison.
“By sharing images depicting the sexual violation of minors, the defendants re-victimized children whose lives have been forever altered by this abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The conduct in this case is especially egregious given that one of the defendants, a schoolteacher, occupied a position of trust in the community. The Department of Justice is committed to helping to ensure the safety and well-being of children, so we especially place a high priority on protecting and combating sexual exploitation of minors. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect children from sexual predators and pedophiles.”
“Finding and arresting predators, like these, who distribute images of children being abused is one of our most important missions and we take it seriously, said HSI Atlanta acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “HSI, along with our dedicated law enforcement partners, remains committed to identifying individuals who prey on our most vulnerable population — especially those who hold positions of public trust.”
“The possession and distribution of child pornography poses a great threat to our communities. The GBI is devoted to protecting minors in our state and will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure we hold those accountable who sexually exploit children,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Beginning no later than in December 2017, William Sandridge began to send his wife, Allyn Sandridge, text messages detailing his sexual fantasies involving prepubescent children. Some of the messages contained images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At that time, Allyn Sandridge was employed as a special education teacher at a charter school in Canton, Georgia.
At William Sandridge’s direction, Allyn Sandridge periodically deleted her husband’s text messages and used an encrypted messaging application. These steps were intended to avoid detection of and conceal William Sandridge’s crimes.
On December 29, 2022, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Sandridges’ home acting on a tip received by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. During the search, investigators discovered multiple cell phones and a desktop computer loaded with graphic images of child sex abuse. Allyn Sandridge cooperated with the investigation immediately and disclosed to the officers the material William Sandridge had sent to her phone.
On September 6, 2023, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the defendants as follows:
- William Sandridge, 42, of Calhoun, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct on June 6, 2023.
- Allyn Michelle Sandridge, 42, of Calhoun, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and misprision of a felony on May 25, 2023.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Calhoun Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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.
Former Aequitas CEO and Company Executives Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in $300 Million Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Following their conviction at trial, three former executives of Aequitas Management, LLC, and associated companies, were sentenced to federal prison today for their roles in a vast fraud conspiracy wherein the executives raised nearly $300 million from defrauded investors.
Robert J. Jesenik, 63, former chief executive officer of Aequitas and resident of Lake Oswego, Oregon, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $1.5 million; Andrew N. MacRitchie, 59, formerly of Palm Harbor, Florida, was sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $689,662; and Brian K. Rice, 56, of Portland, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $116,627. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
“When a large investment company led by greedy executives collapses, it can destroy the lives of the victim investors and their families. The victims in this case experienced delayed retirements, lost college savings, physical and mental illness, and many lives were forever changed because of these defendants,” said Ethan Knight, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Bob Jesenik and other former Aequitas executives cheated their investors out of millions and went to extraordinary lengths to cover-up the rapidly-declining financial condition of their company. The sentences imposed today reflect the seriousness of these crimes and should serve as warning to other executives or financial professionals contemplating fraud as a viable path to wealth.”
“This is one of the largest fraud cases ever investigated by the Portland FBI with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “For years, the defendants deliberately deceived countless investors both internationally and domestically through an elaborate web of lies. Many of those investors were right here in Oregon. These sentences send a strong message that the FBI, our partners, and the United States Attorney's Office will continue to work together to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these kinds of fraud schemes for their personal gain.”
“A scam is a scam, no matter how sophisticated or professional it appears,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “The extensive scale of this scheme was matched only by the efforts taken to unravel the truth. Unjust gain is never secure, and today’s sentencings demonstrate that IRS:CI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Jesenik, MacRitchie, Rice, and others used Aequitas, formerly headquartered in Lake Oswego, to solicit investments in a variety of notes and funds, many of which were purportedly backed by trade receivables in education, health care, transportation, and other consumer credit areas. At its peak, Aequitas employed nearly 200 people.
From June 2014 through February 2016, the former executives solicited investors by misrepresenting Aequitas’ use of investor money, the financial health and strength of the company and its subsidiaries, and the risks associated with its investments and investment strategies. Collectively, the defendants also failed to disclose other critical facts about the company, including its near-constant liquidity and cash-flow crises, the use of investor money to repay other investors and to defray operating expenses, and the lack of collateral to secure funds.
In 2005, Jesenik founded the Aequitas group of companies, and, as chief executive officer, controlled the organization’s structure and had ultimate decision-making authority over company activities. As elicited through trial testimony, Jesenik was a micromanager deeply entrenched in the day-to-day workings of Aequitas. He also served as the company’s principal pitchman, frequently telling others that Aequitas would one day rival leading asset management firms.
MacRitchie was Aequitas’s executive vice president and chief compliance officer responsible for the development and implementation of risk management and compliance processes and procedures. MacRitchie oversaw the company’s accounting, legal, and auditing functions, and participated in fundraising. He also established Aequitas’s New York office and directed the company’s “Lux Fund,” a Luxembourg-based fund used to solicit international investors.
Rice served as Aequitas’s executive vice president and president of wealth management. Among other responsibilities, Rice oversaw the solicitation of investments through registered investment advisors (RIA) and managed Aequitas’s affiliated RIAs.
The company’s largest holdings were from various hospital networks, a consumer debt-consolidator, a motorcycle lender, and Corinthian Colleges, one of the nation’s largest operators of for-profit technical and post-secondary schools. The student loans Aequitas owned from Corinthian Colleges, valued at more than $200 million, were by far the company’s largest single category of receivables.
By early 2014, the U.S. Department of Education began scrutinizing Corinthian’s graduation and job-placement rates and, by June of 2014, announced it would defer the payment of federal-aid funds to the schools. Soon after, Corinthian defaulted on its monthly recourse payment to Aequitas, costing the company more than $4 million per month.
The collapse of Corinthian Colleges set off a series of events that ultimately led to Aequitas’s own demise. Meanwhile, Jesenik, MacRitchie, Rice, and others committed numerous financial crimes in an effort to conceal Aequitas’ bleak financial picture. In June 2014, they prepared a letter to investors claiming that Corinthian’s woes would not impact Aequitas’s ability to recoup its investment from student borrowers. At the same time, they continued soliciting new non-equity investments in the company, falsely claiming Aequitas used new investment funds to purchase receivables when, in reality, they were using the funds to pay the company’s bills and prior investors. By July 2014, Aequitas was effectively insolvent, and, in March 2016, the company collapsed.
On July 13, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 31-count superseding indictment charging Jesenik, MacRitchie, and Rice with one count each of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 28 counts of wire fraud. Jesenik was also charged with a single count of making a false statement on a loan application. On May 15, 2023, after a six-week trial, a federal jury found Jesenik, MacRitchie, and Rice guilty of conspiring with one another to commit mail and wire fraud and 28 individual counts of wire fraud. Jesenik was also convicted of making a false statement on a loan application.
In 2019, former Aequitas executives and co-conspirators Brian A. Oliver, 58, of Aurora, Oregon, and Olaf Janke, 52, of Portland, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering. Janke will be sentenced on October 18, 2023, and, as part of his plea agreement, has agreed to pay full restitution. Following his death on July 7, 2023, Oliver’s guilty plea was vacated and his charges were dismissed.
On May 26, 2022, former Aequitas senior executive and chief financial officer Nelson Scott Gillis, 70, of Lake Oswego, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a bank. He will be sentenced on October 10, 2023, and has also agreed to pay full restitution.
This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration. It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds and Christopher L. Cardani, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, and Siddharth Dadhich, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Horsley assisted the trial team.
Following Significant Policing Reform Progress, Federal Judge Terminates Most Consent Decree Provisions for City of Seattle and Seattle Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
In response to a joint motion filed in March by the Justice Department and the City of Seattle, a federal judge terminated most provisions of a consent decree that led to significant policing reform. The court’s order recognizes the city’s consistent compliance with the core requirements of a 2012 consent decree regarding the Seattle Police Department (SPD). The order details the additional obligations that the city must take to continue the reform process.
