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12 May 2023
Straw Purchaser Sentenced to 42 months for Lying to Buy FirearmRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who made an illegal straw purchase of a firearm for a convicted felon, was sentenced this week to 42 months in federal prison.
Garland Thomas Lawton, 25, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee in connection with the acquisition of a firearm.
According to court documents, on May 22, 2020, Lawton purchased a Taurus 9mm pistol from Doomsday Tactical, a federal firearms dealer located in the Western District of Virginia. As part of the purchase, Lawton claimed that he was the intended owner of the firearm, when, in fact, he was actually purchasing the firearm on behalf of Jermaine Drummond, a convicted felon, who paid Lawton $220 in cash to get the pistol.
The firearm was later recovered in Maryland on September 10, 2022, in connection with criminal activity.
United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Michael Weddel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced the sentence today.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin B. Johnson prosecuted the case for the United States.
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. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Robert J. Potocnack (42, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the drug possession offense, and a consecutive minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison for the firearm offense. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 9, 2023.
According to the plea agreement, in November 2022, Potocnack sold 224 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm to an undercover detective from the St. Cloud Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Cloud Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos.
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.
Shadow Creek Ranch manager pleads guilty to scamming HOA companyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 63-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Maria Denise Southall-Shaw was the former manager of Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland. Today, she admitted to defrauding FirstService Residential, a company which managed Shadow Creek Ranch’s homeowner associations and had employed Southall-Shaw.
As part of her plea, Southall-Shaw admitted she approved invoices from a vendor for goods and services which she knew had not been provided. In return, the vendor then provided kickbacks to her.
From November 2013 through November 2017, the vendor would pay Southall-Shaw half of payments they received from the fraudulent invoices, which were allegedly for goods such as pool equipment and supplies but not actually provided to Shadow Creek Ranch. Southall-Shaw admitted she approved the invoices. In return, the vendor made his payments to Shawdashian Group, a company Southall-Shaw owned.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted Southall-Shaw’s guilty plea and set sentencing for Sept. 19. At that time, Southall-Shaw faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.
Sarasota Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Madeline Nikolson has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to impede and impair the ability of the Internal Revenue (“IRS”) to ascertain and collect personal and corporate income tax revenue. Nikolson faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and information presented at the plea hearing, Nikolson owned and managed a restaurant in Sarasota. Beginning at least as early as August 2013, she and her partner and co-owner of the restaurant instituted a scheme to defraud the IRS by removing the records of daily cash sales from the point-of-sale registers at the restaurant, leaving the record to consist only of credit card sales. The owners used this falsified record of sales income to submit to tax preparers who prepared both their personal income tax returns and their corporate tax returns for tax years 2016, 2017, and 2018. As a result, they falsified and removed any reference to approximately $726,105 in sales income from their corporate and personal tax returns for those tax years, resulting in over $100,000 of taxes due and owing on those sums of unreported income.
This case was investigated by the IRS - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Salem Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Machine GunsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of machine guns, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyle Morris, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 18 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Morris was also ordered to pay a fine of $1000. On January 17, 2023, Morris pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of machine guns. He was ordered to forfeit to the government the two machine guns seized during the execution of the search warrant at his home.
“The defendant expressed an interest in perpetrating horrific acts of violence against racial and religious minorities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Those beliefs coupled with his illegal possession of machine guns pose a danger to our communities and today’s sentence sends a clear message that such conduct will result in not only a felony conviction but in incarceration.”
"Today, Kyle Morris learned his fate for illegally possessing two machine guns, while advocating for a race war and the bombing of mosques and synagogues. Weapons, he collected in furtherance of his desire to commit racially motivated violence,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “I commend the diligent work conducted by our New Hampshire Joint Terrorism Task Force for removing this threat from our community."
Morris kept the machine guns in a locked gun room in his home. This locked room also contained over 20 other firearms and various Nazi paraphernalia, including a Nazi uniform, two Nazi flags, and a framed photo of Adolf Hitler.
In private correspondence, he advocated for bombing mosques, synagogues, and diversity centers, and for starting a race war. He expressed an interest in participating in lone wolf attacks in Massachusetts involving shootings in Lawrence, culminating in a plan to drive a truck bomb into the Massachusetts State House. Morris also wanted to “mag dump a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters, especially the darker ones.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski and Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Rochester Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Rochester woman was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Jennelle Brown, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 60 months in prison. On January 18, 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Brown’s co-defendant, Bradford Sargent, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and will be sentenced on July 6, 2023.
“Today’s sentence sends a message to the defendant and other drug traffickers that such illegal conduct will be prosecuted and will result in significant periods of incarceration,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The outstanding collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement stopped those drugs from entering the community.”
Brown and Sargent sold drugs multiple times from their hotel room in Portsmouth. When law enforcement searched their room, they uncovered large quantities of money, drugs, and drug ledgers. Searches of two vehicles, storage units, and safety deposit boxes uncovered more currency and drugs. In total, law enforcement seized over $130,000, 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, almost 650 grams of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of cocaine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Strafford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Jarad E. Hodes prosecuted the case.
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Palm Beach County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for COVID Relief FraudRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Al Clint LaRoche (43, Palm Beach County) to two years in federal prison for bank fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $1,078,652.50, which were the proceeds of the bank fraud. LaRoche had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2023.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and April 2021, LaRoche submitted false and fraudulent First Draw and Second Draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to a financial institution through a financial services and technology company based in Naples for his business – Bornwild, LLC. The loan applications contained numerous false representations and certifications, including Bornwild’s average monthly payroll, number of employees, and that the loan funds would be used for authorized purposes.
To qualify for each PPP loan and in support of his fraudulent loan applications, LaRoche submitted fake and fictitious quarterly federal tax returns (IRS Form 941s) for Bornwild that contained false representations about the business’s quarterly payroll expenses. LaRoche’s false and fraudulent representations caused the PPP lender to approve and fund a First Draw and Second Draw PPP loan, resulting in the deposit of approximately $1,078,652 into bank accounts LaRoche controlled. LaRoche then used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of a Mercedes Benz SUV, jewelry, hotel and travel stays, various retail purchases, and more than $350,000 in cash withdrawals.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
In May 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 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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Antonio Olvera, 21, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for receipt of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Olvera to 96 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Olvera will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
Between December 8, 2018, and August 22, 2019, Olvera uploaded 184 images of child pornography to DropBox. Between June 16, 2020, and August 10, 2020, Olvera uploaded another 14 files containing child pornography. Upon Olvera’s request, between June 22, 2021, and September 22, 2021, a minor sent Olvera via Snapchat images and videos of child pornography depicting the minor. Olvera engaged in “catfishing” and posed as different individuals online when requesting that the minor send the images and videos.
On September 22, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Olvera’s Omaha residence. Agents obtained Olvera’s digital devices and located approximately 417 files containing child pornography. Agents located the child pornography that Olvera had received from the minor.
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 Homeland Security Investigations.New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SHAMAR HOLMES, age 23, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on May 11, 2023 before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to a one-count indictment alleging that he illegally possessed a firearm having previously been convicted of a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, in September 2022, HOLMES was traveling on Interstate 10 near the Claiborne Avenue exit when another car opened fire on his car. HOLMES was shot several times and taken to the hospital. When New Orleans Police Officers arrived to investigate, they seized the car as part of the shooting investigation. During a search of the vehicle, the police located a Glock, Gen. 22, 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Earlier, in January 2022, HOLMES had pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, a felony, in Orleans Parish and was thus prohibited from possessing guns at the time of this event.
