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Monday 1 May 2023
Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Steal Firearms from Second Amendment Outdoors in DerryRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Haverhill, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Gary Ortiz, Jr., 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2023. Ortiz and one of his co-conspirators, Jaythean Diaz, were indicted on July 11, 2022. Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled Diaz’s sentencing for July 25, 2023.
On December 8, 2021, Ortiz and his co-conspirators broke into Second Amendment Outdoors in Derry, New Hampshire and stole 12 firearms—11 pistols and one rifle. Videos recovered from the phone of a co-conspirator show Ortiz holding the stolen firearms, and messages recovered from Ortiz’s phone show searches for Second Amendment Outdoors before the burglary, as well as, searches for news about the burglary afterward. Additional text messages from Ortiz’s phone show that he was attempting to sell a firearm hours after the burglary.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 and restitution in an amount to be determined at sentencing. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (“ATF”) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department, Methuen Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Derry Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Plaistow Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Windham Police Department, Hooksett Police Department, and Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results.
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Hartsville Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Darnikius Trayvon Sutton, 31, of Hartsville, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in August 2022, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Hartsville home from which Sutton had previously sold methamphetamine. Inside the home, law enforcement found approximately 58 grams of methamphetamine, quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, three firearms, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Sutton claimed responsibility for everything in the home.
Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Sutton to 120 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by Hartsville Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.
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Guam Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Vhavna Kumari Damai, age 29, from Dededo, Guam, was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment by the District Court of Guam. Damai was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, in addition to the forfeiture of $32,531.00 and a 2013 Infiniti G37 coupe. Defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
Between January 1, 2019, and July 5, 2020, the Damai conspired with others to purchase and distribute 839 grams of methamphetamine in Guam. She was found with the drugs, in addition to morphine tablets, following a vehicle crash in Mangilao on July 5, 2020. Agents later executed search warrants on Damai’s residence and car. At the residence, investigators found scales and a drug ledger, indicating quantities sold by and money owed to Damai. Her car was seized as proceeds of illegal drug distribution. The DEA Southwest Laboratory later determined that the methamphetamine was 100% pure.
“As this case demonstrates, drug traffickers face substantial time in prison and the loss of any property used in their illicit trade,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “I applaud the efforts of DEA in pursuing this investigation following the report by GPD. Working together, our law enforcement partners make Guam a safer place to live.”
This investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Guam Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
Fruitland Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Anderson Buck pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Buck, 40, of Fruitland New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Nov. 17, 2022, Buck assaulted his girlfriend while they were intoxicated and in Buck’s vehicle. The victim was seriously injured during the assault and was hospitalized in the ICU for several weeks where she was intubated while fighting for her life. The assault took place on the Navajo Nation.
Under the terms of his agreement, Buck can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
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Former Lafayette and Vermilion Parish Educator Arrested on Federal Criminal ComplaintRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jacob Conrad De La Paz is in federal custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by United States Magistrate Judge David J. Ayo on a federal criminal complaint for attempted production of child pornography. An initial appearance will be held in the John M. Shaw United States Courthouse on May 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. He has been held without bond.
Following the initial appearance, a detention hearing will be held later in the week and the government will argue that De La Paz be held without bond pending a formal charging decision and possible presentment of the case to a federal grand jury. Pursuant to federal law, this must take place within 30 days of the arrest date and the government will continue its investigation, while evaluating all evidence.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact HSI at 337-262-6619.
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Former Financial Advisor Sentenced for Scheme to Steal Funds from Elderly Bank CustomersRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tyler Rigsbee, 33, of Cameron Park, was sentenced today to two years in prison and ordered to pay $158,960 in restitution for committing aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from 2016 to 2021, Rigsbee worked as a FINRA-registered financial advisor at a major bank in Sacramento. During his employment, Rigsbee targeted elderly bank customers and stole $158,960 from these victims’ accounts.
Rigsbee stole $113,160 from one elderly victim’s account by using the name and identity of the account beneficiary to fraudulently transfer the funds into another account that Rigsbee had set up and controlled in the beneficiary’s name. Rigsbee next stole $45,800 from the account of a second elderly victim by transferring funds in incremental amounts into a separate account that Rigsbee had set up and controlled in the victim’s name. Rigsbee then pocketed the money by transferring these funds into his own personal bank account.
Toward the end of his scheme, Rigsbee attempted to conceal his theft by stealing $16,700 from a third elderly customer’s account and attempting to funnel that money into the second victim’s account to partially replace what he previously stole. However, this transaction was flagged, and the funds were reverted.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.
Former Creve Coeur Pharmacy Owner Admits Paying Kickbacks for PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The former owner of a Creve Coeur pharmacy on Monday admitted paying illegal kickbacks to marketing companies to generate prescriptions for expensive medications.
Michael J. McCormac, 55, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel to two counts of violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
At the time of the crimes, McCormac owned GoLiveWell Pharmacy, which operated primarily as a mail-order pharmacy supplying customers across the country. McCormac admitted striking deals with marketing companies in which GoLiveWell would illegally kick back a percentage of the pharmacy’s net profit on prescriptions obtained through the marketing companies’ efforts.
In exchange, the pharmacy received prescriptions obtained by the marketing companies in various ways, including by running ads in hopes that patients would “opt in” to receiving prescriptions for expensive drugs. The companies also engaged in the so-called “doctor chase,” in which they fax prescriptions to doctors’ offices in hopes that the doctors sign them.
Those prescriptions included topical creams, oral medications and antibiotic and antifungal “foot bath” drugs. Claims for payment for the drugs were submitted to federal health plans including Medicare and the Missouri Medicaid and Ohio Medicaid programs.
GoLiveWell paid one company 60 percent of the pharmacy’s net profit and another 45 percent. One month, GoLiveWell paid one marketing company $260,836.
In total, the government alleges that Medicare paid GoLiveWell $4.7 million to which it was not entitled, with another $490,000 coming from Missouri Medicaid and $330,000 from Ohio Medicaid.
McCormac is scheduled to be sentenced August 16. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. He will also be ordered to pay restitution.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Units of Missouri and Ohio, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Reiter and Derek Wiseman are prosecuting the case.
Florida Doctor Charged for Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A South Florida doctor has been arrested on charges of illegally distributing opioids at his pain management clinic.
According to court documents, Dr. Daniel Alberto Carpman, 70, of Miami, allegedly engaged in the unlawful distribution of oxycodone at his pain management clinic, Daniel Carpman MD Medical Center. The indictment alleges that Dr. Carpman conspired to illegally distribute opioids with two other individuals, both of whom have already pleaded guilty for their roles re-selling the oxycodone acquired at Dr. Carpman’s pain management clinic.
Dr. Carpman is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute opioids and four counts of illegally distributing opioids. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and DEA Miami Field Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Alexander Thor Pogozelski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole S. Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20175.
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Federal judge convicts Missoula man of firearms crimes in trialRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal judge today convicted a Missoula man on multiple firearms crimes after presiding in a bench trial, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen found Michael Blake DeFrance, 29, guilty on all counts charged in a second superseding indictment, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm and three counts of false statement during a firearms transaction. The trial began on April 26 and concluded the next day.
