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Friday 10 March 2023
Peoria, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine (“Ice”) with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Keyshawn Q. Banks, 24, of the 1000 block of West Thrush Avenue, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, to 120 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine (“Ice”).
At the sentencing hearing before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the government presented evidence establishing that Banks distributed ice methamphetamine in the Peoria area from at least March 2022 to July 2022. On July 13, 2022, officers intercepted Banks in his vehicle on his way to a drug sale. When several officers surrounded his vehicle, Banks tried to flee from the scene but struck a nearby house and was apprehended. Officers then found 118 grams of methamphetamine on the backseat of his car. The methamphetamine was 99% pure. Banks was held accountable for possessing and distributing 2.78 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of the four-month investigation.
A criminal complaint was filed against Banks in July 2022, and he was indicted in August 2022. He entered a guilty plea in September 2022. Judge Mihm accepted Banks’s guilty plea in December 2022.
The statutory penalty for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute is a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, a possible fine of up to $10 million dollars, and no less than 5 years to life of supervised release.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Peoria Police Department, assisted by the Illinois State Police Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team (“TRIDENT”), investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Banks 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.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Miguel Lobano-Diaz, 35, a Mexican citizen living in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lobano-Diaz to 48 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Lobano-Diaz is also pending an order of deportation.
In July 2022, Omaha police narcotics detectives identified Lobano-Diaz as a suspected supplier of cocaine in the Omaha area. On August 10, 2022, officers executed a search warrant of Lobano-Diaz’s residence and found 100 grams of methamphetamine and nine ounces of cocaine. Laboratory testing confirmed the methamphetamine was 94 percent pure. During the search, officers also located a large rechargeable scale and drug packaging.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Ogden Man Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment for Possessing a Firearm as a Prior Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one and a half years followed by a 36-month term of supervised release for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon for a prior burglary conviction.
According to court documents, on January 7, 2021, Taydon Tailor Law, 22, of Ogden, Utah, a convicted felon restricted from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition, possessed a Ruger LC9, 9mm firearm and ammunition that he took without permission from a home where he was working. The firearm and ammunition were not manufactured in the state of Utah and travelled in interstate commerce.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah will continue to prosecute cases where individuals illegally possess and transfer firearms putting our citizens at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “Our goal is to prevent gun violence and we appreciate the commitment from our law enforcement partners who work to bring justice to victims and the community for these crimes.”
The case was investigated by the Ogden Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Branden B. Miles, for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was 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.
Ocala Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Ricky Darnell Franklin, Jr. (31, Ocala) to three years and four months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Franklin had pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022.
According to court records, Franklin has four prior state felony convictions, including two convictions for attempted second degree murder with a firearm (2010), shooting at or into an occupied vehicle (2010), and possession of a firearm by a delinquent (2010). On September 30, 2021, officers from the City of Ocala Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Franklin was a passenger and recovered methamphetamine and a loaded handgun from the car. Laboratory testing by the FBI conclusively showed Franklin’s DNA on multiple parts of the loaded firearm, including the trigger. As a convicted felon, Franklin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the City of Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
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.
Nicaraguan admits role in smuggling conspiracy resulting in deathRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old Nicaraguan citizen illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On June 6, 2022, Arling Antonio Gutierrez-Garcia drove a semi-tractor pulling a belly dump trailer with 63 citizens from Mexico and Guatemala. The metal trailer was covered with a vinyl tarp, thereby eliminating air circulation and increasing temperatures which led to the aliens’ distress.
Gutierrez-Garcia noticed them jumping out the trailer from a tear in the tarp they had made. He then stopped the semi-tractor in west Webb County on a private ranch road where law enforcement saw him standing by the cab.
Law enforcement and medical personnel provided assistance to the individuals located in the trailer and brush. One alien was found at the bottom of the trailer’s pit and pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities apprehended Gutierrez-Garcia in the brush, at which time he claimed he was being transported with the others. However, the investigation revealed he was the driver of the vehicle.
“Transporting dozens of human beings in a vinyl-covered all metal trailer in the South Texas summer heat demonstrates the callousness and indifference of smugglers to human life,” said Hamdani. “The sweltering heat that built up in this vehicle which was designed not for people, but for hauling sand, rock and other materials maximized the potential for injury and the eventual and tragic death of one of the victims. This defendant will now face substantial consequences for his inhumane crime.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that hearing, Gutierrez-Garcia faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Sheriff’s Offices in Webb and Dimmit Counties, Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.
New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – KIDUS AWLACHEW, age 33, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Jay Zainey after previously being charged in a one-count bill of information with international parental kidnapping, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1204, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, AWLACHEW and Person 1, an adult female, began dating in about 2018. Soon thereafter, Person 1 and her daughter, Minor Victim, moved into AWLACHEW’S residence. Between 2018 and January 2022, AWLACHEW often voluntarily acted in a parental capacity toward Minor Victim .
In about December 2021, AWLACHEW told Person 1 that he wanted to take Minor Victim to Ethiopia to experience a different culture for about one month. Based on those representations, Person 1 agreed. In fact, AWLACHEW intended to keep Minor Victim in Ethiopia for more than one month.
Thereafter, AWLACHEW purchased tickets for he and Minor Victim to travel to Ethiopia on January 14, 2022, and to return on February 21, 2022. AWLACHEW and Minor Victim did not return on February 21. On numerous occasions, Person 1 inquired why AWLACHEW had not returned with Minor Victim and to demand that he do so. AWLACHEW either ignored the inquiries or provided a false justification for not returning. Moreover, AWLACHEW usually did not allow Person 1 to correspond directly with Minor Victim.
Law enforcement authorities recovered Minor Victim from AWLACHEW’S custody in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and took AWLACHEW into custody, on July 20, 2022. United States law enforcement authorities arranged for Minor Victim to be returned to New Orleans and reunited with her mother. AWLACHEW was returned to the United States on August 24, 2022.
AWLACHEW faces up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to one year of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing before Judge Zainey has been scheduled for June 13, 2023, at 10:30 am.
"The ending in this case might have been much different without the coordination and cooperation between national and international partners," said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. "We thank the Louisiana State Police, the State Department, our fellow agents in Addis Ababa, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for bringing this case to a swift and positive conclusion."
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.”
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of State, and Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. U.S. Attorney Evans also expressed appreciation for the cooperation provided by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Iberia Man Sentenced for Attempted Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jaron Mitchell, 30, of New Iberia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 122 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, as a result of a conviction for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge David C. Joseph conducted the sentencing hearing.
In this case, on May 10, 2022, a Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) intercepted a package at UPS World Port in Louisville, Kentucky and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) began an investigation. Investigators learned the package contained several smaller boxes that were destined for a home in New Iberia, Louisiana. Agents discovered that the boxes contained infant/baby equipment, toys, and a total of ten (10) large Ziplock bag bundles containing suspected methamphetamine, each weighing approximately one pound. The total suspected weight of the methamphetamine was slightly more than ten pounds. Agents tracked the package to a home associated with Mitchell and then to a car where it was found. Mitchell was observed picking up the package from the home where it was delivered and was the driver of the car when package was located by officers. A data extraction of Mitchell’s cellphone showed he had been tracking the package through the UPS app on his phone. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charge on December 9, 2022.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
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Montgomery Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking and Federal Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that William Kennedy Allen, II, 37, from Montgomery, Alabama, received a 23-year prison sentence for carjacking and federal gun crimes. The judge also ordered that Allen serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to Allen’s plea agreement and other court records, on August 9, 2021, an Alabama State Trooper attempted to stop a motorcycle traveling through Chilton County on Interstate 65 with no tag. The motorcycle driver, later found to be Allen, refused to stop and accelerated to speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour. The trooper followed and the pursuit continued as Allen exited the interstate and drove into a Clanton mobile home park. There, Allen abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot. By this time, other law enforcement officers were assisting in the pursuit. One officer caught up with Allen and took him to the ground. Once on the ground, Allen discharged a shot from a pistol he was holding in his hand. Luckily, the bullet did not strike anyone.
