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Wednesday 19 April 2023
U.S. Attorney Announces Arson Charges Against Two Philadelphia Men for Pizza Shop Fire That Resulted in the Death of Firefighter Lt. Sean WilliamsonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Al-Ashraf Khalil, 29, and Isaam Jaghama, 29, both of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce, and one count of malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce. Khalil was also charged with one count of wire fraud, and one count of using fire in furtherance of the commission of that wire fraud.
Khalil and Jaghama are charged with the arson at 300 West Indiana Avenue in Philadelphia on June 18, 2022, which resulted in the death of Philadelphia Firefighter Lieutenant Sean Williamson, and injuries to five other first responders, who were inside the building when it collapsed following fire suppression activities. Defendant Khalil was the owner of the property at 300 West Indiana Avenue, which contained both apartments and a business. According to the allegations in the indictment, Khalil and Jaghama set a fire inside 300 West Indiana Avenue so that Khalil could profit by filing an insurance claim related to the fire. According to the indictment, after the fire occurred, Khalil signed paperwork authorizing an insurance adjuster to file an insurance claim on his behalf. As alleged in the indictment, this claim was then filed on June 20, 2022.
If convicted, defendant Khalil faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 17 years in prison, and up to a maximum of life in prison. If convicted, defendant Jaghama faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and up to a maximum of life in prison.
The case was investigated by ATF Philadelphia and the ATF’s National Response Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.
An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Wichita Residents Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a woman and a man from Kansas with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, Regan Viner, 29, and Abram Velo, 41, both of Wichita, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intention to distribute and one count of possession of fentanyl with intention to distribute. Velo is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jomarion E. Nelson, 19, and Dornayja D. Acon, 19, both of Wichita were indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Goddard Police Department, and the Mesa, Arizona Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Members of Shooting Boys Gang Charged with Racketeering, Murder, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the filing of a five-count indictment today charging three individuals — WANDER RIVERA, a/k/a “Ciru,” EDWARD PEREZ, a/k/a “Perico,” and RAMON RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Pollo” — with certain federal crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. The defendants are charged for their roles in the “Shooting Boys” gang and associated acts of violence, including the June 21, 2021, murder of Milton Grant and attempted murder of another victim in Manhattan during a robbery. In a coordinated operation, PEREZ and RIVERA were arrested last night and this morning. Both defendants will be presented later this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis in Manhattan federal court. RODRIGUEZ remains at large. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants committed crimes with a street gang that has engaged in robbery, murder, drug trafficking, and other acts of violence. The indictment unsealed today alleges that Milton Grant was murdered as a result of this gang’s wave of violence. Gang violence is a threat to the safety and security of our neighborhoods, and we will continue to work to end it. These defendants now face substantial time in federal prison for their crimes.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “As alleged, Shooting Boys gang members Wander Rivera, Edward Perez, and Ramon Rodriguez utilized extreme violence and intimidation in furtherance of their criminal activities, acting without remorse or regard for human life. Gang members prey upon the communities they live in, committing the most heinous acts against their victims. The New York City metropolitan area is much safer when criminal gang members are arrested and held to account for their crimes. We appreciate the critically important work of our partners at the New York City Police Department and remain dedicated to working collaboratively to help rid our communities of these unrepentant criminals.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Dismantling gangs to prevent the senseless violence so often associated with their illegal activities is among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to target the relatively small percentage of people responsible for a disproportionate amount of the crime and disorder committed in New York City. I commend and thank everyone in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and all of the NYPD and HSI investigators involved in this case for their work in leveling these charges today.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
The “Shooting Boys” gang is a criminal organization based in the University Heights section of the Bronx. Since at least 2017, gang members sold drugs, used guns, and committed numerous acts of violence against members of rival gangs. Originally associated with the “Trinitarios” gang, the Shooting Boys broke off from the “Sunset” chapter of the Trinitarios in about 2018.
The Shooting Boys sold crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in select areas of the Bronx. Gang members also specialized in armed robberies, often targeting individuals wearing designer jewelry. During one early morning robbery, on June 21, 2021, Milton Grant was shot and killed as he sat in his car after exiting a Manhattan nightclub. After Grant was shot, RODRIGUEZ stole Grant’s Audemars Piguet watch, pictured below:
Another victim ("Victim-1"), who was with Grant at the time, was also shot during the robbery as he attempted to flee from the robbers. Victim-1 survived his injuries.
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A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI and thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, James Ligtenberg, Adam S. Hobson, and Jamie Bagliebter are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Charge
Defendants
Minimum and Maximum Penalties
Count One
Racketeering Conspiracy
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
RAMON RODRIGUEZ
Maximum: Life in prison
Count Two
Murder in Aid of Racketeering
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
Mandatory life in prison or death
Count Three
Murder through Use of a Firearm
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
Maximum: Life in prison or death
Minimum: Five years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed
Count Four
Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering
WANDER RIVERA
Maximum: 20 years in prison
Count Five
Firearms Offense
WANDER RIVERA
Maximum: Life in prison
Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the 28th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City BombingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in recognition of the 28th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
“Today, we mark 28 years since a domestic terrorist bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
“Today, we remember the 168 people, including 19 children, whose lives were taken and the hundreds who were injured. We send our deepest condolences to the families who are still mourning an unspeakable loss. We commemorate the extraordinary resilience and grace that the Oklahoma City community continues to demonstrate in the wake of that loss.
“And today, here at the Justice Department, we recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. We remain vigilant in the face of the threat posed by domestic terrorism. And we remain committed to pursuing accountability for those who perpetrate such attacks and to pursuing justice for the victims and survivors.
“We will never forget what happened in Oklahoma City on April 19. We will never stop telling and retelling the story of that day, and of how the Oklahoma City community responded to hatred and division with compassion and unity. And we will never stop working to honor the memories of those we lost.”
Starkville Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced today to almost four years in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a prior convicted felon.
According to court documents, Lasang Kemp, 38, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a Taurus 9mm handgun and a Zastava 5.56mm handgun in Starkville, Mississippi on March 4, 2021. Kemp, who pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, was sentenced today in Greenville by Chief U.S. District Judge Debra Brown to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals will always be a priority for this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The FBI and our local partners deserve our thanks for ensuring this successful prosecution.”
“Mr. Kemp’s sentencing should serve as a warning to those bad actors who unlawfully possess firearms,” remarked FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, through impactful programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, will continue to identify, investigate, and deliver justice to anyone violating federal laws designed to protect our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Starkville Police Department, and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department.
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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Leading Meth Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Springfield, Mo., area.
Christian Roman, 39, of Springfield, and Nathan Bay, 49, of Bois D’Arc, Mo., were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Tuesday, April 18. Roman was sentenced to 21 years and eight months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $143,000, which represents his proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Bay was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $42,291, which represents his proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
Roman pleaded guilty on Oct. 4, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bay pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
During the federal investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of methamphetamine from various members of the drug-trafficking organization. Roman distributed multiple pounds of methamphetamine at a time to others below him in the drug hierarchy and collected drug proceeds. According to court documents, Roman supplied Bay with methamphetamine to distribute.
Roman also orchestrated sending large amounts of methamphetamine through the mail from California for distribution in Missouri. Roman admitted that he coordinated with a law enforcement confidential source to arrange for a package that contained more than 1.3 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, concealed inside a fire extinguisher, to be mailed to that source’s residence.
According to court documents, Roman also coordinated the distribution of, and payment for, multiple illegal drug sales across the United States, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. In February 2021, law enforcement intercepted communications wherein Roman coordinated the distribution of approximately 1,428 pounds of marijuana to a man in Wisconsin. That marijuana was seized by law enforcement.
Roman admitted that he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Oct. 1, 2019, to Feb. 19, 2021. Roman also admitted, during that time, that he participated in a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Mexico to promote the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Roman admitted that he made multiple large cash deposits into his checking account, which involved proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy, then sent several wire transfers to Mexico.
Roman, who was on probation at the time of this offense, admitted that he was in possession of a Colt .38-caliber handgun on Feb. 19, 2021. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Roman has a prior felony conviction for importing marijuana after he smuggled 38 kilograms of marijuana from Mexico into the United States. Roman also has prior felony convictions for concealing a firearm in a vehicle and taking a vehicle without consent.