HOLMES is set to be sentenced on August 17, 2023. He faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – SEAN MARTIN, age 56, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on May 11, 2023 before United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, MARTIN admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute over a kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(C).
Sentencing is set for August 16, 2023. MARTIN 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. The count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys David Haller and Michael Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – GENE JACKSON, age 53, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on May 11, 2023 before United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to violating the federal Controlled Substances Act announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, JACKSON admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
Sentencing is set for August 16, 2023. JACKSON faces a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release. The count of conviction also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys David Haller and Michael Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit oversee the prosecution.
Nashua Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Nashua man was sentenced on May 11, 2023 in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Philip Wetmore, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 8 years in federal prison and 4 years of supervised release. On February 3, 2023, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
“The sentence imposed reflects the severity of the defendant’s criminal conduct, that being trafficking methamphetamine into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Drug traffickers like the defendant will be prosecuted and will serve lengthy periods of incarceration.”
“In selling crystal meth on the streets of Nashua, while carrying a firearm when he was prohibited from doing so, Philip Wetmore has continued to demonstrate why he is a serious threat to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence is another example of our Major Offender Task Force’s commitment to removing criminals that plague our communities with drugs, guns, and violence from our streets.”
On two occasions in February 2022, Wetmore sold approximately 81 grams of crystal methamphetamine to an individual in Nashua. The FBI arrested Wetmore after the second drug sale. At the time of his arrest, Wetmore had a loaded firearm on him. The FBI subsequently seized approximately 671 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a second loaded firearm, and other items associated with drug trafficking from Wetmore’s car. Wetmore is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Possessing A Firearm and Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Curtis Tyrone Johnson (35, Melbourne) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing with the intent to distribute various controlled substances. The court also ordered Johnson to forfeit a Glock .40 caliber pistol and ammunition traceable to the offense. A federal jury had found Johnson guilty on February 8, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, on March 25, 2022, the Melbourne Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, along with members of the DEA and FBI, were executing search warrants at two residences on Williams Street in Melbourne. While law enforcement moved in to set a perimeter, Johnson came jogging down the side of a residence holding a black bag. Upon making eye contact with law enforcement, Johnson took off running through backyards on Ryoland Street. Agents who followed Johnson observed him holding the black bag and a firearm. Johnson was given commands to put his hands in the air but instead threw the bag and firearm over a fence into a church parking lot. Both items were recovered. The firearm was determined to be a Glock .40 caliber pistol, loaded with 16 rounds of Winchester ammunition. The bag contained approximately 181 grams of methamphetamine, 35 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of fluorofentanyl, and 194 grams of N, N-Dimethylpentylone, a drug similar to MDMA.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Melbourne Police Department, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Beatriz Gonzalez and Sarah Megan Testerman.
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.
Michael Richard Lynch, Former CEO of Autonomy Corporation, Makes Appearance in Federal Court to Face Conspiracy, Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Michael Richard Lynch, the former Chief Executive Officer of Autonomy Corporation, was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States to face charges in the Northern District of California, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian.
Lynch, 57, a citizen of the United Kingdom, was charged in a 17-count superseding indictment on March, 21, 2019. He made his initial appearance before the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, United States District Judge, who ordered the defendant released to home confinement in San Francisco upon his posting a $100 million bond.
The superseding indictment alleges Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomy’s former Vice President of Finance, engaged in a scheme to defraud purchasers and sellers of Autonomy securities, including Palo Alto-based Hewlett-Packard Company (“HP”), about the true performance of Autonomy’s business, its financial condition, and its prospects for growth.
Prior to October 2011, Autonomy was a company with dual headquarters in San Francisco and Cambridge, England. In 2010, about 68% of Autonomy’s reported revenues came from the United States and other countries in the Americas. HP announced on August 18, 2011, it was acquiring Autonomy through a wholly owned subsidiary, Hewlett-Packard Vision B.V.
According to the superseding indictment, between 2009 and 2011, Lynch and Chamberlain, and other co-conspirators, (1) artificially inflated Autonomy’s revenues by backdating written agreements to record revenue in prior periods; recorded revenue on contracts that were subject to side letters or other contingencies that impacted revenue recognition; and improperly recorded revenue for reciprocal or roundtrip transactions; (2) made false and misleading statements to Autonomy’s independent auditor about transactions allegedly supporting the recognition of revenue and other items in Autonomy’s financial statements; (3) made false and misleading statements to market analysts covering Autonomy about Autonomy’s true performance and the nature and composition of its products, revenues and expenses; (4) made false and misleading statements to Autonomy’s regulators in response to inquiries about its financial statements; (5) made false and misleading statements that Autonomy was a so-called “pure software” company while concealing the fact that Autonomy engaged in hidden, loss-making resales of hardware separate from its sale of appliances; (6) made false and misleading statements about Autonomy’s alleged sales of original manufactured equipment or “OEM” licenses; and (7) intimidated, pressured and paid off persons who raised complaints about or openly criticized Autonomy’s financial practices and performance.
As part of the alleged scheme to defraud, Autonomy issued materially false and misleading quarterly and annual financial statements which the defendants allegedly provided to HP during the time that HP was considering whether to purchase Autonomy. The superseding indictment alleges that Lynch and Chamberlain caused Autonomy to make materially false and misleading statements directly to HP regarding Autonomy’s financial condition, performance, and business during the negotiations between HP and Autonomy leading up to the August 18, 2011, announcement by HP to acquire Autonomy for approximately $11 billion.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Lynch and Chamberlain conspired to commit offenses against the United States, the objectives of which were, among other things, to cover up, conceal, influence witnesses to, and otherwise obstruct investigations of the scheme to defraud.
In sum, the superseding indictment charges Lynch and Chamberlain with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; fourteen (14) counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The superseding indictment charges Lynch with an additional count of securities fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1348.
Chamberlain appeared before the Court on February 4, 2019, and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The superseding indictment against Lynch and Chamberlain merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and Lynch and Chamberlain are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, for each count of wire fraud and for the count alleging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 5 years on the count of conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The maximum penalty for the securities fraud count against Lynch is 25 years in prison. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Leach and Adam A. Reeves are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Beth Margen, Kathy Tat, and Megan Pagaduan. The prosecution is the result of an investigation involving the FBI, IRS-CI, and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in the United Kingdom to secure the arrest and extradition of Lynch to the United States.
Methuen Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Steal Firearms from New Hampshire Gun StoresRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Methuen man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to steal firearms from three different New Hampshire gun stores, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Johariel Quezada, 19, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Quezada’s restitution hearing has been scheduled for August 9, 2023. Quezada and his two co-defendants, William Mejia and Ethan Ayala, were indicted on June 13, 2022. On January 5, 2023, Quezada pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Mejia pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2023. Ayala is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2024.
“Stolen firearms often fuel the gun violence that has become far too common in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Stopping the flow of stolen firearms into our communities remains a top priority of this office and we will continue to seek serious sentences for these very serious crimes.”
“Keeping guns from being stolen and used to commit further crimes remains a top priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson.