According to the order, “SPD has made tremendous improvements in its policies, methods of operation and leadership with respect to the areas of use of force, stops and detentions and crisis intervention.” The court found that “the city has achieved sustained full and effective compliance, for at least two years, with the commitments set forth in the consent decree regarding crisis intervention, stops and detentions, bias-free policing, supervision and the Office of Police Accountability and terminate[d] the parties’ obligations” under those areas of the consent decree. For example:
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After making changes to SPD’s policies and training on the use of force, SPD has reduced the use of serious force by 60%, and force is now used in less than one-quarter of one percent of all events to which officers respond.
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To better respond to people experiencing behavioral health crises, SPD developed an advanced crisis intervention program in which civilian mental health professionals and non-police mobile crisis teams respond to behavioral health crisis incidents.
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SPD developed policies and training to secure people’s rights during police investigative stops. The court monitor found that officers complied with legal and policy requirements in almost all instances it assessed.
“This ruling acknowledges the significant reforms implemented by the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department to ensure effective and nondiscriminatory policing for the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The court’s order gives the city and police department the ability to focus on the areas that need additional attention. We commend the city, police department and the community for continuing to collaborate on constitutional and non-discriminatory policing which benefits all residents in the City of Seattle.”
“I commend the personnel of the Seattle Police Department whose dedication has transformed policing in Seattle,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “Hard work remains in how our police confront crowd control and disciplinary action for misconduct. We look forward to working with the department, the city accountability partners, the Community Police Commission and the citizens of Seattle to achieve these remaining reforms required by the consent decree.
The court order requires continued work related to use of force in the crowd management context, accountability and racial disparities. For example:
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SPD must develop new crowd management policies, which must be approved by the court and independent monitor.
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An independent monitor must review of the city’s accountability systems and provide a plan to identify and mitigate racial disparities in stops, detentions and the use of force.
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The city must continue to measure whether the reforms required by the consent decree remain effective.
The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s for the Western District of Washington’s Civil Division handled this matter.
The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize constitutional policing and currently has pending investigations into police departments across the country, including in Memphis, Phoenix, New York City and Louisiana.
The consent decree, proposed agreement, as well as additional information about the Civil Rights Division, are available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section.
seattle_public_order.pdf-
Following Significant Policing Reform Progress, Federal Judge Terminates Most Consent Decree Provisions for City of Seattle and Seattle Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – In response to a joint motion filed in March by the Justice Department and the City of Seattle, a federal judge terminated most provisions of a consent decree that led to significant policing reform. The court’s order recognizes the city’s consistent compliance with the core requirements of a 2012 consent decree regarding the Seattle Police Department (SPD). The order details the additional obligations that the city must take to continue the reform process.
According to the order, “SPD has made tremendous improvements in its policies, methods of operation and leadership with respect to the areas of use of force, stops and detentions and crisis intervention.” The court found that “the city has achieved sustained full and effective compliance, for at least two years, with the commitments set forth in the consent decree regarding crisis intervention, stops and detentions, bias-free policing, supervision and the Office of Police Accountability and terminate[d] the parties’ obligations” under those areas of the consent decree. For example:
- After making changes to SPD’s policies and training on the use of force, SPD has reduced the use of serious force by 60%, and force is now used in less than one-quarter of one percent of all events to which officers respond.
- To better respond to people experiencing behavioral health crises, SPD developed an advanced crisis intervention program in which civilian mental health professionals and non-police mobile crisis teams respond to behavioral health crisis incidents.
- SPD developed policies and training to secure people’s rights during police investigative stops. The court monitor found that officers complied with legal and policy requirements in almost all instances it assessed.
“This ruling acknowledges the significant reforms implemented by the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department to ensure effective and nondiscriminatory policing for the community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The court’s order gives the city and police department the ability to focus on the areas that need additional attention. We commend the city, police department and the community for continuing to collaborate on constitutional and non-discriminatory policing which benefits all residents in the City of Seattle.”
“I commend the personnel of the Seattle Police Department whose dedication has transformed policing in Seattle,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “Hard work remains in how our police confront crowd control and disciplinary action for misconduct. We look forward to working with the department, the city accountability partners, the Community Police Commission and the citizens of Seattle to achieve these remaining reforms required by the consent decree.
The court order requires continued work related to use of force in the crowd management context, accountability and racial disparities. For example:
- SPD must develop new crowd management policies, which must be approved by the court and independent monitor.
- An independent monitor must review of the city’s accountability systems and provide a plan to identify and mitigate racial disparities in stops, detentions and the use of force.
- The city must continue to measure whether the reforms required by the consent decree remain effective.
The Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s for the Western District of Washington’s Civil Division handled this matter.
The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize constitutional policing and currently has pending investigations into police departments across the country, including in Memphis, Phoenix, New York City and Louisiana.
The consent decree, proposed agreement, as well as additional information about the Civil Rights Division, are available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section.
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Florida man admits to using fake debit cardsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old resident of Miami, Florida, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Claude Casimir admitted that in April-May 2019, he and others conspired together in the scheme that targeted the Houston area.
The investigation began in early 2019 after a local bank discovered numerous fraudulent transactions. They found that individuals had used the PINs of actual bank customers and withdrew money via counterfeit cards.
As part of his plea, Casmir admitted he rented a vehicle to access several ATMs in the Houston area and withdrew cash using counterfeit debit cards. He also drove another individual around the Houston area using the rented vehicle to do the same.
Additionally, he admitted that on May 8, 2019, he used a debit card of another individual without that person’s knowledge or consent. In this single transaction, Casmir attempted to take $2,000.
U.S. District Judge Eskridge will impose sentencing Dec. 28. At that time, Casimir faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine for the conspiracy. He will also receive a mandatory two years for the aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez prosecuted the case.
Five Men Charged with Using New York Diamond District Companies as Fronts to Illegally Move More Than $600 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, NJ. – Five men who work in New York City’s Diamond District were arrested today and charged with illegally processing more than $600 million through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Raj Vaidya, 26; Rakesh Vaidya, 51; Shrey Vaidya, 23; and Neel Patel, 26, all of Edison, New Jersey; and Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” 57, of Great Neck, New York, are each charged by complaint with one count of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and were released on unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Since 2019, Raj Vaidya, Rakesh Vaidya, Shrey Vaidya, and Patel have operated numerous purported diamond, gold, and jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District, including Arya Diamond Jewellery USA Inc., d/b/a “Karats & Carats,” Diamspark LGD LLC, Royal Diamonds LLC, Raj Gold and Diamond LLC, Royal Arya Jewellery Inc, and Raj Gold and Diamond Inc. Janfar also purportedly operated companies in the Diamond District, including Rodeo of NY, d/b/a “Sarah Jewels.” The defendants used these and other entities as fronts to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal financial transactions for customers – including converting cash to checks or wire transfers – in exchange for substantial fees. At times, they moved millions of dollars in cash in a single day. None of their companies were registered as money transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
The charge of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal money transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense or of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce of the Economic Crimes Unit, Olta Bejleri of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit, and Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
vaidya.complaint.pdfFinal Co-Conspirator Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Patrick Green, 48, of Longview, Texas, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 14 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $226,146 in restitution. Green pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
Green was the final co-conspirator to be sentenced in this case. Jonathan Blake, 30, of Tucson, Arizona, and Bethany Helene Green, 46, of Longview, Texas, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in this case. In early August, Judge Hinderaker sentenced Blake to six months in prison, and sentenced Bethany Green to 37 months in prison. All three co-defendants are responsible for, and ordered to pay, $226,146 in restitution.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, to offset employees’ lost wages, the federal government added $600 per week in federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to the states’ standard unemployment payments. In May 2020, shortly after this government relief was announced, Bethany Green devised a fraudulent scheme to apply for Arizona unemployment assistance and the additional PUA funds on behalf of inmates at the Pima County Jail who were not entitled to receive unemployment payments. Bethany Green conspired with inmates at the jail, including her husband, Patrick Green, and another inmate, Jonathan Blake, to apply for benefits on their behalf. Patrick Green and Jonathan Blake also recruited other inmates to the scheme. A total of 16 inmates provided their personal identifying information which Bethany Green then used online to fraudulently apply and obtain unemployment benefits for the inmates. Bethany Green charged the inmates a fee, typically $1,000, to complete the online unemployment applications. Bethany Green then charged the inmates an additional weekly fee of $100 to file the weekly certifications necessary to continue the unemployment payments. In total, Bethany Green and her co-conspirators defrauded the Arizona Department of Economic Security of $226,146 in false unemployment claims.