DeFrance faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each count. Sentencing was set for Sept. 21. DeFrance was released pending further proceedings.
“These verdicts are victories for Montana women, domestic partners, and families. The verdicts show that those like DeFrance who illegally possess firearms despite having been convicted of a domestic violence crime and make false statements on firearms forms so he could obtain guns at a pawn shop will be held accountable for their actions. I thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot, along with the FBI, for their extraordinarily hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on June 27, 2018, a Missoula Police Department detective located a Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver and a box of .357-caliber ammunition in the console of DeFrance’s truck. Two .22-caliber rifles were located under the back seat. On Oct. 2, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant on DeFrance’s residence and located a .357-caliber revolver on a desk by the front door. The detective recognized this gun as the revolver DeFrance had in his truck in June. DeFrance also had two rifles in his bedroom. When asked if he knew he was not supposed to have guns, DeFrance replied, “I was never clear on that.”
The government further alleged that in May 2013, DeFrance was sentenced for partner or family member assault on Jermain Charlo in Sanders County. A justice of the peace presided over DeFrance’s change of plea hearing and imposed sentence. DeFrance signed a waiver of rights form in which he acknowledged his rights, which included – on a list of possible consequences of pleading guilty – the loss of firearms rights. The same form contained space for DeFrance to explain the basis for his guilty plea, and his form stated, “On 4-14-2013, in Sanders County I caused bodily injury to my girlfriend.”
In addition, the government alleged that on three occasions in 2018, DeFrance completed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives forms at a Missoula pawn shop in which he represented that he had not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Prior to and after the assault in 2013, Charlo stayed with DeFrance in a camper on property belonging to the DeFrance family. Charlo and DeFrance were in an intimate relationship.
The government alleged DeFrance was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and that he knowingly made false written statements on three occasions in 2018 at a Missoula pawn shop in connection with his acquisition and attempted acquisition of three firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Fallston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Robert Jackson Wyatt, Jr., age 54, of Fallston, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for distribution of child pornography. Wyatt had a previous federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Judge Gallagher ordered that, upon his release from prison, Wyatt must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”).
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler and Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey.
According to his guilty plea, on August 31, 2021, members of the Maryland State Police (“MSP”) were conducting an investigation into offenders sharing child pornography using a communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing that enables users to distribute data and electronic files over the Internet in a decentralized manner. An IP address that was sharing suspected child pornography was identified as belonging to Wyatt and a search warrant for his home was executed on October 1, 2021. Investigators learned that Wyatt was not home but was at a nearby marina on his boat where he often spent time. Investigators went to the marina and watched as Wyatt walked from his boat to his car. Wyatt then drove back to his residence, where he was confronted by investigators.
Wyatt consented to a search of his cell phone and an MSP digital forensic examiner found several files of child pornography on the phone. A peer-to-peer filesharing program was installed on the phone, as well as a virtual private network application and an anti-forensic application. On a chat application, Wyatt belonged to chat groups including “Incest and Little Girl” and “mommy and daughter.” On October 26, 2021, a search warrant was executed on Wyatt’s boat. Two thumb drives were found with multiple images and videos of child pornography, including several known series involving depictions of babies, toddlers, and sadomasochistic abuse of children. Several of the files located on Wyatt’s devices matched those that were distributed during the MSP investigation via the peer-to-peer file sharing originating from the suspect IP address.
Wyatt admitted that he was the person who shared the files with the MSP investigator on August 31, 2021. In total, over 1170 images files and over 170 video files were located on Wyatt’s devices.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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FBI Disrupts Virtual Currency Exchanges Used to Facilitate Criminal ActivityRead the Press Release
DETROIT - On April 25th, the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, with assistance from the Virtual Currency Response Team (VCRT), the Cyber Police Department and Main Investigation Departments of the National Police of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine conducted coordinated, court authorized activity involving nine virtual currency exchange services.
Domain names offered by organizations which were engaged in cryptocurrency conversions and provided assistance to cyber-criminals were seized, and related servers were shut down. U.S. based servers used in the scheme were taken offline by U.S. authorities. These nine seized domains, 24xbtc.com, 100btc.pro, pridechange.com, 101crypta.com, uxbtc.com, trust-exchange.org, bitcoin24.exchange, paybtc.pro, and owl.gold offered anonymous cryptocurrency exchange services to website visitors.
Noncompliant virtual currency exchanges, which have a lax anti-money laundering program or collect minimal Know Your Customer information or none at all, serve as important hubs in the cybercrime ecosystem and are operating in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 1960 and 1956. Many of these services are advertised on online forums dedicated to discussing criminal activity. By providing these services, the virtual currency exchanges knowingly support the criminal activities of their clients and become co-conspirators in criminal schemes.
Much of the criminal activity occurring at the affected exchanges involved cyber actors responsible for ransomware, but also other scammers, and cybercriminals. The service’s website offered support in both Russian and English.
The investigation is ongoing. Visitors to the sites will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities and operating an unlicensed money service business and facilitating money laundering is a federal crime.
Ellsworth Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Bryan Ross, 26, from Ellsworth, Iowa, was sentenced April 28, 2023, to 25 years in federal prison for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography.
At the hearing, evidence established that between July 2019, and February 2022, Ross knowingly harassed and coerced minors online via Facebook and Snapchat to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves to send to him. Evidence further established that Ross received and attempted to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and distributed them to others online.
Ross was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. Ross was also ordered to pay $18,649 in restitution to the victims. Ross must also serve an 8-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Eighth Defendant Pleads Guilty to Porterville-Based Drug RingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Xochil Aguilera, 39, of Porterville, pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Aguilera is the eighth defendant in this case to plead guilty. According to court documents, Aguilera served as a courier of drugs and money for the drug trafficking operation. On July 14, 2020, she delivered 800 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; on Sept. 23, 2020, she received $2,000 from co-defendant James Cox for a half pound of methamphetamine; and on Nov. 12, 2020, she received $1,850 from an undercover agent for the sale of 1,100 fentanyl pills. Aguilera is the wife of Pedro Delgado-Montenegro, 43, who is also charged with participating in the drug trafficking organization. In pleading guilty, Aguilera agreed to the forfeiture of $27,021, which represents drug proceeds seized in this case.
Other defendants who have entered guilty pleas to drug charges in this case include:
- Ignacio Alcantar-Torres, 33, of Porterville, is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2023;
- Alexis Mendiola, 37, of Northridge, is scheduled for sentencing on July 10, 2023;
- Ana Margarita Valdez-Torres, 43, of MacFarland, is scheduled for sentencing on July 24, 2023;
- Maria Delgado, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to four years in prison;
- Renato Aguilera, 31, of Porterville, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison;
- Roberto Cavazos, 44, of Porterville, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison;
- James Cox, 60, of Visalia, was sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison.