Between August 29, 2021, and October 4, 2021, Quezada conspired with others to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees. During the course of the conspiracy, 43 firearms were stolen from Milford Firearms in Milford, Second Amendment Arms in Windham, and MacPherson Firearms in Brentwood. Multiple stolen firearms were recovered from Quezada’s residence. Videos recovered from Quezada’s phone showed numerous stolen firearms and admissions of his involvement in the conspiracy.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy 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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Mattawamkeag Man Sentenced to 4+ Years for Role Methamphetamine Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Mattawamkeag Man Sentenced to 4+ Years for Role Methamphetamine Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
BANGOR, Maine: A Mattawamkeag man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor today for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Bruce McAlpine, 33, to 58 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court records, between May and July 2018, McAlpine conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. A coconspirator was obtaining large quantities of methamphetamine from Florida and distributing to locations between Bangor and Houlton. McAlpine agreed to use his home as a storage location to assist in the methamphetamine distribution efforts. In July 2018, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a search warrant of McAlpine’s residence and recovered more than 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
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Man Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Loaded Gun in RockfordRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a man to nearly five years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded firearm in Rockford.
U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber on Tuesday sentenced CEDRIC MARKS, 35, to four years and nine months in prison. Marks pleaded guilty last year to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.
Marks admitted in a plea agreement that on Sept. 4, 2019, he possessed a loaded handgun in Rockford. Marks was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for speeding. He was asked to exit the vehicle after the officer detected an odor of marijuana. Marks reached for a backpack in the vehicle, ignoring the officer’s request to stop, and then defeated the officer’s attempt to handcuff him. Marks then ran, dropping the backpack. He was ultimately arrested with a firearm that was loaded with five rounds of .38-caliber ammunition. The backpack contained ammunition, cash, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
Marks had previously been convicted of a felony and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Laguna Man Charged with Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Cody Allen Charlie was charged with three counts of murder in the second degree. Charlie, 36, of Laguna, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma, appeared in federal court today for a detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to an indictment, on Aug. 7, 2022, Charlie was allegedly driving on I-40 near mile marker 130 when he hit another car from behind, pushing it off the interstate, onto the shoulder, and causing it to roll over. All three occupants of the car were killed in the accident. After the crash, Charlie allegedly fled the scene on foot. The crash occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Laguna Indian Reservation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Charlie faces up to 33 years in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
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Krebs Resident Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeffery Owen Freeman, age 54, of Krebs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 235 months for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Krebs Police Department, the McAlester Police Department, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
On November 13, 2021, law enforcement officers conducting a routine traffic stop discovered Jeffery Freeman, a felon, in possession of several baggies containing a total of 192.4 grams of pure methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and a loaded Sig Sauer, Model P365, 9x19 mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Freeman was on probation supervision at the time of his arrest.
On July 19, 2022, Jeffery Freeman pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, a violation 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).
“This is yet another example of the outstanding partnership and collaboration between the DEA, law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The arrest of Mr. Freeman has undoubtedly made our communities safer and prevented the further destruction that methamphetamine can bring to our neighborhoods” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Dallas Field Division.
“The defendant has a long history of drug and firearms offenses, and the 235-month sentence imposed should send a clear message that dealing illegal drugs will not be tolerated in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
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. Jeffery Freeman will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Kalamazoo Man Convicted at Trial of Federal Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Case Represented the Largest Seizure of Fentanyl in the Kalamazoo AreaGRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that after a three-day trial, a jury convicted Tyrone Henderson (50) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, of the crimes of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of firearms. Henderson was originally arrested upon a criminal complaint on November 15, 2022, and was subsequently indicted by the Grand Jury on December 6, 2022.
“Fentanyl and other illicit street drugs pose an extreme danger to our loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are in a fight to save lives, and my office, in coordination with our local and federal partners, is committed to disrupting the distribution of fentanyl, illegal drugs, and guns into our communities.”
Henderson faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in federal prison, although his advisory range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines will be much higher. According to the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, at the time of the seizure, this represented the largest seizure of fentanyl in the Kalamazoo area. Henderson will be sentenced sometime later this year.
The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force, had an ongoing investigation of Henderson for his involvement with fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution in Kalamazoo. KVET obtained a warrant to search Henderson’s residence and executed it on November 10, 2022. A search of the residence yielded 2.3 kilograms of pure fentanyl, 1.3 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, 516 grams of heroin, and 489 grams of methamphetamine. Much of the methamphetamine seized from Henderson’s residence was in pill form, disguised to look like the party drug ecstasy. Henderson’s residence also contained four assault rifles; ten magazines, nine of which were loaded and fit the assault rifles; ammunition; a handgun; digital scales; presses; and other implements used for processing narcotics. Two of the seized firearms were reported stolen to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Henderson has multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation of Henderson was handled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Austin J. Hakes prosecuted the case.
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Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Property Manager and Owner of California Rental PropertyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the property manager of an apartment building in Koreatown and the owner of the rental property alleging the sexual harassment of female residents in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
Abraham Kesary, who resides at the apartment building on South Western Avenue, sexually harassed female residents at the rental property from at least 2012 until at least 2020, according to the lawsuit filed today in federal court. According to the complaint, Kesary offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual acts, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, entered the homes of female tenants without their permission, and subjected female tenants to unwelcome sexual acts.
Kesary managed the apartment building on behalf of M&F Development, LLC, the property’s owner, who is also named as a defendant in the suit.
“Mr. Kesary allegedly abused his power as a property manager to sexually harass and victimize vulnerable tenants for years,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Sexual harassment is a violation of the Fair Housing Act, and the Justice Department will do everything in its power to seek justice for victims of discrimination and harassment.”
“No one should be subjected to demands for sex, sexual comments or propositions in exchange for safe and affordable housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “A home is a place of refuge; not a place to be subjected to degrading and unlawful harassment. The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the Fair Housing Act and holding landlords and housing providers accountable when they sexually harass their tenants.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Abraham Kesary or M&F Development, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291. Individuals may also email the Department at [email protected] or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
Assistant United States Attorney Margaret Chen of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section and attorneys from the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are handling this matter.
Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against California Rental Property Manager and OwnersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the manager and the owner of a rental property in Los Angeles for engaging in sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Abraham Kesary sexually harassed female tenants at 445 S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles since at least 2012. According to the complaint, Kesary offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual acts, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, entered the homes of female tenants without their permission, and subjected female tenants to unwelcome sexual acts. The lawsuit also names M&F Development LLC, the owner of the property, as a defendant.
“No one should be subjected to demands for sex, sexual comments or propositions in exchange for safe and affordable housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “A home is a place of refuge; not a place to be subjected to degrading and unlawful harassment. The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the Fair Housing Act and holding landlords and housing providers accountable when they sexually harass their tenants.”
“Mr. Kesary allegedly abused his power as a property manager to sexually harass and victimize vulnerable tenants for years,” said U.S Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Sexual harassment is a violation of the Fair Housing Act, and the Justice Department will do everything in its power to seek justice for victims of discrimination and harassment.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Abraham Kesary or M&F Development LLC, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, select option 1 for English or option 2 for Spanish, select option 2 for sexual harassment, then select option 5 for English or option 4 for Spanish to leave a message. Individuals may also email the department at [email protected] or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The department’s initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 31 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.7 million for victims of such harassment.
