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Tuesday 14 March 2023
Niagara Falls Man Going to Prison for Attempted Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Pedro Melendez, 28, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that in July 2021, Melendez engaged in sexually explicit communications with an 11-year-old minor victim residing in Connecticut, via several email and PlayStation accounts and applications. Melendez specifically asked the minor victim if she was 11 years old, which she confirmed, and he continued to engage in sexually explicit conversations. During these conversations, Melendez repeatedly asked the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself, while sending the minor victim naked images of himself. Melendez also said that he wished he lived near the minor victim so that he could be her “teacher” and her “training partner.” In addition, Melendez told the minor victim to delete her messages saying “[t]hen ya might show people then I'm a pedophile,” and “[o]nly because your [sic] young enough to be my kid.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 8, 2023, CHRISTIAN GUITY, age 26, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to three counts of a four-count indictment for federal drug and weapons violations, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count 1 charged GUITY with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Count 2 charged GUITY with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Finally, Count 3 charged GUITY with possession of a machine gun. GUITY’s sentencing is set for June 7, 2023.
As to Count 1 of the indictment that charges GUITY with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D), he faces a maximum sentence of 5 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and at least 2 years of supervised release. Additionally, in Count 1, GUITY is charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). For this charge, GUITY faces a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2 that charges GUITY with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1), he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 5 years supervised release. Finally, as to Count 3 that charges GUITY with possessing a machine gun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o), he faces a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. For each count of conviction, GUITY must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that KENNETH MUSE, age 24, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on March 9, 2023, before United States District Judge Jay C. Zainey to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts.
According to court records, MUSE admitted to being arrested after fleeing from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies on a dirt bike for possessing a machinegun and tramadol pills he was selling. The gun MUSE possessed had been equipped with a “Glock switch,” transforming the normally semi-automatic pistol into fully automatic. MUSE admitted possessing the tramadol with the intent to distribute, that he possessed the gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, and that he was a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Sentencing is set for June 13, 2023. On the drug offense, MUSE faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least 1 year of supervised release. On the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, MUSE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment which must run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. On the felon in possession of a firearm count, MUSE faces up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement, MUSE and the government agreed that a sentence of 15 years was an appropriate disposition of 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.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Missouri Doctor Admits Defrauding Medicare, MedicaidRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A doctor from Moberly, Missouri pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges and admitted falsely using his father’s name to bill Medicare and Medicaid for medical services.
Dr. Justin G. LaMonda, 41, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of making false statements related to health care matters.
Dr. LaMonda admitted as part of his plea that he and his father agreed to bill Medicare and Missouri Medicaid for services performed by Dr. LaMonda as if they had actually been performed by Dr. LaMonda’s father, who was also a doctor.
The Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts suspended Dr. LaMonda’s medical license for 30 days effective Aug. 10, 2017 after he was accused of engaging in sexual activity with his office manager and prescribing her controlled substances “without sufficient examination and outside of the usual course of professional practice,” the plea says.
On Dec. 20, 2018, a Medicare administrative contractor revoked his Medicare Part B privileges after determining that he submitted reimbursement claims for services performed when he was suspended. Then, on Sept. 12, 2019, the Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance Unit terminated his Medicare provider number.
Dr. LaMonda admitted that as early as Dec. 20, 2018, he and his father agreed to bill Medicare for services performed by Dr. LaMonda as if they had been performed by his father. After Dr. LaMonda’s Missouri Medicaid billing privileges were terminated, the pair expanded their scheme to include Medicaid claims, the plea says.
Dr. LaMonda instructed his billing personnel to use his father’s unique billing provider number on claims for payment, on referrals to other health care providers and on orders for durable medical equipment, falsely claiming that the father had performed the medical services or ordered additional equipment or treatment, the plea says.
When payments were received for services performed by Dr. LaMonda, his father would transfer the funds to Dr. LaMonda, the plea agreement says.
Dr. LaMonda admitted causing total losses of $537,322 to Medicare and Missouri Medicaid.
At sentencing, Dr. LaMonda could face up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI and the Missouri’s Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric is prosecuting the case.
Mission Man Sentenced for Assault by Strangulation and SuffocationRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
Alexander Brave, age 29, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Brave was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred in October of 2021 in Todd County, South Dakota, wherein Brave assaulted his intimate partner by strangling and suffocating her.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Brave was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Minneapolis Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm after engaging in a shootout in North Minneapolis, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on December 20, 2021, Dominique Marquise McCaskel, 25, was in possession of a loaded Sig Sauer, model P365, 9mm semiautomatic pistol. According to the defendant’s plea agreement, surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a vehicle drive slowly past McCaskel, stopping momentarily in an alleyway. Upon seeing the vehicle, McCaskel pulled his Sig Sauer firearm from his pocket, ran towards the vehicle, and exchanged gunfire with individuals in the vehicle. McCaskel was shot and fell to the sidewalk, and the vehicle fled the area. Officers with the Minneapolis Police Department responded to the scene and recovered two 9mm discharged cartridge casings near McCaskel on the ground, and later recovered McCaskel’s firearm. The Minneapolis Police Forensics Division determined that the two recovered discharged cartridge casings were shot from McCaskel’s Sig Sauer firearm. The Forensics Division also found McCaskel’s thumbprint on the loaded magazine that was inserted into the firearm.
Because McCaskel has several prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from lawfully possessing any firearms or ammunition. McCaskel pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge Ann D. Montgomery to one count of possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal felon. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 19, 2023.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Hillary A. Taylor are prosecuting the case.
Miami Man Charged for Running Fraudulent Cryptocurrency and Stock Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted Ryan James Crawford, a/k/a “Brody,” 30, with eight counts of wire fraud for running a fraudulent cryptocurrency and stock investment scheme.
According to the charges, from around June 2020 through March 2022, Crawford tricked victims into investing about $800,000 in his scheme by: falsely claiming to be a highly successful licensed stockbroker who had made tens of millions of dollars through similar cryptocurrency and stock investments; falsely claiming to have access to enough money to timely repay potential investors; falsely claiming that he had developed an artificial intelligence trading software that “never lost,” and misrepresenting the investment as low-risk and high reward, among other things.
It is alleged that Crawford did not return any victim funds, or generate the exponential returns he promised. Rather, on some occasions, he simply diverted investors’ funds and cryptocurrency for his own personal use, including to pay for luxury rental cars and gambling at the casino.
Crawford was arrested in Colorado and made his initial federal court appearance on March 13, in Denver federal court.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, and Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), announced the charges.
FBI Miami, USSS Miami, and Miami-Dade Police Department Cyber Crimes Investigative Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR). Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hauser is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20100.
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Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Neri Mendoza-Rodriguez, 31, was sentenced on March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine and fentanyl drug conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendoza-Rodriguez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Mendoza-Rodriguez will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Mendoza-Rodriguez is subject to deportation to Mexico by U.S. immigration authorities when he completes his sentence of imprisonment.
In March 2021, a confidential source (CS) contacted Mendoza-Rodriguez to arrange the purchase of methamphetamine. On April 5, 2021, the CS met with Mendoza-Rodriguez and Mendoza-Rodriguez’s cousin, Rigoberto Madrid-Morga, and successfully purchased 399.78 grams of pure methamphetamine. During this controlled delivery, the CS discussed purchasing M-30 fentanyl pills from Mendoza-Rodriguez. Mendoza-Rodriguez confirmed he had fentanyl pills available, and on April 29, 2021, Madrid-Morga delivered 106.79 grams of fentanyl to the CS in Omaha.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Maryland MS-13 Gang Members Plead Guilty to Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including MurderRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Hernan Yanes-Rivera, a/k/a “Recio,” age 22, of Adelphi, Maryland, and Agustin Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” age 25, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to their participation in a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to their activities as part of the MS-13 gang.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to court documents, La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13,” is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized in “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increases the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position.
As detailed in the plea agreement, from at least August 2018 through July 2021, Rivas Rodriguez and Yanes-Rivera were members and associates of Weedams Locos Salvatrucha, (WLS), an MS-13 clique operating primarily in Adelphi, Maryland. Rivas Rodriguez was the clique’s second in command.
On February 23, 2020, at the direction of Rivas Rodriquez and another MS-13 leader, Yanes-Rivera and co-defendant MS-13 member Franklyn Sanchez, shot and killed Victim 1, a former WLS member, in retaliation for the victim’s suspected cooperation with law enforcement. According to the plea agreement, Victim 1 sat for interviews with local police following a robbery he committed with a fellow WLS member. Victim 1’s co-defendant pleaded guilty prior to Victim 1’s murder. In the weeks prior to the murder, Victim 1 had been in touch with WLS members over social media, text messages and voice calls. Records show that WLS members told Victim 1 that if he met with gang members to make amends, his cooperation would be forgiven. Victim 1 was instructed to wait on the side of a road at a location in or near Adelphi, Maryland, on February 23, 2020. A junior WLS member drove Yanes-Rivera and Sanchez to the location, where they picked up Victim 1. They drove to a location in or near Hyattsville, Maryland. Yanes-Rivera, Sanchez and Victim 1 got out of the car and walked into a wooded area, where Yanes-Rivera and Sanchez shot Victim 1. Victim 1 died from his gunshot wounds. As a result of his participation in the murder, Yanes-Rivera was promoted within the hierarchy of MS-13.
On August 8, 2020, WLS members, including Franklyn Sanchez, were gathered at a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Sanchez and several of the WLS members agreed to the murder of Victim 4, who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and to whom Sanchez owed a debt. Sanchez and another MS-13 member murdered Victim 4, then WLS members dragged Victim 4’s body to a stream and left it there. As he was leaving the woods, Sanchez was concerned that his DNA may have been left on the body. To prevent the discovery of DNA or other evidence and to hinder the investigation and prosecution of Victim 4’s murder, Rivas Rodriguez and other WLS members were called and ordered to bring shovels to the wooded area, where they dug a hole and buried Victim 4’s body. Victim 4’s body was later recovered with a bullet wound to the head.
Rivas Rodriguez also conspired with other MS-13 members to kill a female member of the rival 18th Street gang. Rivas Rodriguez and the WLS leader ordered subordinate members of the gang to track the female to a house and kill her. The group of MS-13 subordinates gathered with guns and were preparing to follow their orders, when police arrived on scene and stopped the plan from coming to fruition.