Roughly one month later, on September 10, 2021, agents with the United States Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force were looking for Allen to arrest him pursuant to a state warrant. Agents observed Allen driving in east Montgomery and attempted to block Allen’s car with their vehicles. Allen rammed the law enforcement vehicles and struck at least two other cars before leaving his vehicle behind and running through an assisted living facility located off Taylor Road. Allen then stepped into the middle of Taylor Road and forced a man out of his truck by pointing a gun at him. Once the man was out, Allen sped away in the victim’s vehicle. Next, Allen drove to Tuskegee and stopped at a gas station. There, he approached a man who was getting into his car. Allen grabbed the car door handle and put a gun in the man’s midsection, then Allen drove away in the vehicle. Law enforcement officers responding to the Tuskegee carjacking pursued Allen on Interstate 85. Eventually, Allen crashed the second stolen car and officers then took him into custody.
On September 1, 2022, Allen pleaded guilty to carjacking, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 8, 2023, the judge imposed the 23-year sentence.
“The disregard for the safety of others in this case is disturbing,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “During just a few weeks, Allen endangered the lives of so many individuals. I am grateful for the combined effort of the local, state, and federal law enforcement officials involved. Together, they apprehended a dangerous person and made multiple communities safer as a result.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Clanton Police Department, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted this case.
Monroeville Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to more than 4 Years Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA -- A resident of Monroeville Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 51 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Damon Johnson, age 33.
According to information presented to the court, Johnson conspired to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl between September 2020 and December 2021. Johnson sold some of the fentanyl to another distributer, who then sold it to an individual who suffered a fatal overdose after ingesting the fentanyl.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.
Mississippi Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – A McComb woman was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison and pay $58,668 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for preparing false tax returns for her clients, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to court documents and facts revealed at her plea hearing, Elizabeth Stephens, 41, worked at a tax return preparation business in McComb. Between 2014 and 2017, Stephens prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including false W-2 information and Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business Forms. These false expenses and altered W-2s reduced taxable income and maximized the Earned Income Credit, increasing the total refund amount. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022. She pled guilty on October 12, 2022.
“The sentence today is an example of the consequences people face when they prepare and file false returns,” said Lisa Fontanette, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “As a tax preparer, Elizabeth Stephens failed to follow the ethical responsibilities of her profession.”
The owner of the tax return preparation business, Shameka Wells, was sentenced on July 13, 2021 to 13 months in federal prison for filing a false tax return.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.
Michigan Man Arrested and Charged for Illegally Possessing Firearms While Making Threats to Kill Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Michigan man was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with illegally possessing firearms after having been committed to a mental institution and while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. The man came to the attention of the FBI after he made numerous threats over YouTube to kill FBI agents, members of the LGBTQ community, President Biden, and Governor Whitmer.
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.
According to the criminal complaint, Randall Robert Berka II, 30, of Sebewaing, Michigan, was illegally in possession of four firearms, three long guns and a pistol, after he had been committed to a mental institution and while he was a daily user of marijuana. Berka also was in possession of ammunition and body armor. The firearms were previously purchased for Berka by a relative who now feared that his mental health treatment was not working and was scared of Berka. The relative cooperated with FBI agents in securing the complaint.
The complaint further provides that Berka came to the attention of the FBI after Google reported to the agency that Berka was posting various threats on YouTube. Among other statements, Berka posted the following: “im going to kill these democrats biden deserves to die,” “im gonna kill lgbt freaks,” “you could be like me and get guns and threaten to kill politicians. Im more than willing tot kill whitmer and I do live in Michigan,” “Ill assault her . . . with my bullets,” and “i buy guns though and plot to kill people.”
The FBI arrested Berka at his residence in Sebewaing on Thursday, March 9, 2023. He will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today in the Bay City, Michigan courthouse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be asking the Court to hold Berka in pretrial detention because of his danger to the community and the risk that he will flee.
“We will take immediate action when we learn of individuals illegally possessing firearms and threatening to harm or kill others,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “I applaud Google’s vigilance in this matter, and we hope members of the community will, likewise, pay attention and report such conduct to law enforcement.”
“This defendant’s actions were very alarming,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “When free speech crosses a line and becomes a threat of violence against another – aggravated by the illegal possession of firearms – the full investigative resources of the FBI will be brought to bear. As always, we encourage the public to be vigilant and report concerning behavior to the FBI and local law enforcement.”
Based on the charges in the complaint, Berka faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Vance.
Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Growing over 6,500 Marijuana Plants in the Shasta-Trinity National ForestRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Agustin Cruz-Sanchez, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the United States for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and depredation of public lands and resources, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, from April to August 2018, Cruz-Sanchez lived and worked at an illegal marijuana grow site in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, along with co-defendant Abraham De Los Santos-Sanchez. Beginning on Aug. 17, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search of the grow and eradicated 6,575 marijuana plants, a marijuana processing area, and harvested marijuana. The marijuana had an estimated street value of more than $1.5 million. Cruz-Sanchez and Santos-Sanchez expected to share in those profits, along with the off-site leader of the operation, Fidel Sanchez-Cruz.
During the search and reclamation of the grow site, law enforcement found a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with an obliterated serial number, pellet rifles, a loaded Smith & Wesson magazine, and a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition cartridge in front of Cruz-Sanchez’s tent. The handgun was found along the route that Cruz-Sanchez fled from law enforcement during the search of the grow site, before he was apprehended and arrested. Photographs and videos found on Cruz-Sanchez’s cellphone showed him and Santos-Sanchez posing with the handgun and pellet rifle in the marijuana fields and touting their ability to protect the grow with the weapons.
The environmental damage to the forest was analyzed and documented by Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems that has examined over 100 public land marijuana grow sites.
According to the report of the investigation filed with the court, environmental scientists found and documented extensive environmental damage, including the use and disposal of bottles of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. The hazardous wastes found at the grow site included carbofuran, a toxic pesticide that is banned in the United States. The environmental assessment concluded that the carbofuran and other pesticides and fertilizer at the grow site likely posed a significant direct risk to a number of endangered and threatened species, including the northern spotted owl, the foothill yellow-legged frog, and coho salmon. Makeshift reservoirs and a large network of plastic irrigation lines were also found and eradicated. The environmental assessment concluded that more than 14.25 million gallons of water were illegally diverted at the grow site.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice – North State Marijuana Investigation Team, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, the Corning Police Department, and the Red Bluff Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
Santos-Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and on June 18, 2020, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On May 19, 2022, Fidel Sanchez-Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, and depredation of public lands and resources. Sanchez-Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. Sanchez-Cruz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS-JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA, a/k/a “Fernando A. Lopez,” a/k/a “Juan C. Martinez,” a/k/a “Oscar Flores,” a/k/a “Martin Peralta,” a/k/a “Juan Castaneda,” age 54, pled guilty on March 9, 2023 to a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to documents filed in court and signed by him, JUAN MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA (“MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA”) admitted reentering the United States after being previously deported on February 3, 2003. MARTINEZ-CASTANEDA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Mexican Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Victor Gerardo Mendez-Gil, 34, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Mendez-Gil to imprisonment for a term of 60 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Mendez-Gil will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Mendez-Gil will be removed by immigration authorities from the United States to Mexico after completing his sentence.
On February 9, 2021, Mendez-Gil was dispatched by a Mexico-based methamphetamine supplier to deliver one pound of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Omaha. The methamphetamine weighed approximately 464.4 grams. After additional investigation, agents were able to obtain a warrant to search Mendez-Gil’s Omaha residence. Mendez-Gil was arrested during the search on February 16, 2021. At the time, he was in possession of approximately 36 pounds of methamphetamine mixture and $15,099.00 in United States Currency. The currency consists of proceeds from methamphetamine trafficking and has been criminally forfeited to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Division.
Man Pleads Guilty for his role in a Delaware County MurderRead the Press Release
A man who took part in a shooting that led to the death of one man and the injury of a woman pleaded guilty in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Dakota Chase Buzzard, 21, of Grove, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence.
Buzzard admitted in a plea agreement that he agreed with others to carry and use a .22 caliber rifle to confront victim Jerry Tapp at his home in Delaware County. Tapp was killed during the confrontation. The other two individuals allegedly involved in the killing were the defendant’s brother Cody Dwayne Buzzard, 29, and his father James William Buzzard, 50.
On Aug. 1, 2019, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting near Jay. Deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard. It appeared that Tapp sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and that a second victim had sustained a gunshot wound to her arm. According to court documents, the victim told investigators that she heard a noise outside the home early that morning and thought Tapp had forgotten his keys to the house. When she turned on the light and opened the door, she heard gunfire and felt a sudden pain in her right wrist. She then shut and locked the front door, crawled to another room, and called 911. The three defendants were later charged with the crime.