Jury Convicts Priest of Sex Trafficking Three Victims in Northern OhioRead the Press Release
TOLEDO - A federal jury in Northern District of Ohio convicted Michael J. Zacharias, a priest, of five counts of sex trafficking. The charges related to three victims, two of whom Zacharias trafficked when they were minors and as adults. The evidence presented to the jury detailed how Zacharias paid the victims to engage in sex acts with him using the victims’ fear of serious harm to compel their compliance.
Specifically, the jury heard evidence of how Zacharias first met the victims when they were young boys, and he was a Seminarian at St. Catherine’s Catholic Parish school in Toledo, Ohio, and how Zacharias began grooming the boys for commercial sex acts, using his position as a priest and teacher to ingratiate himself with the boys and their families as a trusted friend, mentor and spiritual counselor. The defendant overcame the victims’ resistance to his eventual commercial sex overtures by gradually sexualizing conversations and conduct with them. At the same time, the victims were developing serious opiate addictions, using pain medication and, later, heroin. Zacharias waited to propose commercial sex until he knew the victims were so heavily involved in drug abuse that it was impacting their daily lives, physical and mental well-being and ability to maintain a stable school or work life.
The victims’ testimony explained how, in varying degrees, they submitted to Zacharias’ commercial sex solicitations because they feared the psychological harm of losing Zacharias as a father figure and friend, losing their connection to the Church and God, and suffering the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal that could be alleviated with the money provided by Zacharias to purchase drugs. One victim in particular – the older brother of another victim – also explained how he feared Zacharias would sexually abuse his minor brother and others if he did not continue to comply with the defendant’s commercial sex solicitations.
“This defendant betrayed the victims in the most inhumane way,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “He robbed them of their childhood, their dignity and their faith. He inflicted cruel psychological harm, preying on their fears and forcing them to choose between submitting to commercial sex acts, or incurring the pain of losing a father figure or counselor, suffering withdrawal sickness, and risking sexual abuse of a loved one. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders like Michael Zacharias accountable and bring justice to their victims.”
“This verdict sends a clear message to those who prey upon children by using positions of trust to further their crimes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office will continue to protect our children by aggressively prosecuting child predators who engage in sex trafficking.”
“The defendant not only abused his victims, but also betrayed the trust placed in him by the congregation and those who dutifully serve parishes across the country,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The FBI is committed to finding and investigating child predators, so no other people become victim to deceitful and abhorrent behavior.”
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Zacharias faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum and lifetime maximum sentence. Restitution in this case is mandatory under the law.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Baeppler made the announcement.
The Lima and Toledo Resident Agencies of the FBI Cleveland Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Jury Convicts Priest of Sex Trafficking Three Victims in Northern OhioRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Northern District of Ohio convicted Michael J. Zacharias, a priest, of five counts of sex trafficking. The charges related to three victims, two of whom Zacharias trafficked when they were minors and as adults. The evidence presented to the jury detailed how Zacharias paid the victims to engage in sex acts with him using the victims’ fear of serious harm to compel their compliance.
Specifically, the jury heard evidence of how Zacharias first met the victims when they were young boys, and he was a Seminarian at St. Catherine’s Catholic Parish school in Toledo, Ohio, and how Zacharias began grooming the boys for commercial sex acts, using his position as a priest and teacher to ingratiate himself with the boys and their families as a trusted friend, mentor and spiritual counselor. The defendant overcame the victims’ resistance to his eventual commercial sex overtures by gradually sexualizing conversations and conduct with them. At the same time, the victims were developing serious opiate addictions, using pain medication and, later, heroin. Zacharias waited to propose commercial sex until he knew the victims were so heavily involved in drug abuse that it was impacting their daily lives, physical and mental well-being and ability to maintain a stable school or work life.
The victims’ testimony explained how, in varying degrees, they submitted to Zacharias’ commercial sex solicitations because they feared the psychological harm of losing Zacharias as a father figure and friend, losing their connection to the Church and God, and suffering the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal that could be alleviated with the money provided by Zacharias to purchase drugs. One victim in particular – the older brother of another victim – also explained how he feared Zacharias would sexually abuse his minor brother and others if he did not continue to comply with the defendant’s commercial sex solicitations.
“This defendant betrayed the victims in the most inhumane way,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “He robbed them of their childhood, their dignity and their faith. He inflicted cruel psychological harm, preying on their fears and forcing them to choose between submitting to commercial sex acts, or incurring the pain of losing a father figure or counselor, suffering withdrawal sickness, and risking sexual abuse of a loved one. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders like Michael Zacharias accountable and bring justice to their victims.”
“This verdict sends a clear message to those who prey upon children by using positions of trust to further their crimes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office will continue to protect our children by aggressively prosecuting child predators who engage in sex trafficking.”
“The defendant not only abused his victims, but also betrayed the trust placed in him by the congregation and those who dutifully serve parishes across the country,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The FBI is committed to finding and investigating child predators, so no other people become victim to deceitful and abhorrent behavior.”
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Zacharias faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum and lifetime maximum sentence. Restitution in this case is mandatory under the law.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Baeppler made the announcement.
The Lima and Toledo Resident Agencies of the FBI Cleveland Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Jackson Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson woman pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives.
According to court documents, Betty Butler, 56, possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony. On December 8, 2021, federal and state law enforcement executed a search warrant at her home and found a firearm in her bedroom. Butler has several prior felony convictions for narcotics violations.
Butler is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. Criminal Chief Erin Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, “Bell Ringer”, which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine and cocaine distribution in central, Mississippi. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jackson Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Using 3D-Printers to Manufacture MachinegunsRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and engaging in business as a manufacturer of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court documents, Kent Edward Newhouse, 41, possessed firearms on or about July 13, 2022 and July 20, 2022, and engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms from April to July 2022. In April 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered through a confidential informant that Newhouse was using 3D-printers to manufacture auto-sears, which are firearm components designed to cause semi-automatic firearms to function as fully automatic machineguns. Under federal law, auto-sears are themselves machineguns. On July 13, 2022, Newhouse sold a confidential informant a firearm and several auto-sears. On July 20, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Newhouse’s residence, where additional firearms and auto-sears were located. The government also obtained videos of Newhouse operating fully functional machineguns. Newhouse was previously convicted of felony sale of controlled substances in Madison County in 2009.
Newhouse pled guilty on September 1, 2022 to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of engaging in business as a manufacturer of firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bert Carraway and Andrew W. Eichner 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.
Inmate Convicted of Running Drug Distribution Scheme While in PrisonRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Yesterday, a federal jury found Johnnie Page Lott, 41, from Mobile, Alabama, guilty of conspiring to sell methamphetamine in an Alabama prison and conspiring to launder drug money, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in early 2020, Lott was an inmate at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery. Correctional officers suspected Lott was involved in illegal activity and began listening to recordings of calls Lott made from prison phones. The recordings revealed that Lott had numerous conversations concerning the sale of drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids called “Flakka,” within the prison. The subsequent investigation showed that Lott would have drugs brought into the prison, then he utilized other inmates to distribute them throughout the facility.
The trial evidence revealed that on May 24, 2020, a correctional officer spotted an inmate with a suspicious bulge in his clothing. The officer searched the inmate and found a package of what turned out to be methamphetamine. Later on, Lott made a phone call and discussed with a co-conspirator the confiscation of the drugs.
