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17 May 2023
Colchester Woman Sentenced in Federal Court to 20 Months Imprisonment for Robbery of Church Street Store in BurlingtonRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that yesterday Sabrina Kingsbury, 41, most recently of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss. Judge Reiss also sentenced Kingsbury to three years supervised release, which follows her prison sentence.
Kingsbury previously pleaded guilty to an offense under the Hobbs Act with obstructing commerce by robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. In recommending a sentence of 24 months or less, the government cited Kingsbury’s significant progress in addressing her substance abuse and mental health issues through treatment.
According to court records on April 18, 2022, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Kingsbury entered the Black Diamond store at 17 Church Street and gathered about $1,200 worth of merchandise. Kingsbury then attempted to leave the store without paying for these items. After store employees confronted her, she threatened to stab one of them with a knife. Soon after, officers from the Burlington Police Department arrested Kingsbury with the merchandise near the bus stop located at St. Paul and Pearl Streets. At the time of her arrest, Kingsbury possessed a Gerber Leatherman knife.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Burlington Police Department investigated this case. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Steven Barth, Esq. of the Office of the Federal Public Defender represented Kingsbury.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime https://www.justice.gov/psn .
Cincinnati man sentenced to 13 years in prison for fentanyl crime, violating supervised releaseRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Michael Anderson, 48, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 156 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it. He was also on supervised release in another federal case.
According to court documents, on Nov. 1, 2021, Anderson possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and maintained his apartment as a place to manufacture, store and distribute drugs.
Hamilton County Heroin Task Force officers were investigating the overdose deaths of Anderson’s significant other and the baby she was carrying. They discovered a kitchen blender, hand press, scale and multiple bags of controlled substances. Investigators identified Anderson’s DNA on the packages that included fentanyl, heroin and xylazine.
Anderson had been sentenced in July 2017 to five years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. His current offense violated his supervised release.
This case was prosecuted as part of the DEA’s Operation Overdrive, a data-driven, intelligence-led approach to combatting overdose deaths and drug-related violent crime. Cincinnati and Dayton were included in the 34 cities selected in Phase 1 of the operation.
“I commend the dedicated work across federal, state and local law enforcement to identify and investigate cases through Operation Overdrive, and my office’s attorneys who prosecute such cases,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker
U.S. Attorney Parker; Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge; Amberley Village Police Chief Richard L. Wallace and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the sentence imposed on May 16 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon is representing the United States in this case.
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Chantilly Man Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Chantilly man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, in May 2020, Francisco Burgos, Jr., 38, began chatting with an individual located in Australia about their sexual interest in children over a messaging and chat app. Burgos sent the individual a video depicting child sexual abuse material in exchange for two such videos from the individual, who was actively recording the sexual abuse of his own children. In September 2022, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) personnel searched Burgos’s hotel room and seized two cell phones containing child sexual abuse material that Burgos had shared using the WhatsApp application. Ultimately, law enforcement found 18 videos and 31 images of child sexual abuse material on the defendant’s phones.
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., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers 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.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-236.
Career Criminal Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Violent, Armed Robbery of Indianapolis Car DealershipRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jeffrey Fleshood, 44, of Franklin, Indiana was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Felon in Possession of a Firearm as an Armed Career Criminal.
According to court documents, on October 12, 2021, Jeffrey Fleshood attempted to rob a car dealership located on Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Around 12:30 pm that afternoon, Fleshood called the business to inquire about a truck that had been advertised for sale. Fleshood confirmed that he would come by the dealership at some point to buy the truck.
At 3:23 p.m. that same day, Fleshood entered the dealership. Fleshood spoke to Victim 1, who was working at the dealership that day, and told him that he wanted to see the truck. Fleshood then brandished a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, pointed it at Victim 1, and ordered him to get on his knees and put his hands in the air. Fleshood held the muzzle of the pistol against Victim 1’s back and attempted to bind his hands with zip-ties. Victim 1 fought back and wrestled the gun from Fleshood. During the struggle, Fleshood struck Victim 1 multiple times with his fists and the pistol. Victim 1 suffered multiple cuts, bruises, and a broken tooth because of the fight.
Victim 1 managed to get the gun away from Fleshood and call 911. Fleshood fled the scene of the robbery and was quickly arrested by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers at the intersection of Southeastern and Arsenal avenues. During the investigation, officers located zip-ties on Fleshood’s person and scattered in the street.
At the time of his arrest, Fleshood had been previously convicted of six felonies, including residential entry, three separate burglary charges, resisting law enforcement, and possession of methamphetamine. These felony convictions prohibit Fleshood from possessing a firearm under federal law.
“Every person deserves to feel safe where they live and work. This defendant terrorized and violently robbed an innocent man at his place of employment,’ said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Zachary A. Myers. “His violent, senseless crimes have no place in our communities, and we are safer with him behind federal prison bars. I am grateful to the FBI and IMPD for ensuring that he is held accountable for his actions.
“This sentence clearly demonstrates the impact and importance of the ongoing collaboration between the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This defendant failed to learn from multiple previous felony convictions and instead chose to continue committing acts of violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring residents feel safe in their homes, places of work and the community.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by IMPD. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Fleshood be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Massa, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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California Child Rapist Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender After Moving to IndianaRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- David Day, 54, of Alexandria, Indiana has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to failure to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on April 6, 1992, Day was convicted in the state of California of Rape by Force of a Minor Under 14 Years of Age. Day was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment and was released on parole on May 19, 2011. He was later sent back to prison and released in March of 2015. As a result of his conviction for raping a child under 14 by force, Day was required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Day registered as a sex offender in California on March 14, 2015, where he signed a notice acknowledging “If I move outside California, I am required by federal law to register in the new state within three (3) working days.” Day renewed his registration 11 times while living in California, each time acknowledging the requirement to register in a new state within three working days should he move outside the state. In or around October 2019, Day travelled from California to Alexandria, Indiana. Day lived in Alexandria, Indiana from October 2019 until July 27, 2021, without re-registering as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers and Dan McClain, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana made the announcement.
“Sex offender registries exist to help protect our communities from violent child rapists like this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “This prosecution and sentence should put every sex offender who is required to register on notice—failure to comply with federal registration requirements may result in a serious prison sentence. I commend the Marshals Service for their continuing efforts to keep our children safe.”
The United States Marshals Services investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Day be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison. Day must also register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Massa, who prosecuted this case.
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Browning man sentenced to prison for strangling woman on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to strangling a woman in the Browning area on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 27 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Brandon Thomas Weatherwax, 32, pleaded guilty in January to strangulation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in October 2022, Weatherwax was at home with the victim, Jane Doe. Weatherwax repeatedly assaulted Jane Doe, including strangling her until she became unconscious.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah A. Paisley and Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Bloods Gang Member Convicted of Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today’s conviction in federal court of SIR MURRAY for witness tampering and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. MURRAY threatened, intimidated, and offered bribes to a sex trafficking victim for the purpose of inducing her to recant testimony she gave in a prior trial against a sex trafficker. The jury convicted MURRAY today following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Sir Murray’s conviction sends a clear message to the public that efforts to corrupt the criminal justice system will not be tolerated. Those who threaten, intimidate, or try to bribe witnesses will be held accountable, and those who engage in such efforts should be on notice that they will be brought to justice.”
According to the Indictment, documents filed previously in the case, and the evidence admitted at trial:
In fall 2021, MURRAY agreed with Justin Rivera, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking following a trial in the Southern District of New York in June 2021, to tamper with a victim (“Victim-1”) who testified at Rivera’s trial. MURRAY offered Victim-1 bribes, intimidated her, and threatened her for the purpose of persuading her to recant her testimony. In executing the plan, MURRAY directly contacted Rivera, who was in custody, exclusively through a contraband cellphone that Rivera maintained where he was in custody.
MURRAY and Rivera are both members of the Bloods street gang, and in his communications with Victim-1, MURRAY offered Victim-1 payment from “every Blood in [Long Island]” in exchange for Victim-1 recanting her testimony. MURRAY also sent Victim-1 multiple written messages containing veiled threats stating that MURRAY had done an “investigation” of Victim-1, knew where she lived, and knew that Victim-1 had a “beautiful son.”
MURRAY’s co-conspirator, Rivera, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking following a trial in June 2021 before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. In October 2022, Judge Engelmayer sentenced Rivera to a prison term of 21 years. Having considered much of the same evidence presented to the jury at MURRAY’s trial, Judge Engelmayer stated at Rivera’s sentencing that “the facts . . . set out a blatant instance of post-trial witness tampering” that “was transparently aimed at subverting a justly returned conviction.”
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MURRAY, 31, of Suffolk County, New York, was convicted of one count of witness tampering in connection with a criminal case and one count of conspiring to do the same. The maximum sentence on both counts is life in prison.
The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. MURRAY is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18, 2023.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Suffolk County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Burnett, Lisa Daniels, and Daniel H. Wolf are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Maria Gatica.