On Aug. 11, 2022, Cody Buzzard pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country and conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence.
James Buzzard is currently scheduled for trial in April. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
See indictment press release here.
The FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger is prosecuting the case.
Man Indicted on Multiple Kidnapping, Carjacking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a Chicago man on three counts of kidnapping, two counts of carjacking, and one firearms charge for offenses he committed while on pre-trial release for a previously charged federal gun offense. Those convicted of committing a criminal offense while on pretrial release are subject to an enhanced criminal penalty.
The superseding indictment alleges that on February 27, March 8, and March 10, 2021 ANDREW ANANIA, 28, of Chicago, kidnapped the drivers of three vehicles, one on each date. On two of the occasions, Anania also stole the victims’ motor vehicle with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. In October 2021, Anania was previously indicted on a kidnapping charge for the incident that occurred on March 8 during which he also sexually abused his victim. Anania was arrested for this offense on March 13, 2021 and has been in custody since that time.
Prior to the conduct described in the superseding indictment, on February 15, 2019, while driving in the neighborhood of Little Village, Anania was stopped by Chicago Police Officers. When officers attempted to approach Anania, he fled on foot through a residential neighborhood. During the pursuit, officers observed Anania throw a firearm into a residential yard. Officers arrested Anania and recovered the firearm a short time later. Anania was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm on June 26, 2019, and a court later granted his request for pre-trial release. On October 14, 2021, Anania pleaded guilty to this firearms offense, and he was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment for that offense on February 14, 2022.
The indictment is announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the Darien Police Department, Cicero Police Department, Summit Police Department, and Stickney Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cornelius Vandenberg.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of kidnapping is punishable by up to life imprisonment, and each count of carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years in federal prison. The charge of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a mandatory sentence of at least 7 years’ imprisonment if the government proves that the firearm was brandished, which sentence must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Lackawanna County Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Moises Vargas-Olivio, age 22, of Olyphant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on March 9, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, to the charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vargas-Olivio admitted to possessing a loaded .357 Magnum revolver, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, and an illegal “sawed-off” shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charge stems from an incident on May 22, 2022, in which Lackawanna County Detectives and members of the Olyphant Police Department made a purchase of cocaine from Vargas-Olivio and then obtained a search warrant for Vargas-Olivio’s residence in Olyphant. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of an additional amount of cocaine packaged for distribution, approximately $20,000 in U.S. currency, numerous pills, marijuana, two loaded handguns, and a loaded “sawed-off” shotgun.
The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by Lackawanna County Detectives, the Olyphant Police Department, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Brian J. Gallagher are prosecuting the case.
This case is also 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.
Under federal law, for the firearms charges, Vargas-Olivio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of life, a term of supervised release and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Knoxville Dentist Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Commit Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 10, 2023, Clarence (“Buzz”) Nabers, 56 years old, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home detention by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Judge Crytzer also ordered Dr. Nabers to serve one year on supervised release, pay restitution in the amount of $249,600.02, and pay a fine of $22,128.
Dr. Nabers, a Tennessee licensed dentist, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1347.
As set forth in the written plea agreement filed with the court, during the time of the conspiracy, which began on an unknown date and lasted until at least November 1, 2018, Dr. Nabers conspired to submit more than 6,700 fraudulent claims to three health care benefit programs, resulting in a loss amount to those programs of $249,600.02.
Those fraudulent claims, which were submitted using Dr. Nabers’s National Provider Identifier number, falsely represented that Dr. Nabers had either personally performed or supervised various dental procedures in his office, including but not limited to Oral Evaluations, Oral Evaluations for Patients under 3 Years of Age, and Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluations. These procedures are required to be performed or supervised by a dentist, and not by a dental hygienist or dental assistant. Dr. Nabers admitted that he had not, in fact, personally performed or supervised the performance of those procedures because he was not physically present at the office when they were performed. Instead, the procedures were performed by dental hygienists or dental assistants when the defendant was not physically present in the office.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Former Assistant United States Attorney T.J. Harker, and current Assistant United States Attorney William A. Roach, Jr., prosecuted the case.
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Kentucky Man is Last of Six Sentenced in Anabolic Steroids and Pill Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Justin T. Hail, 37, of Somerset, Kentucky, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, methamphetamine, N-Ethylhexedrone, and Alprazolam, and conspiracy to launder money. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hail to imprisonment for a term of 72 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Hail will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
Hail was a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that produced and distributed anabolic steroids and other controlled substances to customers throughout the country using a private Facebook group as an online storefront and the United States Postal Service to ship the drugs to locations throughout the country. Two members of the conspiracy operated clandestine laboratories from the west coast, specifically for the purpose of producing finished anabolic steroids. In addition to anabolic steroids, the DTO marketed and sold pharmaceutical drugs described as Xanax and Adderall. Legitimately prescribed pharmaceutical Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance containing amphetamine salts. However, laboratory testing revealed that the pills marketed as “Adderall” by the DTO were counterfeit and contained methamphetamine, also a Schedule II controlled substance. The “Xanax” distributed by the DTO contained N-Ethylhexedrone, a Scheduled I controlled substance. “Xanax” is a brand name for Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Alprazolam was also confirmed by laboratory testing to be present in substances recovered by investigators.
Customers purchasing controlled substances from the DTO were required to use cryptocurrency and cash to pay. Hail conducted sales for the organization and used peer-to-peer digital payment platforms to accept payments for controlled substances from customers and to transfer funds to and from other DTO members. In addition to the use of digital payment platforms, the DTO used various other methods designed to protect the membership’s anonymity and to provide security for the criminal organization from law enforcement and other criminal organizations. Proceeds from the sale of steroids and other controlled substances were laundered by various sophisticated means
In addition to Hail, five other members of the DTO were prosecuted and convicted. They were Jonathan Stidham, sentenced to imprisonment for 156 months; Fernando Lopez-Reyes, 96 months; Robert Hood, 72 months; Lindsey Garcia, 48 months, and Justin Ames, who received a time served sentence.
“These defendants attempted a complex and unique scheme using social media platforms and cryptocurrencies, but ultimately could not escape the reach of IRS Criminal Investigation’s special agents and our law enforcement partners,” said St. Louis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “IRS-CI is proud to be part of such a premier investigation team to help dismantle drug trafficking organizations across the country.”
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case was investigated by the Omaha offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Kent, Washington, resident indicted for dealing fentanyl while illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 36-year-old Kent, Washington, resident was indicted by a grand jury for trafficking narcotics while illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Mohamed Aweys Muse is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Muse is scheduled for arraignment on March 15, 2023.
According to records filed in the case, Muse came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2022, when Muse was observed making hand-to-hand drug sales in the area of Airport Way South and South Holgate Street in Seattle. Muse appeared to target the clients of a methadone clinic a block away for his drug sales.
In January, Muse started staying overnight at a Lynwood, Washington apartment. On February 2, 2023, law enforcement served a court-authorized search warrant on both the Lynnwood and Kent apartments. In the Lynnwood apartment, investigators found fentanyl, cocaine, and three firearms. In the Kent apartment, law enforcement found additional cocaine. Muse was arrested and has been in federal custody since his arrest.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Due to the drug quantities involved, Muse faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the drug trafficking charges. The firearms count is punishable by an additional five years in prison to run consecutive to any prison term imposed on the drug charges.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.
Justice Department Announces Allison Turkel as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation FundRead the Press Release
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced that he has chosen Allison Turkel to head the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Turkel, who has served in the Justice Department for over 14 years, most recently in the Office for Victims of Crime, will assume her new position effective March 12, 2023. She will be taking over from August Flentje, who on April 29, 2022, was appointed as Special Master on an interim basis following the departure of former Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya.
“In administering the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the Justice Department is committed to honoring the victims and survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks, including those who bravely responded that day and in the years after, putting themselves at great risk,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am grateful for August’s service as interim VCF Special Master and I am confident that Allison’s leadership, vision, and commitment to serving victims will enable VCF to continue its essential mission.”
“As a native New Yorker, a former Philadelphia area police officer and lieutenant, and a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, it is an honor and privilege to be selected by the Attorney General for this important service,” Turkel said. “I recognize I am stepping into the position to carry on the legacy of those who held the role before me, while also focusing on the future of a program that must continue to meet the needs of claimants for decades to come. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated VCF staff to ensure that 9/11 claimants promptly receive the payments to which they are entitled. I also want to thank August for serving as interim Special Master over the past 10 months, leading the team and ensuring there was no slowdown in claims processing.”