The jury also heard evidence that Lott was coordinating payments for the sale of his illegal drugs with his co-conspirator. On numerous occasions, Lott and the co-conspirator spoke about the amount of money the drug enterprise generated and, on one occasion, boasted about having an “$11,000.00 weekend.” They also discussed the co-conspirator paying cash for a $27,000.00 vehicle. When DEA agents executed a federal search warrant on the home of the co-conspirator, they found nearly $130,000.00 in cash. Federal agents also seized the co-conspirator’s financial accounts, totaling approximately $60,000.00.
Following the May 11, 2023, verdict, Lott faces a sentence 10 years to life in federal prison. The Alabama Department of Corrections' Law Enforcement Services Division and the DEA investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric M. Counts, Kevin P. Davidson, and Mark E. Andreu are prosecuting the case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on May 12 was:
Max Gaylord Stout, 35, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and drug user and addict in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Stout faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Stout was detained pending further proceedings. The Kalispell Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Crime Lab and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-62.
Tracy Jean Bell, 50, of Beaverton, Oregon, on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bell faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Bell was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula Police Department, Northwest Montana Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-23.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on May 10 was:
Mariana Tyler Wallace, 22, of Okanogan, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wallace faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Wallace was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-55
Gregory Jacob Porterfield, 35, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Porterfield faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Porterfield was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-54.
Savas Christian Lewis Howard, 26, of Billings, on charges of theft from a federal firearm licensee, possession of stolen firearms and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Howard faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Howard was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-53.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on May 9 was:
Marvin James Cole, 27, of Dodson, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cole faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Cole was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement, Montana Highway Patrol and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-29.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Illinois Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Escape from Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Martese Rayshawn Roland, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Escape from Custody. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Roland to one year in prison. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release as there is no parole in the federal system.
On July 18, 2016, Roland was convicted in the District of Nebraska for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana, and Use of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Roland received a 96-month sentence that he served at the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
On August 17, 2022, Roland was transferred to the Residential Re-Entry Center in Omaha (RRC DISMAS) to finish his sentence that was set to expire on January 14, 2023. On September 16, 2022, Roland left RRC DISMAS without permission. He was located in Omaha by deputies with the United States Marshals Service on October 31, 2022, and was arrested at that time for escape.
This case was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service.
Illinois Hospital Agrees to Pay $12.5 Million to Settle Allegations of Billing ErrorRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of the Hospital Sisters Health System (“St. Elizabeth”) in O’Fallon, Illinois, this week agreed to pay $12.5 million to resolve allegations that it committed billing errors that may have resulted in an overpayment for services. A lawsuit alleged that the hospital submitted claims for urgent care services billed at a higher level of service. When the errors were brought to the attention of St. Elizabeth, the hospital fully cooperated with the Department of Justice’s investigation.
The settlement resolves a qui tam, or whistleblower, lawsuit. St. Elizabeth is not admitting any wrongdoing but has agreed to settle the claims to avoid the expense and uncertainty of litigation. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens, known as relators, can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois; the Office of the Inspector General of the Office of Personnel Management; the Inspector General’s Office of the Department of Health and Human Services; the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Defense; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
“I would like to commend the excellent work of our investigators, their law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s office for their tireless efforts on this complex case,” said U.S. Office of Personnel Management Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Conrad J. Quarles. “Safeguarding the integrity of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan is of the utmost importance to our Office and benefits millions of Federal employees, retirees, and dependents who rely on the program.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Klein and Department of Justice Trial Counsel Allie Pang represented the government during the settlement process. To learn more about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil.
Human Smuggler Sentenced to 101 Months for Causing Crash That Killed PassengerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Andres Urias-Soto, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 96 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Because Urias-Soto was on supervised release for the offense of transporting illegal aliens for profit when he committed this offense, Judge Hinderaker imposed a sentence of 5 months consecutive for the violation of supervised release. Urias-Soto pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Resulting in Death and admitted to violating a condition of supervised release.
On June 17, 2021, Urias-Soto agreed to drive to Lukeville, Arizona, to pick up undocumented non-citizens who were present illegally in the United States. Urias-Soto was to be paid to transport them to another location within the United States. On that same date, United States Border Patrol agents observed Urias-Soto pick up two suspected undocumented non-citizens from a gas station and drive northbound on State Route 85 towards Interstate 8. When Border Patrol agents activated their lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop, Urias-Soto sped up, failed to yield to the agents, and eventually reached speeds up to 110 miles per hour. Shortly thereafter, Urias-Soto lost control of the vehicle and crashed in the desert. One of the passengers succumbed to his injuries. The surviving passenger also sustained injuries.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Sells, in coordination with Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, Ajo Station, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Arturo Aguilar, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 21-cr-01933-JCH-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-069_Urias-Soto# # #
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.Hulbert Resident Sentenced for Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeramey Dill, age 34, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On May 3, 2021, during a violent argument, Dill pulled a handgun and discharged his weapon multiple times. The victim sustained a non–life threatening gunshot wound to his leg and Dill fled the scene before deputies arrived. Investigators recovered multiple .40 caliber shell casings from the scene. Dill was arrested at his residence the following day by investigators serving a search warrant and confessed to the shooting.
Dill pleaded guilty to the offense on October 28, 2021.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy to foster trust and legitimacy in our communities, support community-based organizations that help prevent violence, set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and produce measurable results.
The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Dill will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.
Four Men Sentenced to Life for June 2018 SlayingRead the Press Release
Defendants Abducted Maryland Man and Held Him for Ransom
WASHINGTON – Four Washington, D.C. men were sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life in prison for murder and other charges in the kidnapping of a Maryland man, whose body was found in June 2018 in an alley in Southeast Washington. The victim had been shot numerous times and his hands were still bound with zip-ties.
Defendants Darin Moore, Jr. 29, of Bowie, Md., Gabriel Brown, 33, and John Sweeney, 29, both of Washington, D.C., were each sentenced to life in prison on the charge of kidnapping resulting in death, and 45 years in prison on counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, first degree premeditated murder and felony murder, all to run concurrent to each other. Defendant James Taylor, 33, also of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping resulting in death and 45 years in prison for felony murder, to run concurrently. All four were found guilty, on November 1, 2022, following a trial in U.S. District Court.
The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to the government’s evidence, on June 19, 2018, the victim, Andre Simmons, Jr., 28, from Bowie, Maryland, was abducted at gunpoint in Maryland, bound with zip ties, and forced into a vehicle by Moore and Sweeney. During the following few hours, several ransom calls were made from Taylor’s phone to Mr. Simmons’ family, who delivered $7,000 in cash to a drop location as instructed by the kidnappers. The money was subsequently picked up by Brown.
Just over an hour after the ransom payment, at about 6:25 a.m. on June 20, 2018, the defendants shot Mr. Simmons 19 times and left his zip-tied body in an alley off the 600 block of Atlantic Street SE. The four men then met up in Capitol Heights, Maryland, to divide up the proceeds of the ransom demand.