On Feb. 19, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Roman’s residence. Officers found numerous unused U.S. Postal Service boxes piled in the hallway closet. In the master bedroom, officers found a safe that contained expensive jewelry, $4,640 in cash, and the Colt handgun. The firearm’s handgrips were covered in white stones with an emblem of two stacked traffic cones designed out of black, orange, and white stones. The emblem matched a tattoo of two stacked traffic cones on the right side of Roman’s face. Officers also seized a Romarm/Cugir 7.62-caliber rifle, a German Sports Gun 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Grand Power 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and some ammunition from a storage unit.
Roman and Bay are among 11 defendants who have been sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy Targeting Retirees and Military Pension HoldersRead the Press Release
A South Carolina woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her role in a nationwide structured cash flow scheme that exploited military veterans in desperate financial straits and targeted elderly investors seeking a safe retirement investment.
Candy Kern, 55, of Anderson, South Carolina, was the managing partner of a small South Carolina-based law firm. From approximately 2012 through 2021, she used her law firm to facilitate a fraudulent scheme involving illegal assignment of veterans’ benefits.
The scheme worked as follows: Numerous individuals and small corporate entities, referred to as Structured Cash Flow (SCF) entities, offered veterans – many of whom were in acute financial distress – an up-front lump sum payment in exchange for the assignment of the veterans’ monthly pension and/or disability payments for a period of time. Working through a network of investment advisors and insurance agents, the SCF entities would then solicit retirees to invest in these contracts – providing the up-front lump sums under the false pretense that the flow of repayments by veterans over time would translate into a return for the retiree-investors.
For more than eight years, Kern, through her law firm, served as the banker, legal counsel, and debt collector for the SCF operation. Among other services, Kern’s law firm (1) managed, controlled, and maintained the bank accounts through which payments to and from investors and veterans flowed; and (2) filed suits against veterans who defaulted. Throughout the duration of the scheme, and unbeknownst to the veterans or the retirees, the pension assignment contracts were in fact void, as it is illegal to assign a pension under federal law – a fact Kern knew but never disclosed during the execution of any contract.
Over time, the scheme collapsed, as many veterans (who tended to be in dire financial straits) either were unable to repay their “obligations” under the contract or opted not to do so upon learning that federal law prohibited pension assignments. Over the course of this scheme, approximately $14 million in illegally assigned veterans’ benefits flowed through the accounts controlled by Kern’s law firm. Notwithstanding the invalidity of the contracts, Kern pursued enforcement actions against veterans who defaulted, securing numerous default judgments against veterans in absentia. As a result, Kern’s law firm received approximately $1,446,336, while retiree-investors – who were misled and fraudulently induced to purchase the SCF product without being informed of all material information about the contracts – lost approximately $31,352,897.26.
“This elaborate scheme preyed upon and exploited some of our most vulnerable populations, and when it collapsed, it left thousands of veterans in financial ruin and scores of retiree-investors without adequate resources to retire,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to protecting servicemembers, veterans, and older adults from fraud. And we are dedicated to ensuring that those involved in this scheme are held accountable.”
“The District of South Carolina has been at the forefront of prosecuting fraud related to veterans’ pensions and associated investment scams,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “It is reprehensible that a former member of the South Carolina state bar would participate in such a scheme and use her standing as a lawyer to give victims a false confidence. My office will continue its efforts to protect our veterans and to bring perpetrators to justice.”
“This guilty plea is a true testament to the FBI’s steadfast mission to uphold justice and protect the most vulnerable members of our society from financial exploitation and fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans and values the contributions of our seniors to our communities. The guilty plea represents our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to take advantage of our nation’s heroes and seniors.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Watkins for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.
The matter was investigated by the FBI. The Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division and the Defense Finance Accounting Service also assisted. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the investigation and prosecution.
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 U.S. 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. 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. For more information on the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, or to file a complaint, visit https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Sisseton Man Indicted for MurderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sisseton, South Dakota, man for First Degree Murder.
Jay Adams, Jr., age 57, was indicted in April of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 17, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is mandatory life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about September 4, 1992, in Roberts County, Adams killed a minor victim by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma.
The charge is merely an accusation and Adams is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Adams was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sigourney Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A Sigourney man pleaded guilty on April 17, 2023, to mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court records, Mark Lynn Haines, 48, engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from 2015 to 2018 concerning sales of grain as organic, when in fact, the grain was grown in violation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). NOP is a federal regulatory program governing organic agricultural products. Key among Haines’ NOP violations were the use of treated seed, which is prohibited by NOP. Haines concealed his NOP violations from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the organic certifier. The grain was then sold by Haines to a number of unwitting purchasers.
Haines also conspired to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the assessment and collection of income taxes. Between April 2017 to April 2019, Haines obtained false invoices, backdated checks, and exchanged checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred. This conduct increased Haines’ expenses and decreased Haines’ federal income taxes.
“The USDA Organic Seal is a symbol of trust and confidence amongst consumers seeking to purchase organically grown produce. When farmers, like Haines, subvert NOP and its regulations, they compromise the integrity of the program and impair USDA’s ability to protect the health and value of American agriculture,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shantel R. Robinson, USDA, Office of Inspector General, Midwest Region.
Haines is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2023. A related defendant, Daniel DeRycke, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, and is also pending sentencing.
A federal district court judge will determine the sentences of Haines and DeRycke after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) revoked Haines’ organic certificate in 2018 due to several NOP violations and assisted the federal agents in the investigation and the prosecution of the case.
If you witness or have knowledge of any violations of laws and regulations related to USDA programs, contact the OIG Hotline by telephone at (800) 424-9121 or TDD (202) 690-1202.
Second Conspirator in Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violation Case ArrestedRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami and a citizen of Belarus, has been arrested and charged by a federal criminal complaint with engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two related companies by purchasing over $150 million in steelmaking materials. Karpushkin’s alleged co-conspirator, John C. Unsalan, 41, of Orlando, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the same scheme on April 12, and was arrested on April 14 on related charges.
According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities. The two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans, OOO (Gaz-Alyans), based in the Russian Federation, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis (Vneshtorgservis), based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine.
The complaint charges Karpushkin with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The indictment against Unsalan charges him with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the IEEPA; 10 counts of violating the IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and 10 counts of international money laundering. If convicted, Karpushkin and Unsalan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count with which they are charged. Unsalan made his initial appearance in federal court on April 17, and has been detained pending further court proceedings. Karpushkin made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was also detained.
The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, OFAC, and the FBI Miami Field Office.
Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Second Conspirator in Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violation Case ArrestedRead the Press Release
Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami and a citizen of Belarus, has been arrested and charged by a federal criminal complaint with engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two related companies by purchasing over $150 million in steelmaking materials. Karpushkin’s alleged co-conspirator, John C. Unsalan, 41, of Orlando, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the same scheme on April 12, and was arrested on April 14 on related charges.
According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities. The two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans, OOO (Gaz-Alyans), based in the Russian Federation, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis (Vneshtorgservis), based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine.
The complaint charges Karpushkin with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The indictment against Unsalan charges him with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the IEEPA; 10 counts of violating the IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and 10 counts of international money laundering. If convicted, Karpushkin and Unsalan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count with which they are charged. Unsalan made his initial appearance in federal court on April 17, and has been detained pending further court proceedings. Karpushkin made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was also detained.
The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, OFAC, and the FBI Miami Field Office.
Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Previously Deported Honduran Man Convicted of Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Nicholas Heriberto Vallecillo-Tejada, age 39, was convicted on April 18, 2023, of illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vallecillo-Tejada was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in November 2008 and again in July 2009. He reentered the United States again sometime after July 2009 without first obtaining legal permission to do so. Vallecillo-Tejada was encountered in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 2020, when he was arrested by the Shenandoah Police Department on charges which eventually led to convictions for simple assault and weapons possession. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 and charged with illegal re-entry into the United States.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Brian J. Gallagher prosecuted the case.
Vallecillo-Tejada faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Poplar felon admits possessing ammunition after shootout on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man with a felony conviction for murder admitted today to illegally possessing ammunition after a shootout on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Buddy Gene Walking Eagle, 38, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Walking Eagle faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Sept. 13. Walking Eagle was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed by the government, on March 16, 2020, Walking Eagle was on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation when a shootout occurred. Law enforcement recovered .40-caliber shells that belonged to Walking Eagle. Walking Eagle was prohibited from possessing the ammunition because he was previously convicted of murder in 2004 in Colorado.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy A. Johnson and Ryan G. Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.
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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Pinedale Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead 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 Sheldon Livingston pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a child under 12 in Indian Country. Livingston, 23, of Pinedale, 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, during December 2020, Livingston engaged in a sexual act with a child who had not attained the age of 12. The assault took place in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Under the terms of his agreement, Livingston can be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison and must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Philadelphia man admits to operating a multi-state drug enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has admitted to operating a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise.”