The VCF has made tremendous progress since it re-opened in October 2011. As of Feb. 28, 2023, over $11.1 billion in compensation has been awarded to more than 50,000 responders and survivors who have been harmed because of their exposure to 9/11 toxins. Under Flentje’s leadership over the past 10 months, the VCF issued over 7,400 awards totaling over $1 billion dollars. Flentje continued to build upon the progress made during Bhattacharyya’s tenure, including reviewing and rendering decisions on nearly 800 appeals, meeting his goal to reduce to six months or less the waiting period for a decision after an appeal hearing is held. Flentje also saw that the VCF Transformation effort – initiated following the VCF’s Permanent Authorization in July 2019 – continued to move forward to ensure the program remains operational for decades to come.
Flentje is a career civil service attorney with the Department’s Civil Division and will support the VCF and Special Master Turkel as she steps into her new role. The Department does not expect any interruption in VCF claim review or in the issuance of awards during this transition.
Turkel’s career in public service has spanned decades, including her recent work with the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Prior to this role, Turkel oversaw all grant functions for the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Her prior work also included oversight of the team working with American Indian Tribes to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, for which she and her team received the Assistant Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service.
Turkel previously served as the Deputy Director of the Federal, International, and Tribal Division at OVC. She oversaw the Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program, including the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, National Mass Violence Victimization Center, and OVC’s Mass Violence victim support program. As Deputy Director, she also provided guidance and resources for federal partners’ victim services programs. In addition, she led the Tribal victims’ services program, including the creation of innovative and efficient processes to help the Department effectuate a massive increase in funding for the first ever Tribal Victim Services Set Aside Program, and the creation of the Tribal Financial Management Center.
Before her federal service, Turkel was the Director of the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), where she managed program activities and staff; and trained and provided technical assistance nationwide on child abuse, maltreatment, sexual exploitation, computer facilitated crimes against children, and domestic violence. Prior to her position at NDAA, Allison was a prosecutor for over 11 years, serving in New York and Illinois. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office for more than nine years, where she tried a wide variety of felony cases.
Turkel was born and raised in New York City, and although she has lived in the Washington D.C. area for the past 20 years, considers herself a lifetime New Yorker. Before beginning her legal career, she served as a police officer and lieutenant for eight years in the Philadelphia area. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
“This is a program that has always operated with transparency and compassion, and this will not change as we continue to work to provide full compensation to those who have suffered as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,” said Turkel.
For additional information on the Victim Compensation Fund, please visit: www.vcf.gov.
Jenks Man Pleads Guilty After Groping a Girl in a Store and Later Following Another Girl and Burglarizing her HomeRead the Press Release
A man who restrained and groped a girl at a Dollar General store where he worked and who followed another girl home from a school bus stop then burglarized her family’s home pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
William Mark Parnell, 21, pleaded guilty to Attempted Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country and Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country.
On June 1, 2021, Parnell admitted that he was working at a Dollar General in Glenpool when he saw a minor female walk inside. He followed the girl down an aisle then grabbed her from behind, placing one hand over her mouth and another hand down her pants. He told the minor to be quiet and move. He stated that when he tried to turn the girl to face him, she was able to escape. He admitted that he intended to engage in sexual contact with the victim.
On May 16, 2022, Parnell followed a different girl from a bus stop and broke into her family’s home in Tulsa. The child fled to a neighbor’s house just prior to Parnell’s entry. Parnell admitted that while inside, he stole a firearm. Shortly after, Parnell discarded the stolen firearm in a pond to conceal it from law enforcement.
Parnell was later identified and arrested, and the firearm was recovered from the pond in a joint effort by Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police and Tulsa Police.
The FBI, Tulsa Police Department, Glenpool Police Department, and the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam C. Bailey and Stacey P. Todd are prosecuting the case.
Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 7 was:
Antonio Ledesma Rodriguez, aka Uncle, 52, and Jose Delrefugio Rodriguez, 27, both of Yakima, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-106.
Stephen Jeffrey Vogel, 35, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Vogel faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Vogel was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-26.
Titus Lee Pedraza, 40, of Box Elder, on charges of strangulation, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Pedraza faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Pedraza was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-24.
Thomas Knife, aka Smurf, 40, of Box Elder, and Antonio Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Knife also faces a charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, while Infante also faces a charge of distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other charge, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of possessing a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-21.
Heriberto Rodriguez Acosta, 30, of Yakima, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Acosta faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Acosta was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force, Rocky Boy’s Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and Kootenai County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-97.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 9 was:
Jeff David Burke, 37, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Burke faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Burke was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and U.S. Postal Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-15.
Michael Shane Oset, 47, of Livingston, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Oset faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Oset was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Park County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-18.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, wh ich provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Indianapolis Man Charged in Federal Indictment for Two Armed Robberies, Armed Carjacking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging George Landy, 52, of Indianapolis, with interference with commerce by robbery, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, two counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As charged in the indictment, on October 24, 2022, Landy carjacked a woman outside a Dollar Tree store in Lawrence, Indiana. Landy approached the woman as she got into her car, displayed a firearm in his waistband, and ordered that she move to the passenger seat. Landy drove the woman to a bank and forced her to withdraw $500 from her account. Landy then drove the victim to the IndyGo Transit Center in downtown Indianapolis. Landy left her at the transit center and drove away in the stolen vehicle, with the victim’s money, jewelry, debit card, and driver’s license. The victim immediately called 911 and reported the carjacking.
The next day, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officers (IMPD) located the stolen vehicle near Landy’s residence and observed him open the door using a key. When police approached Landy, he fled on foot and threw a firearm on the ground as he ran. Landy was apprehended, and police recovered the firearm. Landy is charged with illegally possessing the firearm following a felony conviction.
After Landy’s arrest, investigators linked him to two other violent crimes in Indianapolis; an armed robbery at a Family Dollar store on October 16, 2022, and an attempted armed robbery at a McDonald’s on October 23, 2022. Landy was armed with a firearm during both crimes. During the attempted armed robbery at the McDonald’s, Landy fired two shots into the restaurant. No one was injured.
If convicted on all counts, Landy faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the actual sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division, Randal Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and Gary Woodruff, Chief of the Lawrence Police Department, made the announcement.
The investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Lawrence Police Department.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa, who is prosecuting this 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.
Hudson County Man Admits Producing Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey man, admitted producing images of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Ramon Zelaya, 36, of Union City, pleaded guilty by videoconference on March 9, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to a second superseding indictment charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between Aug. 20, 2018 and Sept. 20, 2018, Zelaya used an alias Instagram account to message a minor victim and entice, threaten, and coerce the minor into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos. From April 2018 through May 2018, Zelaya used an alias Facebook account to conspire with an individual in the Dominican Republic to sexually abuse the individual’s minor child, create images of that abuse, and send the images to Zelaya. In May 2017, Zelaya used another messaging application to engage an additional underage victim in sexually explicit conversations during which Zelaya requested that the victim take sexually explicit photographs and videos of the victim and send them to him.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, and officers of the Union City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony Facchini, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie H. Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty and Sentenced for Using Another Individual’s Social Security Number to Secure EmploymentRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ELTON JOHN MEJIA EUCEDA, age 22, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty yesterday to illegally using a social security number belonging to another individual, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans
According to documents filed in federal court, the defendant used a social security number belonging to another individual to secure employment with a local business. The defendant pled guilty before United States District Judge Susie Morgan and was sentenced to one year of probation and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran National Pleads Guilty and Sentenced to Time Served for Illegal Re-Entry After DeportationRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – NORMAN GARCIA- GARCIA(“GARCIA-GARCIA”), age 24, was sentenced on March 7, 2023 for illegal reentry of a removed alien in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, GARCIA-GARCIA admitted to reentering the United States after being previously deported on February 23, 2018. GARCIA-GARCIA was sentenced by the Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, to time served, which was over four months.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
Home health owner set to appear on fraud chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Houston woman has been charged for conspiracy to commit and committing health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Rose Davies is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 2 p.m.
A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment March 1 against Davies.
The charges allege Davies owned Pri Home Healthcare in Houston from 2012 to 2020. During that time, she allegedly paid recruiters and doctors to bill Medicare for home health care services using Medicare beneficiary information regardless of whether they needed home health care services or not.