Moore was arrested on June 20, 2018; Brown was arrested on June 27, 2018; Taylor was arrested on Aug. 17, 2018; and Sweeney was arrested on Jan. 14, 2019. All have been in custody since their arrests.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force and MPD’s Homicide Division. Valuable assistance was provided by Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Wasserman and Will Hart, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane and former Paralegal Specialist Genevieve De Guzman also assisted in the prosecution.
Fort Pierce Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking at GunpointRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Xavier Daughtry, 25, of Fort Pierce, Florida, has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, including a sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice during the trial, for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Following his conviction by a South Florida federal jury in February.
Just before midnight on May 9, 2022, the Fort Pierce Police Department received a 911 call from the victim advising that she had parked her vehicle at a gas station on U.S. Hwy 1 in Fort Pierce. After going inside the store, the victim returned to find Daughtry attempting to enter her vehicle. The victim confronted Daughtry, who then raised a loaded .45 caliber pistol and pointed it at the victim’s face and told her to “back the f--- up.” Daughtry then got inside the vehicle and left the area. As a result of the call, the police department issued a BOLO “be on (the) lookout” for the vehicle, a 2022 Nissan Altima, including the license plate number.
Less than eight minutes later, law enforcement observed the Nissan Altima turning onto Saint Frances Drive in Fort Pierce and initiated a traffic stop. After apprehending Daughtry, police officers located a fully loaded Llama Minimax .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
FBI Miami, Fort Pierce Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Fort Pierce Field Office, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Pierce Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Porter and Justin Hoover prosecuted the case.
This case stems from Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-14047.
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Fort Myers Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Doumy Joseph (27, Fort Myers) to six years and nine months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The court also ordered Joseph to forfeit the firearms and ammunition he illegally possessed. Joseph had pleaded guilty on September 22, 2022.
According to court documents, law enforcement stopped Joseph’s vehicle after discovering there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Before Joseph’s vehicle was towed, law enforcement conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the inventory search, a brown fast-food bag containing four circular crack cocaine cookies, weighing approximately 69.4 grams total, was found on the front passenger seat. A loaded Glock 9mm firearm was located in the vehicle’s center console. Law enforcement also searched the trunk of the vehicle and found a Smith & Wesson MP15 rifle, as well as assorted ammunition. Joseph admitted to purchasing the firearms found in his vehicle.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Trent Reichling.
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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Myers Felon Convicted for Unlawfully Possessing Loaded RifleRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Javonte Keyon Whitfield (25, Fort Myers) guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Whitfield faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Whitfield had been indicted on February 9, 2022.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, shortly before 1:30 A.M. on May 14, 2021, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) were alerted to multiple gunshots near the intersection of Linhart Avenue and Evans Avenue in Fort Myers. While investigating the origin of the gunfire, the officers spoke with an occupant of a duplex on Evans Avenue, who denied hearing any gunshots and claimed that he was alone in the residence with his three young children. Shortly thereafter, in direct contradiction to what he just told officers, six adult males—including Whitfield—and three young children exited the residence. Officers observed that one of the men was suffering from a gunshot wound, and EMS was summoned. When the residence was later searched, FMPD personnel located seven unsecured firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, and cocaine. From under the bed in one of the two bedrooms of the residence, FMPD recovered a loaded NORINCO SKS rifle equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Subsequent forensic analysis of that firearm determined that a latent fingerprint lifted from the metallic bayonet of the rifle belonged to Whitfield, a previously convicted felon who had been released from prison less than five months earlier. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Simon R. Eth and Patrick L. Darcey.
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.
Forsyth man admits to two separate assaults with weapons on Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Forsyth man accused of assaulting two men with a gun in one assault and assaulting a woman with a metal bar in a separate assault, admitted to charges on May 11, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Both assaults were committed in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation,
Edward Leroy Widner III, 29, pleaded guilty to five counts in a superseding information charging him with two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Widner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each count.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Widner was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged that on May 22, 2022 at Lame Deer, Widner assaulted two victims, John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, with a firearm. Widner went to John Doe 1’s residence and first assaulted Doe 2 in the living room by hitting him in the head with a pistol. Widner dragged Doe 2 into a bedroom occupied by Doe 1 and told Doe 1 to get up or Doe 2 was going to die. Widner then hit Doe 1 repeatedly in the face. At some point, the gun discharged, and a round went through the bed, a wall and into the ground outside of the residence. Doe 1 suffered serious injuries.
The government further alleged that in March 2020 at Lame Deer, Widner assaulted Jane Doe 1, who sought medical attention for serious injuries. At the time, Doe 1 declined to name her assailant citing increased danger if she were to speak to law enforcement. Doe 1 reported that Widner assaulted her with multiple objects, including a metal pipe. In a recent interview with the FBI, Doe 1 identified Widner as her assailant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
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Former Mental Health and Community Residence Facility Director Sentenced for Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and Elderly PersonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Latonja Dashawn Carrera, also known as Latonja Dashawn Martin, 48, of Camp Springs, Maryland, was sentenced today to twelve months incarceration, ten months suspended, and three years of probation for a felony charge of financial exploitation of a vulnerable or elderly adult in violation of D.C. Code §§ 22-933.01(a)(3) and 22-936.01(a)(1).
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Inspector General for the District of Columbia Daniel W. Lucas.
According to facts admitted in her guilty plea, Carrera was the owner and administrator of M&M Residential Services, Inc., a Mental Health Community Residence Facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). Carrera admitted that within a 16-day period in January 2019, she made five separate transactions totaling $3,090.14 from the bank accounts of a 73-year-old vulnerable adult under her care, which she in turn used to pay for her own personal utility and credit card bills.
Carrera was arrested in December 2020, and pleaded guilty on December 6, 2022. In addition to the prison term and probation, D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, ordered Carrera to undergo a mental health evaluation and pay $1,565.78 in restitution to the victim, in addition to a $100 fine paid to the victims compensation fund As a condition of probation, Carrera is also prohibited from serving in any fiduciary role for any individual other than her immediate family members.
This prosecution is part of the Office’s wider efforts to combat crimes against seniors and vulnerable adults. In 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia launched an initiative to address the abuse and exploitation of older adults. The Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative at the U.S. Attorney’s Office expanded its response to criminal and civil violations targeting older adults. The initiative has enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop and coordinate further its prosecution of these cases and enhance its overall support of older or vulnerable victims. The team consists of experienced prosecutors and victim advocates from across the Office, to include the Superior Court, Criminal, and Civil Divisions, as well as the Victim Witness Assistance Unit.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative partners with the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which is statutorily responsible for investigating and prosecuting District Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect of residents in health care facilities and board and care facilities and of District Medicaid beneficiaries in noninstitutional or other settings.
This prosecution is indicative of the continued collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General to investigate and prosecute cases of this kind. The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477].
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated and prosecuted the case from the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Office of Inspector General’s MFCU. They also acknowledged the efforts of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, on detail from the Office of the Inspector General, who prosecuted the case, and MFCU Special Agent Jonathan Rich, who investigated the matter. They also recognized the work of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, which initiated this case, and the D.C. Adult Protective Services, which referred this matter for investigation.
Former Grantham Man Indicted for Embezzling More Than $230,000 from CharityRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, was indicted in connection with stealing nearly a quarter million dollars from a charity and gambling away a large amount of the stolen funds at the MGM casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyle Fisher, 42, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud. Fisher is scheduled to appear in federal court on a later date.