Rivas Rodriguez and Yanes-Rivera were also responsible for collecting extortion payments, or “rents,” from at least two extortion victims on behalf of WLS. Rivas Rodriguez and Yanes-Rivera knew that the victims making extortion payments did so under the threat of death or bodily injury by members of WLS. For example, when WLS imposed rent on Victim-2, an MS-13 member told Victim-2 that “people who don’t pay go down.”
Finally, Yanes-Rivera also participated in money laundering by transferring gang funds obtained through its extortion activities to MS-13 members and associates in El Salvador.
The government and the defendant have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Yanes-Rivera will be sentenced to 22 years in federal prison and Rivas Rodriguez will be sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Rivas-Rodriguez and Yanes-Rivera on July 21, 2023 and July 28, 2023, respectively.
Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, a/k/a “Delinquente,” age 26, of Adelphi, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the same charges on March 7, 2023. Judge Xinis has scheduled sentencing for Sanchez on May 19, 2023.
Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
United States Attorney Barron and Assistant Attorney General Polite commended the FBI, HSI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Montgomery County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo, and Trial Attorneys Brendan Woods and Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, 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/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Marshfield Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Marshfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Kyle R. Evans, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
On May 23, 2022, Evans pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 18, 2017, a Greene County sheriff’s deputy saw Evans driving a motorcycle northbound on West Bypass near the intersection with Nichols Street. Evans was speeding and driving erratically, and the deputy followed him from a distance. Nichols turned the corner from Eldon Street onto Nichols Street at a high rate of speed and slid into a Ford pickup truck. The deputy saw a Glock firearm lying on the road near where Evans was laying. The deputy detained Evans and searched him. Evans had $1,000 in one pocket, $633 in another pocket, and a nylon pistol holder tucked into his front waistband. Officers also found a motorcycle bag in the crash debris that contained several baggies with a total of five grams of methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Evans has prior felony convictions for domestic assault, assaulting a law enforcement officer, possessing a chemical with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, distributing a controlled substance, assault, armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle, unlawfully possessing a firearm, and conspiracy to tamper with a witness in a felony prosecution.
According to court documents, Evans fled from law enforcement officers on Aug. 24, 2017, and left a firearm in the vehicle he had been driving. On Sept. 27, 2017, he again fled from officers in a high-speed chase. His vehicle was later found in a field with a firearm between the center console and passenger seat.
On Nov. 16, 2017, Evans shot a victim identified as “K.B.” while stealing his motorcycle. According to court documents, Evans conspired to tamper with a witness while he was in custody after being arrested. Evans was convicted of the shooting and motorcycle theft in Greene County, Mo., and sentenced to 20 years in state prison. He is currently incarcerated in that case and will serve his state sentence concurrently to the sentence in this federal case.
Evans is also serving a 15-year state sentence after pleading guilty to distributing a controlled substance in Webster County, Mo., and also will serve that sentence concurrently to the sentence in this federal case.
During his time in state prison, according to court documents, Evans joined a violent prison gang, the Southwest Honkys. During a drug investigation involving members of the Honkys in 2017, Evans was caught on a wire threatening to harm an individual he believed had cooperated with police.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josephine L. Stockard. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Cape Girardeau County Gun Store BurglaryRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced Chayce Harrell, 21, of Cairo, Illinois, to 42 months in federal prison for his role in a 2020 gun store burglary in Cape Girardeau County and ordered him to pay $1,700 in restitution.
Harrell pleaded guilty in December in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to the offense of aiding and abetting the theft of firearms from a federally licensed dealer. According to the plea agreement, Harrell and two accomplices broke into a business in Cape Girardeau County known as JSE Surplus in the early morning hours of August 7, 2020. After forcing entry into the building, the group began gathering multiple firearms from the inventory to steal. Unfortunately for the burglars, however, the owner of the business was staying upstairs to keep watch on the property due to several recent reports of gun store burglaries in the area. The owner quickly went downstairs and opened fire at the burglars with a shotgun. The three accomplices escaped unharmed, but dropped all but two firearms as they scrambled out the door.According to court documents, Harrell was identified as a suspect nearly two years later as part of an ongoing investigation. Harrell co-defendant Senque S. Bingham has also been charged. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Court documents further reflect that the third accomplice has been identified as a juvenile.
This case was investigated by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester is prosecuting the case. As in all criminal cases, co-defendant Senque Bingham is presumed to be innocent unless and until his guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping and Carjacking in Alabama’s Wiregrass RegionRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that Iziquel Pasheng Vang, 23, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, received a sentence of 30-years in prison for kidnapping and carjacking. The federal judge also ordered that Vang serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, in 2021, Vang was living in Alabama’s Wiregrass area. During that time, he became friends with a 16-year-old girl from Slocomb, Alabama. The friendship eventually ended when Vang became aggressive. In early May of 2021, Vang began watching the girl’s house. On May 9, 2021, Vang entered the home and threatened the girl and her mother with a gun. Vang forced the girl to drive him in her family’s car to Georgia. They later left Georgia and headed south to Florida. Law enforcement in southern Georgia spotted Vang and the victim in the stolen vehicle and attempted to pull them over. Vang refused to stop. Instead, Vang led law enforcement on a chase into Florida at excessive speeds, shooting at the pursuing officers multiple times. Vang ultimately wrecked the vehicle and was apprehended. The girl suffered minor injuries during the crash.
On November 30, 2022, Vang pleaded guilty to kidnapping and carjacking. Vang’s sentencing hearing occurred on March 10, 2023. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant in this case inflicted unimaginable terror upon a minor and her parents,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “No family should be forced to endure events like those caused by Vang. Moreover, by trying to run from law enforcement, Vang placed at risk the lives of countless individuals. Given the disturbing facts of this case, the 30-year sentence is certainly appropriate.”
The FBI and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case, with assistance from: the Geneva County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; the Slocomb, Alabama Police Department; the Dale County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office; the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Police Department; the Brooks County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; the Georgia Highway Patrol; the Lowndes County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office; the Morven, Georgia Police Department; the Florida Highway Patrol; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission; and the Madison County, Florida Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson prosecuted this case.
Lead defendant in Scioto County child sex trafficking operation sentenced to 40 years in prisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The lead of 11 defendants charged in a Scioto County child sex trafficking operation was sentenced in federal court here today to 480 months in prison.
“Larry Dean Porter is a predator who manipulated and abused children and drug-addicted women in southern Ohio for many years. He used force, violence, and threats to coerce these vulnerable victims to engage in sex acts with him,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Though no sentence can undo the indescribable, despicable harm he caused, it is fitting that he will spend the rest of his life where he belongs – in a federal prison.”
A federal grand jury originally indicted Larry Dean Porter, 72, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and several of his family members and associates in June 2020. All 11 defendants have since been convicted.
Porter’s physical and sexual abuse of women and children in Scioto County spanned numerous decades and involved additional victims other than those identified in the charged offenses in this case.
Porter exchanged drugs obtained in Columbus and elsewhere for sexual access to the children of drug-addicted parents and guardians.
Agents with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force began investigating Porter in April 2019 following reports from several sources that Porter was involved in sexually abusing male and female minors with the consent of the minors’ parents in exchange for illegal drugs from Porter.
Porter sexually abused multiple children and produced child pornography that he kept on flash drives and used extreme methods to conceal, including by burying the flash drives in the yard surrounding his house.
In addition to sexually assaulting the children himself, Porter also instructed drug-addicted parents to sexually abuse children and recorded it to use as blackmail. Porter also used other methods of force, such as duct taping and tying women to chairs, burning them with cigarettes and firing guns by their ears, to ensure they continued to comply with his various sexual demands and remained silent about his crimes.
Porter’s manipulation and sexual assaults of women and children took place several times a week for years. For example, several of Porter’s co-conspirators took three children under the age of 10 to Porter’s residence on a regular basis to traffic the children sexually in exchange for pills. The abuse occurred a few times per week for up to five years.
Porter was arrested in March 2020 on local charges during a human trafficking sting operation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
After Porter was arrested locally, his friends and relatives – including two of his daughters and one of his cousins – attempted to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses on Porter’s behalf.
For example, family and friends dug holes in the ground on Porter’s property to retrieve and attempt to conceal or destroy SD cards containing child pornography that had been buried in Porter’s yard. Agents also found eight DVDs containing child pornography linked to Porter’s home computer at the house of one of Porter’s friends. Porter’s cousin discussed in jail calls with Porter their plans to assault and potentially kill a witness they believed was a source for law enforcement.
Porter pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2022, to conspiring to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, child sex trafficking, and participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Porter was also ordered today to pay more than $300,000 in restitution to the victims.
Co-defendants sentenced to date include, Joshua D. Aldridge (324 months in prison), Charity Rawlins (210 months in prison), Frank E. Andrews (121 months in prison), Ronnie L. Rawlins (63 months in prison), Jonathan David Flagg (60 months in prison), Ralph Albert Aldridge (48 months in prison), Crystal D. Porter (30 months in prison), Denna Sue Porter (three months in prison), and Erroll Wayne Porter (six months of home detention).
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Jackson County Sheriff Tedd E. Frazier; Jackson County Prosecutor Justin Lovett; Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman and Scioto County Prosecutor Shane A. Tieman announced today’s sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rausch and Jessica W. Knight are representing the United States in this case.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 33 years in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for committing multiple child sexual exploitation crimes.
Stephen Thomas Parshall, aka “Kiwi,” (38) pleaded guilty in October 2022, to two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of coercion and enticement, and one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Parshall is required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, law enforcement learned of Parshall’s alleged participation in a conspiracy to cause destruction during protests on May 30, 2020, and of Parshall’s alleged membership in the “Boogaloo” movement. Parshall was arrested and search warrants were executed on Parshall’s electronic devices. Law enforcement officers located 10 images of child sexual abuse material, and numerous images of child erotica, on Parshall’s cellular phone. Investigators identified Victim 1, a child under the age of 18 years old, in two of the child sexual abuse images located on Parshall’s phone. Parshall forced Victim 1 to perform sex acts upon him while he photographed it.
Investigators also located social media conversations on a second cell phone owned by Parshall, under account names “cptkiwi1”, “nopictoobad”, and “pervysage”. In some of those social media conversations, Parshall messaged with Victim 2, another child under 18 years old, and convinced Victim 2 to take sexually explicit pictures. Victim 2 sent the requested child sexual abuse material to Parshall.
Additionally, in separate social media conversations, Parshall traded child pornography material with other users.