United States Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, and Arizona Department of Economic Security-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01664-TUC-JCH (BGM)-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-133_Green# # #
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.Federal Inmate Sentenced to Seven Months for Possession of Contraband Cell PhoneRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal inmate pled guilty to possession of a contraband cell phone at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina (“FMC Butner”) and was sentenced on Wednesday to seven months in prison for the charge. The seven-month term of imprisonment is in addition to, and consecutive to, his current term of imprisonment.
According to court documents, Ronito Gomez, 33, an inmate located at FMC Butner at the time of the offense, was found in possession of a cell phone during a visual search by Federal Bureau of Prisons staff. During the search, staff discovered one cell phone with a SIM card and one cell phone charger, which Gomez had concealed under his clothing before the search. The Warden at FMC Butner did not give Gomez permission or authorization to have a cell phone in his possession inside of the federal prison.
Gomez’s conviction for possession of a contraband cell phone also makes him ineligible to earn time credits under the First Step Act, which allows federal inmates to earn up to 365 days off of their sentence for participating in eligible programming while incarcerated.
Michael Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Merrill Ward prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00126-FL-RJ.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Mexican National of Orchestrating Fentanyl and Meth Scheme that Sent Narcotics Across U.S.Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Mexican national has been indicted on federal narcotics trafficking charges that allege he oversaw a drug trafficking organization that acquired large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, stored the drugs at a Compton residence, and distributed the contraband locally and across the nation, sometimes using the United States Postal Service, the Justice Department announced today.
Edgar Valentin Felix Osuna, 25, of Sinaloa, Mexico, who was arrested on August 29 in Barstow while on his way to Las Vegas, was named in a three-count indictment returned Wednesday afternoon by a federal grand jury.
The indictment charges Felix with conspiring to distribute and to possess fentanyl and methamphetamine. He is also charged with substantive counts of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
This case stems from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service that culminated with a search of the Compton residence that led to the seizure of nearly 66 kilograms of fentanyl (which included nearly 27,000 counterfeit pills) and approximately 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine.
“From at least 2019, while in Mexico and while on federal probation [in a narcotics trafficking case in the District of Utah], Felix was facilitating the distribution of large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs that were being stored at a stash house in Compton, California that Felix controlled and was operated by Juan Gonzalez,” according to a criminal complaint previously filed in this case. The indictment alleges that Felix obtained the narcotics, arranged for deliveries to be made to the stash house, and orchestrated further distribution. Gonzalez and others allegedly wired the proceeds from drug sales to Felix.
The conspiracy count in the indictment alleges a series of acts, beginning with a May 5, 2019, distribution of approximately four kilogram of narcotics that were sold on behalf of Felix. The investigation outlined in the complaint alleges that drugs from the stash house were sometimes shipped via the United States Postal Service to addresses in New York, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Those parcels were mailed by a now-deceased drug courier. After that man’s death, Gonzalez shipped at least one package to an address in Illinois, the complaint alleges.
On February 23, 2022, Felix allegedly directed the distribution of 22 kilograms of methamphetamine. The following day, law enforcement arrested Gonzalez and executed a search warrant at the stash house that resulted in the seizure of the fentanyl, fake pills and methamphetamine.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty last year to distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He was sentenced in January to 15 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint filed last month, Felix continued to distribute narcotics after Gonzalez was arrested, and law enforcement determined that he had returned to the United States by late 2022.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felix, who is currently being held without bond, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on September 21.
Each of the three counts in the indictment carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life.
The investigation into Felix and Gonzalez was conducted by the DEA Los Angeles Field Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Brittney Harris and Jenna Williams of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- September 2023Read the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the September 2023 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
James O'dean Clifton. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Child Neglect in Indian Country; and First-Degree Burglary in Indian Country. James O’dean Clifton, 39, a citizen of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians from Tulsa, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intend to do bodily harm in Indian Country; assault resulting in bodily injury in Indian Country; child neglect in Indian Country; and first-degree burglary in Indian Country after police responded to multiple domestic calls. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-284
Carl Duaine Coffey. Distribution of Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fentanyl. Carl Duaine Coffey, 46, from Tulsa is charged with distribution of methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigating agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-Lyn McCormick is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-294
Anthony Aaron King. Assault of a Spouse/Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling, Suffocating, and Attempting to Strangle and Suffocate in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Sexual Abuse without Consent. Anthony Aaron King, 43, a Muskogee citizen from Tulsa is charged with three counts of assault of a spouse/intimate/dating partner by strangling, suffocating, and attempting to strangle and suffocate in Indian Country; two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country; and two counts of sexual abuse without consent. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Harder and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-251
Brayden Kent Bull. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country: Production of Child Pornography; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Brayden Kent Bull, 25, a Navajo citizen of Claremore, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 years of age in Indian Country: production of child pornography; receipt and distribution of child pornography; and possession of child pornography in Indian Country. Rogers County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Christopher Nassar are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-283
Pedro Antonio Lopez Guerra. Distribution of Fentanyl. Pedro Antonio Lopez Guerra, 27, of Tulsa, is charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl. Drug Enforcement Administration is the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-295
Kedarrion Ramon Simmons. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Making a false Statement in the Attempted Acquisition of a Firearm. Kedarrion Ramon Simmons, 30, of Tulsa is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and making a false statement in the attempted acquisition of a firearm. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shakema Onias and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-290
Keelan Marquez Smallwood. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Keelan Marquez Smallwood, 32, of Tulsa is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country, carrying, using, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-286
Kenyon Ray Vessell. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Kenyon Ray Vessell, 24, a Muscogee citizen from Choctaw is charged with second degree murder in Indian Country and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country after allegedly driving under the influence of a controlled substance and crashing into a vehicle causing the death of the driver and injuring another. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and FBI are the investigating agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-288
Cristian Josue Mejia-Garcia. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in the Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Cristian Josue Mejia-Garcia, 24, a Honduran national found in Tulsa, is charged with alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations have all contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl Barber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-285
Elder Jony Perez Zacarias. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Elder Jony Perez Zacarias, 32, a Guatemalan residing in Tulsa, is charged with unlawful reentry of a removed alien after being arrested by the Tulsa Police Department on unrelated charges. Once in custody it was determined that Perez-Zacarias had unlawfully reentered the United States after having been deported to Guatemala on January 16, 2020, at Alexandria, LA. Perez-Zacarias has been removed on three previous occasions. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cymetra Williams is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-287
Father of Alleged Lamar High School Shooter Sentenced to 6+ Years for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
The father of a 15-year-old accused of fatally shooting a classmate at Lamar High School was sentenced Thursday to more than six years in federal prison for a gun crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
John Edward Porter, 50, was charged in March and pleaded guilty in May to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman to 77 months in federal prison.
According to court documents, shortly after his son allegedly opened fire at Arlington’s Lamar High School on March 20, fatally shooting one student and injuring another, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Mr. Porter’s apartment.
Inside the home, agents found paperwork for a Mossberg, model 500, 12-gauge shotgun – the same gun recovered from the scene of the shooting. A trace revealed a relative of Mr. Porter had purchased the gun for him.
Inside Mr. Porter’s bedroom, agents also found a Smith & Wesson .357 gauge revolver, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, and a Smith & Wesson M&P .556 caliber rifle.
Mr. Porter, who had been convicted of first degree robbery and sexual battery in Louisiana in 1996 and was thus legally barred from possessing firearms, admitted to possessing all four guns, including the Mossberg.
Records indicated that Mr. Porter had attempted to purchase guns from licensed firearm dealers in 2014 and 2020, but was denied after the background check flagged his prior felony convictions.
The accused shooter has been charged by the state with murder and aggravated assault. He remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives Dallas Field Division and the Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Gatto prosecuted the case.
Drug Conspiracy Leader Gets 262-Months Imprisonment for Distributing Methamphetamine in Southern IllinoisRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A U.S. District judge sentenced a California man to 262-months imprisonment after he admitted to leading a drug conspiracy ring targeting communities in southern Illinois.
Thomas Hines, 33, of Los Angeles, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. In addition to the prison sentence, Hines will serve five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.