Billings man admits to possessing child pornography on cellphone in undercover operationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to a child pornography crime after he and another individual were arrested in an undercover investigation when they arrived at a park to meet a fictitious teenage boy, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jeffrey Mayes Wilkerson, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Wilkerson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. If the court accepts the plea agreement reached in the case, Wilkerson will serve no less than 51 months of imprisonment. The court set sentencing for Sept. 14. Wilkerson was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on July 14, 2022, law enforcement conducted an undercover investigation in Billings in which investigators assumed the identity of a 13-year-old boy on a social media site. The undercover profile was contacted the same day by co-defendant, Kyle Ray Schwindt. Communications between the undercover and Schwindt were later connected to Wilkerson. The communications led to setting up a meeting in a park on July 15, 2022. Law enforcement arrested Schwindt and Wilkerson when they arrived at the park. Investigators served a search warrant on Wilkerson’s cellphone and found multiple videos of child pornography and a text exchange with Schwindt relating to the fictitious 13-year-old. The videos contained images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Schwindt was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison for his conviction in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake are prosecuting the case. The FBI and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Artist who falsely claimed Native American heritage sentenced for violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts ActRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 67-year-old Western Washington artist was sentenced today to 18 months of federal probation for violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) by representing himself as a Native American artist, when he had no tribal enrollment or heritage, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jerry Chris Van Dyke aka Jerry Witten, of Seattle, pleaded guilty in March 2023. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin noted that this was not a one-time error, but a ten-year period of “undermining a community and identity.”
“Prosecuting cases of fraud in the art world is a unique responsibility and part of our work to support Tribal Nations,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “I hope this case will make artists and gallery owners think twice about the consequences of falsely calling an artist Native and work Native-produced. They should consider the damage to reputation, the legal fees, and ultimately a criminal record. Fake Native art should be kept out of the marketplace because it harms the legitimate Native art community.”
The investigation of Jerry Van Dyke began in February 2019, when the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received a complaint that Van Dyke was representing himself as a Nez Perce Indian artist, when in fact, he is not an enrolled tribal member. Investigators from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made undercover purchases at a gallery in the Pike Place Market area of Seattle that advertised pendants Van Dyke had made as Native American art. Van Dyke used the name Witten for these sales. When interviewed by agents, Van Dyke admitted knowing about the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and admitted he was not a tribal member. Through the gallery Van Dyke had sold more than $1,000 worth of carved pendants represented as Native American artwork based on Aleut masks. According to the plea agreement, Van Dyke had worked with the gallery for more than ten years, with the gallery owner providing him with woolly mammoth ivory, antlers, animal bones and fossilized walrus ivory to make the pendants that it sold.
Speaking in court today, Shannon F. Wheeler, Chair of the Nez Perce, said “artwork is full of our culture… it is a piece of who we are.” Chair Wheeler continued that the sale of fake Native art “continues a process of devaluing us as a people.”
Native art “speaks of the enduring relationship that we have with our landscape,” said Nez Perce Cultural Resource Director Nakia Williamson. “All we have left is our identity, and that is under attack.”
“Jerry Van Dyke’s false tribal affiliation and marketplace saturation erodes the sustainability and economic well-being of Native American artists," said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. "Our dedicated team of special agents works on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to protect American Indian and Alaska Native artists and the consumers who purchase authentic Native American art and craftwork. This sentencing is important in the ongoing effort to end violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. We want to thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for their assistance with this investigation.”
"By statute, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) is responsible for the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law governing the sale of Indian art and craftwork. The prosecution of Jerry Van Dyke under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act for counterfeiting Alaska Native art is another critically important step in protecting the economic livelihoods and rich cultural heritage of contemporary and traditional Indian artists, as well as preserving the vitality of the Indian art market in the Northwest and nationwide,” stated IACB Director Meridith Stanton. “When individuals and businesses market art misrepresented as Indian made, they undercut Indian artists and Indian economies, and prey upon unwitting consumers. For those selling counterfeit Indian art and craftwork, wherever you are we will diligently work to find you and prosecute you under the Act.”Van Dyke pleaded guilty in March 2023 to Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods and Products. The crime is punishable by up to one year in prison.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney and Tribal Liaison J. Tate London.
Allen County Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Counts of Methamphetamine Trafficking and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – An Allen County, Kentucky, man was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for three counts of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, Sheriff Brandon Ford of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Darren Tabor of the Scottsville Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, on March 26, 2021, in Allen County, Kentucky, Timothy D. Harrison, 41, possessed with the intent to distribute 24.002 grams of methamphetamine. Harrison also possessed a Ruger Wrangler .22 caliber revolver. Harrison was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On February 25, 2020, in Allen Circuit Court, Harrison was convicted of first-degree possession of a controlled substance.
On May 12, 2021, in Warren County, Kentucky, Harrison possessed with the intent to distribute 25.69 grams of methamphetamine, and a Taurus PT 24/7, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Harrison was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the above stated felony offense.
On November 17, 2021, in Allen County, Kentucky, Harrison possessed with the intent to distribute 39.40 grams of methamphetamine.
Following the 10-year prison sentence, Harrison was ordered to serve 4 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the DEA Bowling Green Field Office, the Kentucky State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Scottsville Police Department, with assistance by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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7 defendants convicted of crimes related to multi-state narcotics, money laundering conspiraciesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final defendant charged in narcotics and money laundering conspiracies pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today. Seven defendants are responsible for conspiring to traffic thousands of oxycodone pills and more than three kilograms of methamphetamine into Ohio from Florida and California, and for conspiring to launder more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds.
Michael J. Moore, 47, of Inglewood, California, admitted to conspiring to launder the proceeds of methamphetamine and oxycodone trafficking. Moore also pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the drugs.
As part of Moore’s plea, the parties involved have recommended a range of 11 to 16 years in prison.
According to court documents, from at least 2015 through at least 2018, Moore and six women conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone. The defendants illegally diverted and transported oxycodone pills from Florida to Ohio and from California to Ohio. They trafficked methamphetamine from California to Ohio.
For example, Moore obtained fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions in Florida on approximately 10 occasions between 2015 and 2016, allowing him to obtain more than 1,000 pills.
Lower-level members of the conspiracy fraudulently obtained a substantial number of pills, providing them to higher-level members and keeping the balance of the pills as payment to feed their addictions.
In total, the group obtained and distributed between 5,656 and 100,000 30-milligram oxycodone pills, which were then sold for between $20 and $30 per pill.
Moore also admitted to being involved in the shipping and distribution of at least 3,114 grams of methamphetamine that was approximately 98 percent pure.
Moore and the others conspired to launder the drug proceeds by opening bank accounts at several financial institutions, making money transfers, and concealing cash and flying it on commercial flights.
The other defendants convicted in this case include:
Name
Age
City
Sentence Imposed
Mykell Reeneesha Uneek Hawes
33
Cerritos, California
Pending sentencing
Brandy Monique Casey
44
Inglewood, California
Pending sentencing
Marisa A. Wallace
29
Columbus, Ohio
72 months in prison
Angela N. Faber
41
Reynoldsburg, Ohio
48 months in prison
Heather M. Russell
36
Columbus, Ohio
48 months in prison
Janette M. Breckenridge
33
Columbus, Ohio
48 months in prison
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Whitehall Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.
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16 May 2023
Walthill Man Sentenced for Transfer of Obscene Material a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Michael Tyndall, Jr., 23, of Walthill, Nebraska, to 18 months’ incarceration for Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor on May 15, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release, Tyndall will serve a two-year term of supervised release.
In October 2022, Tyndall used Snapchat to send an obscene photograph of his penis to a 13-year-old minor. Tyndall messaged the minor victim questions about sexual history and preferences. The minor victim reported Tyndall’s conduct to a trusted adult, who notified law enforcement.
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.
Wallingford Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation, Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER LISCIO, 40, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 251 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between January 2016 and February 2020, Liscio used Snapchat to entice two minor girls to take sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him via the social media application. The communication with one of the minor victims started when she was approximately 13 years old and continued until she was approximately 16 years old, and the communication with the second minor victim occurred when she was 15 and 16 years old. Liscio also engaged in sexual acts with the second minor victim on multiple occasions when she was 15 and 16 years old.
In February 2020, Liscio was arrested on state charges related to the sexual assault of another minor. Between February and April 2020, while he was released on bond in his state case, Liscio sold 2,000 30mg oxycodone pills.
Liscio has been detained since his federal arrest on May 26, 2021. On that date, a search of his Wallingford residence revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics, and $22,440 in cash.
On January 3, 2023, Liscio pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
The state case against Liscio is pending.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the Wallingford Police Department, Middletown Police Department and Fremont (N.H.) Police Department. The Tactical Diversion Squad includes personnel from the DEA and the Manchester, Glastonbury, West Haven, Hamden, Newington, and Bristol Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda S. Oakes.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of New Haven and Middlesex for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
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.