“As part of our Project Safe Childhood initiative, together with law enforcement partners, we will use all available resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators who exploit children,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the hard work by the prosecution team and law enforcement, the defendant is no longer a threat to children and the community.”
“The FBI is committed to stopping and holding accountable anyone who engages in the sexual exploitation of children,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet it re-victimizes a child. Together with our partners, we are dedicated to investigating and bringing federal charges against those who commit these heinous crimes.”
The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Bianca Pucci and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Portz prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org.
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Laredo resident indicted on charges of fraud and aggravated identity theftRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old woman who used multiple aliases has been charged with using someone else’s identity on multiple occasions and lying to authorities in connection with obtaining a passport, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Elizabeth Ann Berbel is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Dos Santos at 9:30 a.m.
Berbel, who turned herself in to authorities yesterday, is also known as Ana Elizabeth Gomez-Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez, Anna Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Anna Elizabeth Gomez, Elizabeth Berbel, Elizabeth Ann Gomez, Tina Gomez-Manns and Anna Gomez.
A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment March 7. The charges include one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft linked to the passport fraud as well as four counts of lying to a federal agency and three counts of misusing a Social Security number.
On March 22, 2019, Berbel applied for a U.S. passport, claiming the identity of another individual, according to the charges. As part of that process, she allegedly provided false information to include she was born in Chicago when she was not. The indictment further alleges she gave fraudulent information about her parents and provided a Social Security number that did not belong to her as part of the application process.
Along with the allegedly fraudulent passport application, the charges also allege that on two separate occasions, she had applied for a Texas driver’s license. In each instance, Berbel allegedly used the same victim’s Social Security number.
If convicted, Berbel faces up to 10 years for the passport fraud in addition to five years each for lying to authorities and for misusing a Social Security number. She will also receive a mandatory two years for the identity theft, upon conviction, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
The Department of State conducted the investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Long-Time Sureno Gang Member Pleads to Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer with a Deadly WeaponRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Randy Coy James Holmes, age 25, of Spokane, Washington, pled guilty today in federal court in Spokane, Washington to Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), (b), as well as to Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The charges stem from Holmes’s attempted robbery and shooting of an undercover law enforcement officer in November 2021. United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice, who presided at today’s hearing, set sentencing for June 21, 2023.
According to court documents and information disclosed at court proceedings, in early November 2021, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) Confidential Informant reported that Holmes, who is a documented Sureno gang member and uses the alias “Whispers,” was looking to obtain a firearm to conduct future strong-arm robberies. The informant arranged for Holmes to contact an undercover ATF agent so Holmes could purchase a firearm from the agent. ATF intended to sell Holmes an in operable firearm and then arrest him. The same day, a second ATF confidential informant advised ATF that Holmes contacted the second informant to obtain a firearm.
On November 5, 2021, Holmes agreed to meet the undercover ATF agent at the Motel 6 parking lot in Spokane to purchase the firearm. Holmes had offered to pay the undercover agent approximately one ounce of methamphetamine in exchange for the firearm, instead of U.S. Currency.
Holmes arrived at the Motel 6 as scheduled, driving a Dodge Charger. Holmes’s co-defendants, Vincent Petrushkin and William Huntington Burns, who are also Sureno gang members, were inside the Dodge Charger with Holmes. Before Holmes’s got out of the car, Burns provided Holmes with a firearm, which later was identified as a Glock Model 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun, as “protection” during the transaction with the undercover agent. Holmes then exited the Charger and got into the front passenger seat of the undercover ATF agent’s vehicle. During the transaction, the undercover agent expressed concerns to Holmes about conducting the transaction at that location given that Holmes arrived with two additional individuals in his car. The undercover agent then asked to move the transaction to a nearby parking lot, away from the two men in the Dodge Charger.
Holmes responded that he would “tell the homies” and started to get out of the undercover agent’s vehicle. Holmes, however, stopped short of fully exiting the vehicle. Instead, Holmes re-entered the vehicle, pulled out the Glock Model 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun, pointed the gun at the undercover agent’s head, and demanded the firearm the undercover agent was going to sell him. The undercover agent, who was in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm, advised Holmes the firearm was in the back of the car. Holmes then fully exited the undercover agent’s vehicle and ran around to the back of the car to obtain the firearm. When Holmes did so, the undercover agent exited the vehicle and directed Holmes to drop the gun. Rather than drop his firearm, Holmes repeatedly discharged the Glock Model 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the undercover agent, striking the agent multiple times, and causing the agent serious and permanent bodily injury. The undercover agent returned fire, striking Holmes a number of times. ATF surveillance agents quickly arrived at the scene and rendered life-saving aid to Holmes before he and the undercover agent were transported to the hospital. At the hospital, emergency room personnel located approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine in Holmes’s jacket pocket.
Codefendants Petrushkin and Burns have both previously pled guilty to federal offenses related to this incident and are pending sentencing. Petrushkin pled guilty on April 1, 2022 to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). Burns, who was not a felon at the time of this incident, pled guilty to Transfer of a Firearm to a Prohibited Person, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(d), 924(a)(2) on March 1, 2023. Both codefendants are pending sentencing.
At the time of this incident, Holmes was on federal supervised release stemming from a 2019 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). Holmes also was on Washington State Department of Corrections community custody supervision from an unrelated state felony conviction. At today’s hearing, as part of his plea agreement, Holmes admitted to all pending violations of his federal supervised release. Holmes will be sentenced for that conduct on June 21, 2023 as well.
“This tragic case demonstrates the danger and violence that too frequently occurs when convicted felons possess firearms and engage in illegal drug trafficking,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for the exceptional courage and bravery of law enforcement officers, who put their personal safety at risk to protect our community, and I commend the ATF agents involved for their exceptional professionalism in rendering life-saving aid to Mr. Holmes before he could be treated at a hospital. Our community is stronger as a result of these agents’ tremendous service.”
ATF Resident Agent in Charge Sterling Nixon stated, “Our agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe. When one of our agents was tragically shot in November 2021, the law enforcement community, including state, local, and federal agencies came together to investigate and prosecute this case. We’re grateful for the combined efforts to seek justice on behalf of our colleague and friend.”
“Mr. Holmes shot and seriously injured a federal law enforcement agent in an attempted robbery,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field Office. “Every day, the brave law enforcement officers in Washington state and across the country face dangerous situations to keep our communities safe. This case demonstrates the consequences of attacking law enforcement personnel. An attack on a law enforcement officer is an attack on the rule of law, and an attack on our community.”
This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Spokane Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Baunsgard and Patrick Cashman.
Case No.: 2:21-CR-164-TOR
Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Michigan Rental Property OwnerRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit under the Fair Housing Act against the owner and manager of rental properties in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that Mohamad Hussein, who owns or manages over two dozen rental properties in Dearborn Heights, has subjected actual and prospective female tenants to sexual harassment on multiple occasions since at least 2017. The complaint alleges that Hussein made unwelcome sexual comments and advances, and offered actual and prospective female tenants housing-related benefits in exchange for engaging in sex acts with him or sending him sexually explicit images. According to the complaint, many of these instances took place in the spring of 2020, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was difficult to secure housing in Michigan. The complaint also alleges that Hussein sent sexually explicit images of himself to prospective female tenants.
“No one should be denied the right to housing because they refuse to submit to a landlord’s sexual demands,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the Fair Housing Act and seeking justice for those sexually harassed by landlords and other housing providers.”
“Every resident of our district should be able to find and secure housing without facing discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Any feeling of safety and security is ripped away when individuals face sexual harassment in their own home. Our Civil Rights Unit works closely with the Civil Rights Division to hold those who violate the Fair Housing Act accountable.”
Today’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination. The complaint contains allegations of unlawful conduct; the allegations must be proven in federal court.
The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the Initiative, the department has filed 29 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $9.8 million for victims of such harassment.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
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 Mohamad Hussein, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, can contact the Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, select a language, and select option number 2, then option number 6 to leave a message. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan at 313-226-9151, or by email at [email protected]. Individuals may also 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.
Jelly Bean Communications Design and its Manager Settle False Claims Act Liability for Cybersecurity Failures on Florida Medicaid Enrollment WebsiteRead the Press Release
Jelly Bean Communications Design LLC (Jelly Bean) and Jeremy Spinks have agreed to pay $293,771 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they failed to secure personal information on a federally funded Florida children’s health insurance website, which Jelly Bean created, hosted, and maintained.
“Government contractors responsible for handling personal information must ensure that such information is appropriately protected,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will use the False Claims Act to hold accountable companies and their management when they knowingly fail to comply with their cybersecurity obligations and put sensitive information at risk.”
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation (FHKC) is a state-created entity that offers health and dental insurance for Florida children ages five through 18. FHKC receives federal Medicaid funds as well as state funds to provide children’s health insurance programs. On Oct. 31, 2013, FHKC contracted with Jelly Bean for “website design, programming and hosting services.” The agreement required that Jelly Bean provide a fully functional hosting environment that complied with the protections for personal information imposed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and Jelly Bean agreed to adapt, modify, and create the necessary code on the webserver to support the secure communication of data. Jeremy Spinks, the company’s manager, 50% owner, and sole employee, signed the agreement. Under its contracts with FHKC, between 2013 and 2020, Jelly Bean created, hosted, and maintained the website HealthyKids.org for FHKC, including the online application into which parents and others entered data to apply for state Medicaid insurance coverage for children.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from January 1, 2014, through Dec. 14, 2020, contrary to its representations in agreements and invoices, Jelly Bean did not provide secure hosting of applicants’ personal information and instead knowingly failed to properly maintain, patch, and update the software systems underlying HealthyKids.org and its related websites, leaving the site and the data Jelly Bean collected from applicants vulnerable to attack. In or around early December 2020, more than 500,000 applications submitted on HealthyKids.org were revealed to have been hacked, potentially exposing the applicants’ personal identifying information and other data. The United States alleged that Jelly Bean was running multiple outdated and vulnerable applications, including some software that Jelly Bean had not updated or patched since November 2013. In response to this data breach and Jelly Bean’s cybersecurity failures, FHKC shut down the website’s application portal in December 2020.
“Safeguarding patients’ medical and other personal information is paramount,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This settlement demonstrates the commitment by my office and our partners to use every available tool to protect Americans’ health care data.”