“The defendant led an operation responsible for distributing a significant amount of methamphetamine in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Pushing pound quantities of drugs exhibits a lack of respect for the law and safety of the community, and the defendant will have years to reconsider his actions in federal prison.”
"Taking out this methamphetamine trafficking organization is a prime example of DEA's key mission," said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Rehg, head of Drug Enforcement Administration enforcement operations in southern Illinois. "We investigate the criminal networks causing the most damage to our communities, and meth is particularly prominent in the Midwest, damaging lives in every community. Significant time behind bars for defendants like Thomas Hines is a fine reward to our investigators for their diligent work."
According to court documents, the conspiracy operated from at least January 2020 until January 2021 and trafficked more than an estimated 20 pounds of methamphetamine to southern Illinois.
Hines was the source of supply of methamphetamine for the drug trafficking organization. Seven additional individuals were charged in the indictment and pleaded guilty for their involvement in the conspiracy:
- Nyeshia Anderson, 32, of North Las Vegas, Nevada;
- Corey Hendriex, 39, of Granite City, Illinois;
- Amy Lynch, 42, of Granite City, Illinois;
- Tamara Peoples, 66, of Granite City, Illinois;
- Richard Stark, 53, of Hazelwood, Missouri;
- Terrence Thompson, 36, of St. Louis, Missouri; and
- Terrell Winston, 37, of Florissant, Missouri.
In one instance, Hines and Anderson delivered a suitcase holding nearly 11 kilograms of methamphetamine to Thompson in November 2020. Law enforcement recovered the suitcase while executing a search warrant on Thompson’s residence.
To finance the illegal narcotic operation, conspirators utilized CashApp, cashier’s checks, bank transfers and postal money orders—thus resulting in money laundering.
Sentencing hearings for Lynch and Winston are scheduled for November 2023. The remaining conspirators have received federal prison sentences.
DEA led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia Rajagopal prosecuted the case.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces 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.
Dozens arrested as part of Houston Violent Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The charges against 39 individuals are the newest brought in the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state and federal law enforcement.
The arrests were made after a federal grand jury returned seven separate indictments, with additional arrests made under four court-issued complaints. The defendants are each alleged to be part of larger organizations involved in large-scale drug trafficking or violent robberies. Many of the charged crimes involved the illegal possession or use of firearms.
The joint effort, first announced a year ago in September 2022, addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.
Among the charges are possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, meth and other drugs; possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; felon in possession of a firearm and carjacking.
During the investigations and arrests, law enforcement seized 79 firearms, including three machineguns made by attaching a machine conversion device (MCD) to a semi-automatic firearm and three stand-alone machinegun conversion devices not attached to firearms. Also seized were a silencer, three ghost guns, an inert hand grenade, and body armor. Drugs and related items seized included approximately 248 kilograms of meth, including meth pills some of which laced with fentanyl; over 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and PCP, as well as four pill presses and over $110,000 in cash.
The FBI, Houston Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigations with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Harris County Constable’s Office (Precincts 3, 4, and 5), Montgomery County Constable’s Office (Precinct 4), U.S. Marshals Service, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Cy-Fair Independent School District Police Department and the Texas Anti-Gang Center .
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenon, John Ganz and Carrie Wirsing are prosecuting the cases along with Trial Attorneys Sheila Lafferty, Ralph Paradiso, Anthony Kaplan and Jennifer Weinhold of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Charges in indictments and complaints are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dozens Arrested as Part of Houston Violent Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
The charges brought against 39 individuals are the newest brought in the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement.
The arrests were made after a federal grand jury returned seven separate indictments, with additional arrests made under four court-issued complaints. The defendants are each alleged to be part of larger organizations involved in large-scale drug trafficking or violent robberies. Many of the charged crimes involved the illegal possession or use of firearms.
The joint effort, first announced a year ago in September 2022, addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime.
Among the charges are possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, meth, and other drugs; possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and felon in possession of a firearm and carjacking.
During the investigations and arrests, law enforcement seized 79 firearms, including three machineguns made by attaching a machinegun conversion device (MCD) to a semi-automatic firearm and three stand-alone machinegun conversion devices not attached to firearms. Also seized were a silencer, three ghost guns, an inert hand grenade, and body armor. Drugs and related items seized included approximately 248 kilograms of meth, including meth pills some of which laced with fentanyl; over 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and PCP, as well as four pill presses and over $110,000 in cash.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge David Martinez of the FBI Houston Field Office, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, Principal Deputy Administrator George Papadopoulos of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, and Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Houston Division made the announcement.
The FBI, Houston Police Department, DEA, HSI, and ATF investigated the cases with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Harris County Constable’s Office (Precincts 3, 4, and 5), Montgomery County Constable’s Office (Precinct 4), U.S. Marshals Service, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, the Cy-Fair Independent School District Police Department, and the Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG).
Trial Attorneys Sheila Lafferty, Ralph Paradiso, Anthony Kaplan, and Jennifer Weinhold of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenon, John Ganz, and Carrie Wirsing for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dominican Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogue Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican woman pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing seven kilograms of fentanyl and one kilogram of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue intended for distribution.
Ana Checo, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of valeryl fentanyl, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 7, 2023. Checo was arrested and charged in May 2021.
In 2019, Checo delivered $58,510 in drug proceeds to an undercover officer for laundering. In July 2019, a search warrant at Checo’s residence resulted in the recovery of eight kilograms of fentanyl, one of which also contained valeryl fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Four kilograms of tramadol, one kilogram of “2C-B,” a schedule I controlled substance and $18,325 were also seized. In addition, Checo possessed approximately 55 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and several thousand dollars at the time of her arrest.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
District Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Year Prison Term for Assaulting Homeless Man with a Tire Iron and Assaulting Elderly Tourist on the MetroRead the Press Release
Defendant Committed a String of Crimes in One Day
WASHINGTON – Roscoe Rosborough, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for two separate assaults that took place on the same day in Northeast and Northwest DC, in February of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Rosborough pleaded guilty in June 9, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault with significant bodily injury.
According to the government’s evidence, on February 17, 2023, at approximately 4:55 a.m., the defendant entered a homeless shelter, though he was not a resident, and demanded to use the bathroom. After being refused, he continued into the shelter and ran into a resident walking to the cafeteria for breakfast. The defendant pulled out a tire iron from inside his clothing and struck the resident multiple times to the head, causing a laceration to the head that required nine staples.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. that same day, the defendant was on a metro train headed for the Gallery Place – Chinatown station. He approached an elderly couple with their three minor grandchildren visiting from out of town. He got into their faces, unprovoked, and began yelling profanities at them. The 78-year-old grandfather put his hand on the defendant’s arm and said, “back off pal.” The defendant then assaulted the man, punching him, pulling him to the floor, and kicking him. This assault caused the victim to require multiple knee-drains and eventually surgery to his knee.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, SAC Jacobs, and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, specifically Special Agent Deborah Frye, Special Agent John Perren, and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who assisted with the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Gauri Gopal and Victim/Witness Advocates Lakeisha McFall, Jennifer Clark, and Paola Molina.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Sessa and Katrenia Shelly, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Indicted on Armed Carjacking and Other Charges in String of Armed Robberies at Convenience Stores and Gas StationsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An 18-count indictment, filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, charges Shamell Naquan Joyner, 35, of the District of Columbia, with offenses arising out of an armed carjacking and six armed Hobbs Act robberies allegedly committed between April 12 and May 2, 2023. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to the indictment, on April 12, 2023, Joyner committed an armed Hobbs Act robbery at the Falcon Fuel gas station and convenience store, located at 1301 13th Street Northwest, stealing money and personal property from the business and two employees while holding them at gunpoint. Joyner also is alleged to have discharged his firearm at two store employees during this robbery, neither of whom was wounded. (The government’s evidence connects this armed robbery to an April 17 armed robbery of an Alexandria, Virginia, 7-Eleven, in which Joyner is also alleged to have discharged his firearm. A store employee working at the time of the Alexandria robbery sustained a non–life threatening gunshot wound to his leg.)