If convicted, Davies faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of health care fraud as well as another five years for the conspiracy. All charges also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine.
Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace Murphy and James Hu are 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.
Henderson County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A Henderson County, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 151 months in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to court documents, on October 7, 2021, Jason P. Elder, 43, of Henderson, Kentucky, possessed with the intent to distribute 164.95 grams of methamphetamine. When Elder committed this offense, he was on supervised release for a previous federal drug trafficking conviction, and he received an additional sentence of 12 months and 1 day for that violation. His total sentence in federal prison is 163 months and 1 day. Following the prison sentence, Elder will serve 5 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Individuals like the defendant, who plan to flood Western Kentucky communities with poisonous substances, will face lengthy federal prison sentences,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to focus federal resources on drug traffickers as we strive to increase public safety in the Western District.”
“As highly addictive drugs continue to plague communities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, this sentence removes an important cog in this western Kentucky ring of destruction,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Cohen. “Knowing the harm that drug trafficking brings to our neighborhoods, the FBI will continue to use all resources necessary to bring drug dealers to justice.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Owensboro Satellite Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Greenfield Felon Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison After Breaking into a Hancock County Home, Stealing 25 Firearms, and Selling ThemRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- William Campbell, 32, of Greenfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 8 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on February 8, 2021, Campbell and another individual broke into a Hancock County residence and stole 25 firearms. Campbell then sold the firearms to another individual. As of today, only 8 of the firearms have been recovered by law enforcement officers.
Campbell is prohibited from lawfully possessing any firearm due to his three previous felony convictions for theft and drug offenses.
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division made the announcement.
“Trafficking of stolen guns fuels the violence that devastates so many families,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Criminals like this defendant are part of the reason why so many firearms end up in the hands of dangerous criminals. The sentence imposed here demonstrates that those who violate our homes and endanger our neighbors will be held accountable.”
ATF investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Campbell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Abhi Kambli, how prosecuted this case.
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Green Bay Man Sentenced to Ten Years of Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on March 10, 2023, Michael R. Chapman (age: 32) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced for conspiring to distribute over 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846.
According to court documents, between June and September of 2022, Chapman travelled to Southern California for the purpose of obtaining methamphetamine. Once in possession of the controlled substance, Chapman used the U.S. Postal system to mail the packages to his co-conspirators in Green Bay. The methamphetamine was then sold by Chapman upon his return to Wisconsin.
At sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of Chapman’s offense and the need to send a strong message of deterrence to Chapman and anyone else who might seek to distribute drugs in Northeast Wisconsin. The judge ordered Chapman to serve ten years in federal prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Brown County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.
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Framingham Man Sentenced in Business Email Compromise SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Framingham man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.
Gustaf Njei, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 27 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Njei was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $94,630. In December 2022, Njei was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of wire fraud, one count of structuring to avoid reporting requirements, one count of unlawful monetary transactions and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Njei set up a bank account in the name of a fake business, “Njei Trading,” to receive the criminal proceeds of a BEC scheme. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated scam often targeting businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques, to cause employees of the victim company (or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions) to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers.
Njei’s co-conspirators used hacked and spoofed email accounts to trick the victims of the scheme into wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to a bank account under Njei’s control. Njei then transferred part of the funds to a bank account located overseas, while splitting the remaining funds with a co-conspirator in the United States.
“Since June 2016, victims have lost over $43 billion to BEC fraud schemes just like the one Mr. Njei and his co-conspirators engaged in. The network of online criminals targeting victims is growing every day and their tools are getting more sophisticated. This sentence should send a clear message to scammers that they will be identified and held accountable,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Njei knew he was engaging in a devastating fraud scheme, but all that mattered to him was lining his pockets with proceeds stolen from unwitting innocent victims. This sentence holds him accountable and we will to make sure that the restitution the court ordered gets to his victims.”
“Scam artists like Gustaf Njei are committing fraud on a massive scale and must be held accountable. This sentence does exactly that, although the harm the victims in this case suffered can’t be measured in dollars and cents,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Every year, victims lose billions of dollars of their hard-earned money, along with many sleepless nights, and fear losing their businesses and credibility. This case shows the FBI will do everything it can to find and hold financial fraudsters like Mr. Njei accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
U.S. Attorney Rollins and FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William B. Brady and Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Former ticketing specialist pleads guilty to defrauding Delta Air LinesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Aquil Muhammad, who sold fraudulently issued Delta Air Lines tickets, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“Muhammad exploited his position of trust at Delta to enrich himself by selling fraudulent tickets,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He was even bold enough to use his personal email address as the contact person for some of the illegal transactions.”
“With this guilty plea, Muhammad acknowledges his criminal wrongdoing and can now be held accountable for his selfish actions,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always strive to expose corrupt employees that take advantage of their trusted positions of employment.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Aquil Muhammad worked as a Delta Air Lines ticketing specialist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2016, he began issuing no-fare tickets to various individuals, including family members and other acquaintances.
Muhammad issued non-revenue tickets without a corresponding Non-Cash Incentive Certificate. That is, he issued free tickets, without compensation to Delta. These non-revenue tickets generated tax liability to Delta even though they had no associated cost. Muhammad also created fraudulent Transportation Credit Vouchers and Delta Travel Vouchers to cover the required taxes.
Muhammad issued these non-revenue tickets from late 2016 through December 2017. He ultimately issued more than 230 tickets, with a lost revenue total of approximately $447,000. Each of the tickets were issued using Muhammad’s unique agent security identifier. In addition, many of the tickets included Muhammad’s personal email address as the contact for the passenger. He would sell these free tickets, often being paid through Square.
Sentencing for Aquil Muhammad, 36, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is scheduled for June 7, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former law enforcement officer convicted of sexually abusing young childrenRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 69-year-old member of the Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe was convicted today of nine federal crimes related to the sexual abuse of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Anthony Turrey, of Port Angeles, Washington, was convicted following a seven-day jury trial. The jury deliberated for about two days before returning the guilty verdicts. Turrey was remanded to federal custody to await sentencing. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle scheduled the sentencing for June 5, 2023.
In 2021, according to records filed in the case, three victims disclosed abuse by the defendant that occurred between 2008 and 2016. The charged assaults occurred on tribal land, triggering federal jurisdiction. Two of the victims were as young as 6 and 7 years old when the sexual assaults began.
Early in his career, in 1993-94, Turrey served as a law enforcement officer on the Hoh Reservation. Turrey, and those who knew him at that time, described his role as Chief of Police. The Hoh Tribe has no record of that position, but is aware that Turrey was employed by the tribe and supervised a fisheries enforcement officer. Turrey went on to serve as a police officer for the Lower Elwah Tribe and also served on the Tribal Council.
Turrey was convicted of six counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact.
Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor is punishable by a mandatory-minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life. Abusive Sexual Contact is punishable by a maximum of life in prison. Sexual Abuse of a Minor is punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Lower Elwha S’Klallam Police Department, with assistance from the National Park Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster, Will Dreher, and Jonas Lerman.
Former Union Officer Sentenced to Incarceration for Embezzling More Than $500,000Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attia Little, 43, of Temple Hills, Maryland, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal more than $500,000 from the labor organization, using the money for parties, trips, furniture, and other personal expenses. U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta also ordered $399,450 in restitution and 24 months of supervised release to follow the prison term.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General, and District Director Mark Wheeler, of the Washington District Office of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Little, a former union officer, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to one count of conspiracy and one count of theft from a labor organization. Little was the operations manager of the Property Services Division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), headquartered in Washington, D.C. As part of her duties, she managed administrative support, booked reservations for SEIU employees, and paid vendor invoices for union-related purchases. She had a work-issued credit card and access to third-party discount travel booking platforms that were to be used for union business only.
A co-defendant, Melba Norris, was a close associate of Little’s, and had no affiliation with the union. According to plea documents, between November 2015 and October 2017, Little used her access to the credit card and travel booking platforms to embezzle approximately $503,600 from SEIU. In total, she kept approximately $460,900 in SEIU funds for herself, and Norris kept approximately $42,700.
Among other things, Little used the SEIU credit card to purchase personal items, including purchases for a baby, personal parties hosted at her residence, personal travel, furniture, watches, clothing, and video games. She also used the credit card to purchase gift cards for personal use. Little also used the credit card to pay funds to a company that she created and companies created and controlled by Norris, even though no work was performed.