“Companies have a fundamental responsibility to protect the personal information of their website users. It is unacceptable for an organization to fail to do the due diligence to keep software applications updated and secure and thereby compromise the data of thousands of children,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure that enrollees can rely on their health care providers to safeguard their personal information.”
On Oct. 6, 2021, the Deputy Attorney General announced the Department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which aims to hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Michael Hoffman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Bloor.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Jelly Bean Communications Design and Its Manager Settle False Claims Act Liability for Cybersecurity Failures on Florida Medicaid Enrollment WebsiteRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Jelly Bean Communications Design LLC (Jelly Bean) and Jeremy Spinks have agreed to pay $293,771 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they failed to secure personal information on a federally funded Florida children’s health insurance website, which Jelly Bean created, hosted, and maintained.
“Government contractors responsible for handling personal information must ensure that such information is appropriately protected,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will use the False Claims Act to hold accountable companies and their management when they knowingly fail to comply with their cybersecurity obligations and put sensitive information at risk.”
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation (FHKC) is a state-created entity that offers health and dental insurance for Florida children ages five through 18. FHKC receives federal Medicaid funds as well as state funds to provide children’s health insurance programs. On Oct. 31, 2013, FHKC contracted with Jelly Bean for “website design, programming and hosting services.” The agreement required that Jelly Bean provide a fully functional hosting environment that complied with the protections for personal information imposed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and Jelly Bean agreed to adapt, modify, and create the necessary code on the webserver to support the secure communication of data. Jeremy Spinks, the company’s manager, 50% owner, and sole employee, signed the agreement. Under its contracts with FHKC, between 2013 and 2020, Jelly Bean created, hosted, and maintained the website HealthyKids.org for FHKC, including the online application into which parents and others entered data to apply for state Medicaid insurance coverage for children.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that from January 1, 2014, through Dec. 14, 2020, contrary to its representations in agreements and invoices, Jelly Bean did not provide secure hosting of applicants’ personal information and instead knowingly failed to properly maintain, patch, and update the software systems underlying HealthyKids.org and its related websites, leaving the site and the data Jelly Bean collected from applicants vulnerable to attack. In or around early December 2020, more than 500,000 applications submitted on HealthyKids.org were revealed to have been hacked, potentially exposing the applicants’ personal identifying information and other data. The United States alleged that Jelly Bean was running multiple outdated and vulnerable applications, including some software that Jelly Bean had not updated or patched since November 2013. In response to this data breach and Jelly Bean’s cybersecurity failures, FHKC shut down the website’s application portal in December 2020.
“Safeguarding patients’ medical and other personal information is paramount,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “This settlement demonstrates the commitment by my office and our partners to use every available tool to protect Americans’ health care data.”
“Companies have a fundamental responsibility to protect the personal information of their website users. It is unacceptable for an organization to fail to do the due diligence to keep software applications updated and secure and thereby compromise the data of thousands of children,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure that enrollees can rely on their health care providers to safeguard their personal information.”
On Oct. 6, 2021, the Deputy Attorney General announced the Department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which aims to hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Michael Hoffman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Bloor.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
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Jacksonville Man Charged with Being an Illegal User of Narcotics While Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joshua Earrey (44, Jacksonville) has been charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal user of narcotics while possessing firearms. If convicted, Earrey faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Earrey unlawfully used a controlled substance and possessed a firearm from between at least as early as November 7, 2022, through December 5, 2022. He has been employed as a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper for approximately 22 years and was assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since June 2020.
A complaint is merely a 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Hamilton.
The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection thank the Florida Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their cooperation during this investigation.
High Point Man Sentenced for Hacking Snapchat Account of Soldier and Selling Nude Images of VictimsRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A High Point man was sentenced yesterday to 13 months in prison and 3 years’ supervised release for two counts of computer fraud and abuse and one count of wire fraud. On October 6, 2022, Patrick Marquez Black pled guilty to the charges.
“We are targeting hackers and cybercriminals who invade privacy for cash,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant hacked the Snapchat of an active-duty soldier, used her account to steal from her friends, sold her photos for cash and violated her privacy. Our cyber-prosecutors are partnering with law enforcement to ensure that the world wide web does not become the wild, wild west.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Black, 30, hacked into the Snapchat account of a female soldier stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC, and changed the password to lock the victim out of her account. Once he gained access, Black used the account in three ways. First, he pretended to be the victim and requested her Snapchat friends send money to CashApp and other online money accounts to cover the costs of a fake emergency. Second, he shared and sold nude images and videos of the victim that he was able to access from the Snapchat account. Third, he used her account to obtain the username and password of other Snapchat accounts as well as nude images and videos of other victims. This activity occurred for at least three years.
Due to the actions of this defendant, nude images and videos of the victim were seen by co-workers, friends, and family members. She was threatened by people who believed that they had loaned her money, and she had not paid them back. She paid over $300 to her friends as “re-payment” for the money the defendant stole. While serving in the U.S. Army, the defendant caused this victim mental and emotional damage.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. US Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe 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. 5:21-CR-141.
Heart Butte man admits murdering woman on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man today admitted to murdering a woman after an argument on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Terrance Travis Aimsback, 34, pleaded guilty to second degree murder as indicted. Aimsback faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 26. Aimsback was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Aimsback unlawfully killed the victim, identified as Jane Doe, with malice aforethought. On Nov. 24, 2022, Aimsback called 911, claiming Jane Doe would not wake up, although she was still breathing. Law enforcement officers arrived and immediately noticed Jane Doe was cold and had died hours earlier. When interviewed, Aimsback admitted he killed Jane Doe. Aimsback and Jane Doe began arguing, and Aimsback beat Jane Doe with a stick. Jane Doe died from the injuries. Aimsback and Jane Doe were in a romantic relationship at the time of the murder.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.
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Greenville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A Greenville man was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for producing, distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, Corey Allen Stephens, 31, used a social media application to chat with others, and in the chat, he posted an image of his sexual abuse of a toddler. He boasted that it was “Not the first time I’ve done it.” Homeland Security officers traced the chat to Stephens’s home, where agents recovered additional evidence of child pornography offenses.
In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Stephens was ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $3,000.
“I appreciate the exceptional work of HSI, KSP, and AUSA Sewell in this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Protecting the children of the Western District from predators like the defendant is a top priority of this office. We remain vigilant and will continue to investigate and aggressively prosecute those who seek to sexually exploit our children.”
“The significant sentence imposed on Corey Stephens sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our society, our children. Stephens will serve 20 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts,” stated HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue predators who traumatize and victimize children and maintain our vigilance to bring them to justice.”
The case was investigated by the HSI and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Madison Sewell of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Grand Junction Man Sentenced to Prison for Enticing Children OnlineRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Benjamin David Harbin, age 33, of Grand Junction, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and a life term of supervised release for enticing minors to engage in the production of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, the defendant came to law enforcement's attention after he utilized Instagram accounts to communicate with minor females online, several of whom were between seven and nine years of age. During the course of the communications, the defendant persuaded some of these minors to send him sexually explicit images of themselves. The defendant was the subject of law enforcement investigations in the United States, Canada, and England.
Judge Christine M. Arguello sentenced the defendant on March 13, 2023.
"The sexual exploitation of children is a despicable crime that causes immense harm to the victims and their families,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We will not tolerate the predatory behavior of those who seek to exploit the innocence of our children, and we will work tirelessly to hold them accountable for their heinous actions."
“The defendant in this case underestimated the steadfast dedication of the FBI when it comes to protecting children. He thought that by hiding behind an online profile and targeting children in another state, he could evade law enforcement. He was wrong,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “FBI Denver will do what it takes to investigate allegations of child exploitation and hold those accountable who commit such shameful crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Division, Grand Junction Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts handled the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
CASE NUMBER: 20-cr-00164
Fresno Man Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Trayvon Smith, 32, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday to six years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2021, law enforcement officers received a report of two individuals possessing a firearm in a hotel parking lot. When the officers responded to the parking lot, they located the suspected car and activated their emergency lights. Edward Page, 33, of Fresno, and Smith exited the car. Smith initially fled, but both were eventually detained. The officers then searched the car and found two loaded semi-automatic firearms, one of which had a corresponding a high-capacity magazine attached. Page and Smith are both prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of their criminal history.
On Jan. 17, 2023, Page was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.
Former South Florida Regional Bank Manager Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Daniel Hernandez, 51, a former South Florida regional manager for a leading national bank has been sentenced to 120 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) out of loan proceeds. These loans are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Hernandez conspired with Erich Alfonso Barata, Armando De Leon, and others to submit over 90 fraudulent PPP loan applications. The applications were primarily submitted to two banks, Hernandez’s employer at the time, and his previous employer, another leading national bank.
Hernandez also conspired to submit fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications through the SBA, but most of the applications were declined.
Hernandez and his co-conspirators attempted to defraud the PPP and EIDL programs out of approximately $25 million. The conspiracy caused approximately $15 million in losses. The investigation has recovered over $800,000 so far.
Daniel Hernandez pled guilty on December 21, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. De Leon and Alfonso Barata previously pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. De Leon was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment on February 21. Alfonso Barata is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Atlanta Region; acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Behnam of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Small Business Administration, Investigations Division’s Eastern Region (SBA-OIG), announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore.
FDIC-OIG, FBI Miami, and SBA-OIG investigated the case, with assistance from the Florida Department of Revenue. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 22-cr-20529 (Hernandez), 22-cr-20420 (De Leon), and 22-cr-20487 (Alfonso Barata).
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Former Sheriff Victor Hill sentenced to federal prison for civil rights violationsRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill has been sentenced for violating the civil rights of six pre-trial detainees at the Clayton County, Georgia, Jail by ordering the detainees strapped into restraint chairs for hours without legal justification.
“This district is fortunate to be served by thousands of law enforcement officers who bravely perform their duties with great honor, but former Sheriff Victor Hill is not one of them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Former Sheriff Victor Hill chose to disregard the welfare of some within his control. The evidence was clear in this case, there was absolutely no justification for Hill to order pretrial detainees to be strapped into restraint chairs for hours on end. These men suffered painful injuries. Without question, his actions not only hurt the victims but eroded the public’s trust in law enforcement. Hill brazenly abused his power and has been held accountable by a jury and a judge and will go to federal prison. Hill rejected one of the most basic tenets of law enforcement: that the U.S. Constitution forbids an officer – even a sheriff – from using unreasonable force.”