One day after the Falcon Fuel robbery, on April 13, Joyner is alleged to have carjacked a man at gunpoint in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Joyner allegedly stole the man’s Honda HR-V and drove it across state lines into Virginia. The government’s evidence shows that Joyner used that car to commit subsequent armed robbery offenses, including an April 15, 2023, armed robbery of the 7-Eleven store at 1100 Vermont Avenue Northwest, in which an employee was held at gunpoint.
On April 30, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the 7-Eleven store at 7401 Georgia Avenue Northwest and an employee, again at gunpoint. Joyner allegedly robbed another two stores at gunpoint the next day, including the 7‑Eleven store at 1325 2nd Street Northeast and the 721 Shop & Run and an employee at 721 H Street Northeast.
Finally, on May 2, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the 7-Eleven store at 1645 Connecticut Avenue Northwest and an employee, also at gunpoint. Joyner then allegedly committed additional armed robberies in Maryland, including a 7-Eleven store in Montgomery County and an Exxon gas station and employee in Anne Arundel County. During the Exxon robbery, Joyner is alleged to have held the Exxon employee at gunpoint and robbed him of the keys to his Toyota RAV4, which Joyner then stole and drove across state lines into the District of Columbia.
Later that day, in the 400 block of Condon Terrace SE, the Metropolitan Police Department found Joyner in the stolen RAV4’s driver’s seat and arrested him without incident. At the time of his arrest, Joyner was in possession of the firearm used in the armed robberies committed between April 30 and May 2, as well as unique clothing and other evidence that tied him to numerous offenses.
Joyner has been detained since his May 2, 2023, arrest.
“These alleged crimes left numerous victims, store employees, and witnesses terrorized,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Those who are driving these pattern and spree robberies in our community need to know that they will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The indictment charges Joyner with 18 counts: six counts of interference with commerce by robbery (also known as “Hobbs Act” robbery), which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; one count of carjacking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; seven related counts of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; two counts of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Under the indictment, Joyner faces a mandatory minimum of 52 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering applicable sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Alexandria City, Anne Arundel County, Fairfax County, and Prince George’s County Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Justin F. Song of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
The investigation into these offenses and potentially related armed robberies of commercial establishments located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Man Charged in a July 2023 killing at Marie Reed Recreation CenterRead the Press Release
Defendant allegedly shot the victim in the head during a recreational soccer match
WASHINGTON – Pedro Funes, 33, of Washington, D.C., was charged in Superior Court today on a count of first degree murder while armed in the homicide of 30-year-old Around Solis on July 26, 2023, in the city's Adams Morgan neighborhood, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department announced.
Funes was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Judith Pipe and entered a plea of not guilty. The court found probable cause to believe that Funes committed the slaying. The court held Funes without bond pending a preliminary hearing to be held on October 4, 2023, before Judge Robert Okun.
An arrest on a complaint is merely a formally charged allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
In announcing the charge, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey Find State of New Jersey Provides Constitutionally Deficient Care at Two State Run Veterans’ HomesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced today that they have concluded an investigation into whether New Jersey subjected residents of two veterans’ homes to conditions that violate the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The department found reasonable cause to believe the residents of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus face unreasonable harm and risk due to inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs operates the homes, which provide long-term nursing care to veterans and their families.
“Those who served to protect this nation and their families are entitled to appropriate care when they reside at a veterans’ home,” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey said. “The Paramus and Menlo Park veterans’ homes fail to provide the care required by the U.S. Constitution and subject their residents to unacceptable conditions, including inadequate infection control and deficient medical care. These conditions must swiftly be addressed to ensure that our veterans and their families at these facilities receive the care they so richly deserve. We will not stop working until they do.”
“We owe the veterans who served our nation our deepest thanks, and those veterans and their family members who live in these facilities have the right to appropriate care,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Based on our investigation, we have found that these facilities have provided inadequate protection from infections and deficient medical care, which have caused these veterans and their families great harm. We look forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to improve the conditions in these homes they operate and ensure these veterans and their families receive the care they need and deserve.”
The inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care at the homes are compounded by a lack of effective management and oversight. Such deficiencies expose residents to uncontrolled, serious and deadly infections and have resulted in the veterans’ homes suffering among the highest number of resident deaths of all similarly sized facilities in the region.
The investigation was conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the Justice Department to act to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run residential institutions.
As required by CRIPA, the department provided the state with written notice setting out the department’s conclusions and the supporting facts. The department also notified the state of the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations.
The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan Millenky and Thandiwe Boylan of the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Division; Michael Campion, Chief of the Civil Rights Division; Caroline Sadlowski, Counsel to the U.S. Attorney; and attorneys from the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Civil Rights Division.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
njveteranshomesfindings.report.pdfDefendant who stole and sold $100,000+ in medical supplies sentenced to probationary sentenceRead the Press Release
Seattle – A Matthews, North Carolina, man who previously worked at hospitals in Washington State, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to three years of probation for Wire Fraud for his theft and sales of medical equipment, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Denis Tkachuk, 28, previously worked at hospitals in the Tri-Cities, Seattle, and Olympia and evidence indicates he began stealing and selling medical equipment on eBay as early as 2016. Tkachuk was dismissed from Olympia’s Providence Hospital in September 2019 when hospital staff discovered the theft of hundreds of thermometers, probes, finger sensors and otoscope heads. The equipment from that hospital alone was valued at more than $108,000.
“FDA regulates the manufacturing and distribution of medical products like these medical devices to help ensure the safety of American patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder of the FDA’s continued focus on individuals and companies that attempt to profit from risking the health of American consumers.”
Tkachuk was a Biomedical Technician and in that capacity was authorized to make purchases of non-capital items worth less than $5,000. In August 2019, a hospital inventory determined a great deal of the equipment Tkachuk purchased was missing and did not appear to have been used at the Olympia hospital or within the Providence healthcare group. The hospital staff made a police report and Tkachuk was fired.
The investigation by the Food and Drug Administration Office of the Inspector General revealed that Tkachuk had sold the products primarily to a coconspirator in Detroit, as well as five other buyers. The photos of the equipment that Tkachuk posted for sale on eBay indicated the items were stolen from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Kadlec Hospital in Richland and from Providence in Olympia.
Describing the harm of the theft, Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, “These were devices intended for use by patients, physicians, and nurses to treat illness and remedy severe injuries. This offense caused loss to the hospitals, excess work for the individuals responsible for maintaining the stock, and the unavailability of vital medical devices when needed by physicians.”
Tkachuk pleaded guilty to wire fraud in May 2023. His Detroit coconspirator was also sentenced to a probationary sentence.
Tkachuk was ordered to pay $169,806 in restitution to the hospitals.
The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Olympia Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart.
Dauphin County Man Sentenced to Probation for Submitting over $14,000 in False U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs ClaimsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jeffrey Oakley, age 40, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to two years of probation for submitting a fraudulent claim for U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) benefits on behalf of his wife.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Oakley submitted a disability claim to the VA on behalf of his wife. When that claim was denied, he forged his wife’s DD214, and submitted the fraudulent document along with a new claim. As a result of his actions, his wife received $14,127.02 in VA disability benefits to which she was not entitled.
Oakley previously admitted to submitting the claim and fraudulent DD 214. In addition to the sentence of probation, Oakley was also ordered to pay $14,127.02 in restitution, representing the total amount of funds he received through fraudulent reimbursement requests. At sentencing, Oakley presented a check for his restitution payments.
The case was investigated by the Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford prosecuted the case.
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Dale County Woman Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced the sentencing of 64-year-old Cheryl Lynn Pytleski, a resident of Chancellor, Alabama, to 12 months in prison for violating the civil rights of her neighbors.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, on October 18, 2019, Pytleski hung racially offensive homemade dolls on the fence of her next-door neighbors, an African American family, in an attempt make the family move away. Pytleski pleaded guilty to a criminal violation of the Fair Housing Act in March of this year. In her plea agreement, Pytleski specifically admitted to using the threat of force to intimidate her neighbors because of their race and because they were occupying a dwelling next to her.
A person violates the Fair Housing Act if he or she uses force, or threatens the use of force, to willfully injure, intimidate, or interfere with, any person because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, who is or has been engaged in the selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling. The 12-month sentence, ordered on September 6, 2023, is the maximum allowed under the federal statute. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI and the Ozark Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Brett J. Talley prosecuted the case.