According to the charging documents, Fisher was the Executive Director of a charity in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He had full access to the charity’s finances, including its QuickBooks accounting records, PayPal account, and bank account. Between February 2021 and September 2022, Fisher embezzled more than $230,000 from the charity. He wrote unauthorized checks to himself and transferred funds from the charity’s PayPal account to his own personal bank account. Fisher created fake invoices and receipts and altered the charity’s accounting records. He gambled a large amount of the stolen funds away at the MGM casino in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Boston Woman Arrested for Failing to Surrender to Serve Federal SentenceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Boston woman who was sentenced to federal prison in 2021 has been arrested for allegedly failing to surrender to serve her sentence.
Yris Sanchez, 51, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2022 for failing to appear to serve a federal sentence and was arrested in Laredo, Texas on March 18, 2023. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today, Sanchez was held pending further court proceedings on this charge and until she serves her prior sentence.
According to court documents, Sanchez used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and use various U.S. passports and at least one Massachusetts Real ID driver’s license. Sanchez also used this person’s identifiers to apply for and use accounts with various banks, including Citizens Bank and Santander. In addition, Sanchez also used a different identity to obtain another U.S. Passport. Sanchez has previously been arrested under multiple identities.
In May 2020, Sanchez was convicted of misusing a passport and was sentenced to 15 months of prison. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanchez requested release on conditions and to self-report to serve her sentence. The Court granted this request and released Sanchez on an appearance bond. It is alleged that, following several extensions of her self-report date, Sanchez failed to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons in June 2021 to serve her sentence. In July 2021, the Court forfeited Sanchez’s secured appearance bond and entered a further default judgment of $47,500 against Sanchez.
The charge of failure to surrender provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence on this charge will be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on her prior case. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Division, is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Nationwide “Felony Lane Gang” ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tyrone Parker Jr., age 23, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville made the announcement.
Parker Jr. admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2018 and 2020. Parker Jr. and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, and parks. Parker Jr. and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims and cash checks in drive-through bank lanes. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to drugs and were provided payment at least partially in narcotics. Parker Jr. also helped rent cars that he and other members of the conspiracy used to travel around and commit their crimes. Parker Jr. admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is approximately $81,737.
The charges to which Parker Jr. pled guilty carry a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1.25 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. Parker Jr. will be sentenced on September 13, 2023. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Parker Jr. was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York; Robert Natson, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; and Tyrone Parker Sr. (the father of Tyrone Parker Jr.), age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty. The remaining co-defendants are:
- CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida; and
- RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale.
The two defendants awaiting trial are each charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and they are scheduled for trial in federal court in Albany on July 10, 2023. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME.
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie, Michael F. Perry, and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.
Federal Jury Finds Venezuelan National Guilty of Trafficking $21 Million of Cocaine on the High SeasRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Hector Caballero (70, Venezuela) guilty of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as well as possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Caballero faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 21, 2023. Caballero and three others were indicted on November 30, 2022.
According to testimony presented at trial, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a panga-style “go-fast vessel” in the Caribbean Sea, about 100 miles north of the nearest point of land in Colombia. The vessel was suspected of drug smuggling because it had several fuel barrels and a tarp covering the deck, had no registration numbers on the hull and was flying no flag, was operating at a high rate of speed, and was sailing in a location where maritime drug smuggling by similar vessels is common. A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter and a USCG Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) were deployed from HNLMS Holland, a Dutch naval vessel patrolling in the area, to intercept the suspicious vessel. The helicopter and its crew were from the USCG Helicopter Interdiction Squadron (“HITRON”) unit based in Jacksonville and the LEDET boarding team was from the USCG Tactical Law Enforcement Team South (“TACLET South”) based in Opa-Locka.
The helicopter arrived on scene first and signaled the go-fast vessel to stop. The vessel continued at a high rate of speed, even after the helicopter deployed warning shots in front of the vessel. Ultimately, the helicopter successfully deployed disabling fire to the go-fast vessel’s two outboard engines, and the small boats from the Holland with the USCG LEDET boarding team arrived at the vessel.
The boarding team found Caballero and three others onboard. The USCG determined the vessel to be without nationality, and therefore subject to U.S. jurisdiction. A search of the vessel revealed over 700 kilograms of cocaine, worth approximately $21 million, hidden under the fuel barrels and tarp on the vessel. The three others onboard previously pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Photos of the law enforcement boarding and cocaine below:
This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Pardo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Krebs.
Father and Son Convicted After Nine-Day Trial for a Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted Scott Anthony Williams, age 45, of Laurel, Maryland and Taeyan Raymond Williams, age 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia yesterday for a drug trafficking conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Scott Williams was also convicted for conspiracy to destroy and conceal evidence related to these crimes. Both defendants were acquitted of charges related to the armed robbery, and kidnapping resulting in death of their marijuana supplier.
The verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to the evidence presented at the nine-day trial, from approximately October 2017 until April 6, 2018, Victim 1 sold and distributed marijuana and marijuana products to Scott Williams (“S. Williams”), Taeyan Williams (“T. Williams”), their family members, and associates. S. Williams and T. Williams sold the products received from Victim 1 to other distributors for resale and to end drug users. The Williams’ also sold and distributed cocaine to Victim 1 for further distribution. As a result of various transactions between the Williams’ and Victim 1, T. Williams and members of his family, including S. Williams, became indebted to Victim 1. According to witness testimony, on April 6, 2018, Victim 1 planned to meet with T. Williams and S. Williams to discuss the debt that they owed to Victim 1, and to provide the Williams’ with marijuana and marijuana products.
As detailed in trial testimony, shortly before that meeting, Victim-1’s supplier in California had a large shipment of marijuana and marijuana products delivered to Victim-1’s storage unit in Jessup, Maryland. The Williams’ were aware that Victim 1 had access to a large amount of marijuana and marijuana products.
Trial evidence showed that on April 5, 2018, and April 6, 2018, Victim 1 retrieved controlled substances from his storage unit in Jessup, Maryland and stayed at a short-term rental property in Baltimore, Maryland. On the afternoon of April 6, Victim 1 traveled from Baltimore to Laurel, Maryland, where S. Williams lived. Location data reflects that at 1:32 p.m., Victim 1 was approximately 1.5 miles from Scott Williams’ residence. On April 6, 2018, at approximately 1:52 p.m., Victim 1 saved a note to a ledger and accounting of controlled substances that Victim 1 sold to T. Williams and monies paid or owed from him, which Victim 1 maintained in his email account.
The government presented evidence that on April 7, 2018, S. Williams and other conspirators drove Victim 1’s vehicle to a Baltimore parking lot where they parked the vehicle, cleaned it, and then drove away in S. Williams’s rented car. Victim 1’s DNA and blood were later recovered from the rear bumper, lift gate, passenger side door frame, and trunk carpeting of Victim 1’s abandoned vehicle. Further, the evidence showed that between 8:37 p.m. on April 6, 2018, and 8:31 p.m. on April 8, 2018, S. Williams used Victim 1’s PIN number to enter the Jessup storage facility. Between April 8, 2018 and June 6, 2018, the defendants hid Victim-1’s drugs in S. Williams’ in Laurel. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at the home on June 6, 2018, they recovered large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as four firearms: a 9mm handgun; a 7.62 caliber-rifle; a .38 caliber handgun; and a .25 caliber handgun. A copy of Victim 1’s ledger was also found under S. Williams’ bed in the home. The body of Victim 1 was never located.