“All of our communities pay a significant price when law enforcement officials abuse their power. We hope this sentence brings some closure to the victims of civil rights violations,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing should send a strong message to any law enforcement officer who wants to follow their own version of the law. Badges and guns don’t come with the authority to ignore the Constitution. They come with the responsibility to protect it.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: At the time Hill committed these crimes, his Sheriff’s Office “Inmate Restraint Chair Policy” stated that, “a restraint chair may be used by security staff to provide safe containment of an inmate exhibiting violent or uncontrollable behavior and to prevent self-injury, injury to others or property damage when control techniques are not effective.” Consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, the policy emphasized that use of a restraint chair would “never be authorized as a form of punishment.” Hill flagrantly disregarded these policies, and a jury convicted him of violating the constitutional rights of the following victims:
Victim R.P.
On December 8, 2019, Clayton County Police Department (CCPD) responded to a robbery in progress. An officer saw R.P. standing with a firearm at the driver’s window of a car occupied by two men. R.P. ran into his apartment when he saw the officer. Officers used a patrol car’s public address system to convince R.P to exit his apartment. R.P. eventually complied with the commands and was taken into custody without further incident. R.P. told officers that he believed the men in the car had come there to rob him. R.P. was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
A CCPD officer transported R.P. to the Clayton County Jail. According to the officer, R.P. offered no resistance and caused no trouble after he was arrested.
According to R.P. and other trial witnesses, when R.P. arrived at the jail, he was immediately taken to a holding cell with about 15 other inmates. R.P. heard people yelling, “Sheriff on deck.” Hill, escorted by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Scorpion Response Team (SRT) arrived at the cell. Hill questioned R.P. about the incident which led to his arrest. When R.P. attempted to explain, Hill ordered the SRT to strap R.P. into a restraint chair which was then wheeled into the jail’s medical unit. While R.P. was strapped in the chair, R.P. could feel his blood pressure rising and his hands swelling. R.P. yelled for help and urinated on himself. R.P. spent at least four hours in the chair and the restraints cut and scarred one of his wrists.
Victim D.B.
On February 2, 2020, deputies of the CCSO’s vice operations obtained a search warrant for D.B.’s home in Hampton, Georgia, based on incriminating evidence found in trash outside the residence. While CCSO was waiting to execute the search warrant, D.B. left his home and drove away at a high rate of speed. Deputies stopped D.B. and detained him after finding a small amount of marijuana in his car. During the search of D.B.’s home, deputies allegedly found several stolen firearms. D.B. sat in the back of a patrol car for several hours while deputies searched his home. D.B. caused no trouble for the deputies during his detention at the scene or during the drive to the jail.
According to D.B. and other witnesses, when D.B. arrived at the jail, he was put in a holding cell. Within minutes, Hill and several members of the SRT arrived. Hill asked D.B. questions about his alleged offenses until D.B. stated he no longer wanted to answer Hill’s questions. At that point, Hill ordered D.B. to be strapped into a restraint chair. D.B. was handcuffed behind his back and strapped in the chair for approximately seven hours. The restraints were so tight that D.B. suffered cuts to both wrists which caused him to bleed. The scars on D.B.’s wrists remain visible more than three years later.
Victim J.A.
In February 25, 2020, a man identified as J.A. was accused of assaulting two women during a dispute at a Clayton County grocery store several weeks earlier. He was arrested by Forest Park, Georgia, Police Department officers and CCSO deputies without incident. According to Clayton County records, J.A. was unarmed, not under the influence of drugs, and offered no resistance. A short time later, J.A. was booked into the Clayton County jail as a pretrial detainee. During the booking process, J.A. was escorted by a group of officers and SRT members to the fingerprinting area where Hill confronted J.A. A deputy recorded the interaction with a cell phone.
Hill asked J.A. what he had been doing in Clayton County on the day of the alleged assault. J.A. replied, “It’s a democracy, sir. It’s the United States.” Hill snapped back, “No, it’s not. Not in my county.” When J.A. asked whether he was entitled to a fair and speedy trial, Hill replied, “Roll that chair around here. You stay out of Clayton County, you understand me? You sound like a dummy.” When J.A. asked again whether he was entitled to a fair and speedy trial, Hill replied, “You entitled to sit in this chair, and you’re entitled to get the hell out of my county and don’t come back. That’s what you’re entitled to. You sound like a damn jackass. Don’t you ever put your hand on a woman like that again. You’re fortunate that wasn’t my mother or grandmama or you wouldn’t be standing there. Now, sit there and see if you can get some damn sense in your head.”
During J.A.’s interaction with Hill, J.A. was surrounded by law enforcement personnel, was handcuffed most of the time, and never posed a threat to anyone. Despite those facts, J.A. was strapped into a restraint chair and left there for hours per Hill’s orders.
Victim C.H.
On April 26, 2020, C.H., who had just turned 17 years old, allegedly vandalized his family home during an argument with his mother. Shortly thereafter, a CCSO deputy apprehended C.H. near his home without incident and turned C.H. over to the custody of the CCPD. Clayton County records indicate C.H. was unarmed, not under the influence of drugs, and offered no resistance.
The deputy, a CCSO supervisor, then spoke with Hill on the phone, texted Hill a photograph of C.H. handcuffed and seated in a CCPD vehicle, and had the following text exchange with Hill:
Hill: “How old is he?”
Deputy: “17”
Hill: “Chair”
A few hours later, early on April 27, 2020, C.H. was booked into the Clayton County jail as a pretrial detainee pending trial on charges stemming from the incident at his home. Although C.H. had been compliant with law enforcement during and after his arrest and never posed a threat to anyone, he was strapped into a restraint chair and left there for hours per Hill’s orders.
Victim G.H.
In April 2020, G.H. and a CCSO deputy had a payment dispute over some landscaping work G.H. did for the deputy in Butts County, Georgia. The work and dispute were unrelated to the deputy’s employment with CCSO. After learning about the dispute, Hill called G.H. on April 23, 2020. During the call, Hill identified himself as the Clayton County Sheriff and asked G.H. why he was harassing his deputy. G.H. replied that Hill should tell his deputy to pay his bill and added, “you can go f--- yourself.” Unsure whether the caller had actually been the Clayton County Sheriff, G.H. used FaceTime to call back several times until Hill answered and removed a face mask he was wearing. After the FaceTime calls, Hill texted G.H., warning him not to call or text anymore. G.H. responded via text, “So this is Victor Hill correct[?]” Hill responded with a second text warning for G.H. not to call or text him anymore. Although G.H. did not call or text again, Hill instructed a CCSO deputy to swear out an arrest warrant against G.H. for harassing communications.
The next day, April 24, 2020, Hill texted G.H., “[T]his is Sheriff Victor Hill. We have a warrant for your arrest. Would you like to turn yourself in, or have my Deputies find you?” G.H. did not respond. The next morning, April 25, 2020, Hill again texted G.H., “My Deputies are actively looking for you. We have not and will not agree for you to turn yourself in when you want to. Turn yourself in today.” Meanwhile, Hill had sent a fugitive squad armed with handguns and AR-15 rifles to Butts County to arrest G.H. on the misdemeanor arrest warrant.
After retaining a lawyer, G.H. turned himself in at the CCSO during the evening of April 27, 2020. Clayton County records indicate that G.H. was unarmed, not under the influence of drugs, and offered no resistance. Shortly thereafter, G.H. was booked into the Clayton County jail as a pretrial detainee pending trial on the harassing communications charges. Surveillance footage from the jail shows G.H. interacting with jail personnel for more than half an hour, during which time he appeared cooperative and compliant before Hill arrived and confronted him. Immediately upon Hill’s arrival, although G.H. was surrounded by law enforcement personnel, remained compliant, and never posed a threat to anyone, G.H. was strapped into a restraint chair and left there for at least four hours per Hill’s orders.
Victim W.T.
On May 11, 2020, a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) trooper observed W.T. driving at 85 miles per hour on 1-75 in Clayton County. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and W.T. immediately pulled his vehicle over to the shoulder. W.T. presented a suspended Florida driver’s license. The trooper took W.T. into custody and drove W.T. to the Clayton County Jail without incident.
According to W.T. and other witnesses, when W.T. arrived at the jail, he was instructed by officers to face the wall. In response, W.T. turned and rested his head on the wall. Hill saw this and it angered him. Hill ordered that W.T., who was restrained in handcuffs, be strapped into a restraint chair. Members of the SRT assisted deputies to strap W.T. into the chair where he remained for approximately five hours and suffered significant pain. W.T. urinated three times while confined to the chair.
Victor Hill, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 18 months in federal prison. After Hill serves his prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for six years, during which time he cannot have any role in law enforcement. Hill was found guilty by a jury on October 26, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Admits Role in Health Care and Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former pharmaceutical sales representative today admitted defrauding New Jersey state and local health benefits programs and other insurers by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced.
Vincent Tornari, 49, of Linwood, New Jersey, pled guilty today via videoconference before Judge Robert B. Kugler to one count of an indictment charging him with conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Tornari was previously charged with Dr. Brian Sokalsky, 44, of Margate, New Jersey, and former advanced nurse practitioner Ashley Lyons-Valenti, 66, of Swedesboro, New Jersey, in June 2020. Lyons pleaded guilty on Feb. 28, 2023, to health care fraud conspiracy. The conspiracy to which Tornari pleaded guilty also involved former pharmaceutical sales representative Mark Bruno, 48, of Northfield, New Jersey, who pleaded guilty on Dec.16, 2019, to health care fraud conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The charges against Sokalsky remain pending and he is scheduled to proceed to trial on April 24, 2023. The charges and allegations against Sokalsky are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
According to court documents and statements made in Court:
Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compounded drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredient.
The conspirators learned that certain medications made by compounding pharmacies reimbursed for up to thousands of dollars for an individual’s one-month supply. They learned that certain insurance plans – including insurance plans for state and local government employees and certain other insurance plans – covered these medications.
Tornari’s company had an agreement with a compounding pharmacy in Pennsylvania to receive 50 percent of the insurance reimbursement for prescriptions that were arranged by him and those working with him, such as Bruno. Tornari then paid Bruno 20 percent of that amount.
Tornari and Bruno approached Sokalsky to secure his authorization for prescription medications made by the compounding pharmacy. Sokalsky agreed to prescribe the medications in exchange for cash and other remuneration. Sokalsky prescribed the medications to people Bruno paid cash to agree to receive the medications, even though those individuals did not need those medications and did not have a pre-existing doctor-patient relationship with Sokalsky. Sokalsky then billed insurance plans for patient visits for the people Bruno directed to his medical practice.