Charges are pending against Delgado-Montenegro; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Porterville Police Department, the Coalinga Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case
Aguilera is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Aug. 14, 2023. Aguilera faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
EDVA Announces Continued Availability of Grant Funding for Project Safe Neighborhood InitiativesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced today the continued availability of approximately $325,000 in grant funding for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives.
On March 10, 2022, EDVA announced the availability of $535,653 in grant funds to programs and initiatives that support the PSN violence reduction strategy. Since then, four organizations have received grants totaling approximately $500,000. The initiatives that received funding last year were:
- The City of Richmond RVA League for Safer Streets, which seeks prevention and intervention for young individuals who may be susceptible to or involved in gangs;
- Ballistic IQ technology for the police departments of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Hampton;
- A three-year research grant on the impact of effectiveness of Group Violence Intervention by the George Mason Center for Evidence Based Policy; and
- Real Life Group Violence Intervention and services for individuals making re-entry into the community from correctional facilities.
EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy, which is supported by these initiatives, sets the following goals to reduce violent crime:
- Engage, collaborate, and invite community stakeholders to share responsibility in efforts to reduce violent crime.
- Build trust between law enforcement and the community through effective communication, regular interaction, and the support and protection of crime victims.
- Reduce accessibility and possession of handguns among minors.
- Reduce re-offending and break the cycle of re-victimization.
- Disrupt and dismantle the region’s most organized and violent gangs.
- Identify chronic violent offenders responsible for a disproportionate level of violent crime.
- Work with citizens in neighborhoods most impacted by violent crime on harm reduction strategies.
In the fall of 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s office formed a Grant Committee in collaboration with local, state, and community partners to help identify and allocate grant funds to programs and initiatives that support EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy. The Committee is currently prioritizing three regions impacted most by violent crime—Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk—but will evaluate grant applications from across the Eastern District.
The U.S. Attorney and the PSN Grant Committee encourage organizations and local and state agencies whose programs support our PSN goals within the district to apply for the remaining grant assistance by visiting the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants/programs/fy-2023-project-safe-neighborhoods-psn-grant-solicitation. Applications must be submitted in the DCJS Online Grants Management System (OGMS) no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 26, 2023.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Matthew J.V. Salas, age 29, from Agana Heights, Guam, was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment by the District Court of Guam. Salas was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On May 17, 2022, a United States Postal Service package was intercepted by law enforcement. The package contained 112 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of 99 percent. Salas claimed the package at the Barrigada Post Office two days later. Following his arrest, he admitted receiving drug packages mailed to him from Arizona for further distribution in Guam. He received two other packages, each containing about two ounces of methamphetamine, the previous month. Salas re-packaged the drugs into 10-gram and 5-gram bags for further distribution.
“The Postal Inspection Service and Guam law enforcement agencies continue to target drug traffickers who use the mail system in furtherance of illegal activity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Their frequent seizures of methamphetamine demonstrate that this conduct does not go undetected. Those associated with this activity will be held accountable.”
“This sentence is a statement that Postal Inspectors will not allow the U.S. Mail to be used to distribute harmful narcotics in our communities in Guam or anywhere else. I would like to thank the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, and the Guam Police Department for their tireless work to keep dangerous substances out of the mail and out of the community,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.
This was a multi-agency investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division – Guam Resident Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. The case was prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Construction Company Owner and Former Residential Facility Employee Indicted for Rigging Bids for Public ContractsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Jamie DePaepe, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General, and Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office, announced that William Ross Badoni and Elroy Harry made initial appearances in federal court on April 27 and April 25 on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit federal program fraud. The indictment also charges Badoni with one count of committing theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of laundering of monetary instruments. Badoni, 59, of Shiprock, and Harry, 59, of Aztec, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Badoni and Harry on April 11. According to the indictment, Badoni was the owner and director of Badoni Construction Company, located in San Juan County. During the time relevant to the indictment, Harry was employed by Kinteel Residential Campus, Inc. (KRCI) as a maintenance supervisor. KRCI is a residential facility which offers free or low-cost housing and meal accommodations for students attending school in Aztec. As such, KRCI receives federal funds from the Department of Interior through the Bureau of Indian Education.
From about April of 2018 to June of 2019, Badoni and Harry allegedly conspired to falsify and submit to KRCI bids in the names of other construction companies in order to make it more likely that Badoni’s bids would be selected for KRCI construction projects. Harry also allegedly provided Badoni with non-public information about construction projects and the bidding process. In return, Badoni allegedly gave, offered, or agreed to give things of value, namely sums of money, to Harry. Once Badoni had won the initial award of construction contracts, Harry and Badoni allegedly worked together to increase compensation for Badoni by submitting fraudulent “change orders” for KRCI’s approval. Further, Badoni and Harry allegedly caused KRCI to issue new construction contracts on an urgent basis under false pretenses in order to justify deviating from standard policies and procedures relating to KRCI’s bidding process.
“This indictment shows IRS-Criminal Investigation’s commitment to ensuring fair and open competition opportunities for companies seeking to work with the federal government,” said Andy Tsui, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “IRS-CI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure an even playing field for those attempting to obtain federal contracts for their businesses.”
“The Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to protecting our Indian Country schools and dormitories, so the students receive the education and opportunities they deserve, and the educators and staff have the resources they need,” said Jamie DePaepe, Special Agent in Charge for the DOI OIG. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate fraud in DOI programs to ensure those who defraud DOI programs are held accountable.”
“We will ardently protect taxpayer dollars invested in our youth,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “Protecting the integrity of contracting processes involving federal funds helps make sure that when we invest in our communities, that investment pays off.”
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Badoni faces up to 20 years in prison and Harry faces up to 5 years in prison.
The Criminal Investigators Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor F. Hartstein is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia County Man Sentenced for Threatening the President, Congressman Bennie Thompson, and A Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez, Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sentenced Robert Maverick Vargo, age 26, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, to 37 months in prison for threats against a sitting congressman, a federal judge, and the President of the United States.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in October of 2022, Vargo mailed a letter to United States Representative Bennie Thompson, threatening to kill him, his family, President Joseph Biden, and United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani. Vargo mailed the letter from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Congressman Thompson in Washington, D.C., with intent to intimidate and interfere with Congressman Thompson’s official duties. Congressman Thompson is the Chair of the Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol Complex. Vargo cited Thompson’s role as Chairman of that committee in making his threats. Vargo also invoked the name of domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.
Judge Sanchez noted Vargo’s lengthy criminal history and the disturbing nature of the threats in imposing the 37-month sentence. Upon release from prison, Vargo must serve three years on federal supervised release. Vargo’s federal sentence will begin after he finishes serving a three to six year term in state prison for a 2022 escape conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police, Protective Service Bureau and the Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.
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Chicago Heroin Dealer Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Chicago man who distributed heroin in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on four different occasions was sentenced today to more than 3 years in federal prison.
Jerry Lamont Granville, age 52, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 31, 2022 guilty plea to four counts of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct four controlled purchases of heroin from Granville between October 2020 and January 2021. On January 5, 2021, following one of the controlled purchases of heroin, law enforcement officers stopped Granville’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers found heroin and cocaine base.