Christopher Arthur Jones, also known as “Smooth,” pled guilty today to a racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl distribution charges. Jones, 38, was the leader of the organization, directing members of the enterprise to sell drugs, commit acts of violence, launder money, and commit fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but Jones had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia and elsewhere.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble heard testimony today that Jones ordered armed robberies at residences in West Virginia and Maryland to help fund his enterprise. The homeowners were targeted because of perceived wealth. The organization was selling an estimated 100 grams of fentanyl per week and laundering at least $500 per day from a house on Crooked Way in Martinsburg. Jones also committed COVID fraud, receiving COVID relief funds under false pretenses.
As a part of the plea agreement, Jones has agreed to forfeit any proceeds from the crimes, as well as his Philadelphia property, which was used as the stash house for his operation.
Jones is facing at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Omaha Man Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha man was sentenced yesterday, April 18, 2023, to 168 months in prison following his plea of guilty to distribution of a controlled substance.
On January 12, 2021, the Council Bluffs Police and Council Bluffs Fire Departments were dispatched to a motel to provide medical treatment to an unresponsive victim, who ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose. Jason D. Hartzell, 22, distributed fentanyl pressed pills to the victim. Officers linked Hartzell to the fentanyl overdose death after reviewing phone information, social media information, surveillance footage, and conducting witness interviews. Hartzell must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
North Liberty Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A North Liberty man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, on May 20, 2021, Ronald Lee Robi, 71, entered a retail store in Coralville, browsed the firearm section, and selected two pistols to purchase. Robi paid for the pistols but told the sales associate he would come back later with his firearms permit and other documents to complete the paperwork. On June 1, 2021, Robi returned to the same retail store, convinced a different sales associate he had already provided the necessary documentation when he paid for the pistols, and took possession of the firearms. Robi has multiple prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
On June 7, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Robi’s residence in North Liberty. During the search, law enforcement recovered a third firearm. At the time of his offense in the Southern District of Iowa, Robi had been indicted in the Southern District of Texas for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was granted the privilege of pretrial release. As a result of this offense, his pretrial release was revoked. He was sentenced for his crime in the Southern District of Texas on June 10, 2022. His sentence will be served consecutively to the sentence for the Texas firearms conviction.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Coralville Police Department and North Liberty Police Department investigated the case.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking of a Delivery TruckRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Devils Lake, North Dakota man has been sentenced to 136 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carjacking a man at gunpoint in Blaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2022, at approximately 3:52 a.m., Joshua Lee Sinawa, 27, approached a bakery delivery box truck in the parking lot of a Cub Foods in Blaine, Minnesota. While the delivery driver was in the vehicle’s driver seat, Sinawa approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded that the victim get out of the vehicle. Sinawa then forced him to walk into the Cub Foods store at gunpoint. Sinawa left the Cub Foods store while the victim remained inside and fled the scene in the stolen bakery delivery box truck.
Sinawa was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to 52 months for carjacking and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne and Craig R. Baune prosecuted the case.
North Branford Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH AMADEO, 38, of North Branford, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, HSI began investigating Amadeo for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos on the dark web. On March 24, 2021, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Amadeo’s residence and seized Amadeo’s computer and other electronic devices. Analysis of the devices revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, many as young as infants. He was arrested on June 3, 2021.
Amadeo pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on July 12 in Hartford.
Amadeo is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
Amadeo is a registered sex offender on the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry based on a 2013 state conviction involving child pornography.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Nancy V. Gifford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Norfolk Church Youth Group Leader Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
According to court documents, Charles Willoughby III, 39, served as a youth group leader at New Life Worship Center (NLWC) in Norfolk. From 2006 to 2012, Willoughby routinely groomed minor teenage girls who were part of the church’s youth program in order to attempt to sexually abuse them. On June 26, 2012, Jane Doe, who was then 15 years old, and other youth group members boarded a chartered bus from NLWC to travel to Georgia for a national church youth group conference. Willoughby served as one of the chaperones. While on the bus there, Willoughby forced Jane Doe to engage in a sexual act. Jane Doe did not disclose the abuse until 2018, and other victims were identified after that disclosure.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi and Megan Montoya 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-96.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Cashing Counterfeit U.S. Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Samuel Dixon, 28, of New Orleans was sentenced to six months of incarceration after pleading guilty to two counts of cashing counterfeit United States Treasury checks.
According to court documents, Dixon admitted that on February 14, 2020, he successfully cashed two counterfeit checks at different Walmart stores in Mobile, Alabama. The counterfeit checks cashed by Dixon were created from a template based on a legitimate U.S. Treasury check stolen in 2018. Counterfeit checks created from this template have been cashed over 450 times throughout the United States.
In the first instance, Dixon presented a Walmart employee with a counterfeit check bearing a female’s name identified in the plea agreement as “R. Smith.” To verify that Dixon was authorized to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, he presented a counterfeit Georgia drivers license that contained Dixon’s picture, but other identifying information belonging to a real male who is identified in the plea agreement as K. Smith. In addition, Dixon provided K. Smith’s actual social security number. Believing that Dixon was K. Smith, and thus had the authority to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.
Several hours later, Dixon presented a Walmart employee at a different store in Mobile with another counterfeit U.S. Treasury check bearing the name R. Smith. This time, Dixon presented a counterfeit Virginia drivers license containing his picture and the real information of a male identified in the plea agreement as M. Smith. After Dixon provided M. Smith’s real social security number, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.
In addition to the two counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks cashed in Mobile, Dixon also admitted to previously cashing two other counterfeit checks in Louisiana. Finally, Dixon admitted that when he was arrested on unrelated charges in New Orleans in February 2020, he had in his possession five similar counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to corrupt Federal tax administration,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice in this investigation.”
This case was investigated by the United States Department of the Treasury – Office of Inspector General, as well as the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Also assisting with the apprehension of Dixon was the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and S. Gaillard Ladd prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
New London Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union AssetsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A New London man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 24 months in prison for embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
According to court records, James Darin Boatman, 53, the former president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 Union, embezzled and stole union funds for his personal use. UFCW Local 617 members include production workers and skilled trade workers at the Conagra plant located in Fort Madison. Investigation revealed that Boatman, the president of the Union from 2010 until 2019, set up a credit card in the Union’s name, without authorization, and from at least May 2017 to August 2019 used the card for personal expenses, including vacations to Florida, large repairs on his personal vehicle, and to pay for attorney representation for an unrelated matter. Additionally, Boatman wrote checks from the Union funds to cover personal expenses and to pay himself for unauthorized lost time for periods of time Boatman claimed he was conducting Union business. Boatman pled guilty and agreed to pay $74,231.34 in restitution to the Union.
Following his prison term, Boatman was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Department of Labor and Office of Labor-Management Standards investigated the case.
Mobile Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Machinegun That He Fired During New Year's Eve ShootingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machinegun that he fired during a shooting in downtown Mobile on December 31, 2022.
According to court documents, Thomas Earl Thomas, Jr., 22, possessed and fired a .40 caliber Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and an illegal machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” during New Year’s Eve celebrations in downtown Mobile on December 31, 2022. The shooting, which occurred in a crowded section of Dauphin Street near South Jackson Street, killed one person and injured nine others. In connection with his guilty plea, Thomas admitted that he lied to homicide detectives about possessing and firing the gun, as captured on surveillance video. Thomas further admitted, among other things, that he had bought the gun at a gun show in Mobile weeks before the shooting and knew it had been illegally modified with a “switch.”
Firearms experts examined and test fired Thomas’s illegally modified gun, which operated as a fully automatic weapon and expelled multiple rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. Thomas admitted that he had never registered his machinegun in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2023, and faces up to ten years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department are investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Federal Prison for Hate Crimes Targeting Black Lives Matter SupportersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 10 months in federal prison and one-year supervised release for a series of hate crimes he committed in June and July of 2020.
According to court records, Kenneth D. Pilon, 62, previously pleaded guilty to willfully intimidating and attempting to intimidate citizens from engaging in lawful speech and protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Specifically, Pilon admitted to calling nine Starbucks stores in mid and southeast Michigan and telling the employees answering his calls to tell Starbucks employees wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts that “the only good n***er is a dead n***er.” Pilon also admitted to telling one employee, “I’m gonna go out and lynch me a n***er.” Additionally, over the course of the next month, Pilon left four nooses in parking lots and a fifth noose inside of a 7-Eleven store. Pilon attached each noose to a handwritten note, reading: “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!”