Sokalsky also prescribed the medications to existing patients of his medical practice – as opposed to other medications or no medications at all – to financially benefit Tornari, Bruno, and himself. When insurance stopped covering certain formulations of the medications, Tornari and Bruno informed Sokalsky that he needed to authorize new prescriptions. Sokalsky did so, often without seeing the individual for a follow-up visit or informing the person of the change in medication. The fraudulent prescriptions cost insurers over $541,000 and Tornari personally received more than $359,000 as part of the scheme.
Tornari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2023.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Christina O. Hud, Senior Trial Counsel in the Health Care Fraud Unit; R. David Walk Jr., Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman.
tornari.etal_.indictment.pdfFormer New Orleans Police Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
A former police officer with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was sentenced in federal court to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old crime victim in violation of her constitutional rights.
According to the court documents, in May 2020, Rodney Vicknair, 55, while working in his capacity as an NOPD officer, escorted a then-14-year-old girl, who had been sexually assaulted by another man, to the hospital to undergo a forensic exam, also known as a rape kit. Vicknair gave the victim his cell phone number and offered to be her friend and mentor. In the months and weeks thereafter, Vicknair and the victim spoke on the phone and exchanged messages on Snapchat. Vicknair, while in uniform, often stopped by unannounced at the victim’s residence. Over time, Vicknair made comments to the victim that were sexual in nature.
On the night of Sept. 23, 2020, Vicknair arrived at the victim’s house. By that time, she had turned 15 years old. He told her to come outside and get into his vehicle. She got into the passenger’s seat while Vicknair remained in the driver’s seat. Then, he locked the doors so that the victim could not leave. Vicknair leaned over toward the victim, and she feared for her physical safety. He then sexually assaulted the victim when he intentionally touched her genitals under her clothing without her consent. Vicknair admitted in court that he acted without a legitimate law enforcement purpose and that he knew his actions were wrong and against the law but that he engaged in such conduct anyway.
“We are grateful to this young survivor for coming forward, even though she thought no one would believe her,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Had she not been willing to do so, we would not have been able to hold the defendant accountable for his heinous crime. This case should send a strong message to law enforcement officers who sexually abuse victims, particularly children, that they are not above the law and will be held accountable.”
“The public must be able to trust that law enforcement will faithfully execute their sworn duties or face the consequences for failing to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Our office, along with the Department of Justice, the FBI and state and local law enforcement agencies, will continue to investigate and prosecute any violations of constitutional rights.”
“The FBI is dedicated to doing the work to restore public faith in law enforcement when individuals attempt to use the badge to hide their illegal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We also thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and the New Orleans Police Department Public Integrity Unit for their efforts in this case.”
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office and the New Orleans Police Department Public Integrity Bureau investigated the case.
Criminal Chief Tracey Knight for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Former Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Former New Orleans Police Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
According to the court documents, in May 2020, Rodney Vicknair, 55, while working in his capacity as an NOPD officer, escorted a then-14-year-old girl, who had been sexually assaulted by another man, to the hospital to undergo a forensic exam, also known as a rape kit. Vicknair gave the victim his cell phone number and offered to be her friend and mentor. In the months and weeks thereafter, Vicknair and the victim spoke on the phone and exchanged messages on Snapchat. Vicknair, while in uniform, often stopped by unannounced at the victim’s residence. Over time, Vicknair made comments to the victim that were sexual in nature.
On the night of Sept. 23, 2020, Vicknair arrived at the victim’s house. By that time, she had turned 15 years old. He told her to come outside and get into his vehicle. She got into the passenger’s seat while the Vicknair remained in the driver’s seat. Then, he locked the doors so that the victim could not leave. Vicknair leaned over toward the victim, and she feared for her physical safety. He then sexually assaulted the victim when he intentionally touched her genitals under her clothing without her consent. Vicknair admitted in court that he acted without a legitimate law enforcement purpose and that he knew his actions were wrong and against the law but that he engaged in such conduct anyway.
“We are grateful to this young survivor for coming forward, even though she thought no one would believe her,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Had she not been willing to do so, we would not have been able to hold the defendant accountable for his heinous crime. This case should send a strong message to law enforcement officers who sexually abuse victims, particularly children, that they are not above the law and will be held accountable.”
“The public must be able to trust that law enforcement will faithfully execute their sworn duties or face the consequences for failing to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Our office, along with the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state and local law enforcement agencies, will continue to investigate and prosecute any violations of constitutional rights.”
“The FBI is dedicated to doing the work to restore public faith in law enforcement when individuals attempt to use the badge to hide their illegal behavior,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We also thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and the New Orleans Police Department Public Integrity Unit for their efforts in this case.”
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office and the New Orleans Police Department Public Integrity Bureau investigated the case.
Criminal Chief Tracey Knight for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Former Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Former Kentucky Federal Prison Lieutenant Convicted of Covering up the Assaults of Two Federal Inmates by Corrections OfficersRead the Press Release
After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted former Bureau of Prisons Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, 38, on two counts of obstruction for writing false reports about the assaults of two federal inmates by corrections officers under Pearce’s command. The defendant is a former supervisor at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Inez, Kentucky. Two former officers, Samuel Patrick and Clinton Pauley previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the two assaults and testified for the government at trial.
The evidence at trial established that the defendant was the supervising lieutenant responding to an incident at Big Sandy in which his co-defendants, former officers Patrick and Pauley, assaulted an inmate by pepper spraying him in the face and kicking him in the head. Witnesses, including those who assaulted the inmates, testified that the inmate was not a threat and was compliant, and was assaulted for walking too slowly to his cell, rather than for any legitimate penological purpose. The defendant attempted to cover up the assault by writing a false report which untruthfully described the inmate as violent and omitted that the inmate had been kicked in the head while he was prone and unresisting.
The evidence further established that, one month later, the defendant again covered up an unrelated assault also initiated by officers Patrick and Pauley. The victim of that assault was taken to the defendant’s office in order to request protection from other inmates. When the victim, who is white, revealed that he used to affiliate with Black gangs, the defendant’s fellow officers repeatedly struck him in the head and body while one of the officers referred to him as a “race traitor.” The defendant wrote a false report about the assault in which he claimed that the inmate agreed to go to his housing unit “without incident,” and, as the cover-up expanded, he supervised efforts to discredit the inmate by recruiting another officer who was not present to write a report which falsely corroborated the agreed-upon cover story.
“This defendant abused the trust given to him as a federal correctional officer and supervisor when he attempted to cover up the assaults of two inmates in his custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute correctional officers who abuse inmates, and this mission includes the prosecution of supervisory officials who enable civil rights violations by protecting abusive officers. We are committed to using our civil rights laws to ensure that the rights of all people, including those detained inside jails and prisons, are fully protected.”
“The defendant betrayed the public trust placed in him, abused his authority, enabled the violation of other’s rights, and did a grave disservice to all law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Instead of enforcing the law and protecting those in his care, he chose to cover up disgraceful abuses and to discredit those who faithfully discharge their public service. His conviction is the next step in the process of restoring the public’s trust.”
“Pearce lied in an attempt to cover up an egregious assault of an inmate by his fellow officers,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. Hannah of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Chicago Field Office. “This verdict sends a message that there is no room in the federal corrections system for civil rights violations nor any corrupt attempt to conceal such acts. Today, Pearce will be held accountable. I would like to thank the jury for their time, attention and careful consideration in this case.”
“While serving their sentence, inmates are entitled to equal protections under the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “When a few correctional officers choose to violate those protections, either by physical abuse or by orchestrating a cover-up, the integrity of all officers is questioned. The FBI stands ready to bare all of its resources in order to bring to justice law enforcement officials who take advantage of their position of power.”
The maximum penalties for the false report offenses are 20 years of imprisonment. The sentencing is scheduled for July 5.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Shier, Special Agent in Charge Hannah and Special Agent in Charge Cohen made the announcement.
DOJ-OIG and the FBI the investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Detroit Police Officer Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Taking Bribes Connected to TowingRead the Press Release
DETROIT– A former Detroit police officer was sentenced to 27 months in prison for accepting bribes in a conspiracy with a Detroit police lieutenant in connection with corruption in the towing industry in Detroit, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Daniel Vickers, 54, of Livonia, Michigan, spent his career as a police officer in Detroit. Vickers conspired with former Detroit police lieutenant John F. Kennedy. Kennedy at one point commanded the department’s Public Integrity Unit, a division of the Internal Affairs Division responsible for investigating reports of law violations and professional misconduct by police officers and other city employees. The two agreed to commit bribery by accepting money and other items of value in exchange for Kennedy using and promising to use his influence as a supervisor to persuade other officers to make tow referrals to a towing company in violation of the city’s ordinance and Detroit Police Department policy. Kennedy pleaded guilty to the bribery conspiracy in August 2022, and he will be sentenced on April 18, 2023.
In recorded conversations during the investigation, Vickers admitted to soliciting bribe payments from at least three towing companies in the Detroit area. In addition to the cash payments Vickers solicited, he and Kennedy also agreed to accept bribes in the form of thousands of dollars in cars, car parts, car repairs, and new carpeting for Vickers’ home. Besides making illegal tow referrals in exchange for the bribes, Vickers and Kennedy also agreed to provide the towing company that Kennedy was investigating with confidential information about the status of the Public Integrity Unit’s case.
In total, between February 2018, and June 2018, Vickers accepted over $3,400 in bribe payments from the towing company. In addition, Kennedy accepted bribes amounting to $14,950 during the course of the conspiracy.
Vickers and Kennedy were charged as part of the government’s investigation known as “Operation Northern Hook.” Northern Hook is an investigation of corruption within the government and the Police Department of the City of Detroit relating to the towing industry and other matters. Thus far, six defendants have been charged in the probe.
United States Attorney Ison said, “Any police officer who chooses the path of corruption should understand that we will not tolerate unethical conduct from our public officials at any level. We commend Detroit Chief of Police James White and the Detroit Police Department for their cooperation assistance in this investigation.”
“Police officers take an oath to protect and serve their communities. Today, Daniel Vickers is being held responsible for violating that oath by using his official position to benefit himself personally. His actions were not in keeping with the integrity and professionalism exhibited by the Detroit Police Department every day,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI appreciates the partnership and cooperation of Police Chief James White as we continue to address public corruption in the City of Detroit."