United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes Police Week National Police Week honors the service and sacrifice of law enforcementRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Westphal stated, “This week we take time to pause and express our gratitude and thanks to the unwavering commitment, courage and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in protecting and serving our communities in Iowa. Every hour of every day, federal, state and local law enforcement officers place the safety of our communities above their own, and their dedication to this duty is one of the main reasons Iowa is such a great place to live. In particular, we honor the lives of Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams and Fremont County Deputy Austin Melvin Richardson, who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving Iowans. We stand together in remembering the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty, here in Iowa and across the nation.”
On May 5, 2023, Sergeant Williams and Deputy Richardson were honored at the 2023 Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines. Sergeant Williams was a 28-year veteran of the Coralville Police Department and experienced fatal health complications after responding to a report of a three-year-old child with gunshot wounds. He is survived by a wife, two sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Fremont County Deputy Richardson served as a police officer and deputy for 14 years. While responding to a call for service, Deputy Richardson’s patrol vehicle collided with a combine, resulting in his death. He is survived by a wife, and three daughters.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 226 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2022.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Allocation of New Positions to Advance Public Safety and Promote Community EngagementRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that new positions for Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support personnel have been allocated to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, to advance the Office’s work in promoting public safety, Department of Justice initiatives, and community engagement.
Districts were asked to submit requests for additional prosecutors and support personnel in areas they deemed needed additional resources. The funding for the new positions was provided by the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The U.S. Attorney’s Office requested and received seven new positions to be allocated as follows:
- An Assistant U.S. Attorney dedicated to Civil-Civil Rights enforcement.
- An Assistant U.S. Attorney to support Indian Country cases.
- An Assistant U.S. Attorney and a support staff to focus on investigating and prosecuting Violent Crime/Domestic Terrorism cases.
- An Assistant U.S. Attorney and a Litigation Support Technologist dedicated to supporting the Justice Department’s work on E-litigation.
- An Investigative Specialist to support the investigation and prosecution of white collar crimes.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King said, “I am thankful my Office was allocated the additional resources. The much-needed prosecutor and support personnel positions will be used to address public safety challenges, implement solutions, and advance our engagement efforts in communities across the Western District and in Indian Country.”
Those interested in applying for one of the positions in the near future can do so through https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/careers or through www.usajobs.gov.
U.S. Attorney Announces Conviction of Iranian Large-Scale Heroin TraffickerRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict today against MALEK BALOUCHZEHI, a/k/a “Malek Khan,” on charges of conspiring to import heroin into the United States and distributing heroin for importation into the United States. U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman presided over the one-week trial. BALOUCHZEHI is scheduled to be sentenced September 12, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Malek Balouchzehi sought to expand his significant drug trafficking operations by importing massive quantities of heroin into the United States and sending it right here, to New York. Balouchzehi has trafficked drugs around the world for at least a decade. Today, Balouchzehi stands convicted of his crimes and faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. We will continue to work diligently with the DEA to curb the importation of heroin, a lethal drug plaguing our communities.”
As reflected in the Indictment, public filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
BALOUCHZEHI is an Iran-based drug trafficker. In or about September 2019, BALOUCHZEHI and an Iranian drug trafficking partner began communicating with individuals whom BALOUCHZEHI believed were heroin traffickers interested in large quantities of heroin for importation into the United States, as well as methamphetamine for distribution in Australia. Those individuals were, in fact, a confidential source working at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (“DEA”) direction and an undercover DEA agent posing as a New York-based heroin distributor. In December 2019, BALOUCHZEHI sent a courier in Mozambique to deliver a sample of approximately two kilograms of heroin, with the understanding that those drugs would be transported to the United States for testing and sale in New York City. Following this sample heroin shipment, BALOUCHZEHI planned to supply thousands of kilograms of heroin for importation to and distribution within the United States. In meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2021, BALOUCHZEHI agreed to distribute ton quantities of heroin for importation to New York and to provide the heroin via maritime routes, using a fishing company to conceal his narcotics activities, in order to make millions of dollars in profits. During these meetings in Nairobi, BALOUCHZEHI also described his prior international drug trafficking activities over the last decade, including his loads of thousands of kilograms of heroin, and showed photographs evidencing his large-scale trafficking operation.
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BALOUCHZEHI, 39, of Iran, was convicted of one count of conspiring to import heroin into the United States, and one count of distributing heroin for importation into the United States, each of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The statutory 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 defendant will be determined by Judge Furman.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit and New York Field Division; the DEA’s Nairobi, Maputo, Pretoria, Bucharest, and Jakarta Country Offices; the Kenyan National Police; the Mozambique National Criminal Investigation Services; and the Western Australia Police Force. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance.
The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Michael J. Lockard, Kimberly J. Ravener, and Elinor L. Tarlow are in charge of the prosecution.
Two admit to burglarizing British Consul General’s residenceRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston man and woman have pleaded guilty to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Today, Darion Benjamin Woods, 28, admitted he broke into, damaged and stole several items from the private residence of the Consul General for Great Britain. Christin Danielle Brinkley, 25, entered her plea May 11.
At their respective plea hearings, both admitted to burglarizing the home on July 23, 2022. They stole multiple items including two vehicles, one of which was the property of the British Consulate. Nobody was in the residence at the time of the incident.
Security cameras captured Brinkley and Woods pulling up to the gated residence with a U-Haul, jumping over the gate and eventually driving through it and causing significant damage. Once inside, they stole multiple items, including the two cars, jewelry, electronics, documents and a safe.
Authorities later located the stolen vehicles at an address in Houston and observed Brinkley inside both vehicles at different times. They took Brinkley and Woods into custody and recovered the vehicles as well as some property from the residence, most of which was damaged.
Damages have been calculated at approximately $56,636.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the pleas and set sentencing for Sept. 9. At that time, both face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. They are also expected to have to pay restitution.
Both have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Bennett and Luis Batarse are prosecuting the case.
Two Kentucky Men Charged with Scheming to Obtain Millions of Dollars from Victims in Illinois and Throughout the U.S.Read the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal grand jury in Rockford has charged two Kentucky men with fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars from investors and customers throughout the United States, including a business in Boone County, Ill.
The indictment charges MARK CARROLL, 47, of Lexington, Ky., and LUKE CURRY, 36, of Bowling Green, Ky., with six counts of wire fraud. Carroll and Curry were each arrested last week in Kentucky. Arraignments in federal court in Rockford have been scheduled for Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa A. Jensen.
According to the indictment, Carroll and Curry in 2018 and 2019 created multiple limited-liability companies, including Catapult Marketing, LLC and Catapult Funding LLC, and thereafter fraudulently obtained millions of dollars from victims under false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The pair allegedly falsely offered a line of credit to victims in exchange for the victims’ initial deposits of about 20% of the loan facility, without actually funding the line of credit. The indictment also alleges that Carroll and Curry fraudulently entered into private loan agreements with victims in which the defendants falsely promised to repay the principal and interest at maturity in exchange for the victims' loan funds, including guaranteeing rates of return. According to the charges, Carroll and Curry did not pay the guaranteed rates of returns and did not pay the victims in accordance with the terms of their agreements.
The arrests and indictment were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Beckman and Lisa Munch.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is seeking the public’s help in identifying potential victims of the alleged fraud schemes associated with the defendants in this case. The FBI is legally mandated to identify crimes it investigates. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law. Responses are voluntary but would be useful in the federal investigation and to identify you as a potential victim. If you believe you are a potential victim who has not yet been contacted, please email [email protected] or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Based on the response provided, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.
Two Charged with Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – GREGORY SMITH, age 41, of Slidell, and DARREN HULBERT, SR., age 52, of New Orleans, were indicted on May 12, 2023 for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Federal Gun Control Acts, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. SMITH and HULBERT were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. SMITH was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(C). HULBERT was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). SMITH and HULBERT were also each charged with possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) and with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, SMITH and HULBERT conspired to distribute heroin in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere. SMITH possessed with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base and HULBERT possessed with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. On or about May 4, 2023, SMITH possessed a Masterpiece Arms Model MPA Defender, nine-millimeter semi-automatic submachine gun and HULBERT possessed a Smith and Wesson Model 6906, nine-millimeter pistol, a Springfield handgun, and a Century Arms AK Style Rifle.
If convicted of the drug conspiracy, SMITH and HULBERT each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release. SMITH also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release if convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin and up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release if convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. HULBERT faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release if convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
For possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, SMITH and HULBERT each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, which must be served consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. For being felons in possession of firearms, SMITH and HULBERT face a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. SMITH and HULBERT each face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and André Jones of the Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Alien SmugglingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Lopez-Loreto, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On February 9, 2023, Lopez-Loreto pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
On January 17, 2023, Lopez-Loreto was encountered by United States Border Patrol agents after a property owner reported a vehicle on their property. Agents subsequently observed individuals run from the desert and enter that vehicle that was being driven by Lopez-Loreto. Lopez-Loreto then drove toward an area where the roadway was blocked by agents. Lopez-Loreto was forced to slow to a near stop due to the obstruction. At that time, an agent activated his emergency equipment; however, Lopez-Loreto sped up and maneuvered around agents and their patrol vehicles to evade apprehension. As he sped away, Lopez-Loreto narrowly missed striking agents who were standing outside their vehicles. Agents pursued Lopez-Loreto and deployed spike strips to stop his vehicle. Lopez-Loreto swerved around one set of spike strips, attempted to avoid a second set by driving into an oncoming lane, and then crashed into water barriers, rolling the vehicle. The two passengers in Lopez-Loreto’s vehicle suffered injuries in the crash and were transported to the hospital for treatment. Both were determined to be undocumented non-citizens who Lopez-Loreto was smuggling further into the country at the time of this incident.
Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 23-CR-00164-TUC-RM (JR)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-071_Lopez-Loreto# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Topeka Man Indicted for Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Topeka, Kansas, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after traveling to Missouri to meet a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover FBI employee, for illicit sex.
William H. Reichart, 60, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Reichart on April 28, 2013, and includes additional charges.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force were engaged in covert chat sessions on platforms known to be frequented by adults with sexual fetishes, including adults attempting to lure children into sexual acts. An online covert law enforcement officer, posing as a 14-year-old girl, communicated with Reichart through a social media application.
Reichart engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover law enforcement officer, the affidavit says, and sent pornographic images and video of himself. The affidavit says they made arrangements to meet in person for sexual contact. Law enforcement officers conducted surveillance of Reichart as he left his residence on April 27, 2023, and drove to the agreed-upon meeting location. When Reichart arrived for the meeting, he was arrested without incident.
Today’s indictment charges Reichart with one count of attempting to travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, and one count of attempting to transfer obscene material to minor.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the FBI.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Three Lincoln Gang Members Sentenced for RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Edward Dean Williams, Antonio Corell Shannon, and Emmanuel Charles Kuot were all sentenced this morning in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, following their guilty pleas to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. Williams was sentenced to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, Shannon was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment, and Kuot was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. All three defendants were sentenced to serve a three-year term of supervised release after they complete their prison sentences. There is no parole in the federal system. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard presided over the case. Williams, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the offense on December 16, 2022. Shannon, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty on December 15, 2022, and Kuot, 21, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023.
The charge to which they pleaded guilty alleges that the three defendants conspired to violate the racketeering laws of the United States. Each defendant was either a member or an associate of the Day One Brothers (or “D1B”) gang in Lincoln. The D1B gang was an enterprise which engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, including acts involving murder or attempted murder, robbery, and the distribution of controlled substances, including marijuana. The gang became the focus of an intensive investigation following an incident on March 26, 2018, when a group of D1B members and associates feuded with a rival gang. The confrontation ended with a D1B member shooting and killing a rival. As the investigation continued, the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered the extent of the gang’s criminal activities.
The defendants in this case were each charged with committing acts in furtherance of the conspiracy. Among those acts, all three defendants were alleged to have participated in a shooting on October 26, 2019, which targeted a rival gang member. On that day, the three defendants were at a residence in the 3400 block of Portia Street in Lincoln, a location which the D1B gang viewed as being under their control. They learned that a rival gang member, who was referred to in the indictment as “Victim 7,” was in a nearby apartment building. Using social media contacts, they attempted to lure him out of the apartment. Williams and Shannon were carrying firearms. As they approached on foot, the three defendants spotted a person near the apartment. Williams and Shannon each fired several shots in the direction of the apartment unit where they suspected Victim 7 was located. Some of the shots penetrated the apartment. People were inside the apartment, but thankfully nobody was hit.
As part of his guilty plea, Williams further admitted to having assaulted people on a couple of occasions who Williams suspected had cooperated with law enforcement and who Williams believed had provided information about D1B members and associates. The gang would use such threats, intimidation, and violence to keep others in fear of the gang. Shannon admitted to having used Snapchat and Facebook to advertise the sale of illegal drugs, mainly marijuana. The sales would often take place within a neighborhood which D1B viewed as under their control. And as part of Kuot’s guilty plea, he admitted to having also participated in an attempted robbery of a UNL fraternity member who was collecting an entry fee to a party in Lincoln.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “The three gang members sentenced today used violence to terrorize and exert control over Lincoln neighborhoods. The FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling the most violent gangs in our community. The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force in Lincoln will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and apprehend gang members to make our neighborhoods safer.”
This case was primarily investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Marshals also assisted during the investigation of this case.
This case was part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
Suspended Kentucky Attorney and Wife Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud and Willful Failure to Pay TaxRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A suspended Kentucky attorney and his wife pled guilty in federal court yesterday to wire fraud and willful failure to pay tax.
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Cincinnati Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, made the announcement.
Andrew Nicholas Clooney, 55, and Christel Marie Clooney, 50, both of Louisville, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of willful failure to pay tax. According to court documents, Andrew Clooney practiced as a personal injury attorney through the Clooney Law Office. Christel Marie Clooney served as the office manager for the Clooney Law Office. From August 2016 through October 2018, the Clooneys used funds that belonged to clients of the Clooney Law Office on personal expenses. Further, the Clooneys made approximately $426,098 in income in 2016, on which they owed approximately $107,140 in federal income taxes. The Clooneys neither filed a tax return for tax year 2016 nor paid any of their outstanding tax liability for that year.
Andrew Clooney and Christel Marie Clooney are both scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2023. They each face a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory is prosecuting the case.
If former Clooney Law Office clients believe they are victims of the Clooneys, and they have not received notice with respect to this case, they should contact the United States Secret Service at (502) 582-5171 and ask to speak to Special Agent Joseph Ward.
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St. Petersburg Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Dry Cleaner Armed Robbery and Murder Relating to Exotic Nightclub Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Corey Small (44, St. Petersburg) to 25 years in federal prison for to interfering with commerce by robbery, using and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, causing death by murder. Small had pleaded guilty on October 14, 2021.
According to court documents, in 2014, Small robbed a St. Petersburg dry cleaning business of $51.41 after pointing a gun at the clerk. Four years later, in 2018, he conspired to distribute cocaine with an exotic night club employee. Small argued with an individual who attempted to persuade the nightclub employee to leave the club and stop selling drugs for Small. During the argument, Small shot the individual four times, killing him.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pinellas Park Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
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.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 28+ Years in Prison for Carjacking, Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis, Missouri man to 28 years and three months in prison for a “rampage” that involved carjackings, burglaries and a home invasion in May of 2021.
Drew Clark, 37, started his spree by stealing a man’s Jeep Cherokee at Union Station in St. Louis on May 22, 2021 as the victim was unloading the vehicle. Inside was the man’s 9mm handgun and a Gibson guitar.
Four days later, Clark committed a series of crimes in less than four hours, often discarding items he’d stolen earlier and stealing new clothing, vehicles and other items.
Just before noon on May 26, 2021, Clark left the stolen Jeep near a commercial business in the 3700 block of South First Street and stole a worker’s truck before quickly abandoning it. He then stole a white Dodge Ram belonging to the business. One worker tried to block Clark in with his own truck, until Clark forced him to move out of the way by pointing the stolen handgun at the worker.
About 30 minutes later, Clark burglarized a home in the 2700 block of South 13th Street, taking a wallet and debit card, running shoes and a set of keys and leaving behind the Dodge Ram and work boots. He unsuccessfully tried to use the debit card, then tossed it in a dumpster behind a nearby deli.
Shortly thereafter, in the same block, he entered the home of a woman and demanded money at gunpoint. He forced the terrified woman into her bathroom and zip-tied her on the floor before stealing her keys, her husband’s work safety vest and helmet and her Jeep Cherokee.
At roughly 1:30 p.m., he left the Jeep in the 1100 block of South 7th Street, along with a blue jacket he had been wearing. He put on the vest and helmet and walked towards the Purina facility just south of downtown. After wandering around the grounds and buildings, stealing items and changing into clothing he stole from an employee’s locker, he carjacked a Subaru Impreza from a different employee who was on his way to happy hour.
He left the Subaru in the 1600 block of South 9th Street, leaving behind a Purina vest, temporary contractor badge and radio in the Subaru.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers spotted him nearby. Clark fled on foot, running through another victim’s home before officers were able to catch and subdue him. He had a backpack containing an unused zip tie, keys from Purina and items from the Jeep stolen at Union Station: a business card, gift card envelopes and a charging plug.
He hid the stolen firearm after his arrest, but it was spotted by a detective and wrestled away from him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen summed up the crimes for jurors at Clark’s January trial by calling it an “absolute rampage.” Clark, of the 4000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, was convicted of all charges: three counts of carjacking, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finlen and Jennifer Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.
Springfield Rapper Pleads Guilty to Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was part of a local rap group pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing firearms, one of which has been linked to several recent shootings.
Jardell Carlin Williams, 19, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to two counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
By pleading guilty today, Williams admitted he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol when a vehicle, in which he was a passenger, was stopped by Springfield, Mo., Police Department detectives on Feb. 15, 2022.
Williams also admitted that he was in possession of a C3 Defense 5.56-caliber semi-automatic pistol when a vehicle, in which he was a passenger, was stopped by detectives with the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 23, 2022. According to the plea agreement, the AR-style pistol was tentatively identified as having been used in three shooting incidents in the Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kansas, areas.