Granville was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Granville was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Granville is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-36.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Charlotte Auto Repair Auto Shop Owner Is Sentenced and Fined for Violating the Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Jamal Saymeh, 59, of Charlotte, N.C., to 12 months and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for violating the Clean Air Act, by fraudulently coding over 15,000 vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions inspection, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also ordered Saymeh to pay a $1,202,288.50 fine and $82,026 in restitution to the State of North Carolina.
Michael Sparks, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG), Charles Carfagno, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), and Colonel Michael Oates of the North Carolina Department of Transportation License and Theft Bureau (NCDOT) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
Saymeh is the owner and operator of Friendly Auto Repair (FAR) shop, located in Charlotte. In addition to auto repairs, in 2017, FAR became licensed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to perform emissions inspections. According to filed documents and court proceedings, between 2017 and 2022, Saymeh used his business to execute a scheme to violate the Clean Air Act by falsely changing the information of vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions testing, so that they were no longer required by the State’s registration system to have a passing emissions test.
According to court records, in some instances Saymeh executed the scheme by doing “county swaps,” meaning by falsifying in the system the county of registration for 11,568 vehicles from a county that required an emissions test to a county where no emissions testing was required. In other instances, Saymeh changed in the system the characterization of 3,622 trucks, from light duty trucks that require emissions inspections to heavy duty trucks that do not require such testing. During the relevant time period, court documents show that Saymeh falsified the information for at least 15,190 vehicles that would have otherwise failed their State emissions inspections.
In exchange for falsifying vehicle information, Saymeh received cash payments from customers that far exceeded what customers would have paid to have an emissions inspection. In addition, Saymeh paid the State of North Carolina only $0.85 per non-emissions/safety inspection, instead of the $6.25 per vehicle charge he should have paid for an inspection.
“Vehicle emissions testing is required to protect the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “As part of my Office’s Environmental Justice Initiative, we will hold polluters accountable for their actions and protect communities harmed by environmental violations.”
“Today, Jamal Saymeh faced the consequences of knowingly and intentionally making false material statements affecting an EPA program,” said Special Agent in Charge Sparks. “Fraudulent activities like these harm our fellow Americans and diminish the public’s trust in EPA programs and operations. The EPA Office of Inspector General will continue to diligently protect both.”
“Mr. Saymeh was sentenced today for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and for fraudulent vehicle emissions testing,” said Special Agent in Charge Carfagno. “The defendant’s criminal activity intentionally increased air pollution in communities where these vehicles operate further exacerbating respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation. Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that EPA and our partners are steadfast in our commitment to protect human health and the environment.”
On December 14, 2022, Saymeh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the Clean Air Act, and two counts of violating the Clean Air Act. Saymeh will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the EPA-OIG, EPA-CID, and NC DOT for their coordination and investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.
Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Taylor Womack, 28, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2020, Womack possessed a loaded FEG, Model PA-63, 9mm firearm in Amandaville.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Womack knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit delivery of a controlled substance in Wayne County Circuit Court on September 15, 2017, and for daytime burglary by breaking and entering in Kanawha County Circuit Court on October 16, 2014
Womack is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Monica D. Coleman are 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-12.
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Camden County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse. Ryan Osinski, 33, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Nov. 17, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography.
Californian convicted of fraudulently passing over $1M in counterfeit savings bonds at South Texas banksRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 58-year-old resident of Hemet, California, has pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit U.S. savings bonds over three years, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani along with Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
Daniel Alan Lewis and others conspired to create counterfeit U.S. Series I savings bonds. They then passed them at financial institutions using other people’s identities and split the proceeds.
As part of his plea, Lewis further admitted that in November and December 2021, he passed numerous counterfeit savings bonds at banks in both the Houston and Brownsville areas.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 10. At that time, Lewis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Secret Service, Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra.
CNMI Inmate Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting Corrections Officer and Possessing ContrabandRead the Press Release
Saipan, MP – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Derik Jonathan Camacho Reyes, age 41, from Saipan, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment by the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Reyes was convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer or Employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b), and Possessing Contraband in Prison, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1791(a)(2). The Court ordered three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. This federal sentence will run consecutive to the sentence Reyes is currently serving by prior order of the Superior Court for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
On February 15, 2022, Reyes was an inmate at the CNMI Department of Corrections in Susupe Village on Saipan. He was held in a maximum-security section with 22 other inmates, including three federal inmates. CNMI corrections officers attempted to seize a drug pipe from Reyes after observing suspicious behavior in his cell. Reyes resisted and attempted to flush the pipe and a small baggie containing methamphetamine down a toilet. During the struggle, one of the officers hit his head on the corner of Reyes’s cell doorway. The officer was treated at a local hospital for a contusion on his head, and minor chemical burns on his hand from methamphetamine and contaminant residue.
Given there is no federal detention facility in the CNMI, the United States Marshals Service contracts with the CNMI for federal prisoners to be housed at the CNMI jail. As a result, CNMI corrections officers perform a federal function and serve in the capacity of federal employees when the corrections officers care for federal inmates.
“Acts of violence toward detention facility employees will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The Court’s sentencing order is a strong measure of accountability. We will continue to pursue cases that improve the safety of these facilities.”
This investigation was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the CNMI Department of Corrections, and prosecuted by Albert S. Flores, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Trafficking and Straw Purchasing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to illegally traffic and straw purchase firearms.
Shakim Grant, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL and one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Aug. 9, 2023. Grant was initially charged by complaint on Jan. 17, 2023 along with alleged co-conspirators Cory Daigle and Gustavo Rodriguez. He was subsequently charged by an Information on March 16, 2023.
From in or about August 2022 through November 2022, Daigle and Rodriguez conspired to create false entries in records required to be maintained by Daigle, an FFL, in order to conceal the illegal sale of multiple firearms via Grant to Rodriguez, who could not lawfully purchase or possess firearms. Specifically, Grant and, allegedly, Daigle made and signed false representations on required forms to disguise Rodriguez’s identity as the true firearm purchaser. Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing a firearm. It is further alleged that the defendants attempted to coverup the illegal straw purchase by providing false information to law enforcement.
The charge of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Baltimore Felon Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for a Conspiracy to Distribute Large Amounts of FentanylRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Romesh Vance, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 150 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute between four and 12 kilograms of fentanyl and for violating his supervised release from a previous federal drug conviction. Judge Russell also ordered that Vance must forfeit his interest in any assets derived from his criminal activities, including almost $41,000 in cash and jewelry which were recovered from Vance and his residence in the 200 block of Westowne Road in Baltimore; and a 2017 Mercedes Benz recovered from Vance.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
According to his guilty plea, from October 2020 through March 1, 2021, Vance was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances. Vance operated a stash house in Pikesville, Maryland, where he and his co-conspirators processed fentanyl and other drugs, mixed the drugs with cutting agents, and packaged the drugs for re-sale. Vance and his associates then drove the packaged drug products to drug shops operated by their drug trafficking organization, along Stricker, School and Gilmor Streets in Baltimore.