“The nooses, the threat letters, and the calls to Starbucks were all intended to terrorize the targeted victims solely because of their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will always stand up to race-based threats of violence, which have no place in civilized society.”
“A noose is a symbol of hatred that evokes the darkest days of our country’s past. Its placement is meant to terrorize a part of our community, but we will not tolerate these race-based threats. Our office stands ready to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal violations of our civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Pilon’s hateful conduct, motivated by racial intolerance, was intended to intimidate the victims as well as create fear within the African-American community,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will ensure that if a crime is motivated by bias, it will be investigated as a hate crime and the perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Turkelson for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case
Mexican man sent to prison for transporting fentanyl and methRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old non-U.S. citizen illegally residing in Harlingen has been ordered to prison following his conviction for attempting to traffic fentanyl and meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jorge Mario Vazquez-Zuniga pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Vazquez-Zuniga to serve 84 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
On June 14, 2022, law enforcement stopped Vazquez-Zuniga for following too closely to another vehicle. After a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, authorities searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 10.50 kilograms of meth hidden inside an ice chest.
Vazquez-Zuniga ultimately admitted knowing narcotics were inside his vehicle and agreeing to transport them to another person for financial gain. The investigation led to his residence where law enforcement also located approximately 8.08 kilograms of fentanyl.
Vazquez-Zuniga will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Man Indicted for Attempted KidnappingRead the Press Release
FLINT– A Mount Morris Township man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for his role in the attempted kidnapping of a woman and his illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement was James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division and Chief Terence Green, Flint Police Department.
Lugene Maxie, II, age 44, was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment and other court records, Maxie and two other men in a car approached the female victim as she was walking. The men made sexual remarks towards the victim and told her to come with them. When the victim refused, one of the men got out of the vehicle and began following the woman on foot. Maxie and the other man picked up the man on foot who was following the victim. The three then drove past the woman, turned on a side street and stopped. After the vehicle stopped, Maxie got out and began walking towards the victim. As Maxie approached the victim, he grabbed her. The victim pulled away from Maxie and began running from him. As the woman ran away from Maxie, he pulled a firearm from his waistband and fired two to three gunshots. Maxie continued to follow the victim as she ran away.
The incident came to the attention of the Michigan State Police who were conducting aerial observation in a Michigan State Police helicopter. The helicopter radioed to Flint Police who responded to the scene. When Flint Police arrived, Maxie took off running. Police pursued Maxie and took him into custody a short distance away. The Michigan State Police helicopter saw Maxie drop his gun as he was running from the police. Police recovered the firearm after detaining Maxie.
“I applaud the teamwork of the Michigan State and Flint Police,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “They prevented a brazen kidnapping and likely saved the victim from a sexual assault.”
“The arrest of Maxie is another fine example of area law enforcement working in partnership to increase public safety in the Flint community. The Flint Police Department, along with our local federal and state agencies are making the message clear, if you commit crime in Flint, arrest and incarceration is in your future,” said Chief Green.
Based upon the charges in the indictment, Maxie faces up to life in prison if convicted. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Michigan State Police and the Flint Police Department, with assistance from special agents of the ATF.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony P. Vance.
Man Admits Robbery that Led to St. Louis County Taxi Driver’s Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri teenager on Wednesday admitted helping to rob a cab driver in Hazelwood in 2022 before he was fatally shot.
Coron Dees, 19, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to a robbery charge. In his plea agreement, he admitted involvement in a series of events that led to the robbery and shooting of Dewight Price, a driver for St. Louis County Cab, on April 24, 2022.
Dees and three co-defendants were at a party in downtown St. Louis before calling a cab from the Shell gas station at 721 North Tucker Boulevard at 5:23 a.m. They used a fake name and address and planned to run away without paying when they were dropped off in St. Louis County. When they learned they would have to pre-pay for the ride, however, they began hatching a plan to pay, then rob, the driver, Dees’ plea says.
During the ride, Price was redirected to Hazelwood Central High School because Dees and the others thought there would be no witnesses there early on a Sunday morning, the plea agreement says. Once they arrived, Dees and another teen pulled out firearms and demanded Price’s money, the plea says. Price handed over his cash, then grabbed a gun he kept in his door and began to get out of the cab. One teen in the backseat opened his door, knocking Price to the ground before another shot Price once in the torso. Price died before police arrived.
Police arrested three of the four teens and found their guns that afternoon, the plea agreement says.
Dees is scheduled to be sentenced July 18. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The three other teens face a robbery charge and a charge of aiding and abetting the commission of a murder, with one also facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact. All three have pleaded not guilty. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dylan Roberts, 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Roberts to 240 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Roberts will be placed on supervised release for 4 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 18, 2021, Roberts distributed cocaine to an individual at a residence in Lincoln. The individual used that substance in his vehicle outside his residence. Shortly thereafter, he lost consciousness. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found the victim lying on the ground outside his home. The victim was transported to the hospital, was administered Narcan to reverse the effects of the overdose, and ultimately survived. Law enforcement seized the remainder of the substance sold by Roberts from the victim’s vehicle. A lab determined that the substance contained cocaine and fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Taskforce.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Michael Dale Bouwens, 69, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Bouwens was sentenced to 84 months in prison and will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After serving his prison sentence, Bouwens will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In May of 2021, law enforcement reviewed a cybertip regarding suspected child pornography. The IP address on the cybertip was traced to a residence in Lincoln belonging to Bouwens.
A search warrant was executed on Bouwens’s residence and he was interviewed by law enforcement. He admitted that he had an interest in child pornography and used his laptop to search for child pornography online. He said he had last downloaded child pornography a couple days prior to the interview. A forensic review of several of the devices seized from Bouwens’s home contained approximately 19,666 files that qualify as child pornography and 262 videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Law Enforcement and Community Leaders Announce One Detroit Partnership to Reduce Violent Crime in the City of DetroitRead the Press Release
DETROIT — Today, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Kym Worthy, Kenyatta Stephens, CEO Black Family Development, Detroit Police Chief James E. White, Alvin Stokes, Citywide President, Detroit Citywide Police Community Relations Council, Heidi E. Washington, Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections and Bishop Edgar Vann, Second Ebenezer Church, announced a community partnership named “One Detroit” designed to reduce violent crime in the City through a multi-faceted program of crime prevention, services for the re-entry of returning citizens, and focused law enforcement.
Joining in the announcement were Kenyatta Stephens, the Chief Executive Officer of Black Family Development, Inc.; Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division; Special Agent in Charge James M. Deir, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division; and Sheryl Jones, Director, Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and Ceasefire Detroit.
One Detroit is the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s comprehensive violence reduction initiative that links evidenced-based strategies with a coalition of stakeholders in the community, government, and law enforcement. The core of the initiative is partnership. By bringing together leaders in government, the community, and law enforcement, and aligning their work, the One Detroit partnership will work to reduce violence through engagement, coordination, and action.
The One Detroit partnership is an effort to reinvigorate and augment the Detroit One initiative by incorporating the lessons we have learned since that effort was announced 10 years ago. One Detroit, like the earlier effort, includes aggressive investigation and prosecution of the relatively small number of individuals responsible for the most violence. But the One Detroit partners recognize that violence must be prevented and not just punished. And so, the One Detroit partners will also develop and foster meaningful community relationships, promote prevention and intervention programs, and emphasize prisoner reentry programs that involve the community.
One Detroit will focus on leveraging the resources, skills, and capacities of the program’s stakeholders to reduce crime and to make our residents and city safer.
A key aspect of this strategy is to boost efforts at crime prevention. The One Detroit prevention effort, which is led by the City of Detroit, along with community leaders such as Bishop Vann and Black Family Development, will seek to reduce crime through blight elimination, community engagement, job training, and collaboration. The partnership includes community members, faith leaders, law enforcement, and representatives from intervention/outreach organizations. Through open dialogue with these partners, we will better understand the underlying causes of violent crime in the community and collaborate to develop comprehensive solutions to address them. The partners will deter violence through open communication about law enforcement strategies with the community and with those most at risk of becoming involved in violence. And the partners will work to provide alternatives to crime to those in neighborhoods most affected by violence.
Importantly, One Detroit will also be focused on providing opportunities and assistance to those citizens who are returning to our community from incarceration. Led by the Michigan Department of Corrections, One Detroit will work to ensure that returning citizens have the employment, job training, and support they need to fully reintegrate into society. Helping those who have served their time return to their families and become contributing members of their communities is one of the most effective means to reduce crime in Detroit and across the Eastern District of Michigan.