Williams admitted to regularly smoking marijuana, which remains a controlled substance under federal law, since he was in high school. He estimated that he smoked about a gram of marijuana each day.
Under federal statutes, Williams is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Sioux Falls Man Charged with Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Robert Walter White, age 35, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 10, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that White, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime and required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, failed to do so between February 23, 2023, and May 2, 2023.
The charge is merely an accusation and White is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
White was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for July 18, 2023.
Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Meth Possession with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
A man who possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty May 15, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City.
Thomas Powell, 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after having been previously convicted of a federal felony drug offense in 2010.
At the plea hearing, Powell admitted that on November 13, 2022, while in Sac County, Iowa, he was found with over 90 grams of pure methamphetamine and that he planned to distribute some or all of it to other persons.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Powell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Powell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DCI Laboratory, and Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-4002. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Security Subcontractor Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threat of Local Democratic Campaign OfficeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former security subcontractor working at the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Party coordinated campaign office pleaded guilty to threatening to bomb their local headquarters while the U.S. Senators from Georgia were in town for campaign events.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod aka Jessica Jones, 35, of Elberton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of communicating a bomb today before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Higginbotham faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
“The bomb threat was leveled by an employee working for a political organization days before a federal election in Georgia; this incident was a targeted effort to disturb the peace and disrupt the democratic process,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The immediate response and seamless collaboration by all levels of law enforcement safeguarded the community and helped bring the defendant to justice.”
“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public officials and undermine the foundation of our democracy. It also shows that threatening others with violence and physical harm will have serious repercussions.”
"The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals in our community. This incident was a grave and concerning matter; however, thanks to the swift response and collaborative efforts, the threat was successfully investigated, and the individual responsible was apprehended,” said ACCPD Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “We will continue to work diligently to safeguard our community and uphold the values that bind us together. Acts of violence and threats have no place in our society, and we stand united against those who seek to harm others or disrupt our democratic processes.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2022, at 6:01 p.m., an employee of the DSCC in Athens received a text message: “Hello, I am writing this message to you to let you know that I am coming by either tonight or in the morning to set a bomb up. So I can blow all the Democrats up. I have other people going to other offices also. If I can’t stop you by breaking in and destroying the property then I will blow every one up. So be ready to be blown up. This is going to either happen tonight or in the morning. Hope you like being on the wrong team.”
The FBI began investigating the threat immediately, and officers with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) responded to the area of the threat. The U.S. Senate runoff election was scheduled to take place on Dec. 6, and elected officials were in Athens participating in campaign events, including both U.S. Senators from Georgia on Dec. 4. Using a series of emergency disclosure requests (EDRs), FBI agents discovered the cell phone belonged to the defendant, who was also working as a contract security officer for a firm employed by the local Democratic coordinated campaign. The U.S. Capitol Police were also investigating the bomb threat, and independently determined that the bomb threat was sent from Higginbotham’s cell phone.
On Dec. 4, FBI task force officers located Higginbotham at a coffee shop in Athens with the cell phone in her hands. When she saw the agents approach her, she vomited. At first, she denied sending the bomb threat. A federal search warrant was executed on her cell phone, which linked the email account used in the bomb threat to her. While investigating the bomb threat, agents learned that there had been a break-in at the local Democratic campaign building in Athens on Nov. 27, and a laptop belonging to the campaign was stolen. At the time of the burglary, investigators noted that it appeared to be staged as tables were turned over, but the building was locked with no evidence of a forced entry. Investigators later recovered the stolen laptop with Higginbotham’s personal items. Higginbotham now admits that she used a cell phone to willfully threaten to kill or injure people and unlawfully destroy a building with an explosive.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will R. Keyes is prosecuting the case.
Seattle man sentenced to ten years in prison for possession of drugs and a “ghost” machinegunRead the Press Release
Seattle –A 32-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today to ten years in prison for his possession of a so-called “ghost gun” and drugs in a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jade B. Irey was arrested at an auto parts store in Kent, Washington on March 24, 2022. On December 5, 2022, Irey pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, Irey had been “a one-person crime wave.” Judge Robart noted that Irey had 700 fentanyl pills and the machinegun, making the case “one of the most serious I’ve seen in recent history.”
“Unregistered, fully automatic, and with an extended magazine, this weapon and others like it are designed for one thing: to kill,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “We are intent on using all the tools Congress has given us to combat possession of such illegal weapons and the damage they do in our communities.”
According to records in the case, Irey was under investigation for a December 2021 burglary in Bellevue, where he apparently dropped his cell phone while leaving the scene. The resident turned the cell phone over to police. Bellevue Police put Irey under surveillance, following him and an associate from his residence in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle to stops throughout the area. When a records check indicated the vehicle Irey was driving was stolen, police arrested Irey inside the auto parts store in Kent. A search of the car turned up the ghost gun and a pouch containing methamphetamine, black tar heroin, and 700 suspected fentanyl pills. Using court authorized search
warrants, investigators reviewed information on Irey’s electronic devices detailing his drug sales and ownership of the firearm.
Irey is also charged in state court for a number of crimes including burglary, identity theft, car theft and hit and run. The plea and sentencing in this case is part of a global resolution and the state sentences are expected to run concurrent with the ten year federal sentence.
The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department Special Operations Unit with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Savage Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Savage man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, in September of 2022, the FBI received tips from concerned citizens reporting disturbing behavior of a man at a firearm range, later identified as River William Smith, 21. In November and December 2022, Smith began communicating via a social media platform with an FBI confidential human source (the “CHS”). The FBI’s investigation revealed evidence that Smith was preparing for a violent exchange with police. Smith stated he is “pro mass shooting,” sympathized with the Parkland school shooter, and expressed admiration for the individual charged with the recent shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub. The FBI also discovered Smith had access to an AR-style rifle, handguns, body armor, and a Kevlar helmet. In online messages, Smith discussed learning about his “enemy” by watching police bodycam shootings online.
According to court documents, on November 17, 2022, Smith asked a second CHS for auto sears to convert his AR-15 style rifle and his Glock handgun into fully automatic machine guns. The CHS told Smith that he could obtain the auto sears for him, and Smith provided the CHS with a down payment of $60. On November 28, 2022, Smith asked whether the CHS knew about M67 fragmentary grenades, which are hand grenades used by the U.S. military in close combat. Smith told the CHS that he wanted three hand grenades to outfit his tactical vest and discussed a plan to purchase the grenades. On December 5, 2022, Smith provided the CHS with a $200 down payment for three hand grenades, priced at $250 per hand grenade.
According to court documents, on December 14, 2022, under supervision of law enforcement, a meeting between Smith and the second CHS was arranged. At the meeting, Smith took possession of three auto sears and three inert hand grenades in exchange for $690 in cash. Smith was then placed under arrest by law enforcement.
Smith pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge David S. Doty to one count of possession of a machine gun. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Savage Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Manda Sertich and Andrew Winter, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Justin Sher.
San Jose Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Ramiro Velasco Jr. was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Velasco, 33, a resident of San Jose, pleaded guilty on January 12, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Velasco attended a meeting in October 2020 of the San Jose Grande (SJG). SJG is a Norteño street gang formed in San Jose in the 1990s and comprised of dozens of members operating in San Jose and within custodial facilities, according to the government’s sentencing memorandum.
Velasco described in his plea agreement that he discussed the sale of crystal methamphetamine with a potential buyer who also attended the SJG meeting. Velasco quoted a sales price of approximately $3,000 for a pound, which the buyer found acceptable. Over the next several days, Velasco made phone calls and sent text messages to broker the sale of methamphetamine to the buyer. Once he arranged the deal with a source of supply of the methamphetamine, Velasco advised the buyer, “Don’t trip he is good people, he is my peoples.” The sale that Velasco brokered occurred October 30, 2020, when the source of supply sold almost two pounds of nearly pure methamphetamine to the buyer for $3,200, according to the government’s sentencing memorandum.In addition to the 84 months imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Gonzalez Rogers ordered Velasco to serve four years of supervision following his release from prison. Velasco was in custody at the sentencing hearing and began serving his sentence immediately.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel N. Kassabian and Christoffer Lee, with the assistance of Nina Burney and Veronica Hernandez. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Santa Clara County Violent Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and the San Jose Police Department.
Sacramento Couple Sentenced for Mail Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roderick Rigmaiden, 37, and his wife Onjale Nettles, 33, both of Sacramento, were sentenced Tuesday to six years and nine months in prison and five years and 11 months in prison, respectively, for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Rigmaiden and Nettles stole mail, obtained the personal identifying information of others, and then assumed these victims’ identities to fraudulently purchase and finance almost $250,000 worth of cars from various auto dealerships in the Sacramento area, in the Bay Area, and in Orange County. Rigmaiden was a prolific mail thief and is tied to numerous postal burglaries—of postal boxes, of apartment complex mailboxes, and of mail trucks. During a search of their home, investigators found tens of thousands of pieces of stolen mail, as well as postal keys, key making equipment, and a credit card imprinter.