Craven County Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 9 YearsRead the Press Release
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A New Bern man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On December 14, 2022, Brian Javon Webb, 33, pled guilty to the charges.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Webb was previously a validated Blood gang member. During August 2021, the New Bern Police Department (NBPD) conducted four controlled purchases of heroin from Webb. Investigators also conducted trash pulls from Webb’s residence which recovered drug paraphernalia and some marijuana. On September 3, 2021, NBPD arrested Webb during a traffic stop and then executed a search warrant of his residence. Officers recovered a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol, over $1,800 in cash, a loaded .45 caliber firearm with an obliterated serial number, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Bern Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany 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.
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. 4:22-CR-00046-BO-RJ.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced for Selling Illegal Machine Gun Conversion KitsRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 6 years in prison for selling machine gun conversion devices.
According to court documents, Marcus Bushnell, 37, was illegally selling cocaine, firearms and machine gun conversion devices. These devises are classified as machine guns and allow for the conversion of Glock handguns into fully automatic firearms. In November 2021, law enforcement purchased these machine gun conversion devices from the defendant on more than one occasion. Bushnell is a convicted felon and was previously a member of the Bloods gang.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of a larger Organized Crime and Drug Task Force (OCDETF) investigation occurring on the Virginia Peninsula. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-4.
Columbia County man sentenced to federal prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for creating sexually explicit images of children.
Edmund Brown, 36, of Martinez, Ga., was sentenced to 360 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Brown to pay $113,460.25 in restitution, serve 20 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“By creating sexually explicit images of minors, Edmund Brown has sentenced these victims to a lifetime of trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Although this prosecution will not erase that trauma, it will hold him accountable for his predatory behavior.”
As described in court documents and testimony, agents from Homeland Security Investigations reviewed images found on multiple electronic devices seized from Brown in May 2022 and discovered Brown had used his cell phone and a hidden camera to capture sexually explicit images of two children during a more than two-year period.
Brown later was charged via information and pled guilty in U.S. District Court in March 2023.
“Every time one of these disturbing images is shared or viewed it revictimizes a helpless child and prevents them from healing,” said HSI Atlanta acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting our vulnerable population from exploitation.”
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathon Dewayne Eads, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2022, Eads sold a half-pound of methamphetamine for $1,500 to a confidential informant at a Garrison Avenue residence in Charleston.
Eads is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney J.C. MacCallum 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-115.
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California Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Alleged Cognitive Enhancement Drug into the United States from ChinaRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty today in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle tianeptine, a drug that claims to enhance mood and cognitive functioning, into the United States from China.
Ryan M. Stabile, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of introduction of misbranded drugs with intent to defraud and mislead. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2024. Stabile was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2019.
Stabile smuggled tianeptine, a misbranded drug, from China into the United States and then resold the tianeptine to American consumers on the internet through his company, Supplements for Work. Stabile falsely represented that he was selling tianeptine for research purposes only, even though he sold tianeptine to individuals for personal use. Stabile, through his company, marketed tianeptine as a mood enhancer and claimed that it improved cognitive functioning.
The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of introduction of misbranded drugs provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Bridgewater Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Bridgewater man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston for defrauding investors out of more than half a million dollars.
Jose Rocha, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin, who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 1, 2023. Rocha was charged in August 2023.
Between 2020 and 2022, Rocha solicited investments from individuals in Massachusetts, falsely portraying himself as a successful investor in securities and promising that he would invest their money in stocks and stock options in exchange for a share of the returns. In total, Rocha obtained over $1 million from his victims, the majority of which he used to pay purported investment returns to other investors or for himself, including to pay for vacations and gambling at casinos.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Rocha in August 2023 alleging violations of the securities laws.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Bridgeport Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering ChargeRead the Press Release
LUIS GARCIA, 25, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering charge stemming from his participation in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Garcia was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut and used the cars to commit crimes.
Text messages and social media posts reviewed during the investigation confirmed that Garcia possessed and sold narcotics and firearms, stole vehicles, and was involved in related violent criminal activity alongside other O.N.E. members and associates.
On August 9, 2018, O.N.E. members stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport. In the following days, O.N.E. members conspired to use the car to kill East End gang members and their allies who they had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, O.N.E. members drove the stolen Jeep to Stratford and Union Avenues in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car. After the shooting, O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Wells State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.
It is alleged that O.N.E. members committed other violent crimes, including murder.
Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Garcia has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2021.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis and Tara E. Levens.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
BOISE — Keveny Rosier, a former Boise-area man, pleaded guilty to preparing and filing false income tax returns on behalf of his clients, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Keveny Rosier, 45, operated a tax preparation business in Boise, Idaho and prepared tax returns for clients for the 2016 and 2017 tax years. On returns he prepared, Rosier routinely falsely inflated clients’ itemized deductions and Schedule C business expenses, falsely claimed fuel tax credits, and falsely inflated income to maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit. In total, Rosier’s conduct resulted in a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $143,000.
Rosier is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2023, and faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As part of the plea agreement with the Government, Rosier agreed to pay outstanding restitution to the IRS in the amount of $63,890.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell is prosecuting this case.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Zackery Dale Jenkins, 30, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2023, Jenkins sold a controlled substance containing fentanyl to a confidential informant in a Beckley residence. Jenkins admitted to that transaction and to selling controlled substances containing fentanyl to the confidential informant on four other occasions in the Beckley area.
On June 1, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jenkins’ residence and seized additional quantities of fentanyl and several firearms. Jenkins admitted that he intended to distribute the fentanyl.
Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced on December 29, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:23-cr-90.
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Armed Career Criminal SentencedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jerome Miller, Jr. (39, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal. The court also ordered Miller to forfeit the ammunition and a firearm. Miller had pleaded guilty on May 23, 2023. Miller qualified as an Armed Career Criminal based on his extensive prior criminal history which included three prior delivery of cocaine convictions in Tampa.
According to court documents, on February 6, 2022, Miller went to the victim’s residence in Tampa, threatened the victim with a firearm, and demanded his vehicle. The victim was forced to sign over his vehicle to Miller. Miller then took the vehicle registration and car keys and left the residence. Law enforcement officers were called to the residence to complete a report of the robbery and interview the victim. The victim’s vehicle was reported stolen and entered into law enforcement databases. Two days later, Miller was located while driving the victim’s vehicle and was arrested and searched. A loaded magazine and narcotics were found in Miller’s coat pocket during the search. The magazine contained six rounds of Aguila .380 caliber ammunition. The officers also located a semi-automatic firearm in the vehicle’s center console. That firearm was loaded with eight rounds of Aguila .380 ammunition. The firearm was impounded and sent for further forensic DNA testing. The testing concluded that Miller’s DNA was on the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
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.
Albany Man Sentenced to 12 Months for Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taliek Lanier, age 23, of Albany, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $110,000 in unemployment insurance benefits under the names of three other people, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, Lanier admitted that he provided Jamie Johnson with the personal identifying information of three other people, which Johnson used to file false claims online with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). Lanier further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications submitted by Johnson, the NYSDOL paid out $113,936 in unemployment insurance benefits.
Johnson previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $701,441 in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.
Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Lanier is released from prison, and ordered him to pay $113,936 in restitution to the State of New York.
This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, and the Albany County Department of Social Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
21 Charged in Federal Indictment Following Takedown of Armed International Drug Trafficking and Dog Fighting Rings in Central IndianaRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Twenty-one individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting. The charges follow an extensive law enforcement operation in which 18 of the 21 individuals were arrested and federal agents seized over 40 firearms; quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; over $55,000 in cash; and approximately 90 dogs. The following lists the individuals indicted and the charges they face:
Defendant
Charge(s)
TYRONE BELL, 52
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
DAVID BENNETT, 40
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
EDWARD BRONAUGH, 57
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
JAMES CROONS, 34
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
RAMIRO RICO DE LEON, 31, Mexico
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering
ERICK FOSTER, 33
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GREGORY EASTER, 35
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
LAUREN EGGERT, 32
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
MAURICE ERVIN, 44
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
DONTORIA GILBERT, 36
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GREGORY HENDERSON, JR., 43
Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering; and Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
MARVIN JOHNSON, JR., 46
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
LANDON JONES, 39
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
CHRISTOPHER NORFOLK, 48
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
CHARLES RICHARDSON, III, 43
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
MICHAEL SANDERS, 45
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture.