The third aspect of One Detroit is an enforcement strategy aimed at the most dangerous offenders in those areas of the city suffering the most from violent crime or that face the prospect of increased crime. The One Detroit partnership will work collaboratively to focus its law enforcement efforts on the relatively few individuals and groups inflicting the most violence, rather than the entire community. It will involve close coordination between federal and local law enforcement to identify emerging violent offenders or trends within particular neighborhoods. The partnership will also draw on the expertise of local officers, who have deep experience in the communities they serve. And it will pair that personalized knowledge with technology like the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN), and evidence-based tools like Gunstat. By implementing this data-driven and intelligence-led approach, law enforcement will be able to focus on the small number of people perpetrating violence.
This strategy is a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN continues to be the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.
“One Detroit seeks to disrupt violence in our neighborhoods by focusing law enforcement resources on the drivers of violent crime, supporting community-based solutions to prevent crime, and ensuring that individuals returning from prison have sufficient supports to take full advantage of their second chances, “stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “We need a more mindful approach to violence reduction that acknowledges that law enforcement cannot be the only solution to keeping our communities safe. Through this partnership we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who refuse to stop the violence, but we also endeavor to empower communities and provide opportunity in order to make our community and residents safer,” continued Ison.
"The most sustainable way to reduce violent crime is to get the people committing it to change their own behavior," said Mayor Duggan. "For some, being provided a pathway to an opportunity after being incarcerated may lead to that change. For others it may be the certainty of being arrested and incarcerated if they reoffend. Effective crime reduction has to be a communitywide effort and I'm grateful to U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for her leadership in forming this partnership between law enforcement agencies and community organizations."
“As a One Detroit partner, Black Family Development, Inc. commits to provide basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), mental health and substance use treatment, mobile health services, a young men of color support network and social-emotional counseling as prevention and re-entry supports to Detroit residents and families impacted, or at-risk of being impacted, by gun violence,” said Kenyatta Stephens stated.
“I have always known and understood that we must work collaboratively with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and faith leaders, if we want to address crime and keep our citizen’s safe. The One Detroit Initiative is important because it is taking an approach which includes intervention programs, as well as prisoner reentry programs to effectively combat crime,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
“It still takes a village,” said Alvin Stokes.
“The Detroit Police Department looks forward to being a part of the One Detroit partnership and will continue to strategically target the dangerous offenders who victimize our community and work to ensure they are held accountable for their actions,” said Detroit Police Chief James E. White. “Combining the hard work of our officers, our data-driven technology-aided approach and this partnership will assist us in our mission to make Detroit a safer place.”
“We are proud to share our expertise and the time and talents of our agents as partners in this type of focused and targeted action on those perpetrating violence in Detroit,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “We are also focused on our efforts to provide reentry resources, education and training so individuals have a way to support themselves and their families, rather than feel the need to resort back to a life of crime so we can create true long-term public safety in this great city.”
“One Detroit is a powerful collaboration of government, the US Attorney’s Office, branches of law enforcement agencies, community activists and stakeholders, and the latest cutting-edge technology. But let this initiative also send a strong message to "heads and hearts" throughout this city and region as this becomes a movement. Think before you act. Inhumanity has consequences. "Stop the violence. Increase the peace,” said Bishop Edgar Vann.
“ATF’s core priority is to protect our communities from violent criminal acts,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir, “We are proud to participate in One Detroit a collaborative crime-abatement initiative between our federal, state, and local partners.”
“Law enforcement and community partners are working together to combat crime in the most violent areas of Detroit,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI contributes to that effort by not only targeting those who commit armed robberies of businesses, along with the leadership of gangs and criminal enterprises, but also by engaging with schools, youth groups, and community groups. By doing so, we are working collaboratively to ensure our neighborhoods are safer places for everyone to live and work.”
“The enforcement aspect of One Detroit is focused on the few bad actors who are causing the most harm, and often these individuals are drug traffickers who use violence and intimidation to broaden their markets. DEA will work with federal, state, and local partners to pursue the worst offenders and make metro-Detroit a safer community,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison After Carrying Out Mail Forwarding and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in a scheme that victimized nearly 400 people by redirecting their mail, stealing the victims’ identities, and using bank accounts in the victims’ names without their consent.
In March 2022, after a two-day trial, Nosa Frank Obayando (31) was found guilty of mail theft, using an unauthorized access device, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) was alerted to a fraudulent mail forwarding scheme. An investigation found that between February 2017 and February 2018, Obayando and a co-defendant worked together to steal mail through a fraudulent forwarding scheme where hundreds of victims from around the country had their mail forwarded without their knowledge or consent to addresses under Obayando and the co-defendant’s control. As part of the scheme, Obayando and the co-defendant checked the mailboxes for fraudulently-forwarded mail, then used the identities in that mail to steal funds from bank accounts.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
If you suspect potential mail fraud or mail theft, you may contact the USPIS by calling 877-876-2455 or by making a report online at https://www.uspis.gov/report.
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Kenner Man Guilty of Stealing Mail by Using a U.S. Postal Service Mail KeyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- ADOLPH KENDRICK, age 27, of Kenner, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2023 to Unlawful Possession and Use of a United States Postal Service (USPS) “arrow” key used by USPS employees to access authorized mail receptacles in violation of Tile 18, United States Code, Section 1704 and Theft of United States Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708 announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, on November 14 and 15, 2022, KENDRICK stole mail from the Citrus Post Office in New Orleans, Louisiana. On November 15, 2022, was observed stealing mail and was caught after a brief police chase near Williams Boulevard. KENDRICK was also found in possession of a United States Postal Service “arrow” key used to access postal collection boxes.
If convicted, KENDRICK faces a maximum penalty of up to five (5) years imprisonment on the two counts of stealing mail, and up to ten (10) years imprisonment on the count of unlawful possession of the United States Postal Service mail key, to be followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, as to each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.
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Justice Department Hosts Forum in Newark, New Jersey to Highlight Nationwide Effort to Combat Modern-Day RedliningRead the Press Release
The Justice Department hosted a forum in Newark, New Jersey, to discuss efforts to combat modern-day redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in certain communities because of the race, color or national origin of the residents of those communities.
The forum, which commemorated Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, featured Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who each spoke at today’s program about their respective agencies’ response to the pernicious problem of residential redlining. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also provided opening remarks at the event, which was hosted at Seton Hall Law School.
“We must use every tool available to us to confront modern-day redlining and to hold banks and financial institutions accountable when they fail to provide communities of color equal access to lending opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Since the launch of the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, we have secured nearly $85 million dollars in relief for communities that have suffered from lending discrimination. Redlining, appraisal discrimination, so-called crime-free ordinances and racial steering stand as continued threats to fair housing and economic opportunity in our country – we are committed to eradicating these unlawful practices that have caused harm to communities of color for far too long.”
“Redlining is not a relic of the past. It exists in new forms, including in the physical and digital worlds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When it comes to modern-day redlining, the CFPB is prioritizing efforts with federal and state prosecutors to uncover illegal digital redlining by algorithms and artificial intelligence, reverse redlining through predatory targeting, and harmful discrimination by nonbanks.”
“Part of the promise of America is equal opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Sellinger. “Achieving that dream should be color blind – whether you get a home loan should not depend on the color of your skin or national origin. Redlining is racist, pure and simple. This type of systemic and intentional discrimination cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”
“Access to quality and safe housing is a right that should be enjoyed by all,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “As we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, we still have work to do to ensure that no one is denied that right due to the color of their skin or national origin. New Jersey’s strong housing laws and our federal fair lending laws send the message that we will not tolerate discriminatory practices in housing access, and, as a nation, we must ensure that those laws are enforced.”
“Redlining has been historically pervasive and deliberate in this country, and cities like Newark have been at the front end of the abuse. While redlining is illegal, we know that this ugly form of racism is still widely practiced,” said Mayor Baraka. “To deny people, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Newark, mortgage-lending services, based strictly on their race, robs and makes the American dream of homeownership unattainable. It impedes families from building generational wealth and widens the racial wealth gap. We must hold lenders accountable for their illegal and racist policies and behaviors and take deliberate action to reverse the effects of redlining and stop it.”