Rigmaiden and Nettles used stolen identities to fraudulently purchase and finance at least seven cars (and attempt an eighth) from auto dealerships. The vehicle purchases were typically accomplished by providing a down payment in the form of cash, check, or other monetary instrument, with the remainder of the purchase price secured by an auto loan. The monetary instruments presented for the down payment typically turned out to be fraudulent, and no payments were ever made towards the auto loans.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot C. Wong prosecuted the case.
Russian National Charged with Ransomware Attacks Against Critical InfrastructureRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today unsealed two indictments charging a Russian national and resident with using three different ransomware variants to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including law enforcement agencies in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey, as well as victims in healthcare and other sectors nationwide.
According to the indictment obtained in the District of New Jersey, from at least as early as 2020, Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, aka Wazawaka, aka m1x, aka Boriselcin, aka Uhodiransomwar, allegedly participated in conspiracies to deploy three ransomware variants. These variants are known as LockBit, Babuk, and Hive, and Matveev transmitted ransom demands in connection with each. The perpetrators behind each of these variants, including Matveev, have allegedly used these types of ransomware to attack thousands of victims in the United States and around the world. These victims include law enforcement and other government agencies, hospitals, and schools. Total ransom demands allegedly made by the members of these three global ransomware campaigns to their victims amount to as much as $400 million, while total victim ransom payments amount to as much as $200 million.
“From his home base in Russia, Matveev allegedly used multiple ransomware variants to attack critical infrastructure around the world, including hospitals, government agencies, and victims in other sectors,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These international crimes demand a coordinated response. We will not relent in imposing consequences on the most egregious actors in the cybercrime ecosystem.”
On or about June 25, 2020, Matveev and his LockBit coconspirators allegedly deployed LockBit ransomware against a law enforcement agency in Passaic County, New Jersey. Additionally, on or about May 27, 2022, Matveev and his Hive coconspirators allegedly deployed Hive against a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization headquartered in Mercer County, New Jersey. On April 26, 2021, Matveev and his Babuk coconspirators allegedly deployed Babuk against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.
“From Russia and hiding behind multiple aliases, Matveev is alleged to have used these ransomware strains to encrypt and hold hostage for ransom the data of numerous victims, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies, like the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Thanks to the extraordinary investigative work of prosecutors from my office and our FBI partners, Matveev no longer hides in the shadows – we have publicly identified his criminal acts and charged him with multiple federal crimes. Let today’s charges be a reminder to cybercriminals everywhere – my office is devoted to combatting cybercrime and will spare no resources in bringing to justice those who use ransomware attacks to target victims.”
According to the indictment obtained in the District of Columbia, between April 21, 2021, and May 9, 2021, Matveev allegedly participated in conspiracies to deploy Babuk and to transmit a ransom demand. Specifically, on April 26, 2021, Matveev and his Babuk co-conspirators allegedly deployed Babuk ransomware against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., and then threatened to disclose sensitive information to the public unless a payment was made.
“Data theft and extortion attempts by ransomware groups are corrosive, cynical attacks on key institutions and the good people behind them as they go about their business and serve the public,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies like health care providers, we will use every tool at our disposal to prosecute and punish such offenses. Thanks to exceptional work by our partners here, we identified and charged this culprit.”
“The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to disrupting cybercriminals like Matveev,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI will continue to impose costs on cyber adversaries through our joint collaboration with our private sector and international partners, and we will not tolerate these criminal acts against American citizens.”
The LockBit ransomware variant first appeared around January 2020. LockBit actors have executed over 1,400 attacks against victims in the United States and around the world, issuing over $100 million in ransom demands and receiving over $75 million in ransom payments.
The Babuk ransomware variant first appeared around December 2020. Babuk actors executed over 65 attacks against victims in the United States and around the world, issuing over $49 million in ransom demands and receiving as much as $13 million in ransom payments.
Since June 2021, the Hive ransomware group has targeted more than 1,400 victims around the world and received as much as $120 million in ransom payments.
The LockBit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware variants operated in the same general manner: first, the ransomware actors would identify and unlawfully access vulnerable computer systems, sometimes through their own hacking, or by purchasing stolen access credentials from others. Second, the actors would deploy the ransomware variant within the victim computer system, allowing the actors to encrypt and steal data thereon. Next, the actors would send a ransom note to the victim demanding a payment in exchange for decrypting the victim’s data or refraining from sharing it publicly. Finally, the ransomware actors would negotiate a ransom amount with each victim willing to pay. If a victim did not pay, ransomware actors would often post that victim’s data on a public website, often called a data leak site.
Matveev is charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers, and intentionally damaging protected computers. If convicted, he faces over 20 years in prison.
The FBI Newark Field Office’s Cyber Crimes Task Force is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Newark IRS Criminal Investigation, and international partners from European Cyber Crime Centre of Europol, National Police Agency of Japan, Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command of France, National Crime Agency and South West Regional Organized Crime Unit of the United Kingdom, Kantonspolizei Zürich of Switzerland, High-Tech Crime Unit of the Dutch Police Services Agency of the Netherlands, Bundeskriminalamt and Landeskriminalamt of Germany, Mossos d'Esquadra Police Department of Spain, Norwegian Police Service of Norway, and Swedish Police Authority of Sweden.
Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Benjamin Proctor, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS); Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly and David E. Malagold for the District of New Jersey’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi for the District of Columbia’s Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting the case.
The FBI Tampa Field Office and Orlando Resident Agency, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey Bratt for the Middle District of Florida and CCIPS Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Alison Zitron, made critical contributions to the case. The FBI Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division also provided significant assistance.
Victims of LockBit, Babuk, or Hive ransomware should contact their local FBI field office for further information. For additional information on ransomware, including the LockBit, Babuk, and Hive variants, please visit StopRansomware.gov.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced that it is designating the defendant for his role in launching ransomware attacks against U.S. law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
Finally, the Department of State has also announced an award of up to $10 million for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of this defendant. Information that may be eligible for this award can be submitted at tips.fbi.gov. Congress established the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program in 2013 to support law enforcement efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and bring their leaders and members to justice. The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the program in coordination with other U.S. federal agencies.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Russian National Charged with Ransomware Attacks Against Critical InfrastructureRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The Justice Department today unsealed two indictments charging a Russian national and resident with using three different ransomware variants to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., as well as victims in healthcare and other sectors nationwide.
“From Russia and hiding behind multiple aliases, Matveev is alleged to have used these ransomware strains to encrypt and hold hostage for ransom the data of numerous victims, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies, like the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.,” Philip R. Sellinger, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, said. “Thanks to the extraordinary investigative work of prosecutors from my office and our FBI partners, Matveev no longer hides in the shadows – we have publicly identified his criminal acts and charged him with multiple federal crimes. Let today’s charges be a reminder to cybercriminals everywhere – my office is devoted to combatting cybercrime and will spare no resources in bringing to justice those who use ransomware attacks to target victims.”
“From his home base in Russia, Matveev allegedly used multiple ransomware variants to attack critical infrastructure around the world, including hospitals, government agencies, and victims in other sectors,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said. “These international crimes demand a coordinated response. We will not relent in imposing consequences on the most egregious actors in the cybercrime ecosystem.”
“We want the indictment, sanctions and reward for Mikhail Matveev to sound an alarm in the ranks of cyber criminals all over the world,” James E. Dennehy, FBI-Newark special agent in charge, said. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, as well as our international partners, are coming after you. These malicious actors believe they can operate with impunity – and don’t fear getting caught because they sit in a country where they feel safe and protected. That may be the case now, but the safe harbor may not exist forever. When we have an opportunity, we will do everything in our power to bring Matveev and his ilk to justice.”
According to the indictment obtained in the District of New Jersey:
From at least 2020, Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, aka Wazawaka, aka m1x, aka Boriselcin, aka Uhodiransomwar, allegedly participated in conspiracies to deploy three ransomware variants. These variants are known as LockBit, Babuk, and Hive, and Matveev transmitted ransom demands in connection with each. The perpetrators behind each of these variants, including Matveev, have allegedly used these types of ransomware to attack thousands of victims in the United States and around the world. These victims include law enforcement and other government agencies, hospitals, and schools. Total ransom demands allegedly made by the members of these three global ransomware campaigns to their victims amount to as much as $400 million, while total victim ransom payments amount to as much as $200 million.
On June 25, 2020, Matveev and his LockBit conspirators allegedly deployed LockBit ransomware against a law enforcement agency in Passaic County, New Jersey. On May 27, 2022, Matveev and his Hive coconspirators allegedly deployed Hive against a nonprofit behavioral healthcare organization headquartered in Mercer County, New Jersey. On April 26, 2021, Matveev and his Babuk conspirators allegedly deployed Babuk against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.
“Data theft and extortion attempts by ransomware groups are corrosive, cynical attacks on key institutions and the good people behind them as they go about their business and serve the public,” U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia said. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies like health care providers, we will use every tool at our disposal to prosecute and punish such offenses. Thanks to exceptional work by our partners here, we identified and charged this culprit.”