“This former officer’s actions are completely unacceptable for anyone who is sworn to protect and serve our city as a Detroit Police officer,” said Detroit Police Chief James E. White. “We appreciate U.S. Attorney Ison’s work to hold those engaging in corruption accountable and will continue to collaborate with her office in any investigation of alleged wrongdoing by our officers. It is a top priority of my administration to guarantee that Detroiters can depend on our officers to act ethically.”
The case was investigated by the Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, which is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Detroit Police Department, Michigan Attorney General's Office, Michigan State Police, Customs & Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown.
Former DOJ Paralegal Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Witness Retaliation and Obstruction of Justice-Related CrimesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Tawanna Hilliard was sentenced by United State District Judge Pamela Chen to 33 months in prison. The defendant was previously convicted, following a one-week trial, of witness retaliation, conspiracy to commit witness retaliation, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The evidence at trial showed that the defendant, who was the mother of a 5-9 Brim member and had long-standing ties with other members, was responsible for uploading the post-arrest statements of witnesses suspected of cooperating against the gang to YouTube—knowing that violent consequences were likely to follow. At the time of her crimes, Hilliard was a paralegal working in the Civil Division of another United States Attorney’s Office. Her co-defendant and son, Tyquan Hilliard, pleaded guilty to witness tampering conspiracy in November 2020 and was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the sentence.
“The defendant, whose job it was to serve justice, instead threatened the integrity of our justice system and the safety of government witnesses,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes and serves as a warning that obstructive and retaliatory conduct by anyone will not be tolerated and will be punished.”
Mr. Peace thanked Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
In May 2018, the defendant’s son, a member of the 5-9 Brims, participated in an armed robbery of a cell phone store in Monticello, New York, with another individual (John Doe) and that individual’s girlfriend (Jane Doe). All three were arrested by local police, and John Doe and Jane Doe thereafter made video-recorded post-arrest statements to law enforcement, including to federal task force officers investigating a string of commercial robberies committed by members of the 5-9 Brims. In August 2018, the defendant received discovery in her son’s robbery case, which included the video-recorded statements of John Doe and Jane Doe. The defendant discussed the videos in detail over recorded phone calls with her son, who was incarcerated pending trial for the robbery.
On August 5, 2018, the defendant uploaded the video of John Doe’s post-arrest statement to YouTube, through an Internet Protocol address assigned to the defendant’s account at her home address in Brooklyn. The video was entitled, “NYC Brim Gang Member SNITCHING! Pt. 1.”
Also on August 5, 2018, over a recorded jail call, the defendant’s son asked the defendant to send the video of Jane Doe’s post-arrest statement to one of his gang associates. The defendant and her son also discussed “tagging” John Doe in the video, to make it clear he had also “snitched.” Later that day, the video of Jane Doe’s statement was uploaded to YouTube with the title, “NYC Brim Gang Member Girlfriend SNITCHING ([Facebook name of John Doe]).” The video of John Doe’s statement quickly garnered over 10,000 views, and a substantial amount of attention on social media, including comments that included threats of violence against Jane Doe and John Doe.
Shortly thereafter, Jane Doe began receiving numerous death threats and reported hearing gunshots outside her apartment. She was relocated by law enforcement as a result. John Doe also received numerous death threats in jail.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 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.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Moscow and Lindsey Oken are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Celine Laruelle.
The Defendant:
TAWANNA HILLIARD
Age: 48
Brooklyn, New YorkPreviously Sentenced Defendant
TYQUAN HILLIARD
Age: 32
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-358 (S-1) (PKC)
Former CFO Sentenced to 3 Years and 5 Months in Prison for Embezzling over $1.9 MillionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher Firle, 53, of Fairfield, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison for a four-year embezzlement scheme of over $1.9 million from his employer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Firle was the Chief Financial Officer of a holding company that managed several vehicle dealerships. From January 2016 through September 2019, Firle misappropriated over $1.9 million from the company. He carried out his embezzlement scheme in multiple ways, including by using company credit cards to pay for over $750,000 in personal expenses. The unauthorized charges included tickets to sporting events and purchases at several retail stores, including Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Hermès, Nordstrom, and Tiffany & Co. Firle also initiated over 30 unauthorized wire transfers from the company to a family member. Those transfers totaled over $500,000. Additionally, Firle issued over 30 unauthorized company checks to himself that totaled over $165,000, and he withdrew more than $50,000 from a company account without authorization. Finally, Firle issued himself excess bonus payments totaling almost $160,000.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Firle was also ordered to pay $1,937,706 in restitution to his former employer and to forfeit $1,652,269 to the United States.
Fentanyl Dealer, Felon Who Possessed Firearm Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - A former resident of Alamance County was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison for fentanyl- and firearm-related charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
RAYMOND RONALD JENNINGS of Burlington, North Carolina, age 52, was sentenced to a 248-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition to prison time, JENNINGS was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a special assessment of $400.00.
According to a complaint filed in the case, law enforcement recovered 27.72 grams of fentanyl and a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol from the home of JENNINGS, who was a convicted felon at the time. The grand jury charged JENNINGS with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (841(b)(1)(C); maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 856(a)(1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).
A federal jury convicted JENNINGS after a three-day trial.
“Fentanyl continues to devastate communities in the Middle District of North Carolina, and across the country,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “Cases like this show our commitment to combatting the crisis in the court of law.”
The investigation was undertaken by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner Kroeger and Nicole DuPré.
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Federal Jury Finds Kentucky Woman Guilty of Mailing Threatening Communications to Neighbors Because of Their RaceRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a local woman on Friday of mailing communications containing threats to injure others in November and December 2020.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Suzanne Craft, 54, of Louisville, sent multiple threating communications via the United States Postal Service to a family that lived in her Lake Forrest neighborhood. Many of these communications contained threats of violence and racial slurs. The jury convicted Craft of five counts of mailing threatening communications.
“Holding people accountable for threats and intimidation based on race is a top priority of the Department,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their professional and diligent pursuit of this case.”
“I commend the outstanding work of the FBI’s Louisville Public Corruption Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the assigned prosecutors during the investigation and trial of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “This office, working together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute threats of violence and raced based intimidation throughout the Western District.”
“Receiving violent, hate-filled threats can have a devastating and lifelong impact on the victim. These senseless acts violate the law, run contrary to our values as Americans and defy the principles of tolerance that define our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Through the great work of the Public Corruption/Civil Rights Task Force, and that of our federal prosecutive partners, we were able to hold Kraft accountable for her actions. Our hearts are with the victims of these crimes, we appreciate their strength to come forward, and we hope this brings some semblance of closure to this ordeal.”
“Keeping the U.S. mailstream safe for all Americans is a priority for the USPIS,” said Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the USPIS Pittsburgh Division. “Threats of violence in the mail, especially those which are racially motivated, will not be tolerated. We work diligently with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who mails such threats.”
The jury further found that for each of these five counts, Craft sent the threatening communications to her neighbors because of their actual or perceived race or color.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 21, before a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Craft remains in federal custody pending sentencing and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office and USPIS in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.
The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the USPIS are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl for the Western District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss, and with assistance in the investigation from Trial Attorney Mary Hahn of the Civil Rights Division.
Federal Jury Convicts Okmulgee County Resident of Felon in Possession of A Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Kent Matthew Stapp, age 34, of Okmulgee County, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm & Ammunition. The jury trial began on Monday, March 13, 2023, and concluded on the same day with the guilty verdict.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on February 11, 2022, local law enforcement in Okmulgee, Oklahoma stopped Kent Matthew Stapp’s vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered that he had outstanding arrest warrants. When officers attempted to arrest Stapp, he tried to flee. Officers were able to prevent Stapp’s escape and take him into custody. The evidence included body camera footage of the arrest, wherein the defendant, a convicted felon, was shown to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The guilty verdict was the result of an investigation by the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case due to the federal crime of a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Stapp was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Genevieve Ozark and Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.
Essex County Felon Convicted of Drug Trafficking, Firearm Possession, and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was convicted on drug and weapon charges, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ricky Hubbard, 45, of Newark, was convicted on March 13, 2023, following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty on one count each of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents in this case and evidence at trial:
On Nov. 6, 2019, law enforcement officers pulled over Hubbard’s car in Union, New Jersey. Inside a secret compartment, Hubbard possessed 369 doses of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl packaged for distribution; drug-packaging materials; and a 9mm Taurus handgun loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber.
The firearm possession charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The drug trafficking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Union Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Chris Donnelly; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Union County Sheriff Peter D. Corvelli Jr., with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Emma Spiro of the Criminal Division in Newark.
Essex County Corrections Officer and Girlfriend Arrested for Conspiring to Smuggle Contraband into Essex County Correctional FacilityRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County corrections officer and his girlfriend were arrested today for conspiring to smuggle contraband into the prison facility at which he was employed to be resold to prisoners, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
Efrin Wade, 34, and Yairisa Lizardo, 29, both of Jersey City, are charged by complaint with extortion under color of official right. The defendants appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and were released on $100,000 each unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2023, Wade, who had served as a corrections officer at Essex County Correctional Facility (ECCF) since February 2020, began communicating with an individual whom he believed was seeking to smuggle contraband to inmates at ECCF for sale to other inmates. Unbeknownst to Wade, this individual was in reality an undercover FBI agent. Wade agreed to smuggle tobacco and cell phones, both of which inmates at ECCF are forbidden to possess. On Feb. 1, 2023, Wade sent Lizardo to meet with the undercover agent in a parking lot in Bayonne, New Jersey, where she accepted $10,000 in cash and a substantial quantity of tobacco for Wade to smuggle into ECCF. Over the subsequent weeks, Wade left this tobacco in concealed locations within ECCF believing it would be retrieved by inmates. However, law enforcement recovered these items after Wade relayed the concealed locations to the undercover agent.
On Feb. 8, 2023, Wade met the undercover agent in a parking lot in Jersey City, where Wade took possession of a cell phone concealed within tobacco. After smuggling this contraband into ECCF, law enforcement recovered it in a concealed location where Wade had left it for inmates to retrieve. On Feb. 15, 2023, Wade met with the undercover agent in the same parking lot in Jersey City and accepted an additional $4,000 for his smuggling activities. Wade also explained his plans to smuggle in an additional 15 contraband cell phones, which were to be supplied to him by the undercover agent. Wade expected to be paid at least $30,000 for smuggling these cell phones into ECCF in late March. Wade expected that the cell phones would then be resold to inmates for approximately $5,000 per phone. When approached by agents during his shift at ECCF during the early morning hours of March 14, 2023, Wade was found to be in possession of multiple packs of contraband cigarettes as well as tobacco packs and cigars.