The forum also featured Seton Hall Law professors as well as civil rights stakeholders in New Jersey, who provided their invaluable perspectives on the effects of redlining on communities of color in New Jersey, and the vital role that community engagement can play in combating redlining. In connection with the event, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also released a fact sheet highlighting the successes of the Combating Redlining Initiative.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. The initiative has expanded the department’s reach by strengthening partnerships with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, regulatory partners and its partners in state Attorneys General offices. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced six redlining cases and settlements and nearly $85 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country, including a $31 million settlement with City National Bank, the largest redlining settlement in department history. The settlements also include two agreements with Trident Mortgage Company, for $20.4 million, and the Lakeland Bank, for $13.4 million. These two settlements provide tens of millions of dollars to increase credit opportunities for residents of communities of color in and around Camden and Newark, New Jersey.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at Fair Lending Program. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report civil rights violations through www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.
Justice Department Hosts Forum in Newark to Highlight Nationwide Effort to Combat Modern-Day RedliningRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department hosted a forum in Newark, New Jersey, to discuss efforts to combat modern-day redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in certain communities because of the race, color or national origin of the residents of those communities.
The forum, which commemorated Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, featured Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who each spoke at today’s program about their respective agencies’ response to the pernicious problem of residential redlining. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also provided opening remarks at the event, which was hosted at Seton Hall Law School.
“Part of the promise of America is equal opportunity,” U.S Attorney Sellinger said. “Achieving that dream should be color blind – whether you get a home loan should not depend on the color of your skin or national origin. Redlining is racist, pure and simple. This type of systemic and intentional discrimination cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”
“We must use every tool available to us to confront modern-day redlining and to hold banks and financial institutions accountable when they fail to provide communities of color equal access to lending opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Since the launch of the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, we have secured nearly $85 million dollars in relief for communities that have suffered from lending discrimination. Redlining, appraisal discrimination, so-called crime-free ordinances and racial steering stand as continued threats to fair housing and economic opportunity in our country – we are committed to eradicating these unlawful practices that have caused harm to communities of color for far too long.”
“Redlining is not a relic of the past. It exists in new forms, including in the physical and digital worlds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When it comes to modern-day redlining, the CFPB is prioritizing efforts with federal and state prosecutors to uncover illegal digital redlining by algorithms and artificial intelligence, reverse redlining through predatory targeting, and harmful discrimination by nonbanks.”
“Access to quality and safe housing is a right that should be enjoyed by all,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “As we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, we still have work to do to ensure that no one is denied that right due to the color of their skin or national origin. New Jersey’s strong housing laws and our federal fair lending laws send the message that we will not tolerate discriminatory practices in housing access, and, as a nation, we must ensure that those laws are enforced.”
“Redlining has been historically pervasive and deliberate in this country, and cities like Newark have been at the front end of the abuse. While redlining is illegal, we know that this ugly form of racism is still widely practiced,” said Mayor Baraka. “To deny people, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Newark, mortgage-lending services, based strictly on their race, robs and makes the American dream of homeownership unattainable. It impedes families from building generational wealth and widens the racial wealth gap. We must hold lenders accountable for their illegal and racist policies and behaviors and take deliberate action to reverse the effects of redlining and stop it.”
The forum also featured Seton Hall Law professors as well as civil rights stakeholders in New Jersey, who provided their invaluable perspectives on the effects of redlining on communities of color in New Jersey, and the vital role that community engagement can play in combatting redlining. In connection with the event, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also released a fact sheet highlighting the successes of the Combatting Redlining Initiative.
In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland launched the Justice Department’s Combatting Redlining Initiative, a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. The initiative has expanded the department’s reach by strengthening partnerships with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, regulatory partners and its partners in state Attorneys General offices. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced six redlining cases and settlements and nearly $85 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country, including a $31 million settlement with City National Bank, the largest redlining settlement in department history. The settlements also include two agreements with Trident Mortgage Company, for $20.4 million, and the Lakeland Bank, for $13.4 million. These two settlements provide tens of millions of dollars to increase credit opportunities for residents of communities of color in and around Camden and Newark, New Jersey.
Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at Fair Lending Program. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report civil rights violations through www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.
Jacksonville Convicted Felon Guilty of Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Thelonious Wayne Kirby (51, Jacksonville) has been found guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, following a bench trial. Kirby faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Kirby is currently in state custody and appeared in federal court on a writ. He is currently serving a state prison sentence for unrelated charges.
According to court documents, on October 28, 2020, Kirby sold a .38 caliber revolver to an undercover officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Kirby had eight prior felony convictions and therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is
handling the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition.
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.
Hanford Site Subcontractor and Its Tennessee Owner Indicted by Grand Jury for Stealing More than $1.4 Million in COVID-19 Relief FundingRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging Hanford Site Subcontractor BNL Technical Services, LLC (BNL) and its owner, Wilson Pershing Stevenson III, age 44, of Nashville, Tennessee, with eleven counts of fraudulently obtaining more than $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funding intended for struggling businesses. The charges in the Indictment are the most recent announced by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, which was created in 2022 to combat fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed loans to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington.
“COVID-19 relief programs quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, which meant that some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We created the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our community in Eastern Washington that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud. The Strike Force is one way to ensure that limited resources are provided to deserving local businesses that provide vital services for our communities.”
In February 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others. Cases investigated and prosecuted by the Strike Force have resulted in numerous indictments, convictions, and civil penalties, and have returned millions of dollars in fraudulently-obtained funds to the public.
Between 2020 and 2021, BNL provided contract labor services to Hanford Site prime contractors. As alleged in the Indictment, BNL’s labor costs and payroll continued to be paid by DOE throughout the pandemic, including when BNL employees were not able to physically work at the site and instead were teleworking or simply home in “ready” status. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III, on behalf of BNL, nonetheless fraudulently sought and obtained more than $1.3 million in PPP funding for these employees despite their pay and benefits already being covered by DOE contract funds and other federal sources. The Indictment further alleges that Stevenson III transferred nearly all of the fraudulently-obtained CARES Act funding to himself and his family, including to a family trust, to pay off personal debts, and to personal accounts for himself and his wife. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III then fraudulently and improperly sought and obtained forgiveness for more than $1.3 million in PPP funds by falsely representing that they had been used for payroll and other eligible business expenses.
The fraud charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, Richland Field Office, the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Dan Fruchter are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States v. Wilson Pershing Stevenson III et al., Case No: 4:23-cr-06014-MKD
Greensboro, N.C. Clinic Owner Indicted for $4.7 Million Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The owner of a Greensboro, N.C. area clinic has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a health care fraud scheme that defrauded the North Carolina Medicaid Program (Medicaid) of more than $4.7 million, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The 10-count indictment charges Aljihad Shabazz, 44, of Kernersville, N.C., with health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Division (MID), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
The federal indictment alleges that Shabazz owned and operated Reign & Inspirations, LLC (R&I), a clinic that purportedly provided outpatient behavioral services in Greensboro and surrounding areas. According to allegations contained in the indictment, between 2017 and 2020, Shabazz allegedly conspired with other individuals to carry out an extensive health care fraud scheme involving the fraudulent submissions of fake reimbursement claims to Medicaid, for services that were never provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. Shabazz allegedly obtained the personal identifying information (PII) of Medicaid beneficiaries through community outreach programs, including football and mentoring programs, and misused the beneficiaries’ PII to create and submit hundreds of fraudulent reimbursement claims and to receive payment for services that were never in fact provided by R&I. During the relevant time period, Shabazz and his co-conspirators allegedly used the beneficiaries’ PII to submit more than 1,500 fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicaid, some of which claimed that R&I provided services that exceeded 24 hours in a single day.
The indictment also alleges that the reimbursement payments made by Medicaid were deposited in bank accounts under Shabazz’s control. Shabazz used a portion of the fraudulent proceeds to pay kickbacks to his co-conspirators and to cover personal expenses, including to pay for personal travel, luxury items, and timeshares, and to make cash withdrawals, among other things.
“Health care fraud hurts individuals who rely on government-funded programs to cover legitimate patient care needs. Working with our law enforcement partners we will investigate and hold accountable health care fraud cheats and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney King.
“This desire for money, along with the power and material items it buys, allegedly drove the defendant to perpetrate crimes against our healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. “Thanks to the financial expertise and diligence of IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to uncover these schemes and pursue individuals who allegedly operate counter to laws protecting the federal healthcare programs.”
"This health care provider allegedly used people's personal data to steal millions in Medicaid dollars, said Attorney General Stein. "I want to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI for working with our Medicaid Investigations Division to hold accountable providers who cheat taxpayers."