Norris, 36, of Powder Springs, Georgia, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to charges of conspiracy and theft from a labor organization. On Oct. 5, 2022, Norris was sentenced to 6 months of incarceration, followed by 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $37,007 in restitution.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Springer, and District Director Wheeler commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Labor Department’s Office of the Inspector General and Office of Labor-Management Standards. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Financial Analyst Bryan Snitselaar, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gauri Gopal and Ahmed M. Baset, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Former L.A. Resident Arrested on Complaint Alleging Multimillion-Dollar Frauds Targeting Members of Orthodox Jewish CommunityRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former resident of the Fairfax District of Los Angeles has been arrested on a criminal complaint alleging he defrauded investors, primarily members of the Orthodox Jewish community, by inducing them into investing millions of dollars in his security camera business and his purported real estate ventures in Israel, the Justice Department announced today.
Yossi Engel, 35, who moved to Israel in March 2021 but temporarily returned to the Los Angeles area last month, is charged with one count of wire fraud.
Engel was arrested Wednesday night at Los Angeles International Airport as he was attempting to leave the country. He is expected to make his initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Engel orchestrated a scheme in which he made false representations and used forged documents to induce victims to make investments in and provide loans for iWitness Tech Inc., a Hancock Park-based security camera company and for properties Engel falsely claimed to own and be developing in Israel.
From September 2018 to January 2021, Engel allegedly used his community relationships to defraud victims, who primarily came from the Orthodox Jewish communities in the Los Angeles and New York areas. Engel allegedly claimed to need money in the form of short-term loans with high rates of return for iWitness’ business operations, namely the purported purchase and installation of security cameras for its customers.
Engel offered short-term investments and loans in iWitness that ranged from $15,000 to $1.3 million. The investments and loans were for two weeks to six months and would purportedly provide investors with 10% to 60% annualized interest, according to the affidavit. Victims were duped, in part, by being shown copies of false and fraudulent invoices of work iWitness purportedly did with other companies.
Engel told victims that iWitness was a large business with many clients, but in fact it did not have as much business as he claimed, and work was so slack that at times iWitness employees sat around waiting for work while Engel slept on a couch, the affidavit states.
In another part of the scheme, Engel allegedly also falsely claimed to own and be developing real estate in Israel, telling victims that he needed money for redevelopment work, and falsely promising he would sell the properties and share the profits with investors. Engel showed victims a video depicting himself socializing with the mayor of Bnei Brak, Israel, and claimed to have met with the mayor concerning Engel’s purported real estate deals in the city, the affidavit states. But Engel did not have a close relationship with the mayor, and he did not discuss with the mayor these real estate ventures in the city, according to the affidavit.
Engel allegedly used fraudulent Israel land documents to dupe victims into thinking he owned these properties. Through these fake documents and his own trusted position in the Orthodox Jewish community, Engel allegedly lulled existing victims and encouraged new victims to send him money.
Engel lied to investors that he needed private investments for both iWitness and the Israeli real estate projects because he was from Israel and did not have sufficient credit in the United States to obtain the lower interest rates available through U.S. banks, the affidavit states.
But, the affidavit alleges, Engel did not use the victims’ money as promised, and instead used it for his personal expenses – including trips via private jets and casino visits – and to make Ponzi payments to investors to perpetuate the scheme.
Once the alleged scheme fell apart in early 2021, Engel fled the United States for Israel.
At this time, the FBI has identified losses of approximately $5 million. The federal criminal investigation is continuing.
A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Engel would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
In January 2023, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission sued Engel, alleging he used his ties in the Orthodox Jewish community to perpetuate a multimillion-dollar million affinity fraud.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven M. Arkow of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.
Former Finance Director of Non-Profit Trade Association Charged with Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today charges against DONNA MURRAY, a former director of finance for a non-profit financial services trade association headquartered in Manhattan, for a months-long embezzlement scheme through which she stole approximately $490,000 from her employer. MURRAY is expected to be presented later today in the Southern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Donna Murray betrayed her employer’s trust by using her employer’s bank account — to which she had access as its finance director — as her personal ATM, stealing nearly half a million dollars and spending the stolen money on frivolous items, even including a cat treadmill. Today’s charges send a message to would-be embezzlers: if you abuse your position of trust for personal gain, we will hold you accountable.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “As we allege today, Ms. Murray misappropriated approximately $490,000 from her employer over several years and used the funds for a variety of personal uses. Violating her employer’s trust in the manner in which she did is a federal crime, and, as a consequence, she will now be forced to face the consequences of her actions.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
From in or about December 2017 through in or about August 2022, MURRAY was employed as the Director of Finance for a non-profit financial services trade association located in Manhattan. The organization, which has more than 600 institutional members, works to promote industry thought leadership, participate in industry advocacy work, educate members and stakeholders, and establish industry standards and best practices.
As the Director of Finance, MURRAY had access to the organization’s bank accounts. From at least October 2019 through at least in or about March 2021, MURRAY misappropriated approximately $490,000 from one of the organization’s bank accounts through more than 100 unauthorized wire transactions from the organization’s bank account to her personal bank account. To conceal the embezzlement from her employer, MURRAY fabricated recipients and invoice numbers purporting to be associated with the wire transactions in her employer’s general ledger, even though MURRAY was the true recipient of those wire transfers.
After siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer’s bank account to her own, MURRAY withdrew from her bank account over $400,000 in cash on more than 300 occasions and used the remainder of the stolen funds for peer-to-peer online money transfers, loan payments, and consumer and luxury items, including Yves Saint Laurent and Michael Kors designer apparel; beauty, wellness, and skincare products and services; home furnishings and décor; hundreds of Amazon orders; smoke shop purchases; and a treadmill for cats.
* * *
MURRAY, 38, of Staten Island, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Felon Involved in Hartford Shootout Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES DUDLEY, also known as “Pooka,” 36, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 77 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of October 4, 2020, Hartford Police officers responded to Addison Street after hearing gunfire in the area. As a car containing Dudley attempted to flee the scene, an officer on foot ordered it to stop. The driver put the car in reverse and drove at a high rate of speed before striking a parked vehicle and injuring a woman who was about to enter the car. Dudley then threw a .40 caliber pistol from the car as it successfully fled.
The recovered pistol had a magazine inserted and its slide locked back, indicating that the gun was fired until empty. Officers also recovered numerous .40 caliber and 9mm shell casings from the area. According to the ShotSpotter detection system, 26 shots were fired during the incident.
Subsequent forensic analysis of the seized firearm revealed Dudley’s DNA. Dudley was arrested on April 11, 2022.
Dudley’s criminal history includes state convictions for robbery and narcotics offenses, and federal convictions for firearm and drug offenses for which he served 52 months of imprisonment. He was released from federal prison in November 2018 and was on supervised release at the time of the shooting incident in this case.
It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Dudley has been detained since his arrest. On May 4, 2022, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This case was investigated by the Hartford Police Department and the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Federal Jury Finds Louisville Woman Guilty of Mailing Threatening Communications to Neighbors Because of Their RaceRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Today a federal jury convicted a local woman of mailing communications containing threats to injure others in November and December of 2020.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Suzanne Craft, 54, 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 in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 876(c).
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, 2023, before a United States 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.
The FBI Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal Carissa Moss.