The extortion charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and investigators of the Internal Affairs Unit of the Essex County Department of Corrections, under the direction of Ronald Charles, with the investigation leading to today’s arrests.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
wadelizardo.complaint.pdfElkhart Man Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Latell Washington, 24 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Washington was sentenced to 9 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release with the first 9 months being home detention.
According to documents in the case, in June 2021, a handgun was recovered at the scene of a shooting. Law enforcement learned that Washington bought this handgun from a firearms dealer 15 days previously, and that he bought at least 5 other firearms between October 2020 and June 2021. Washington admitted to lying on the ATF form in order to make the firearm purchase and said that he sold at least 4 firearms to people who could not make the firearm purchase themselves.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the South Bend Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Frank Schaffer.
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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Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years for Conspiracy to Import CocaineRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Miguel Ángel Agosto-Pacheco, a.k.a. “Chino,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa to 14 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow. Agosto-Pacheco pleaded guilty on December 6, 2022.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between approximately February 2017 and February 2018, Agosto-Pacheco served as the manager of the Puerto Rican branch of an international drug trafficking organization. During that timeframe, the organization coordinated the shipment of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia through Venezuela and into Puerto Rico.
As part of his plea agreement, Agosto-Pacheco admitted to conspiring to import millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine into Puerto Rico on two specific occasions. First, in November 2017, Agosto-Pacheco conspired to import approximately 417 kilograms of cocaine. Second, in December 2017, Agosto-Pacheco conspired to import approximately 285 kilograms of cocaine.
In late 2022, Agosto-Pacheco’s five co-defendants all pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine and were sentenced as follows:
- Jerry Omar Hernández-Peña—120 months
- Luis A. Vázquez-Rodriguez—120 months
- Anthony Jael Abreu-Matos—120 months
- Luis Ángel Ramos-Cordero—120 months
- Juan Tapia-Soto—96 months
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Denise Foster made the announcement.
The DEA was in charge of the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Max Pérez-Bouret and Carlos R. Cardona, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson, prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Drug Smuggler Sentenced to 78 Months for Smuggling FentanylRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jose Antonio Cota, 33, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Cota pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in April 2022.
In August 2020, Cota was a passenger in a commercial shuttle van when it stopped for a routine immigration inspection at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. During an inspection of the vehicle and its passengers, Border Patrol agents discovered Cota was hiding several small bundles of fentanyl pills taped to his body.
United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-1699-TUC-JAS-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-034_Cota# # #
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.Davenport Chiropractor Charged with False Statements, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering for PPP Loan and Mortgage Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Davenport man made his initial appearance today in federal court in Davenport on false statements to a financial institution, bank fraud, and money laundering charges.
Jason Rannfeldt, 51, is charged in a 14-count indictment returned on March 7, 2023. According to court documents, Rannfeldt owned and operated Rannfeldt Clinic or Rannfeldt Family Chiropractic between October 1998 and April 2021 and claimed to own and operate four additional businesses: Perfect Fit Coaching, LLC; PF Nutrition Counseling, LLC; RC Orthotics, LLC: and RC Performance Therapy, LLC. Between January 2021 and May 2021, Rannfeldt submitted eleven false and misleading Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to various financial institutions on behalf of these businesses. Rannfeldt included supporting documents with the PPP loan applications, including tax documents, that contained false or fraudulent misrepresentations. Rannfeldt obtained or attempted to obtain approximately $1,100,000 in PPP loan funds through the submission of the false and misleading PPP loan applications and supporting documentation.
Additionally, on August 9, 2021, Rannfeldt submitted a false and misleading residential mortgage loan application to GreenState Credit Union and provided supporting documents containing false or fraudulent misrepresentations. GreenState Credit Union approved the mortgage loan in the amount of $588,750.
Rannfeldt is charged with seven counts of false statements to a financial institution, six counts of bank fraud, and one count of money laundering. If convicted, he faces maximum sentences of 30 years in prison for each of the false statements to financial institutions and bank fraud counts, and 10 years in prison for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Small Business Association–Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge in Child Exploitation CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Raymond Glover, 42, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Matthew Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 21, 2023.
According to court documents, on or about September 21, 2021, HSI agents searched Glover’s home. During the search, a child pornography video was playing, in plain sight, on Glover’s laptop in the living room via an application that allowed sharing of the video screen. Agents observed adult men, on another screen, who appeared to be watching the video via the sharing application. Glover stated that some of the child pornography videos posted in the application chat groups depicted children as young as 5 or 6 years of age. Glover stated individuals also posted links to cloud storage sites which allowed him to gain access to child pornography. During the search warrant execution, agents seized 13 electronic devices, to include two phones, the laptop, and a number of others. Glover’s devices contained over 60 videos and 60 images that meet the federal definition of child pornography. These videos and images were downloaded between the dates of September 27, 2019 and September 21, 2021.
The charge of receiving child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, plus mandatory restitution, a period of supervised release, and a possible fine. The court will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the relevant factors including the advisory Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the Washington, D.C. office of Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Larson and Jocelyn Bond with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance provided by the paralegal Alexis Spencer-Anderson.
Convicted Felon Sent to Prison for Terrorizing Women with a FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – In a U.S. District courtroom on Tuesday, a Belleville man was sentenced to six years in federal prison for a gun charge stemming from a 2021 incident in East St. Louis.
Ladarius Roberts, 30, pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the federal prison sentence, he received three years of supervised release. Roberts will also pay a $200 fine and $100 in special assessments.
“Physically abusing and recklessly firing a weapon at women is absolutely unacceptable behavior, and I’m relieved the defendant will be sent back to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate the collaborative effort by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group to apprehend this dangerous and violent offender.”
“When we receive a call about a crime, the Public Safety Enforcement Group is ready to take action,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This case is an example of what law enforcement, the justice system, and community members can do by working together.”
According to court documents, Roberts and Kievonte J. Beasley met two women in East St. Louis in January 2021. When the women tried to leave, Roberts became angry, physically assaulted one of the women and threw an item shattering the woman’s car’s back windshield. He drove off in a vehicle with Beasley, and the women followed in another vehicle while on the phone with law enforcement.
Numerous gun shots were heard on the 911 call, and a woman reported Roberts was firing the gun from his car. Police located the suspected car with Roberts in the driver seat. Beasley fled from the passenger seat and discarded the firearm, but police recovered it nearby and identified it as a Glock 22, .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine containing 11 live rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber.
Roberts was on probation for drug charges at the time he committed crime. Beasley is facing a gun charge in state court for the incident. The charge against Beasley is only an accusation, and he’s presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The East St. Louis Police Department and the ISP PSEG unit worked together to contribute to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns led the prosecution.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Second Meth Trafficking IndictmentRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine that he received in the mail while he was on bond on an earlier federal indictment that also charged him with methamphetamine trafficking.
David Lee Williams, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
In January 2022, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted two packages that each contained a total of approximately 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. Each of the packages was addressed to a different residence utilized by Williams. On Jan. 19, 2022, Postal Inspection agents conducted a controlled delivery at one of the residences and executed search warrants at both residences.
At the time of this offense, Williams was on bond in a separate and unrelated federal indictment; his bond in that case was revoked following his arrest on Jan. 19, 2022. Williams then pleaded guilty in that separate case to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and was sentenced on March 3, 2022, to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole.
Under federal statutes, Williams is subject in this case to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Richenberger. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Columbia Man Indicted for Meth, Fentanyl, Illegal FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today after he was arrested in St. Joseph, Mo., with methamphetamine and a firearm, then again in Kansas City, Mo., with approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills.
Walter Antwine Moore, 42, was charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Moore on Feb. 13, 2023. Moore has been detained in federal custody without bond since his arrest.
The indictment charges Moore with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers contacted Moore when he arrived at a train station in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 10, 2023. Moore became confrontational with the detective who questioned him, the affidavit says, and attempted to flee on foot. He was tackled by the detective and detained with the assistance of other detectives and tactical response officers. Officers found a bundle wrapped in clear cellophane on the floor close to where Moore was detained. The bundle, according to the affidavit, contained approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills.
Moore had also been detained by law enforcement officers in St. Joseph, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2023. According to the affidavit, St. Joseph police officers were dispatched to Speedy’s Convenience Store to investigate a report of a man who reportedly stole a bag of potato chips and was trying to sell drugs. Officers searched his vehicle and found a baggy that contained numerous clear plastic baggies with a total of 284.8 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the car.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Moore has two prior felony convictions for robbery, two prior felony convictions for forgery, and prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Missouri Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Colchester Man Sentenced for Heroin and Fentanyl OffenseRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on March 13, 2023, Marc Wells, 48, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 49 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl on June 2, 2021.
According to court records, on June 2, 2021, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at Wells’ Colchester residence, where investigators seized approximately 2,181 glassine baggies that contained a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Wells, who has two prior federal drug convictions, admitted that he intended to distribute a portion of those narcotics.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Burlington Resident Office, in the investigation and prosecution of Wells.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew C. Gilman represented the government. Jordana M. Levine, Esq. represented Wells.
Cherokee, Iowa Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Dustin Coates, 36, from Cherokee, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced on March 7, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City. Coates was previously convicted of distribution of a controlled substance in the United States District Court for South Dakota in 2013.
Evidence at the hearing established Coates admitted his involvement in a conspiracy that distributed at least 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, including 150 grams of pure methamphetamine, from March 2021, through March 8, 2022. On March 8, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Coates was driving. Coates threw two baggies of methamphetamine from his person while attempting to flee the traffic stop on foot. C2oates admitted that he planned to distribute the 60+ grams of pure methamphetamine to other persons.
Coates was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve 10 years of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-4027. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Callahan Man Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Darrell Hickox (37, Callahan) has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Hickox possessed with intent to distribute cocaine, MDMA, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He has been employed with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years and formerly served as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force Officer from March 2014 through September 2022.
A complaint is merely a 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from United States Customs and Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Hamilton.
The United States Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection thank the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their cooperation during this investigation.