On March 1, 2021, law enforcement saw Vance leave the Pikesville stash house and travel to the drug shop at 1515 Stricker Street, where he delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl to co-conspirator Vashawn Watkins, who brought the drug products into 1515 Stricker Street. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at that location and recovered the drugs. Law enforcement later conducted a search warrant at the stash house in Pikesville and recovered 6.8 kilograms of fentanyl, along with cutting agents and other drug-related paraphernalia. Vance admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that he and his co-conspirators would distribute more than four kilograms but less than 12 kilograms of fentanyl in furtherance of this conspiracy.
Co-defendant Vashawn Watkins, age 22, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to illegal possession of a firearm in a school zone and was sentenced to nine years in federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason D. Medinger and Ariel Evans, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Atlanta man indicted on multiple counts of bank fraud and identity theft based on falsified money ordersRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Jeremiah Carbon has been indicted on federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, arising from a scheme to defraud banks by depositing hundreds of fraudulent money orders into multiple bank accounts to enrich himself and his co-conspirators by more than $1.5 million. He also has been charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
“Carbon allegedly engaged in a scheme in 2019 through 2022 to defraud multiple banks by copying hundreds of blank money orders that he used to pay himself and his co-conspirators,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He also allegedly stole and used the identities of others to perpetrate and conceal the scheme.”
“The Secret Service is committed to defending our nation’s financial security and pursuing those who aim to exploit it,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Atlanta Field Office. “We appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and will continue to work alongside each other to ensure that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities are held accountable.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Carbon allegedly used multiple fake driver’s licenses, and stolen driver’s license numbers belonging to several individuals, to purchase hundreds of blank money orders from dozens of different locations of a popular retail store in the Atlanta area. He and his co-conspirators then made copies of the blank money orders and deposited them into multiple bank accounts, often listing a fictitious purchaser’s name.
After depositing funds from the fraudulent money orders into bank accounts opened in his and his co-conspirators’ names, Carbon returned the original money orders to the retail store locations for a full refund. Between 2019 and 2022, Carbon allegedly purchased, copied, and returned more than 1,500 money orders, resulting in stolen funds of over $1.5 million.
Jeremiah Carbon, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted on April 18, 2023, in an 11-count indictment alleging charges of conspiracy to commit, and commission of, bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344 and 1349; aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A; and possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Rupert is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on April 28, 2023, CORNELIUS CONEY, also known as “C Nizzy,” 35, of Waterbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2021, Waterbury Police retrieved a bag from Coney’s vehicle, which had been towed by a private towing company. The bag contained a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen, approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 50 does bags containing fentanyl, a digital scale, and other items. Subsequent lab analysis revealed the presence of Coney’s DNA on the firearm.
Coney was arrested on September 21, 2021. On January 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Coney has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
The prosecution 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. In May 2021, the Justice 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.
Antioch Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors at the Bakersfield Desert Star MotelRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Darnell Bernard Edwards, 33, of Antioch, was sentenced today to 19 years and seven months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for the sex trafficking of two minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in April and May 2019, Edwards transported two minors to the Desert Star Motel in Bakersfield and had them engage in prostitution. Edwards also transported the minors to other locations within California, supplied them with marijuana, and all three had the letter D and a crown tattooed on their bodies.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the Antioch Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Abingdon Man Sentenced to Seventy-Seven Months in Prison for Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An Abingdon, Illinois, man, Micah Mowen, 44, was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 77 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long and for possessing a firearm as a felon.
At the sentencing hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, the government proffered evidence that in August 2019, deputies from the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office found Mowen sleeping in a truck in an unauthorized area. Upon further investigation, they found a stolen handgun and a sawed-off shotgun in the truck. Mowen initially fled but was quickly apprehended. Mowen has been in the custody of the United States Marshal since his federal arrest in August 2020.
Mowen faced statutory penalties of up to ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for both counts.
The McDonough County Sheriff’s Office, Galesburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jen Mathew and Sarah Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Mowen 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.
Sunday 30 April 2023
Plymouth Man Arrested, Charged in Federal Complaint with Arson Following Fires at Two Minneapolis MosquesRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Jackie Rahm Little, aka Joel Arthur Tueting, has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with arson following fires at two Minneapolis mosques, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Little was apprehended and arrested last night in Mankato by the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office and taken into federal custody today by FBI and ATF agents, with assistance from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments.
According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little, 36, started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, 2023, just before 7:00 p.m., Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al Rahma Mosque. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque and the building was evacuated.
According to court documents, prior to the arson incidents, on January 5, 2023, Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Minneapolis district office of a U.S. Representative. Little spray-painted the text “500” on the front door of the U.S. Representative’s office and photographed the graffiti. Later that same day, Little spray-painted the same text (“500”) on the side of a patrol vehicle assigned to a Somali Minneapolis Police Department officer as well as in an entryway at a marketplace, colloquially referred to as the “Somali Mall.”
Little will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright on Monday, May 1, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Paul Police Department, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Friday 28 April 2023
Wormleysburg Man Sentenced for Theft from Federal Courthouse Construction SiteRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Gontaryk, age 48, of Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 17 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $10,736.01 in restitution.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gontaryk stole about $9,919.61 of construction materials, which belonged to the United States, from the construction site of the Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 11, 2021. The following day, he sold copper and brass construction materials that he had stolen at a metal scrapyard located in Pottsville, PA.
In March 2022, while on release pending trial for the foregoing theft, Gontaryk returned to the same location and committed another theft of construction materials worth about $816.40. He again sold the stolen materials at a scrapyard, this time in York, PA. Gontaryk was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment for the first offense and two months for the second offense, resulting in the total sentence summarized above.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.
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Worcester Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to False Tax Returns SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A tax preparer has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to preparing false tax returns in the names of taxpayers.
Kwasi Kwarteng, 51, of Worcester, pleaded guilty on April 26, 2023 to 13 counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns. U.S. District Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 3, 2023.From at least 2014 through 2018, Kwarteng operated under the name KK Tax Service –despite not being registered with the IRS as required by law – to file more than 1,195 tax returns in the names of clients, charging approximately $150 per return. Kwarteng added false information to hundreds of the returns to claim deductions for fictitious medical expenses, personal property taxes, gifts to charity, Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contributions, and unreimbursed employee business expenses. The false returns resulted in some clients paying lower taxes than they owed and, in most cases, resulted in clients receiving tax refunds for which they were not entitled. Kwarteng caused more than half a million dollars in losses to the IRS.
The charges of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release a, fine of $250,000 and restitution to the IRS. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Wisconsin Owner of Consulting Firm Pleads Guilty to Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
A Wisconsin businessman who helped secure international business deals for his clients pleaded guilty today to willfully filing a false tax return.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Qasim Khan of Milwaukee owned and operated Global Focus Partners LLC, a consulting business through which he successfully brokered contracts between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other businesses located in the United States and abroad. For 2015 to 2017, Khan reported his income from U.S.-based businesses, but did not report over $350,000 in payments received from foreign companies in the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In total, Khan’s multi-year scheme to omit foreign-source income from his tax returns caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $127,306.