Finally, the evidence also proved that between June 6, 2018, and his initial appearance on federal charges in January 2019, S. Williams sought to conceal and destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation, including by asking an associate to delete information from his electronic storage account and phone.
Scott and Taeyan Williams each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In addition, Scott Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; and a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to conceal and destroy evidence. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for Scott Williams on August 22, 2023, and for Taeyan Williams on August 23, 2023.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Maryland State Police, the DEA, and HSI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah B. Grossi, William D. Moomau, and Michael C. Hanlon who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Executive Director of Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Federal FundingRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Yesterday, Doris Joann Gilmore, 61, from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to federal program theft and failure to submit payroll taxes collected from employees, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, Gilmore was the Executive Director of the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ALACTE) in Montgomery, Alabama. The ALACTE serves as an advocate on issues affecting Alabama’s career and technical education programs. During the period in question, between 2020 and 2022, the ALACTE received federal grant funds through various state agencies. As the organization’s director, Gilmore was responsible for budgeting, approving payments, and developing and disbursing payroll funds. She also prepared and filed federal and state tax returns, payroll tax returns, and Forms W-2.
Although the total timeframe for the criminal conduct was not specified in court documents, Gilmore specifically admitted to embezzling ALACTE funds during the 2020 calendar year and failing to send payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that were withheld during the first quarter of 2022. The plea agreement states that Gilmore’s crimes caused a total loss of $2,832,486.30.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Gilmore will face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines and restitution.
The FBI, IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil is prosecuting the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Gun-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Defendant Threatened Victim With a Gun at a Metro Station
WASHINGTON – Kalil Ameer Xavier Pitts, 31, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of simple assault, and one count of criminally negligent storage of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metro Transit Police Department.
Kalil Pitts pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Erik P. Christian. Pitts will be sentenced on July 28, 2023. He faces up to five years’ imprisonment for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, up to 180 days’ imprisonment for simple assault, and up to 180 days’ imprisonment for criminally negligent storage of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 9, 2022, Kalil Pitts followed a former friend to the train platform at Brookland-CUA Metro Station in Washington, D.C., and threatened him with a handgun. The victim fled, but Pitts chased him through the station and started a fistfight. Pitts punched the victim multiple times, cutting the victim near his eye. The assaults were recorded by WMATA’s surveillance system. A week later, members of the Metro Transit Police Department executed a search warrant at the D.C. apartment of Kalil Pitts. Inside, police found a loaded handgun and a “ghost” rifle—both of which were accessible to two young children under the age of 10 years. Pitts was not permitted to possess the firearms due to a prior conviction and he did not store the firearms securely.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos A. Valdivia and Omeed Assefi, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Defendant on Ten Most Wanted List Extradited from Canada to the United States to Face Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
DETROIT - A dual citizen of Laos and Canada on Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Ten Most Wanted list was extradited this week by the government of Canada to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in Detroit, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Division.
According to court records, Khaophone Sychantha, age 41, was first indicted by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan in December 2005. Further investigation by agents of HSI Detroit led to charges in a superseding indictment returned in October 2013, charging Sychantha and three additional defendants. Sychantha is charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, ecstasy, BZP, and marijuana between 2003 and 2011. He is also charged with three counts of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Following these American indictments, Sychantha was also charged and arrested in Canada on three separate Canadian criminal cases. In 2014, Sychantha fled while under house arrest in Canada. HSI Detroit subsequently added Sychantha to the Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Ten Most Wanted List and offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
In 2017, Sychantha was arrested in the Montreal, Canada area following an assault on a police officer and a short pursuit. Since his 2017 arrest, Sychantha has remained in Canadian custody while he contested his extradition to the United States along with two Canadian co-defendants. Sychantha made his initial appearance in federal court in Detroit yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony P. Patti.
“I commend the work of the agents from HSI and Canadian law enforcement for pursuing this long-time fugitive and significant drug trafficker,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our international partners, Sychantha will now face justice in the United States.”
“HSI will continue to work with our partners both in the United States and across the globe to hold criminals accountable,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “More than a decade has passed since this investigation began. I am proud of the HSI special agents, prosecutors, and law enforcement who did not let the passage of time prevent them from bringing the defendant to justice.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carl D. Gilmer-Hill. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Canada.
sychantha_firstsupersedingindictmentfiledcopy_oct162013.pdfCottonwood County Farmer Pleads Guilty in $19 Million Organic Grain Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ST PAUL, Minn. – A Cottonwood County man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, between 2013 and 2021, James Clayton Wolf, 65, a certified organic farmer, engaged in a scheme to defraud grain purchasers by selling them non-GMO grains falsely represented as organic. In his guilty plea, Wolf admitted purchasing conventionally farmed grains from a supplier and reselling the grains labelled as organic. The scheme netted profits of more than $19.6 million, which Wolf used to purchase real estate, vehicles and farm equipment, and investments. As part of the agreement, Wolf will forfeit all the proceeds of the fraud.
Wolf pleaded guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of wire fraud. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with assistance from the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Lewis, Craig Baune, and Quinn Askew are prosecuting the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Raequan M. Nelson (24, Tampa) to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Nelson to forfeit the firearm and ammunition. Nelson had pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022.
According to court documents, on February 13, 2022, Nelson had two warrants for his arrest in Hillsborough County. Officers from the Tampa Police Department located Nelson in Tampa. When Nelson entered his car, the officers executed a “box-in” to stop Nelson from leaving the scene. Nelson responded by trying to flee. Once detained, law enforcement removed a loaded Glock 9mm pistol from Nelson’s right front pocket. At the time, Nelson had multiple prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
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.
Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Milton Anthony Bradshaw (43, Tampa) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Bradshaw faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Bradshaw that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense.
According to the indictment, on September 20, 2022, Bradshaw was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of the incident, Bradshaw had four previous felony convictions for delivery of cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
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.
Convicted Fayetteville Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Jarrell Raeshon Bordeaux was sentenced to 248 months in prison for 13 drug trafficking and firearm charges. Bordeaux was convicted by a federal jury in January of this year. According to court records and evidence presented in court, Bordeaux sold ounces of fentanyl and heroin to a confidential informant 10 times. During the drug deals, he bragged about how successful he was at selling drugs and the steps he took to keep from being caught.
“Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant recklessly stored fentanyl and stolen guns in the same room where his seven-year-old played. We are proudly partnering with local law enforcement to put narcotics traffickers like Bordeaux behind bars where they belong.”
Following the controlled purchases, officers executed search warrants at two locations used by Bordeaux to distribute drugs. At his house, officers found his seven-year-old son playing video games in the same room as 200 grams (seven ounces) of fentanyl and heroin and two loaded handguns that were stolen. At another location, officers seized three more handguns along with tools and packaging Bordeaux used to distribute drugs.
At sentencing, the Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II emphasized the danger and harm caused by fentanyl and armed drug trafficking across the United States, and specifically in communities like Fayetteville. Chief Judge Myers also noted that Bordeaux ignored these risks by storing fentanyl and loaded guns in his own child’s room.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Fayetteville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Lemons and Nick Hartigan prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:20-cr-00428-M.