“The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to disrupting cybercriminals like Matveev,” Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division said. “The FBI will continue to impose costs on cyber adversaries through our joint collaboration with our private sector and international partners, and we will not tolerate these criminal acts against American citizens.”
The LockBit ransomware variant first appeared around January 2020. LockBit actors have executed over 1,400 attacks against victims in the United States and around the world, issuing over $100 million in ransom demands and receiving over $75 million in ransom payments.
The Babuk ransomware variant first appeared around December 2020. Babuk actors executed over 65 attacks against victims in the United States and around the world, issuing over $49 million in ransom demands and receiving as much as $13 million in ransom payments.
Since June 2021, the Hive ransomware group has targeted more than 1,400 victims around the world and received as much as $120 million in ransom payments.
The LockBit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware variants operated in the same general manner: first, the ransomware actors would identify and unlawfully access vulnerable computer systems, sometimes through their own hacking, or by purchasing stolen access credentials from others. Second, the actors would deploy the ransomware variant within the victim computer system, allowing the actors to encrypt and steal data thereon. Next, the actors would send a ransom note to the victim demanding a payment in exchange for decrypting the victim’s data or refraining from sharing it publicly. Finally, the ransomware actors would negotiate a ransom amount with each victim willing to pay. If a victim did not pay, ransomware actors would often post that victim’s data on a public website, often called a data leak site.
Matveev is charged with conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers, and intentionally damaging protected computers. If convicted, he faces over 20 years in prison.
The FBI Newark Field Office’s Cyber Crimes Task Force is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Newark IRS Criminal Investigation, and international partners from European Cyber Crime Centre of Europol, National Police Agency of Japan, Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command of France, National Crime Agency and South West Regional Organized Crime Unit of the United Kingdom, Kantonspolizei Zürich of Switzerland, High-Tech Crime Unit of the Dutch Police Services Agency of the Netherlands, Bundeskriminalamt and Landeskriminalamt of Germany, Mossos d'Esquadra Police Department of Spain, Norwegian Police Service of Norway, and Swedish Police Authority of Sweden.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly and David E. Malagold for the District of New Jersey’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark; Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi for the District of Columbia’s Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section; and Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Benjamin Proctor, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).
The FBI Tampa Field Office and Orlando Resident Agency, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey Bratt for the Middle District of Florida and CCIPS Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Alison Zitron, made critical contributions to the case. The FBI Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division also provided significant assistance.
Victims of LockBit, Babuk, Conti, or Hive ransomware should contact their local FBI field office for further information. For additional information on ransomware, including the LockBit, Babuk, and Hive variants, please visit www.StopRansomware.gov .
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today announced that it is designating the defendant for his role in launching cyberattacks against U.S. law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
The Department of State has also announced an award of up to $10 million for information that leads to the apprehension of this defendant. Information that may be eligible for this award can be submitted at tips.fbi.gov or RewardsForJustice.net. Congress established the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program in 2013 to support law enforcement efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and bring their leaders and members to justice. The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the program in coordination with other U.S. federal agencies.
The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
matveev.indictment.pdf22-142
- River Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts
Redmond, Washington man sentenced to one year in prison for Paycheck Protection Program fraudRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 62-year-old Redmond, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to one year in prison for conspiring to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $646,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph M. Freeman used the names of two companies he registered to obtain forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans. After detecting the fraud, federal investigators froze approximately $220,000 that remained in Freeman’s bank account and returned it to the Small Business Administration. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, “Other people who were in the same situation chose to suffer those circumstances rather than commit fraud on the Paycheck Protection Program… I think it is important to understand you cannot steal from the government.”
“When Mr. Freeman obtained pandemic relief funds through fraud, it meant other legitimately needy business owners were delayed and possibly denied funds as there was a limited pool of relief money,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, it is critical that we uncover the fraud and hold accountable those who sought to unjustly profit from programs designed to keep the needy afloat.”
According to records in the case, in May 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators used information about a company he formed in 2004 to claim $500,000 in PPP funds. Freeman claimed Special Delivery LLC had 15 employees and a payroll of $200,000 per month, when in fact it had no employees other than Freeman. Freeman used fake Internal Revenue Forms to make it appear the company had employees and sought $500,000 in PPP funds. On May 20, 2020, the loan proceeds were wired to Freeman’s bank. After receiving the funds, Freeman created an account with a payroll service to disburse the funds to individuals who were not employees of the company. In fact, the list included friends, family, and people to whom Freeman personally owed money.
On June 15, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators submitted a second fake application. Freeman claimed New Jack Trucking LLC had 10 employees and a monthly payroll of $58,400. Freeman and his associates claimed the business had been in operation in February 2020 even though the entity never had any genuine business activity. The coconspirators used fake IRS forms and a falsified bank statement to make it appear New Jack Trucking was a genuine business with employees. On June 16, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators obtained $146,000 for that fraudulent application.
Freeman supplied some of the loan proceeds to his coconspirators and used some of the funds for his own benefit. The account contained debits for airline travel, hotel expenses, and tickets to various venues and sporting events.
In July 2020, after federal investigators detected the fraud and notified Freeman’s bank, approximately $220,000 of the loan proceeds were frozen and returned to the Small Business Administration. The net loss from the scheme is $426,666.
As Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang noted, the damage was not just the stolen funds, but the strain fake applications put on the benefit system. “During major disasters and times of crisis, it is particularly important for the government to be able to disburse aid quickly to victims to mitigate the impact of the crisis. When individuals exploit these vulnerable periods, they not only drain finite monetary resources, they also burden limited infrastructure resources. For example, it was widely reported that the large volume of PPP applications in the first few months of the pandemic overwhelmed SBA servers and frustrated small business owners across the country who were unable to even submit an application, much less receive funds.”
Judge Robart ordered Freeman to pay $426,666 in restitution and to be on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the U.S Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2023.
Travis Maho, 34, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Maho was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 24, 2023.
In June of 2022, in Rapid City, Maho, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing ammunition, was knowingly in possession of 7.62x54 caliber, .32 caliber, and .45 Auto caliber ammunition, which was found after Maho came into contact with law enforcement. Maho was also in possession of distributable quantities of methamphetamine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Maho was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ransomware Charges Unsealed Against Russian NationalRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a Russian national with participating in a global ransomware campaign which deployed ransomware variants against victims in the District of Columbia, the United States, and around the world. Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, alleged to use the online monikers Wazawaka, m1x, Broriscelcin, and Uhodiransomwar, 30, of Kaliningrad, Russia, is charged with intentional damage to a protected computer and threats relating to a protected computer.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy, of the FBI’s Newark Field Office,
“Data theft and extortion attempts by ransomware groups are corrosive, cynical attacks on key institutions and the good people behind them as they go about their business and serve the public,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Whether these criminals target law enforcement, other government agencies, or private companies like health care providers, we will use every tool at our disposal to prosecute and punish such offenses. Thanks to exceptional work by our partners here, we identified and charged this culprit.”
“We want the indictment, sanctions and reward for Mikhail Matveev to sound an alarm in the ranks of cyber criminals all over the world,” said SAC Dennehy. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, as well as our international partners, are coming after you. These malicious actors believe they can operate with impunity – and don’t fear getting caught because they sit in a country where they feel safe and protected. That may be the case now, but the safe harbor may not exist forever. When we have an opportunity, we will do everything in our power to bring Matveev and his ilk to justice.”
According to the indictment, from as early as 2020, Matveev was an active member of Babuk, a global ransomware campaign which ranked among the most active and destructive cybercriminal threats in the world. Specifically, on April 26, 2021, the Babuk conspirators deployed Babuk ransomware against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. and then threatened to disclose sensitive information to the public unless a payment was made. As part of the ransomware conspiracy which attacked MPD, Matveev allegedly intentionally infected MPD’s computer systems with Babuk ransomware, stole data, and then attempted to extort MPD, threatening disclosure of sensitive information unless payment was made. The actions caused at least $5,000 in losses to MPD.
Matveev is also charged with a series of similar crimes in an indictment filed in the District of New Jersey.
Intentional damage to a protected computer carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. Threats relating to a protected computer carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Newark Field Office with assistance from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. As part of a broader investigation involving charges in the District of New Jersey, assistance was provided by New Jersey State Police, Newark IRS Criminal Investigation, and the International partners from European Cyber Crime Centre of Europol, National Police Agency of Japan, Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command of France, National Crime Agency and South West Regional Organized Crime Unit of the United Kingdom, Kantonspolizei Zürich of Switzerland, High-Tech Crime Unit of the Dutch Police Services Agency of the Netherlands, Bundeskriminalamt and Landeskriminalamt of Germany, Mossos d'Esquadra Police Department of Spain, Norwegian Police Service of Norway and Swedish Police Authority of Sweden.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Ben Proctor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Providence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man, who court records show has been convicted multiple times on various felony drug, firearm, and/or assault charges, has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking in fentanyl and crack cocaine, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to information presented to the court, in early 2020, while on state probation for an unrelated felony firearm conviction in state court, Josimar Pereira, 36, in the course of six transactions in a one-month period, sold a total of more than $6,300 worth of cocaine and fentanyl to another person while under surveillance by members of the FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force. On each occasion, the drugs were quickly seized by Task Force agents.