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Federal Grand Jury A Indictments Announced- March 2023Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March 2023 Federal Grand Jury A.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Estaban Abarca-Calbario. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Abarca-Calbario, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on Aug. 11, 2009, at or near Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-99
Dravon Josiah Drayton. Theft of Firearms from a Federal Firearm Licensee; Possession of Stolen Firearms. Drayton, 20, of Peoria, is charged with stealing a Radical Firearm 5.56 caliber rifle; a Walther 9 mm semi-automatic pistol; a Walther .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol; and an IWI 9 mm caliber semi-automatic pistol from a pawn shop. He is further charged with possessing those stolen firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko A. Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-90
Amanda Nicole Gossett; Shawn William Gossett. Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (Count 1); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 2-3); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country (Counts 4-5); Child Neglect in Indian Country (Counts 6 and 7). Amanda Gossett, 34, of Bristow, is charged with the aggravated sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 years old. She is further charged with failing to provide for the proper care and protection of two children. William Gossett, 32, of Sand Springs, is charged with the aggravated sexual abuse of both children and with neglecting both children. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-91
Isaias Salvador Huerta-Herrera. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Huerta-Herrera, 36, a Mexican National, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on July 29, 2019, at or near Paso Del Norte Bride, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-92
Kawliga Neal Kingfisher. Possession of Child Pornography. Kingfisher, 34, of Salina, is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Paisner is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-93
Victor Antonio Portillo-Alvarado. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Portillo-Alvarado, 27, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on May 3, 2021, at or near Nogales, Arizona. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-94
Alexander Ian Reid. Advertising to Receive, Exchange, Produce, Display, Distribute, and Reproduce Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Reid, 24, of Bartlesville, allegedly sought and offered to produce, exchange, and distribute child sexual abuse material online. He is further alleged to have possessed child sexual abuse material. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-95
Rene Rodriguez-Hernandez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez-Hernandez, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed on March 16, 2012, at or near Brownsville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon A. Skates is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-96
Andrew Cordario Wagoner. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Wagoner, 31, of Tulsa, is charged with being a felon in possession of a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. The Tulsa Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-99
Eleven Charged with Drug Trafficking for Chicago Street GangRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal drug trafficking investigation has resulted in charges against 11 individuals for allegedly conspiring to distribute crack cocaine for the La Familia Stones street gang in the Chicago area, primarily in the Albany Park neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side. As part of the investigation, law enforcement shut down a telephone drug hotline, according to a criminal complaint recently unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Charged in the criminal complaint, which was unsealed on March 2, 2023, is EDUART HOXHA, 35, of Chicago, also known as “Finn” and “White Boy,” ALEXIS DEL TORO, 24, of Elmwood Park, also known as “Tony,” FREDDY DEL TORO, 27, of Elmwood Park, also known as “Fredo” and “Ricky,” BRYAN DEL TORO, 22, of Elmwood Park, ALEX HERNANDEZ, 24, of Chicago, also known as “Joey” and “Biggie,” HADER GARCIA, 19, of Chicago, also known as “Luis,” RUBEN VALENCIA, 22, of Chicago, KARINA JIMENEZ, 35, of Chicago, also known as “Kay Kay” and “Rina,” KEVIN RAMIREZ, 27, of Evanston, JONAS CASTILLO, 26, of Chicago, also known as “Guero,” and JESENIA CALLE, 20, of Chicago, also known as “J-Dog.” As described in the complaint, two of the defendants have also been charged with murder in the Circuit Court of Cook County and are currently being held in state custody.
The defendants charged in the complaint are alleged to have conspired to distribute crack cocaine between December 2021 and November 2022, primarily using a telephone hotline that customers used to order crack cocaine, which was then delivered by one of the defendants. During the investigation, law enforcement officials seized hundreds of grams of crack cocaine and numerous firearms from various defendants. All but one of the defendants were arrested by federal agents last week or are in State custody and have begun making initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Chicago. One defendant remains at large, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The arrests are announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics Division, which began a narcotics investigation to assist Chicago Police Department’s Detectives Bureau, and later worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Additional assistance was provided by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center, Illinois National Guard, Skokie Police Department, and Elmwood Park Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando, Ann Marie Ursini, and Adam Rosenbloom.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers and other alleged criminal offenders 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 alleged criminal networks.
District Man Sentenced for Killing Man Near Mount Vernon Square Metro StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Whitaker 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for the slaying of a man in January 2020, near a Metro station in downtown Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Whitaker pleaded guilty on October 14, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Milton C. Lee.
According to the government’s evidence, Whitaker used a woman’s Instagram account to message the victim, Malick Cisse, to organize a meeting near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station. Mr. Cisse, 19, arrived at the Metro station, in the 1300 block of Seventh Street NW, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2020, thinking he was going to meet the woman. Whitaker and other unknown individuals pulled up in a white vehicle and shot and killed Mr. Cisse. Whitaker was a part of the Simple City “Avenue Crew,” and the shooting is believed to be related to crew rivalry. Whitaker was arrested on May 7, 2020 and has been detained ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. In particular, they acknowledged the work of FBI Agent Eric Montgomery from CR-3, FBI Analyst Allyson Tilman from CR-6 and Detectives Michael Fulton and Krystal Boyd from the Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Division. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gauri Gopal, Julia Cosans, Gregory Kimak, and Sarah Santiago, and Sharon Donovan, Deputy Chief of the Office’s Homicide Section.
Defendants Convicted and Sentenced in Long-Term Methamphetamine and Oxycodone Drug Trafficking Investigation in Bay CountyRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal judge sentenced the seventh defendant in a large-scale methamphetamine and oxycodone trafficking organization operating primarily in Bay County. The convictions and sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe by removing addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals who would bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.”
The defendants and their sentences were:
- Darrell Britt, 33, of Panama City, Florida, 300 months in prison
- Marcel Michaud, 57, of Southport, Florida, 144 months in prison
- Kenneth Sizemore, 57, of Youngstown, Florida, 120 months in prison
- Johnny Wayne Carr, 58, of Panama City, Florida, 212 months in prison
- James Wilson, 60, of Panama City, Florida, 140 months in prison
- David Barron, 60, of Panama City, Florida, 108 months in prison
- Mary Ann Brown, 52, of Youngstown, Florida, 108 months in prison
All will be on supervised release once they are released from custody.
“We recognize the power in effective partnerships,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “Our work with DEA and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida is resulting in convictions and removing illegal narcotics from our streets. This is a win for the people of Bay County.”
In August 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Panama City Resident Office Task Force initiated an investigation targeting the distribution of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and multi-thousands of prescription narcotics pills by Kenneth Sizemore, Marcel Michaud, Darrell Britt, Johnny Carr, James Wilson, David Barron, and Mary Brown and others in Bay County and surrounding areas of north Florida. Over the course of the two-year investigation, DEA, working with state and local partners, compiled evidence to secure indictments on seven Federal defendants and approximately 16 state of Florida defendants. The investigation led to the seizure of several kilograms of methamphetamine, firearms, U.S. currency, vehicles, construction machinery, and real estate purchased from the sale of narcotics.
“At a time when our country is experiencing a crippling drug overdose and poisoning epidemic, we need to be doing everything we can to keep our communities safe and healthy. Those who choose to bring this poison into our communities will be held accountable for their actions,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA remains committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep these highly addictive and destructive drugs out of our North Florida communities.”
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, Lynn Haven Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Chipley Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County State’s Attorney Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Walter Narramore and Amanda Gordon prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
D.C. Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Multiple Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daron Cottingham, 20, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, with two years suspended, for two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous crime and one count carjacking that stem from crimes he committed in January of 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur ordered two years of supervised probation and 90 hours of community service. The sentence was rendered as part of the Youth Rehabilitation Act.
According to court documents, on January 18, 2022, Cottingham, approached a person cleaning a BMW vehicle in the rear of 316 34th Street, NE, Washington DC. Cottingham took out a firearm and demanded the vehicle keys from the victim. The defendant then struck the victim once in the nose with the firearm, causing bleeding. The defendant took the vehicle keys and the victim’s phone before driving away in the BMW.
Just over a week later, on January 28, 2022, the defendant booked a ride through Lyft. When the Lyft reached the intersection of I-295 and the 11th Street Bridge, the defendant pulled out a firearm, aimed it at the driver’s head, and demanded that the driver exit the vehicle. The victim fled from the vehicle, at which point Cottingham took control of the vehicle and took off. The defendant then led MPD on a chase, pursued by MPD cruisers and a helicopter. He eventually drove the vehicle to the 2600 block of Birney Place SE, where he ditched the vehicle while it was still moving. The vehicle continued on until it hit a snowbank. The defendant ran into an apartment building located in the 2600 block of Birney Place SE. After entering the building, Cottingham concealed his firearm. MPD officers arrived at the building shortly thereafter and arrested the defendant.
At the time of his arrest, the defendant had bank and identification cards belonging to the Lyft driver. MPD officers also recovered a ring of car keys, one of which was a BMW key that matched the BMW taken by the defendant in the January 18th offense. MPD officers also recovered the firearm.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the officers and detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department who conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang, with the office’s Violence Reduction Trafficking Section who prosecuted the case.
Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 130 YearsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derek B. Turner, 31, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced today to 130 years in prison for killing two people – DeVin Hall and Andrew McPhatter – as part of a violent gang feud. Turner was convicted in December 2022, after a nine week trial, of two counts of first degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy to kill and assault, conspiracy to obstruct justice, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, seven counts of obstruction of justice, and four counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. The sentence includes 40 year terms for each murder count.
Turner was tried with co-defendants Ronnika M. Jennings, 44, and Duan M. Hill, 33, both also of Washington, D.C. Jennings was sentenced to 15 years in prison; Hill was sentenced to 57 months. The three defendants were involved in a gang feud between two neighborhoods in Southeast Washington, D.C. in 2016-2017. The dispute involved members of the Wahler Place and Trenton Park crews, rival groups located in Southeast. In less than a year, 16 serious violent crimes, including four homicides, arose directly from the dispute, and at least 12 other serious crimes of violence, including at least three homicides, were part of the investigation. The government’s case showed that Wahler Place members engaged in a violent crime conspiracy targeting members of Trenton Park. Turner, also known as Fats, was a member of Wahler Place and was charged with the January 7, 2017 murder of Devin Hall and the March 1, 2017 murder of Andrew McPhatter, as well as several non-fatal shootings. The jury convicted Turner in both murders, as well as the February 17, 2017 attempted murders of rivals Raheem Osborne, Joseph Tyler, and Andrew McPhatter (before he was the victim of the later homicide). In the course of committing the charged offenses, defendant Turner utilized defendant Jennings, a civilian clerk in MPD’s Seventh District, to provide him with confidential police information to assist him and others in their criminal activities.
Jennings was convicted of three counts of accessory after the fact in the February 17, 2017 attempted murder, as an accessory after the fact in McPhatter’s murder, and on one count of obstruction of justice. Hill was convicted of multiple counts of obstruction of justice in connection with a conspiracy to recruit an associate of Turner to take criminal responsibility for the firearm that Turner used to commit the two charged murders as well as three charged attempted murders.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, specifically Det. Charles Fultz and Det. Jeffrey Weber, as well as Special Agent Samuel Ward from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including: Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, LaShone Samuels and Stephanie Siegerist; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Victim/Witness Security Specialist Robert Cephas; Supervisory Victim/Witness Security Specialist Lesley Slade; Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Litigation Technology Specialist Maisha Treadwell; Litigation Technology Specialist Thomas Royal; Special Agents Durand Odom and Mark Crawford; former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dineen Baker and Sara Vanore; Appellate Section Deputy Chief John Mannarino; Homicide Deputy Chief Laura Bach; and Assistant U.S. Attorney AUSA Erin DeRiso.
Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Truscott and Kevin Flynn, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Colorado Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Broomfield, Colorado, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 3, 2023.
Edward Ybarra, 43, was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Edward Ybarra was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 18, 2022.
During his involvement in the conspiracy Edward Ybarra was living in Colorado. He supplied methamphetamine to Jordan Condon and Elias Condon who transported it to South Dakota. Once the methamphetamine arrived in South Dakota it was further distributed to others for use and distribution. Between five kilograms and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the conspiracy. Jordan Condon and Elias Condon are currently awaiting trial.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Rapid City Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Ybarra was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Colchester Man Admits Defrauding Technology CompanyRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MYRON WARE, 49, of Colchester, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to defrauding a computer technology company.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2017 and 2020, Ware identified companies and organizations that previously had purchased computer parts and components from a Texas-based computer technology company. On approximately 30 occasions, Ware contacted the victim company and falsely represented himself to be speaking on behalf of a customer he had identified. Ware typically reported that a previously delivered part or component was not functional and requested a replacement. After the victim company shipped a replacement item to an address Ware had provided, and which was in the vicinity of the customer he was posing as, he traveled to the address to receive delivery of the package. Ware sold most of the parts and components he received to others and kept some for his own use.
Ware stole tens of thousands of dollars in products from the victim company through this scheme.
Ware pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is released on bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
This investigation has been conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.
Charleston County Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Small Business AssociationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Antonio Brown-Sanders, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding the Small Business Association (SBA) to receive an Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Brown-Sanders applied to the SBA to receive an EIDL loan that fraudulently represented he owned a lawn care business. The application submitted by Brown-Sanders also falsely represented the number of employees and gross revenues for the fraudulent lawn care business. The total amount lent to Brown-Sanders by the SBA was $81,600.
Brown-Sanders is subject to a maximum sentence of twenty years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.00. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Brown-Sanders after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Amy F. Bower prosecuted the case.
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Bronx Daycare Provider Charged with Sexual Exploitation of A Child and Production, Receipt, and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that SILFREDO CASTILLO MARTINEZ was charged with sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography as well as receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. CASTILLO MARTINEZ will be presented today before United States Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Silfredo Castillo Martinez’s primary responsibility as a daycare provider was to watch over neighborhood children. Instead, he allegedly abused that role in order to sexually exploit one of the minors under his care. During the time when he was supposed to be protecting children, he also allegedly received, distributed, and possessed tens of thousands of images of child pornography. Castillo Martinez’s alleged conduct was unconscionable, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect the children of our community.”
USSS Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “The charges brought forth today allege reprehensible violation and exploitation committed by an individual who was expected to provide extraordinary trustworthiness and protection to the most vulnerable. Our expert investigators and partners assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have successfully brought this individual before our justice system to face these allegations. I am thankful for their continued dedication and unending work in our shared investigative priority to keep our children safe from harm.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “The crimes Castillo Martinez stands charged with today are nearly unimaginable. As alleged, while operating a licensed day care facility, he enticed an 11-year-old child to engage in sexually-explicit conduct and made recordings of the conduct. Our children are some of our society’s most vulnerable members, and protecting them from predators remains a top priority for the FBI. We encourage anyone who believes they may have information relevant to this investigation to contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “This investigation highlights the most important function of law enforcement in our society: protecting the vulnerable against criminal predators who would seek to abuse, exploit, and harm them. Today’s charges affirm, again, that the NYPD and our partners will never abate our efforts to keep children safe – and we will relentlessly pursue anyone who targets them. To that end, I thank and commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, the United States Secret Service, the New York Field Office of the FBI, and every investigator who worked on this important case.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
From in or about July 2015 through in or about at least May 3, 2022, CASTILLO MARTINEZ operated a licensed daycare facility for children at his residence in the Bronx, New York (the “Daycare Facility”).
From at least in or about May 2018 through at least in or about July 2018, CASTILLO MARTINEZ induced an 11-year-old minor (“Minor Victim-1”) who attended the Daycare Facility to engage in sexually explicit conduct at the Daycare Facility, and CASTILLO MARTINEZ recorded that conduct on his cellphone and camera.
On or about May 3, 2022, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at CASTILLO MARTINEZ’s residence and seized several electronic devices belonging to CASTILLO MARTINEZ. Those devices contained, among other things, several images and a video containing child pornography depicting Minor Victim-1 and approximately 9,800 other images depicting child pornography.
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CASTILLO MARTINEZ, 32, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Any individuals who believe they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or https://tips.fbi.gov.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USSS’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI, and the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackie Delligatti is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Berwick Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Committing Aggravated Identity Theft While Serving A Term of Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Justin William Davis, age 39, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 24 months’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft, as engaged in as part of a so-called mail “fishing” scheme.
Individuals involved in the scheme used improvised devices to pull mail from United States Post Office collection boxes in the hope of stealing checks and other valuable instruments. These items were then “washed” (a chemical fluid is utilized to erase the ink) and re-written to reflect a new payee and a new, higher monetary amount, before being cashed or deposited into the bank accounts of co-conspirators for later withdrawal.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately August 19, 2021 through November 2, 2021, Davis orchestrated the above-described type of “fishing” scheme, utilizing a group of associates whom he paid to go into various banks in Luzerne and Lackawanna County and cash the checks for him. In all, Davis was involved in the fishing, washing and fraudulent negotiation of approximately 70 checks, and was able–with the assistance of the intermediaries–to successfully negotiate checks totaling $49,148.48. At his sentencing, Davis was ordered to pay restitution in that amount to the victim banks who reimbursed the persons whose checks were stolen, altered, and fraudulently negotiated.
Because Davis engaged in this new criminal conduct while serving a term of federal supervised release that was imposed in connection with a similar prior criminal case, Judge Mannion also sentenced Davis to a consecutive 24-month term of imprisonment on the supervised release violation, resulting in a total aggregate sentence of 48 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case.
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