A summons has been issued and Shabazz will appear in federal court for his initial appearance. The health care fraud conspiracy and health care fraud offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count. The money laundering conspiracy and money laundering offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count.
The charges against Shabazz are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and the North Carolina Medicaid Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassye Cole and Mike Savage and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jermaine Sellers with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Former Venezuelan National Treasurer and Her Husband Sentenced in Money Laundering and International Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
The former National Treasurer of Venezuela and her husband were each sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme.
According to court documents, Claudia Patricia Díaz Guillen, 49, and her husband, Adrian José Velásquez, 43, accepted and laundered over $136 million in bribes from co-conspirator Raúl Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan billionaire businessman who owned Globovision news network. Gorrin allegedly paid bribes to Díaz, including through Velásquez, to obtain access to purchase bonds from the Venezuela National Treasury at a favorable exchange rate, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of profit. The conspiracy involved bulk cash hidden in cardboard boxes, offshore shell companies, Swiss bank accounts, and international wire transfers allegedly sent by Gorrin for Díaz and Velásquez’s benefit, including to purchase multiple private jets and yachts, and to fund a high-end fashion line started by Díaz and Velásquez in South Florida.
“As a result of the Department of Justice’s relentless efforts, the defendants will serve lengthy prison terms for their roles in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme in which Díaz abused her role as the Venezuelan National Treasurer,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this prosecution demonstrates, the Criminal Division never wavers in its determination to hold accountable corrupt officials who subvert the rule of law and use our financial system to launder money related to their illicit schemes.”
“The sentences imposed against former Venezuelan National Treasurer Díaz and her husband send a clear message: The United States will not tolerate its financial systems being used as personal money laundering tools by corrupt foreign officials,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
“The significant sentencings and judgments imposed today against Díaz and Velásquez Figueroa demonstrate that individuals who use their positions of trust to launder illicitly obtained funds through the U.S. financial systems will be held accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office. “HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force South will continue to work with our global partners to pursue those individuals and organizations who are involved in these multibillion-dollar conspiracies and money laundering schemes.”
Díaz and Velásquez were each convicted after trial in December 2022 of money laundering offenses. Gorrin was first charged by indictment in August 2018 and remains charged in the superseding indictment as a co-conspirator in the same money laundering scheme. He is currently a fugitive residing in Venezuela.
HSI Miami, FBI Miami, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The department appreciates the significant cooperation provided by authorities in Spain and Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice.
Trial Attorneys Paul Hayden and Michael Culhane Harper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Lunkenheimer and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former Private School Teacher and Private Tutor Sentenced to 25 Years for His Enticement of A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOHN MUESER was sentenced to 25 years in prison by United States District Judge Vincent Briccetti for his enticement of a seven-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity and his possession of child pornography. The sentencing today followed MUESER’s guilty plea on January 10, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “To the world, John Mueser presented himself as a dedicated teacher. But in reality, Mueser exploited the trust placed in him as an educator in order to gain access to the victim’s home and to carry out his sickening abuse. As today’s sentencing underscores, we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who exploit children.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
On May 1, 2019, JOHN MUESER, a private school teacher and a private tutor at the time, induced a 7-year-old minor (“Victim-1”), whom he was tutoring, to engage in sexually explicit conduct and used his iPhone to record the activity.
MUESER’s iPhone was found to contain hundreds of images, many of which were sexually explicit, of Victim-1.
In addition to the numerous images of Victim-1 found on MUESER’s phone, MUESER’s phone was also found to contain numerous sexually explicit images and videos of other prepubescent children.
Years before his abuse of Victim-1, MUESER sexually abused two other children. With respect to both of those victims, the abuse continued for years.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Briccetti underscored that the defendant’s criminal conduct was “truly reprehensible,” asking “Is there anything more evil than sexually abusing small children for your own sexual gratification?” Judge Briccetti recognized that the defendant’s “abuse of these children spanned decades.” He said that the sentence he imposed “might amount to a life sentence,” and “that does not trouble me at all.”
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In addition to the prison sentence, MUESER, 72, of Tuckahoe, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenwich Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.
Former High School and Youth Football Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Former high school and youth football coach, Moshe Michael Imel, age 53, of Owings, Maryland, pleaded guilty late yesterday in U.S. District Court to two counts of production of child pornography involving two minor victims. As part of his plea agreement to the federal charges, Imel also agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of minors in three cases in the Circuit Court for Calvert County, which is scheduled for May 2, 2023. Imel remains detained.
The guilty plea 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); Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey.
According to his plea agreement, between July 2018 and November 2020, Imel was an assistant football coach at a Calvert County High School. In March 2021, law enforcement interviewed two victims who reported that beginning when Imel coached the individuals in a youth football program and continuing through high school, Imel groomed and then sexually abused the victims. Specifically, Imel admitted that he directed each victim to expose and touch himself in a sexual way and ultimately engaged in sexual contact with the victims on numerous occasions. Imel also created sexually explicit videos of the victims documenting his abuse.
A search warrant was executed at Imel’s home and confirmed that the basement—including the action figures lining the walls, the computer setup, the cameras, sex toys and other paraphernalia—was as the victims had described it to law enforcement. A review of fourteen electronic devices seized at Imel’s residence revealed that they all contained child pornography or evidence of Imel’s sexual contact with minors.
Imel and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Imel will be sentenced to between 25 and 40 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. As detailed in the plea agreement, Imel will be sentenced for the state case after his federal sentencing. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
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 the HSI, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the federal case and recognized Rebecca N. Cordero, who is prosecuting Imel’s case in State court.
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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Former Employee Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Molotov Cocktail Attack on St. Charles RestaurantRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A disgruntled former employee of a St. Charles, Missouri restaurant who attacked it with Molotov cocktails was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.
On the evening of April 30, 2021, Rashaad Cotton, 25, of St. Louis County, first threw a Molotov cocktail on a residential street in a suburban area in St. Charles. Twenty minutes later, he threw another on the northeast side of the Sauce on the Side restaurant on Beale Street and one near the front door. A juvenile female with Cotton threw a Molotov cocktail at a patio area. The restaurant was open and serving customers. The pair then ran back to Cotton’s vehicle and fled, but were arrested after they crashed.
Cotton told police that he had been fired from the restaurant the night before and wanted to scare people.
Cotton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to a felony charge of attempting to commit arson.
Cotton also has pending charges in St. Charles County Circuit Court related to the attack.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is prosecuting the case.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction for Assaulting Three Incarcerated People with a Riot-Baton and Falsifying a ReportRead the Press Release
A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts of the indictment against a former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) sergeant for assaulting three incarcerated persons with a riot-baton and then writing a false report to cover up the beating.
In April 2022, a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned a four-count indictment against Lorenzo Mills, 55, that included three civil rights charges and a charge for writing a false report. Evidence presented at trial proved that on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a correctional sergeant with ADOC, subjected three incarcerated persons to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden riot-baton. According to trial evidence and testimony, one victim suffered a broken arm, and two others suffered injury, including pain and bruising, as a result of the beating. After the unlawful use of force, the defendant authored a use of force report wherein he denied using any force against the victims.
“This verdict shows that our community members agree that no person is above the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Constitution protects the rights of all people, including those in our jails and prisons. We will continue to prosecute correctional officers who abuse their power and use our federal civil rights laws to protect the rights of those detained inside our jails and prisons.”
“Correctional officers have an important and difficult job,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “These officers are tasked with maintaining good order and safety in our prisons, while protecting the constitutional rights of the inmates they supervise. Although most correctional officers serve honorably, my office will work tirelessly to ensure rogue officers are held accountable.”
“An individual's rights do not end after being convicted of a crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the Mobile Field Office. “The FBI takes any violation of civil rights seriously, especially allegations against those sworn to protect and uphold the law. The few who tarnish the badge and illegally use their official capacity will be caught and tried like any other criminal.”
Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Brown made the announcement.
The FBI Mobile Field Office and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney David Reese of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Federal Indictment Charges Duo with Mail Theft and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment charging Tressa Nichole Baucom, 30, of Charlotte, and Jennings Peter Keziah, also known as Christian Thomas Carpenter, 35, of Stanley, N.C., with mail theft and wire fraud, for stealing thousands of pieces of mail in North Carolina and South Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, from October to December 2021, Baucom and Keziah executed a mail theft scheme that targeted residential mailboxes in Charlotte and Gastonia, N.C., and York County, S.C. Over the course of the scheme, Baucom and Keziah allegedly stole more than 3,700 pieces of mail, including credit cards, checks, gift cards, driver’s licenses, bank statements and a passport. The indictment alleges that Baucom and Keziah used the stolen credit cards for personal expenditures, including to make purchases at Walmart, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Quick Trip, and Best Buy. The indictment further alleges that Baucom and Keziah also possessed a stolen United States Postal Service key.