In December 2022, Pereira pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of distribution of cocaine and a charge of distribution of fentanyl. He was sentenced on May 15, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to forty-four months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release,
According to court records, at the time of his arrest in this matter Pereira was serving a term of state probation related to his 2018 conviction in Rhode Island Superior Court on a charge of possession of a sawed-off shotgun or rifle.
The most recent case filed against Pereira was prosecuted in U.S. District Court by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
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Portland Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Unlawfully Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Abdulkadir Bile, aka “Ace,” 31, to 60 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He also received a $6,900 fine. Bile pleaded guilty on March 29, 2022.
According to court records, in October 2021, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Bile’s residence in Portland and recovered two firearms from a bed in which Bile was sleeping. Bile was convicted in 2013 of felony aggravated assault in Androscoggin County Superior Court and in 2017 of unlawful trafficking of Schedule W drugs in the Cumberland County Unified Criminal Docket. These convictions prohibited Bile from possessing firearms under federal law.
ATF investigated the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: 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. To learn more information about Project Safe Neighborhood, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 77 Months in Prison for Role in Salem County Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to 77 months in prison and three years of supervised release for serving as the get-away driver to two Pennsylvania men who robbed a bank in Carneys Point, New Jersey, in July 2018, while brandishing a firearm. Kenneth S. Thompson, 44, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on Sept. 27, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court to an indictment charging him with bank robbery.
Omaha Man to Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm in IowaRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 16, 2023, to 33 months in federal prison.
Mark Hadland, 49, from Omaha, Nebraska, received the prison term after a February 7, 2023, guilty plea to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Hadland was previously convicted of felony Theft by Unlawful Taking Over $1500, in the Douglas County District Court for Nebraska, on or about April 7, 2010.
Evidence at the hearings showed that on August 8, 2022, Buena Vista County, Iowa, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Hadland was driving. It was determined Hadland’s driver’s license was revoked, and he admitted a marijuana roach was in the vehicle. Pursuant to a search of Hadland’s vehicle, law enforcement seized marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a cane with a detachable top concealing a 14-inch knife, loose ammunition, and a stolen firearm with one round in the chamber. Hadland further admitted that he was a user of marijuana and methamphetamine.
Hadland was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hadland was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hadland is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Storm Lake Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-4093. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Omaha Drug Dealer Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Steven Sainsbury, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sainsbury to 240 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge for a total sentence of 300 months in the Bureau of Prisons. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On March 31, 2021, an Omaha Police confidential source purchased more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from Sainsbury, an Omaha-based methamphetamine dealer. A search of his home resulted in the seizure of more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of heroin, 14 grams of cocaine, a Glock 10mm handgun, and $5,744 in United States currency.
In an interview with police, Sainsbury provided police with the name of his supplier: co-defendant Jose Leyva-Martinez. With this information, officers searched Leyva-Martinez’s home, seizing nearly 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, money transfer receipts, ammunition, 2 drug scales, vehicle titles for a gray Toyota Tacoma, a gray Honda civic, and a black GMC 1500, a money counter, drug ledger, jewelry, $468,990.00 in United States currency, and an Astra 9mm handgun. The handgun was found in a bedroom near $28,000 in United States currency.
Leyva-Martinez admitted to being a methamphetamine supplier and distributor for the Sinaloa Cartel. He admitted that all three vehicles and the residence were put in his name at the direction of the Cartel. Law enforcement estimated that the seized currency represented cash proceeds from the sale of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. This was confirmed by Leyva-Martinez and Sainsbury, both of whom admitted to distributing between 1-3 pounds of methamphetamine, per day, over the course of the previous several months.
Leyva-Martinez’s home, vehicles, monies, and other valuables were seized by law enforcement as proceeds of narcotics trafficking. For his part in the conspiracy, Leyva-Martinez was sentenced to 270 months in the Bureau of Prisons followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
North Las Vegas Resident Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A North Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty yesterday to carrying out a scheme to submit more than $1.1 million dollars in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of himself and others.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning no later than on or about March 14, 2021, and continuing until at least on or about October 9, 2021, Jaquari Davonte Woodward (24) devised and participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and a California lending institution (a non-bank lender). On March 17, 2021, he submitted a loan application as the purported sole proprietor of a music business. He inflated the amount of money his purported music business made and submitted an IRS tax form containing false information. Thereafter, Woodward mass-marketed his scheme on social media by posting the amount of money he received, and offering to help others apply, requesting in exchange $10,000 from any approved loan applications. As part of the scheme, Woodward submitted at least 56 fraudulent applications for PPP loans on behalf of himself and others.
As a result of the Woodward’s fraudulent PPP loan applications, approximately $1,166,582 in fraudulent loan proceeds were deposited into bank accounts controlled by him and other individuals for whom he submitted fraudulent applications. He received about $41,166 in fraudulent PPP loans, as well as a significant share of the over $1 million in fraudulent loans he applied for and obtained on behalf of others, totaling at least $100,000.
Woodward pleaded guilty to wire fraud before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2023. Woodward faces the maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release, a fine, and restitution.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General’s (SBA OIG) Western Region, and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.
The SBA OIG and FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Schmale is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud related to COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Newtown Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THOMAS R. SAINT, 67, of Newtown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to six months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Saint is the sole owner of Tom Saint Painting and Remodeling LLC, a Schedule C business engaged in painting and home renovation services. From 2013 through 2019, Saint attempted to evade the assessment of federal taxes by cashing business checks instead of depositing them into his business’s bank account, depositing cash and business checks into his personal bank account, and failing to inform his tax preparer of this conduct, which resulted in the filing of false returns with the IRS that substantially understated his gross receipts and income.
For the 2013 through 2019 tax years, Saint failed to report a total of $2,163,645 in gross receipts, resulting in a tax loss to the government of $791,500.
Saint has paid restitution of $791,500, and has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay interest and penalties.
On February 22, 2023, Saint pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
Saint, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 4.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.
New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NATHANIEL WILLIAMS, age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged on May 12, 2023 in a three-count indictment for violating the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.
WILLIAMS is charged in Count 1 with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). He is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). He is charged in Count 3 with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).
If convicted of Count 1, WILLIAMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of Count 2, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. If convicted of Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to each count, he faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Navajo Man Charged with Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Sheldon Carlton Daye was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Daye, 29, of Vanderwagen, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, on Oct. 2, 2022, Daye allegedly hit and killed two people who were stopped on the shoulder of Highway 602, repairing a flat tire, near Bread Springs, NM. Daye was allegedly driving while under the influence at the time. The incident occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Daye faces up to 8 years in prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
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Muskogee County Resident Sentenced for Assault and Firearm Offenses in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Eugene Meyer, age 39, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 156 months in prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Muskogee Police Department, and Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office.
Between December 7 and December 10, 2019, Meyer beat the victim with a revolver and other objects. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered from a subdural hematoma, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and other wounds, bruises, and contusions.
On November 2, 2021, Meyer pleaded guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the victim is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Meyer was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
Mission Man and Mellette County Woman Sentenced in Burglary and Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man and a Mellette County, South Dakota, woman, in a case that involved charges of Second Degree Murder, First Degree Burglary, and related firearms offenses.
Sativa Looking Cloud, age 21, pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023, to Second Degree Murder and First Degree Burglary. On May 8, 2023, Looking Cloud was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Stephen Fallis, age 30, pleaded guilty on January 19, 2023, to Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. On May 1, 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and order to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund.
Looking Cloud and Fallis will also forfeit ownership of all firearms and ammunition seized in the case. Restitution may also be ordered. Looking Cloud and Fallis were indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022.
The case stemmed from two separate incidents that occurred in Mellette County in February of 2022. In the early morning hours of February 16, 2023, Looking Cloud and Fallis went to a residence in Mellette County. Both were in possession of handguns. Looking Cloud entered the residence without permission and argued with the occupants. She then produced a 9mm handgun and fired multiple shots in the direction of the occupants, causing them to flee into another room. Looking Cloud and Fallis then departed the residence in their vehicle. The occupants of the residence called 911.
On the morning of February 17, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fallis’s Todd County residence, seizing multiple firearms, including two firearms bearing obliterated serial numbers.
On the evening of February 17, 2022, Fallis and Looking Cloud were at a residence in Mellette County. Looking Cloud got into an argument with a woman and produced 9mm handgun. She fired a single shot at the woman at point blank range, striking her in the chest. Looking Cloud and Fallis fled the residence. The occupants of the residence heard the gunshot and called 911. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the early morning hours of February 18, 2022, Looking Cloud was arrested in Mellette County. The 9mm handgun used by Looking Cloud was seized as evidence.
On March 1, 2023, Fallis was located at a residence in Vermillion, South Dakota, and placed under arrest. A 9mm handgun was seized from his person. Fallis admitted to being an unlawful user of controlled substances.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, U.S. Marshals Service, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Looking Cloud and Fallis were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.