Khan is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 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.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge and Trial Attorney Amanda R. Scott of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Webster Man Charged in Connection with Two Pipe Bomb ExplosionsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A man has been charged in connection with two pipe bomb explosions in Weare, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Dale Stewart, 54, was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, a destructive device, and possessing a destructive device unidentified by a serial number. Stewart will make an initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Stewart is currently in custody on state charges related to the destructive device explosions.
According to the charging documents, Stewart allegedly constructed and detonated two destructive devices in Weare, New Hampshire on April 26, 2023 and April 27, 2023. In response to the explosions, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Stewart’s vehicle and retrieved an additional destructive device, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The destructive device found in the vehicle contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two recovered suspected pipe bombs from the two separate detonation scenes in Weare, New Hampshire.
The charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and possessing a destructive device unidentified by serial number provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $ 10,000.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Waterford Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bradley Boisen, age 26, of Waterford, New York, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempted sex trafficking of a child, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea, Boisen admitted that on April 21, 2021, he met someone over the internet and agreed to pay this person $100 to engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old child. That same day, Boisen traveled to a location in Albany, where he was to meet and engage in sexual acts with the minor.
Upon arriving at the meeting location, Boisen informed an undercover law enforcement officer that he had only $60 and negotiated as to what sex acts he could engage in for $60. After coming to an agreement, Boisen handed the undercover officer $30, half of the agreed-upon price, and promised to provide the remaining $30 after he engaged in the sexual acts with the 14-year-old child. Boisen was then arrested.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Boisen to serve 15 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Boisen will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, and the New York State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by the United States Attorney’s offices and marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
Valdosta Resident Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, resident was sentenced to federal prison this week for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of extremely young minors after an initial investigation into the defendant taking suspicious photos of a young woman at her workplace.
James Spencer Cochran, 50, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release and $4,500 in restitution to a victim by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on April 26, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material on Sept. 20, 2022. In addition, Cochran will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole.
“A teenager reported that her privacy had been violated by a customer at her workplace; her call resulted in a child predator being held accountable for possessing child sexual abuse material of young children,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank this concerned citizen for speaking up, and I am grateful that the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI swiftly launched an investigation which held this predator accountable.”
“This sentencing of Mr. Cochran removes from our community an individual who has demonstrated his willingness to exploit vulnerable children through child sexual abuse material,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our partners work every day to protect our children and will continue to use every law enforcement resource available to identify those who take advantage of our most innocent victims.”
“This is the second case this week involving child predators in our community that resulted in federal sentences without parole,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. “I am thankful for the strong partnership we have at the federal level to keep predators off the streets and away from our children.”
According to court documents, in May 2018, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a complaint from a young woman who stated that one of her customers, Cochran, was suspiciously taking photos of her with his cellular phone at the restaurant where she worked. Cochran was interviewed and consented to a search of his phone, where agents found photos of the woman, as well as multiple photos of fully clothed, prepubescent females and girls under the age of 12-years-old. Cochran admitted there were “some minors” and “a little nudity” on his personal computer at his home, and he consented to a search of his devices. A search warrant was executed, and Cochran’s electronic devices were seized. With the assistance of FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, agents identified 16 videos and 87 images containing child sexual abuse material, mostly of minors under the age of 12-years-old. Cochran told law enforcement that he would download, view and then delete the images before downloading more because he knew it was illegal.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted the case for the Government.
United States Attorney Names Long-Time Federal Prosecutor Arvo Q. Mikkanen to Serve in Newly Created Role as Senior Counsel for Tribal RelationsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, United States Attorney Robert J. Troester named Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Arvo Q. Mikkanen to serve in a newly created role as Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations for the Western District of Oklahoma, as part of the office’s strong commitment to Indian country.
"Arvo Mikkanen has 30 years of federal prosecution experience and is one of the foremost authorities in the Department of Justice on the law related to Indian country," said U.S. Attorney Troester. "It is only fitting that he serves in this newly created role as Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations to further solidify the commitment, service, outreach, and collaboration by my office with the Tribes in the Western District of Oklahoma."
"I am extremely excited to accept this new position and look forward to utilizing my experience in the courtroom and knowledge of state, tribal, and justice systems to build upon what we have already accomplished," said AUSA Mikkanen. "I also hope to improve the understanding regarding the complexities of providing justice in Indian country and strengthen the cooperation among the federal government, the 21 tribal governments in the district, and the various state and local law enforcement agencies. Ultimately, the goal is for both tribal and non-tribal citizens to feel an added sense of public safety across the Western District by working together more closely in a cohesive fashion."
This position is historic—the first of its kind at the U.S. Attorney’s Office—and will be instrumental in coordinating Indian country law enforcement and public safety throughout the district, including training, management of law enforcement priorities, consulting with tribal leadership and justice officials, and strengthening relationships between federal, tribal, and state law enforcement partners. As Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations, AUSA Mikkanen will play a unique and crucial role in the Department of Justice’s effort to prevent and respond to violent crime in Indian country, as well as address such important issues as cross deputization, jurisdictional concerns, outreach to tribal communities, and improved strategies regarding Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.
The following Tribal Nations have land located within the Western District: Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Caddo Nation, Cherokee Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Chickasaw Nation, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Comanche Nation, Delaware Nation, Fort Sill Apache Tribe, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Kaw Nation, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, Kiowa Tribe, Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Sac and Fox Nation, Shawnee Tribe, Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, and Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
Today’s announcement follows the announcement last week of the U.S. Attorney’s adoption and implementation of Savanna’s Act Guidelines to improve the response and investigation of cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which Mikkanen was instrumental in drafting. More information on the guidelines can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/united-states-attorney-issues-guidelines-part-new-federal-strategy-cases-involving.
AUSA Mikkanen is Kiowa/Comanche and an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe. He has served in both the civil and criminal divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has served as a tribal liaison, and has been counsel of record in more than 750 cases in the U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City. AUSA Mikkanen has also served as a federal judicial law clerk, civil practitioner, tribal judge, tribal prosecutor, and law professor during his legal career. He received an A.B. magna cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1983, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1986.
AUSA Mikkanen has been well recognized throughout his career. He received the Gold United States Congressional Award from the U.S. Congress in 1985; the Oklahoma Bar Association's Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award in 1992; the Equal Access to Justice - Pro Bono Publico Award from Oklahoma Indian Legal Services in 1992; the American Bar Association's Spirit of Excellence Award in 2004; and the Sonja Atetewuthtakewa Award for Distinguished Service in the Protection of Native American Children in 2003. In 2011, the National Association of Former United States Attorneys presented AUSA Mikkanen with the Exceptional Service Award. In 2012, AUSA Mikkanen received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country during the 60th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony, which recognizes department employees and others for their outstanding dedication to carrying out the Department of Justice’s missions.
Additional information about Indian country resources in the Western District of Oklahoma is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/programs/indian-country.