Baucom and Keziah are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail and three counts of possession of stolen mail, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count, and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The charges against Baucom and Keziah are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King commended the USPIS for its investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
Fairbanks Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Drug Distribution and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS - On April 14, 2023, Senior District Judge Ralph R. Beistline of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska sentenced Jason Benjamin O’Bryan, 30, of Fairbanks, Alaska, to 121 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to distribute 897 grams of methamphetamine and possession of nine firearms.
On March 9, 2021, agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received a suspicious package. USPIS obtained a search warrant for the package and seized 897 grams of methamphetamine. On March 11, 2021, USPIS replaced the 897 grams of methamphetamine with a representative sample and “sham” drugs and performed a controlled delivery. Law enforcement observed Jason O’Bryan retrieved the package and take it inside his residence. An hour later, surveillance observed O’Bryan leave the residence in his truck; law enforcement initiated a traffic stop and searched the vehicle where they found 50 grams of methamphetamine, 1 gram of heroin, and multiple fentanyl patches and pills. A subsequent search of O’Bryan’s residence resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine, heroin, and nine firearms. O’Bryan later confessed that he sold methamphetamine in Fairbanks and intended to distribute the 897 grams. O’Bryan, having a prior felony conviction, also admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess the nine firearms.
O’Bryan previously pled guilty to attempted possession and distribution of the 897 grams of methamphetamine and felon in possession of multiple firearms.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), North Slope Borough Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department (FPD), North Pole Police Department (NPD), and Alaska State Troopers (AST) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey and Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
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FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force Seizes a Large Quantity of Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills in Spokane Valley, WashingtonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of multiple local law enforcement partners, executed several federal search warrants at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 30, 2023. As a result of the execution of these search warrants, the Task Force seized approximately 24.7 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills (approx. 83,000 pills), 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 pound of cocaine, as well as 2 firearms, and over $13,000 in US Currency. Two individuals, Jordy Deboer and Matthew Sailors (a.k.a. Rabbit) were also arrested and have been federally indicted.
Prior to this incident, Deboer was previously arrested and federally indicted for allegedly trafficking in large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills from the Tri-Cities, Washington area to the Spokane, Washington area. After his indictment, Deboer was released from federal custody to attend inpatient drug treatment.
According to information provided in court documents and proceedings, a short time after Deboer’s release from custody, the Safe Streets Task Force received information he had re-engaged in drug trafficking activities, this time with Sailors. Deboer and Sailors were located at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley engaging in apparent drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement acted quickly, obtaining multiple federal search warrants that resulted in the large seizure of controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the joint efforts of law enforcement, which acted quickly to remove dangerous controlled substances from our community. “Illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, continue to harm our communities. I’m grateful for the FBI Safe Streets Task Force’s strong partnership with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure and removal of dangerous narcotics –including over 24 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills – from the streets of Spokane.”
This ongoing case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of agents of the FBI and United States Border Patrol, as well as detectives for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Valley Police Department, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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2:23-CR-41-TOREight Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Possessing Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Niko Wimbley (30, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wimbley had pleaded guilty on January 12, 2023.
According to court documents, on December 26, 2021, Wimbley was driving a stolen sedan with another convicted felon as his passenger. Both men were armed with fully loaded, semi-automatic pistols. Wimbley and his passenger were arrested that night during a traffic stop in the Rivergrove neighborhood of Tampa, near the intersection of East Sligh Avenue and Rowlett Park Drive. The officers had followed the stolen vehicle until Wimbley and the passenger exited the car. When ordered to stop, both men fled on foot, leaving behind their loaded semi-automatic pistols in the stolen vehicle. During a search of the stolen car, the officers recovered a loaded black SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol on the driver’s seat, and a loaded black Springfield XDS (HS Produkt) .45 caliber pistol in the passenger side footwell. Wimbley’s DNA was found on the SCCY CPX-1 pistol. Wimbley agreed to forfeit the pistol and ammunition, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
East Providence Businesswoman Charged with Visa Fraud, Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – An East Providence businesswoman who allegedly arranged for eight Columbian Vallenato musicians to obtain work visas to enter the United States, purportedly to work in the performing arts industry, has been charged in federal court with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
It is alleged in documents filed with the court that Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, operator of Tu Voz Es Musica (“TVEM”), a music talent school she operates out of her residence, created and provided false itinerary information on work visa applications submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of each of the musicians. Included with each application were contracts on TVEM letterhead that described agreements TVEM had with venues in seven states, including Rhode Island, where the Vallenato musicians were scheduled to perform.
According to information presented to the court, a review by Homeland Security Investigations of the contracts submitted with the visa applications to USCIS revealed discrepancies, including, for example, similar looking signatures on six contracts with five different venues. It is alleged that venue managers/owners whose names and signatures appear on the contracts did not authorize nor endorse the information; and that venue operators confirmed that the Vallenato musicians had not performed nor were scheduled to perform at their respective venues.
As further alleged in court documents, this matter came to the attention of federal authorities when an East Providence resident provided information that Caicedo Grandos restricted the movements of the Columbian musicians, forced them to sleep on the floor of an apartment from which they have since been evicted, attempted to confiscate their passports, and threatened them with immigration consequences.
Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond on Tuesday and was released on unsecured bond.
Work visas issued to eight Vallenato musicians have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
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Duquesne Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Escape from Renewal Reentry CenterRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release on his conviction of escape from custody, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Keenan Williams, age 25.
According to information presented to the court, on Sept. 26, 2022, the defendant escaped from the Renewal, Inc. Residential Reentry Center, where he had been confined pursuant to a judgment and commitment order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Williams was arrested by the Monroeville Police Department on Oct. 4, 2022.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Marshals Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.
Des Moines, Washington, woman sentenced to 30 months in prison for bank fraud and identity theft schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 49-year-old Des Moines, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jennifer Suazo, aka Jennifer Esperanza, was arrested in August 2022 after fleeing from law enforcement at an earlier encounter. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “… identity theft is something that everyone lives in fear of …. Having one’s identity stolen steals that person’s sense of confidence, faith, and security too ….”
According to records filed in the case, Suazo purchased victims’ identifying information from various sources, including the dark web, which she then used to open accounts at financial institutions in the victims’ names and to take over victims’ existing bank accounts. To carry out this fraud, Suazo created identification documents in victims’ names but with her photograph on the ID. Suazo also changed the mailing addresses for the accounts created or taken over so that she would receive all communications about the accounts and thereby hide her fraud and theft from the victims. Suazo also deposited victims’ checks into her personal bank account. Between 2019 and 2022, Suazo defrauded individual victims and financial institutions of at least $107,472.
When law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at her home, they discovered notebooks with the personal information of some 316 victims.
Suazo pleaded guilty in January 2023.
Due to her history of drug addiction, Judge Lin recommended Suazo participate in the Bureau of Prisons’ intensive Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).
In sentencing materials, Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly noted the harm posed by identity theft, writing, “… the ramifications of her actions were wide-reaching: Suazo not only drained state and federal law enforcement resources to identify victims and trace the fraudulent transactions, but also caused victims ongoing anxiety about the security of their accounts and credit after their information was compromised.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for April 22, 2023Read the Press Release
BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana, including a DEA site in Billings. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.
“We can all do something to help stop the epidemic of overdose deaths and addictions plaguing Montana by getting rid of expired or unused prescription drugs in our homes. Dropping off these drugs at DEA Take Back Day collection sites across the state is a convenient way to keep loved ones, friends, and our communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
“Opiate overdoses are occurring throughout the United States, and Montana is no different. But we can all pitch in to help stop this epidemic,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain. “I encourage everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and nightstands of expired or unneeded prescription medicine, especially opioids, and to bring them to DEA’s designated Take Back locations. Together, we can make a difference.”
The DEA will have a drop off location in Billings at the Billings Fire Station #5, 605 S. 24th Street W.
More than 28 sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
During the last Take Back Day held on Oct. 29, 2022, 4,340 law enforcement participants at 4,902 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 647,163 pounds, or 324 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 16.6 million pounds, or more than 8,318 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.
During the October 2022 event, Montanans turned in 1,450 pounds of prescription drugs at 27 collection sites. Thirty law enforcement agencies participated.
In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on April 22, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 22 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
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