J.C. SMITH, 38
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
QUOSHAWN STEWART, 34
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GEORGE TAYLOR, 44
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
DONOVAN TIPLER, 30
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
OCTAVIO VICENCIO, 32
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
This was a multiagency operation, involving over 300 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, who executed arrest and search warrants at 25 locations in Central Indiana on the morning of August 31, 2023. Eighteen individuals were arrested and are in federal custody. Two remain fugitives: Gregory Henderson, and Jr. Maurice Ervin
In particular, law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr. The FBI is providing a $5,000 reward for information leading to Henderson’s arrest. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or they can submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
According to court documents, Gregory Henderson Jr. and Ramiro Rico De Leon worked together to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States from Mexico. Henderson served as the main source of supply to lower-level dealers, Vicencio, Foster, Taylor, Smith, Gilbert, Bennet, Easter, Eggert, and Stewart, who dealt the drugs to buyers in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. Vicencio and Taylor were responsible for driving controlled substances from Kentucky to Indiana. Henderson and De Leon used wire transfers to pay for the costs of drug distribution and Henderson paid his dealers using CashApp.
During the course of this investigation, law enforcement agents uncovered a significant dog fighting and illegal gambling ring based in Indianapolis. Gregory Henderson Jr., Christopher Norfolk, Maurice Ervin, Michael Sanders, James Croons, Charles Richardson III, Landon Jones, Edward Bronaugh, Donovan Tipler, and Marvin Johnson Jr. were identified as dog owners who maintained dogs for the purpose of fighting. Maurice Ervin also participated as a referee, weighing the dogs and holding the money until fights were complete. Ervin, Tipler, and Croons served as handlers, responsible for motivating the dogs to fight. Jones and Norfolk served as sponsors, providing a space for the fights to be held.
Members of this group have a long history of dog fighting. In 2001, IMPD officers found seven pit bulls in need of medical attention due to lack of food and water and fresh wounds consistent with dog fighting located at Michael Sanders’ Indianapolis home. In 2005, Christopher Norfolk was convicted for torturing an animal after officers seized four dogs from his home. On more than four occasions, officers found Richardson III and Ervin engaging in dog fighting activities. Both Richardson III and Ervin have sustained multiple convictions for animal torture and promoting dog fighting.
This investigation began in 2022, and in 2023 multiple search warrants were executed and the following evidence was seized:
- 537 grams of methamphetamine
- 459 grams of heroin
- 667.3 grams of cocaine
- 532.8 grams of fentanyl
- Over 230 grams of marijuana
- 16 scales
- 43 firearms
- Over $55,650.00 in cash
- Approximately 90 dogs (including puppies)
- Dog fighting training paraphernalia including treadmills, bite sticks and weights.
If convicted, each defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture faces up to 5 years in federal prison. Each defendant charged with conspiracy to traffic controlled substances faces up to life. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation
- Indiana Gaming Commission
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle P. Brady and Adam J. Eakman, who are prosecuting this case.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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2 Plead Guilty in Bristow Drug OperationRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Two defendants from Bristow have pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Julio Barcenas Velazquez, 39, a Mexican National, and Stephanie Lynn Mudgett, 37, a Muskogee Nation citizen, both of Bristow have pleaded guilty to distribution of meth.
“These defendants ran their operation from the small town of Bristow, distributing poison to that community and ours, and thinking they could hide from the law,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank our local law enforcement partners for tracking these operations and bringing them for prosecution.”
The defendants, working together, sought to traffic large quantities of meth and fentanyl pills in Creek County, Oklahoma. In their plea agreements both defendants admitted to knowingly and intentionally distributing meth. In addition, Velazquez will forfeit his interest in a parcel of property as well as money relating to drug transactions.
Velazquez and Mudgett have yet to be scheduled for sentencing. At sentencing they both face a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Both defendants have been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.
The Muscogee Lighthorse Police, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
19 Arrested on Federal Charges Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in CharlottesvilleRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville, Virginia has indicted 17 individuals as part of a large-scale drug conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region.
The 37-count indictment, returned under seal August 29, 2023, partially unsealed this week following the defendants’ arrests, charges multiple defendants with various federal crimes.
“This indictment represents the first step in a federal, local, and state partnership under the department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative that will bring increased safety and security to the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and University of Virginia region,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The individuals charged in this indictment trafficked in high quantities of deadly drugs and I am grateful to the men and woman who investigated this case thoroughly and brought these federal charges.”
“We are experiencing the most severe drug poisoning crisis in our country’s history, primarily driven by the spread of illicit drugs containing Fentanyl. Drug trafficking criminals, like the ones indicted today, are flooding our streets with this poison at an alarming rate, and no communities or institutions are immune from its devastation, including here in Virginia,” Special Agent in Charge Jared Forget of the DEA’s Washington Division said today. “Our citizens, particularly the younger generation, are being exposed to an illegal drug supply that is more hazardous than ever before, which underscores the need for parents, caregivers, students, and educators to comprehend the risks of substance use and take appropriate steps to stay protected. It is essential that everyone understand that just one pill can be fatal. One Pill can Kill.”
- DuShaun Lamont Gregory, 36, Henrico County, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Tyquane Pertell Gregory, 27, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Fields Devon Landon, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Bobby Eugene Christmas, 36, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Michael Edward Cornett, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Antone Laron Harris, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Brooks Lorenzo Woodfolk, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of heroin, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Ashlee Renee Morris, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Shaheim Taishaun Michie, 18, of Arlington, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- John Ellis Turner III, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Gary Wayne Woodson, 66, of Crozet, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Caleb Andrew Herndon, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dashard Brown, 29, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Cedric Trent, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dustin Lee Welch is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that beginning in February 2023 and continuing through the date of the indictment, the defendants conspired with each other and others to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region.
The Virginia State Police 3A Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Albemarle County Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security- HSI, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office, the Henrico County Police Department, and the United States Marshal’s Service are investigating the case. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, along with the Charlottesville Emergency Services and the Virginia National Guard assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case of the United States.
The investigation, extradition, and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
6 September 2023
Zuni Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Nicholas Pinto was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pinto, 24, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in Indian Country on July 10, 2023.
According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2022, Pinto and another individual arrived at John Doe’s house. Shortly after, Pinto began arguing with the individual he arrived with, which prompted John Doe to request that Pinto leave the residence. On his way out, Pinto told John Doe that he “would be back.” Pinto kept his promise, and armed with a shotgun, returned an hour later and shot John Doe in the lower body with a slug. While John Doe lied immobilized on the ground, Pinto racked another shell to finish him off, but the gun jammed. Pinto then fled the scene.
Upon his release from prison, Pinto will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.
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Windsor Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER LEE, 22, of Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and the seizure of drugs that had been shipped through the U.S. Mail, revealed that Lee and others received thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other controlled substances, from a source of supply on the west coast of the U.S., and then distributed the drugs to various street-level distributors and numerous drug customers in Connecticut.
In February 2022, Lee traveled to California and shipped a package back to his Windsor residence. The package, which was intercepted and searched pursuant to a federal search warrant, contained approximately 18,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. In May 2022, Lee again traveled to California and shipped a package to an associate in Bloomfield. A search of the package revealed 1,800 tablets of Alprazolam (Xanax) that appeared to be manufactured in Mexico.
During the investigation, investigators also seized approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, seven firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash.
Lee was arrested on June 29, 2022. On May 22, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Lee, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 10.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Connecticut State Police; East Central Narcotics Task Force; and the Windsor and Enfield Police Departments. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury, and Watertown Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
West Virginia woman sentenced for federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Angela Nicole Chapman, age 35, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Chapman and her boyfriend, Larry Gregory, distributed methamphetamine from their residence in Shinnston, West Virginia, for several months in the summer and fall of 2020. Law enforcement executed search warrants at their residence on two occasions. During the first search, agents recovered almost two pounds of methamphetamine, two firearms, and $17,205. In the second incident, the U.S Postal Inspector found a suspicious package mailed from Los Angeles, California, to Chapman’s home. Agents then conducted a controlled delivery of the package. Chapman retrieved the package from her front porch and took it into the home. Agents searched the residence and recovered the package, which contained an additional pound of methamphetamine and $1,300.