Union Financial Secretary Pleads Guilty to Stealing Union FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – BRIAN GERALD, age 51, a resident of Franklinton, Louisiana, pled guilty on April 24, 2023 to a one count indictment for embezzling assets of a local labor union in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 501(c) before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, GERALD was the Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 13-189. GERALD was responsible for organizing Local 13-189’s financial records, keeping an accounting of its income, and filing IRS forms and reports. GERALD was also responsible for maintaining Local 13-189’s debit card in a safe location. From January 2015 through September 2020, GERALD misused the union’s debit card to make 493 ATM cash withdrawals totaling $107,387.90 in cash and fees. GERALD also misused the union’s debit card to make payments for his personal accounts for a total of $36,589.41. GERALD misappropriated a total of $143,977.31 of union funds.
GERALD faces a up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Labor in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit and Troy Bell, of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Thompson to Announce Verdicts in Child Sex Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. today, Friday, April 28, 2023, to announce and discuss the verdicts in the trial of Larry Allen Clay Jr., 57, a former employee of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and Chief of Police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department.
WHO: United States Attorney Will Thompson
WHEN: Friday, April 28, 2023, at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
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.
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Two Waterloo Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm as FelonsRead the Press Release
Two men from Waterloo, Iowa, were sentenced to prison terms after possessing a firearm as felons.
Bruce Terrell Sanford, 32, from Waterloo received the prison term after a November 28, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Houston Simmons III, 26, from Waterloo received the prison term after a December 15, 2022 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at the guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Simmons III and Sanford were sitting in a car outside of a club in Waterloo on September 5, 2021, when officers were called to the club. Sanford was in the driver’s seat of the car, and Simmons III was in the front passenger’s seat. Officers could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the car and then searched the car. Inside the car, officers located a loaded Taurus PT111 G2 A, 9-millimeter pistol in the passenger door compartment next to where Simmons III was seated. Officers were able to determine that the pistol was stolen. Officers also found a burnt marijuana roach in the center console area of the car, a baggie of marijuana in the driver’s side door, an opened bag containing marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle, and a bag of marijuana in Sanford’s pocket. Sanford and Simmons III both admitted to possessing the pistol. Sanford was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2010, burglary in the third degree in 2010, and criminal mischief in the second degree in 2011. Simmons III was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 2019.
Sanford was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 70 months’ imprisonment. Simmons III was sentenced today to 44 months’ imprisonment.
Both Sanford and Simmons III were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. They were each ordered to serve a 3‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Sanford and Simmons III are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-2019.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Two More Sentenced for Roles in Beckley-to-Philadelphia Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Hassan Abdullah, also known as “San,” 28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and Donte Webster, 23, of Beckley, West Virginia, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic over 140 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Abdullah traveled from Philadelphia to Beckley with conspiracy ringleader Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” and other co-defendants to oversee the purchase of firearms at Beckley-area stores that the conspirators took back to Philadelphia to sell for profit.
Webster was one of several straw purchasers who bought firearms for the conspirators in exchange for money or drugs. Jones or an intermediary would tell the straw purchasers which firearms to buy, and provide the money for the purchases. Webster admitted to straw purchasing a Glock 19Gen5, 9mm pistol, a Glock 26Gen5, 9mm pistol, and a Taurus G2C, 9mm pistol for Jones in Beckley on July 6, 2021. During each purchase, Webster falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that he was the buyer of the firearms when he knew he was purchasing them for Jones and his trafficking conspiracy.
Webster further admitted that he bought at least 13 firearms for Jones in June and July, 2021, so Jones and others could transport and resell them outside of West Virginia.
Of the over 140 firearms trafficked by the conspirators between early 2020 and mid-2021, approximately 45 were recovered at crime scenes primarily in Philadelphia and have been connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent offenses.
Abdullah pleaded guilty to interstate travel with the intent to engage in dealing firearms without a license. Webster pleaded guilty to making false statements in acquisition of firearms. Abdullah and Webster are among 18 defendants who pleaded guilty in connection with the firearms trafficking. After five days of trial, a federal jury found Jones, 37, of Philadelphia, guilty on December 16, 2022, of conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to deal in firearms without a license, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and interstate travel with the intent to deal in firearms without a license. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Philadelphia Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Negar M. Kordestani and Steve Loew 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.
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. 5:22-cr-46.
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Two Goshen County Men Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Rily Shawn Ralls, age 47, of Torrington, Wyoming, and Terry Gene Patch, age 35, of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, were both sentenced for possession of child pornography by United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Ralls pled guilty to the charge and was sentenced on April 7, 2023, to 63 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
Patch also pled guilty and was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 40 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
The two men came to the attention of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) in March 2022 after ICAC received cybertips from Google. Upon further investigation, agents determined that Ralls and Patch, who lived in the same residence, had both downloaded images and videos of child pornography. The investigators were able to identify email addresses, unique URLs and mobile phone numbers tied to each man that were used in viewing and downloading the pornography.
This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation through their participation in the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
Case Number 22-cr-00106-ABJ
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Donovan Shaw, 29, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by way of robbery with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a robbery. Shaw’s co-defendant, Leonard Hatten, was convicted following a jury trial in March and is awaiting sentencing. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Shaw to 112 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment. There is no parole in the federal system.
Shaw pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a Family Dollar store and robbing a Bucky’s gas station at gunpoint in Omaha. Shaw was also sentenced for robbing a Kwik Shop, a second Bucky’s location, a Tobacco Hut, and a Sergeant Peffer’s restaurant in Omaha. Shaw was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,073.41.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.
Tompkinsville Woman Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Stalking and Mailing ThreatsRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky returned an indictment on March 15, 2023, charging a local woman with stalking and mailing communications containing threats to injure another person.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Louisville Field Office, and Chief Michael Delaney of the Bowling Green Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on January 27, 2023, and January 30, 2023, Tara K. Thomas, 31, mailed threatening communications to another person in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Additionally, between September 21, 2021, and January 30, 2023, she sent Facebook messages and used the United States mail to stalk another person in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Thomas is charged with one count of stalking and two counts of mailing threatening communications.
The defendant made her initial court appearance this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in Bowling Green. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI Bowling Green Satellite Office and the Bowling Green Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is 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.
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Three Nigerian Nationals Extradited from the United Kingdom and Spain to Face Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Three Nigerian nationals were extradited to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges related to allegations that they operated an international fraud scheme. Kennedy Ikponmwosa was extradited from Spain and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres on April 18. Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham and Jerry Chucks Ozor were extradited from the United Kingdom today and will make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eduardo I. Sanchez on Monday, May 1, in Miami.
Ikponmwosa, 51, Ezennia Peter Neboh, 48, and Prince Amos Okey Ezemma, 49, of Madrid, Spain; and Abraham, 44, Ozor, 43, and Emmanuel Samuel, 39, of London, UK, face federal charges in Miami, Florida. Neboh, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, Samuel, and Ozor were arrested in April 2022 by authorities in Madrid and London, based on an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida, and have remained incarcerated since then. Samuel pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud on March 27.
According to court documents, the defendants are charged with operating an inheritance fraud scheme. Over the course of more than five years, they allegedly sent personalized letters to elderly consumers in the United States, falsely claiming that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who purportedly had died years before in Spain. Victims were told that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Victims sent money to the defendants through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to serve as money mules. According to the indictment, victims who sent money never received their purported inheritance funds.
“The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. I thank the Kingdom of Spain and the UK for their tireless efforts in assisting U.S. authorities to find and arrest these individuals so that they may face charges here in the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to bring to justice criminals who attempt to defraud U.S. victims from outside the United States.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service constantly strives to protect our communities from predatory criminals seeking to abuse and exploit the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “This case is an example of how Postal Inspectors will vigorously pursue fraudsters and ensure that they are brought to justice for the crimes they have committed.”
“These extraditions prove that by pulling law enforcement agencies together, we can best focus on investigating individuals and illicit criminal organizations associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect vulnerable seniors,” Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “I want to thank everyone involved in this investigation and in the extradition process for their dedication; together we have the tools to keep our elderly from falling prey to these scams.”
The defendants are all charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as mail fraud and wire fraud. Neboh and Samuel were both extradited earlier this year. If convicted, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, and Ozor each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Consumer Protection Branch, USPIS, and HSI are investigating the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal provided critical assistance.
The department urges individuals to be on the lookout for these types of schemes. An inheritance scam is a form of an imposter scam in which fraudsters pretend to be someone they are not, often a lawyer, banker, or foreign official. These fraudsters will try to get people excited about a large windfall and may use legitimate-looking legal documents as part of the scam. Be wary of unexpected contact from individuals offering a large inheritance. Do not send money or provide information to anyone you do not know. Seek advice from a trusted individual or an independent professional if you are in doubt.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Terre Haute Inmate Sentenced to an Additional 32 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Federal Correctional OfficerRead the Press Release
TERRE HAUTE- Dustin T. Swanda, 36, of Minnesota, was sentenced to 32 additional months in federal prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents, in 2009, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota sentenced Swanda to 151 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. On December 31, 2020, Swanda was housed at the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Institution. That day, correctional officers conducted routine security sweeps, including physical checks of the bars and windows in each cell. As part of the check, inmates are asked to leave the cell for a short period of time while the officers searched it. When an officer approached Swanda’s cell, he asked Swanda to step out. Swanda refused to comply. The officer observed Swanda “moving like a zombie,” making unintelligible noises, and staring at the wall. The officer believed Swanda was intoxicated in some manner and called for backup.
When instructed to leave his cell again, Swanda became volatile and continued to resist verbal commands. After multiple orders to voluntarily leave the cell were given, officers attempted to physically guide Swanda out of his cell. At this time, Swanda physically resisted the officers by kicking his legs and punching an officer in the face. One officer was taken to a local hospital for a broken finger.
The Bureau of Prisons investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon ordered that the sentence be served consecutively to the sentence Swanda is already serving, and also ordered that Swanda pay a $500 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted this case.
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Tennessee Corrections Officer Convicted of Obstructing Investigation into Allegations of Sexual Misconduct with an InmateRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was found guilty yesterday of obstructing an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused an inmate in his custody.
James Stewart Justice, 32, of Columbia, a corrections officer with the Maury County Jail, was convicted of one count of falsification of records. According to evidence introduced at trial, the defendant, formerly known as James Stewart Thomas, wrote an official report for the jail in response to allegations that he had violated the Prison Rape Elimination Act. In his report, the defendant 1) falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at a hospital; 2) falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about those alleged sexual advances by the inmate; and 3) omitted that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after the inmate’s release from the custody of the Maury County Jail.
“The defendant pledged to protect and serve but instead he abused his authority as a corrections officer to try to cover up sexual misconduct at the county jail,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This verdict sends a clear message that the Justice Department will hold accountable any official who obstructs a federal civil rights investigation.”
“Today’s verdict ensures that James Justice will be held accountable for his actions. As importantly, it ensures that he will no longer be entrusted to serve as a law enforcement officer,” said U.S Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “I commend our trial team and partners at the FBI for an excellent job of investigating and presenting this case to the jury.”
“When a correctional officer abuses his authority, it undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement officers," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. "The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice any official who violates the constitution and the trust of the people."
Justice faces maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 18.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Klopf for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jeffrey Charles Thomas (41, Lithia) has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. Thomas faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. He will be required to forfeit the electronic devices used in the offense.
According to court documents, Thomas communicated with an undercover agent he met in an online chat group dedicated to people interested in father/daughter incest. Between August 9 and November 28, 2022, Thomas communicated online with the undercover agent. In his communications, Thomas described in graphic detail his desire to engage in various sexual acts with the undercover agent’s fictitious minor stepdaughter. Thomas then sent the undercover agent an approximately 14-minute video of a minor child being sexually abused.
On December 6, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Thomas’s residence and found him in possession of approximately 14 images and 31 videos of child sex abuse material, including the video he had sent to the undercover agent.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Tampa Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Federal Prison for Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James Moody, Jr. has sentenced Christian Joel Andujar Rivera (25, Tampa) to four years and four months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of firearms. The court also ordered him to forfeit a Glock firearm and assorted ammunition associated with the offense. Andujar Rivera had pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023.
According to court documents, in June 2022, Andujar Rivera was wanted on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding police. On June 13, 2022, the United States Marshal's Service Fugitive Apprehension Unit located Andujar Rivera at his residence in Plant City. On that same day, investigators arrived at the Plant City residence and engaged in a standoff with Andujar Rivera. Andujar Rivera stood at the top of a set of stairs in the home, concealed his hands behind his back, and failed to obey law enforcement commands to surrender. He told the officers that the officers would have to shoot him once he pulled his firearm out. He eventually surrendered without incident.
After a search of the home, law enforcement located nine firearms and large amounts of assorted ammunition. A laboratory analysis later determined DNA found on one of those firearms, a Glock pistol, was linked to Andujar Rivera. As a multi-convicted felon, Andujar Rivera is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna S. Hale.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. PSN is a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Supervisor Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Subordinate at Palo Alto VA HospitalRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Onofre Salas-Lozano appeared in federal court today to face an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and making false statements to a federal agent during an investigation, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Special Agent in Charge Jason Root of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG).
During today’s appearance in federal court, the government described that Salas-Lozano, 40, of Palo Alto, and the victim both worked for a janitorial services company that cleans the Palo Alto VA Hospital. The indictment charges that Salas-Lozano used force and fear to cause the victim to engage in a sex act at the hospital on July 2, 2021. At the time of the incident, Salas-Lozano was the victim’s direct supervisor. Salas-Lozano is also charged with lying to a VA OIG special agent during a subsequent investigative interview by claiming he never had sexual intercourse with the victim.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Salas-Lozano is charged in the indictment’s first count with aggravated sexual abuse in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2241(a), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The second count in the indictment charges him with sexual abuse in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2242(1), which also carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The third and last count in the indictment charges Salas-Lozano with making a materially false statement in a federal investigation, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Salas-Lozano was arraigned in San Jose federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins. The government moved for detention and Salas-Lozano’s detention hearing is scheduled for May 3, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. Salas-Lozano was ordered detained until then.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by VA OIG, with assistance from VA Police.