Co-defendant Gregory was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Shinnston Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
West Virginia man charged with failing to registerRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott David Bixler, age 42, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with failure to update his sex offender registration.
According to court documents, Bixler, a registered sex offender, and his wife traveled from their home in Morgantown to Mexico, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. Bixler didn’t inform the West Virginia State Police, as required, of his international travel plans. The Bixlers were arrested in Mexico for possession of methamphetamine after authorities there learned that Bixler was attempting to purchase a 7-year-old girl for $5,000. At the time of the arrest, Bixler and his wife had two tranquilizer air guns and a cellphone signal jammer in their possession.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
West Virginia doctor indicted on assault chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tracey H. Reilly, age 53, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, has been charged with abusive sexual contact and simple assault.
According to court documents, Reilly, a physician employed with Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, allegedly touched another employee’s breasts and buttocks with the intent of harassing and/or humiliating the victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Veterans Affairs Police and the VA Office of Inspector General investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Utah Businesswoman Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment Following $5M Securities Fraud ConvictionRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah woman was sentenced yesterday to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release for securities fraud after she defrauded investors in the District of Utah and elsewhere.
According to court documents, from February 2015 through February 2020, Crystal A. Huang, 41, of Lehi, Utah, offered investments in her company, ProSky Inc., by providing false promises and information to potential investors. In June, Ms. Huang admitted that she devised a scheme intended to defraud investors and obtain money and property, under false pretenses to benefit her company, ProSky Inc. According to court documents, Huang would lull investor victims into a false sense of security about their investments by claiming her company, ProSky Inc., had millions in recurring revenue, when in fact it did not. She further supported her false claims by providing investors with falsified balance sheets, profit and loss statements, bank account statements and customer lists. During her scheme to defraud, Huang obtained over $5 million from approximately 13 investors and communicated via email, telephone and through an online database. On the day of her sentencing, Huang provided a check to the clerk of court for $300,000 and was ordered by the court to pay $1,200 per month in restitution.
“Ms. Huang had every reason and opportunity not to engage in this type of criminal conduct, but chose to do so,” said Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the District of Utah. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who commit fraud within our communities.”
“The information Ms. Huang provided to investors was just completely false,” said United States District Court Judge David Barlow. “These false statements didn’t just happen once or twice, but over a period of years.”
“Fraudsters are masters of deception, and can scam even the most sophisticated investor,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Before handing over your hard-earned money, always independently and thoroughly research any opportunity, and report anything suspicious to the FBI.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Two men sentenced on federal drug chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced today on federal drug distribution charges.
William Trice, age 32, of Eastpointe, Michigan, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Trice was the leader of a Detroit-area drug trafficking organization that was selling heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Morgantown.
Another defendant, Dayshawn Burton, age 28, of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Burton was one of the distributors for Trice and sold methamphetamine to an informant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration Clarksburg RO; the FBI Clarksburg RA; the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; WVU Police Department; the DEA Cincinnati District Office; the DEA Detroit Field Division; and the FBI Detroit.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Two Sentenced to 9 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Erika Lopez-Garcia, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Gabriel Rubio-Quevedo, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. During separate sentencing hearings, United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lopez-Garcia and Rubio-Quevedo to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After their release from prison, each defendant will begin a two-year term of supervised release.
On August 31, 2022, officers with a Drug Enforcement Administration task force identified a suspicious package at the UPS facility in Omaha. A canine indicated to the odor of narcotics coming from the package. Officers obtained a search warrant for the package and found approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside of a guitar amplifier.
The package was set for delivery to an Omaha address that was being rented as an Airbnb. Most of the methamphetamine was removed and the package was delivered by an undercover officer. Lopez-Garcia came outside of the residence and retrieved the package. Pursuant to a search warrant, officers searched the residence after Lopez-Garcia took the package inside. They found the delivered package along with another almost-identical package that contained another 14 pounds of methamphetamine.
Rubio-Quevedo later arrived at the residence to pick up the packages and was arrested. Rubio-Quevedo told officers someone from Mexico had called him, asked him to pick up the packages and deliver them to a person in Norfolk, Nebraska. Rubio-Quevedo admitted he was going to be paid to deliver the packages.
The total amount of methamphetamine seized amounted to 12,775 grams. A portion of the methamphetamine from each package was tested for purity, which returned results of 85.9 percent and 92.3 percent.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Forensic laboratory testing was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Thurston County man sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing distribution amounts of fentanyl while armed with a stolen handgunRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 37-year-old Thurston County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 78 months in prison for drug and gun crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Samuel Wesley Mulkey was arrested in Longview, Washington, on January 21, 2022, while driving back from California with a load of powdered fentanyl and two handguns – one of them reported stolen. At today’s sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo told Mulkey, “It’s clear that fentanyl is something that is wreaking havoc on our community. The amounts you were bringing in from California says something about you – you are not a common street dealer. These are serious amounts...When you couple that with a firearm, that is a bad mixture, and someone is going to get hurt. Sometimes innocent people.”
According to records filed in the case, Mulkey came to the attention of law enforcement in Thurston County as a known drug supplier. Homeland Security Investigations were monitoring Mulkey’s travel, aware that he was driving to California to pick up additional fentanyl.
Following Mulkey’s arrest in Longview, he was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail. That same day another inmate nearly died of a fentanyl overdose. Security video linked the overdose to fentanyl Mulkey had smuggled into the jail and provided to the inmate.
While on bond pending trial, Mulkey used opioids on multiple occasions and was remanded to custody in August for violating conditions of his release.
In asking the court for an eight-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, “The Defendant personally knows the addictive and harmful nature of fentanyl, but chose to supply it to his community. He chose to drive to California and import it to Washington. He chose to supply it in prison, where it caused an inmate to stop breathing and nearly die. Even after
his arrest, the Defendant chose to continue to use fentanyl and associate with people who used fentanyl.”
Mulkey pleaded guilty in May 2023.
Carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime adds a five-year mandatory minimum sentence to run consecutive to the underlying sentence for the drug conviction. The total sentence in this case is six and a half years in prison and five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart.
Three Peoria Men Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Three Peoria, Illinois, men were sentenced on September 5, 2023, by U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid for making false statements related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Two of the three were also held responsible for fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits from multiple states.
The PPP provided federal funds to small businesses that were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities and mortgage interest. The program was implemented by the Small Business Administration and administered by third-party lenders. The PPP was enacted via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, an economic bill that passed in March 2020 in response to the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.
The three men were indicted in October 2022. Kendall A. Mack, 26, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to one count of making a false statement in April 2021 to obtain a PPP loan. From April to September 2021, Mack fraudulently obtained PPP funds to which he was not entitled by submitting a fraudulent PPP application, as well as a fraudulent PPP loan forgiveness application. He was held responsible for losses to the Small Business Administration and Capital Plus Financial, LLC, in the amount of $39,239.08. Mack was sentenced to three years’ probation and imprisonment for a period of time served. Judge Shadid also ordered Mack to pay restitution in the amount of $39,239.08.
Rasheem McCree, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of making a false statement in March 2021 by submitting a false application for PPP funds. He also admitted to fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits from five states, including the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation; the Arizona Department of Economic Security; the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; the New York State Department of Labor; and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. McCree was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Shadid also ordered McCree to pay $89,981.34 in restitution to the SBA and the states.
Adrian Lamont Morris, 27, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of making a false statement in March 2021 by submitting a false application for PPP funds. In addition to the PPP loan, Morris filed for unemployment benefits from Illinois, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, for a loss to the SBA and those states of $60,642. Morris was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Shadid also ordered Morris to pay $60,642 restitution.
On their applications, each of the defendants claimed to be the sole proprietor of a barber shop. However, none of them had a registered barber shop, employees, a payroll, or business-related expenses. None were licensed barbers.
In sentencing McCree and Morris, Judge Shadid noted their significant criminal histories. McCree and Morris were ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on November 14, 2023.
The statutory penalties for false statements under 18 U.S.C. §1001(a)(3) are up to five years’ imprisonment, a possible $250,000 fine, and up to a three-year term of supervised release.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution.