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Friday 10 March 2023
Baton Rouge Area Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – QUAN LEWIS, age 27, a resident of Gonzales, Louisiana, pled guilty on March 8, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, in January 2020, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics agent received information from a confidential source that Eric Rodriguez was routinely driving from Jefferson Parish to the Prairieville/Gonzales, Louisiana area to purchase methamphetamine. On January 20, 2020, agents learned that Rodriguez traveled to Gonzales where he remained for approximately fifteen minutes before returning to the Jefferson Parish area. Agents conducted an investigatory stop of Rodriguez in Westwego, Louisiana and recovered approximately 444 grams of methamphetamine from his vehicle. Agents determined that Rodriguez obtained the methamphetamine from LEWIS. A search of Rodriguez’s telephone revealed several text messages between Rodriguez and LEWIS in which they negotiated several drug transactions with each other.
To further their investigation, on August 11, 2020, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics agents used a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from LEWIS. Under the direction of the agents, the confidential source contacted LEWIS and they agreed to meet at a convenience store in Gonzales where LEWIS sold the confidential source one pound of methamphetamine with 97% purity.
For the conspiracy count, LEWIS faces a minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. For the possession with intent to distribute counts, LEWIS faces a minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and a term of supervised release of at least four years. At sentencing, LEWIS must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 for each count.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones.
Baltimore Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of an Uzi Semi-Automatic Pistol, Loaded with 31 Rounds of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Randy Owens, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department (“BPD”).
According to Owens’ guilty plea, on July 22, 2019, BPD detectives learned that an individual in the 600 block of North Edgewood Street in Southwest Baltimore was possibly armed with a handgun that was hidden in a striped bag. BPD officers went to that location and spotted a person, later identified as Randy Owens, matching the description, including the striped bag. Owens was observed trying to conceal himself from the officers are he watched them through a parked vehicle’s windows as they drove down the 600 block of N. Edgewood Street. The officers circled the block and then drove down the 600 block of N. Edgewood a second time. As they turned into the block, the officers saw Owens standing on the porch of a residence in the 600 block of N. Edgewood. A BPD officer approached Owens and asked him to approach the officer. Owens walked off the front porch and towards the sidewalk but as the BPD officer approached, Owens ran away, clutching the striped bag. After a brief foot chase, BPD officers caught Owens. A search of the striped bag revealed an IMI Uzi 9mm semiautomatic pistol, loaded with 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Owens knew that as a result of his previous felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Alexandria Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute thousands of counterfeit pressed pills containing fentanyl in northern Virginia.
According to court documents, Alpha Amin Kamara, 25, engaged in a conspiracy to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills from May 2022 until his arrest on June 26, 2022. Kamara was serving a term of home confinement when he entered the conspiracy, following his release from the custody of the Bureau of Prisons just days earlier. He immediately began distributing fentanyl pills to customers in northern Virginia, which he obtained through the U.S. Postal Service from sources in Arizona and Washington state.
On June 26, 2022, while driving a stolen vehicle, Kamara led police on a chase at speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour on Interstate 95. The resulting crash led to the discovery of over 18,000 fentanyl pills in the back of the stolen vehicle.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael C. Tucker prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-175.
Alexandria Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identify TheftRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Robert Lee Daniel, III, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 65 months in prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Following his release from prison, Daniel will be placed on supervised release for a period of 3 years.
The investigation revealed that in December of 2020, Daniel downloaded LA Wallet, which is a digital driver’s license mobile application, onto his smartphone. Daniel obtained the Louisiana license information of A.S.M., who Daniel knew to be a real person, and used that information to obtain a digital copy of A.S.M.’s driver’s license on LA Wallet. In January of 2021, posing as A.S.M, Daniel used the digital license of A.S.M. to open an account at Cenla Federal Credit Union. Then, again posing as A.S.M., Daniel applied for and obtained a $41,844.45 loan through Cenla Federal Credit Union to purchase a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. Daniel not only lied about his identity, but he (posing as A.S.M.) also stated on the application that he was employed by Baker Hughes and had an annual income of $78,000.
In addition to Cenla Federal Credit Union, Judge Drell identified nine other victims of Daniel’s fraud scheme. Judge Drell ordered Daniel to pay a total of $45,512.97 in restitution to the victims. At the time of his offense, Daniel was on probation in three different parishes in Louisiana for committing bank fraud.
"This is a great example of federal law enforcement agencies partnering with our local partners to pursue justice for these victims. Although these are typically known as nonviolent crimes, the actions of this defendant are inherently dangerous to the community because they violate privacy interests and take advantage of the state's technological advances. For these reasons, we are pleased with this sentence."
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
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Thursday 9 March 2023
U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary Takes Oath of Office at Community Investiture CeremonyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary took the oath of office at a community-attended formal investiture ceremony at the William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Macon this afternoon.
Approximately 150 community members, law enforcement, judges and civic leaders attended today’s investiture ceremony honoring U.S. Attorney Leary, who was officially sworn-in to serve as the presidentially-appointed and U.S. Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney on Dec. 12, 2022. Today’s investiture is a traditional ceremonial event, which included participation from Mr. Leary’s family, colleagues, members of the Court, as well as faith-based and civic groups.
“I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Middle Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “There is much work to be done to curb violent crime and ensure equal justice for all. Our office commits wholeheartedly to these goals with our law enforcement and community partners.”
The investiture ceremony, which began at 2:30 p.m. today inside Courtroom One, was opened by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell and included an introduction of the judicial officers present representing the U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of Georgia: Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III, Senior Judge Hugh Lawson, Judge Charles H. Weigle, Chief Judge Austin E. Carter, and Judge James P. Smith.
The Reverend Arthur W. Villarreal of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta gave the invocation. Mr. Leary’s daughter, Fiona Leary, and Sophie Leigh of the Girl Scouts of America, Historic Georgia Council, Troop 60043, and Carter Sparks of the Boy Scouts of America, Central Georgia Council, Troop 10, presented the colors. Mr. Leary’s daughter, Bea Leary, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and his son, Declan Leary, performed a violin rendition of The National Anthem.
Ryan K.J. Dickey, Senior Counsel with the Department of Justice, and Brian P. Adams, an attorney with the Adams Law Firm, gave remarks. The Honorable Hugh Lawson administered the oath of office to Mr. Leary while his wife, Bridget Leary, held the family’s bible. Their son, William Bere Leary, read an excerpt from Berger v. United States.
For more information about Mr. Leary, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/meet-us-attorney.
Two San Xavier Men Charged with Carjacking and Using a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – James Moreno, 18, and Christopher Rodriguez, 18, both of San Xavier, Arizona, were charged by criminal complaint on Monday with Carjacking, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Moreno and Rodriguez had been arrested the day before.
In the early morning hours of March 5, 2023, in San Xavier, Arizona, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Moreno and Rodriguez are alleged to have stolen a Jeep Cherokee from an Uber driver by threatening the driver with a firearm. The driver ran for several hours to a gas station on Valencia Road near Interstate 19, where an employee called 911.
That same morning, Moreno and Rodriguez also allegedly stole a Toyota Camry from a second individual at gunpoint, at a Circle K gas station in Marana, Arizona. Rodriguez is alleged to have pointed a gun at the driver’s lower abdomen and legs.
Marana Police Department officers located the Toyota Camry and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle allegedly failed to yield and fled from the officers before crashing near Interstate 10 and Miracle Mile. Moreno and Rodriguez fled from the vehicle on foot before being apprehended. Inside the Camry, officers located a 9mm firearm.
The Uber driver’s Jeep Cherokee was located less than a mile from the Circle K on Sandario Road with a flat tire and its license plate removed.
A conviction for Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A conviction for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence carries a penalty of no less than 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Marana Police Department, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, along with assistance from the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department and the Tucson Police Department, conducted the arrests in this case.
The FBI is conducting the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: MJ-23-08583-N/A-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-032_Moreno et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two North Louisiana Men Plead Guilty to Defrauding Their Employer out of Millions of DollarsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that William Ross Hickman, 48, of Arcadia, Louisiana, and Brian K. Whiteman, 47, of Haughton, Louisiana, have each pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging them with conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the hearing.
According to evidence presented to the court, Hickman and Whiteman participated in a scheme to defraud which began prior to 2018 and involved Raeford Farms of Louisiana, LLC (Raeford Farms), where Hickman was employed as the Sales Manager and Whiteman was as the Assistant Sales Manager of their Arcadia production plant. Raeford Farms sells various products to include fresh and frozen chicken, and chicken frames. A chicken frame is the core of the chicken that remains after processing the breasts, thighs, wings, and legs. Hickman negotiated the sale of these chicken products seeking the highest possible return when selling them.
While employed at Raeford Farms, Hickman developed a scheme to fraudulently divert business from Raeford Farms by using Group 7792 as an intermediary to purchase chicken frames from Raeford Farms. Hickman used his position as Sales Manager to provide favorable sales terms to other entities to the detriment of Raeford Farms. Hickman had a pre-arranged agreement with an unnamed individual and his corporation to sell the chicken frames to Heritage Food Sales (Heritage), which was another company controlled by Hickman. Heritage paid Group 7792 a guaranteed return for each transaction but never took possession of the chicken frames or added anything of value to the transaction. Hickman would then sell the same chicken frames to a poultry wholesaler in Chattanooga, TN for profit.
To further the scheme to defraud, Hickman and others acting in concert with him, sent invoices by email from Arcadia, Louisiana, through interstate commerce, for Heritage to receive payment for the chicken frames. Hickman and Whiteman conspired together to conceal the involvement of Heritage from Raeford Farms in these chicken frame transactions. As Assistant Sales Manager for Raeford Farms, Whiteman was responsible for tracking inventory and the details regarding all shipments. Whiteman provided this type of information to Hickman to further the conspiracy to defraud in order to get a higher price for chicken frame loads sold by Heritage. In exchange for his participation in the conspiracy to defraud, Whiteman understood and agreed with Hickman that Heritage would pay him through his own business entity, All Trade Enterprise, LLC (All Trade). Hickman would pay Whiteman a monthly commission through All Trade and occasionally to him personally. The transactions conducted during the time period of this investigation resulted in an approximate loss of $2,183,950 to Raeford Farms.
Hickman and Whiteman each face up to 5 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for July 12, 2023 at 9:30.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath.
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Two Former Directors of Boston Nonprofit Indicted on Additional Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The former founder and chief executive of the local nonprofit Violence in Boston (VIB) and her husband, also a former founding director of the organization, have been charged in a superseding indictment today charging additional schemes to defraud the City of Boston out of COVID-19 relief funds and rental assistance money.
Monica Cannon-Grant, 42, and Clark Grant, 39, both of Taunton, have been charged by a federal grand jury in a 27-count superseding indictment, returned today with three counts of wire fraud conspiracy; 17 counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy; and one count of making false statements to a mortgage lending business. The new wire fraud charges center on alleged schemes to obtain and utilize pandemic assistance funds from the Boston Resiliency Fund for purposes not disclosed to the City, including for their own personal benefit, as well as to fraudulently obtain rental assistance payments from Boston’s Office of Housing Stability. Cannon-Grant was also charged with mail fraud, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns. Cannon-Grant and Clark Grant were previously charged in an 18-count indictment in March 2022. The defendants will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Cannon-Grant was the founder and CEO of VIB, an anti-violence nonprofit formally established in 2017, the stated purpose of which is to reduce violence, raise social awareness and aid community causes in Boston, among other purposes. Grant is Cannon-Grant’s husband, a founding director of VIB and, beginning in July 2018 until recently, was a full-time employee for a commuter services company.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants allegedly conspired to use VIB to defraud the Boston Resiliency Fund, a charitable fund established by the City of Boston to provide aid to Boston residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving approximately $53,977 in pandemic relief funds, the defendants allegedly withdrew approximately $30,000 in cash from the VIB bank account, some of which the defendants kept. After depositing the COVID-19 relief grant check, the defendants are also alleged to have used VIB funds to pay their auto loan and auto insurance bills.
In addition, the superseding indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to defraud Boston’s Office of Housing Stability by concealing thousands of dollars of household income in order to obtain $12,600 in rental assistance from the City of Boston. Instead of truthfully reporting that Clark Grant was receiving pandemic unemployment assistance (in addition to his salary), and that other family members were gainfully employed and receiving pandemic unemployment (in the case of one other family member), the defendants allegedly misrepresented their actual household income to obtain rent relief funds that were intended to aid Boston residents who were facing housing insecurity.
It is further alleged that the defendants conspired to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance by submitting a forged employment document so that another family member could receive approximately $43,893 in unemployment assistance, bringing the total amount of fraudulent unemployment assistance received by the defendants and their co-conspirators to approximately $145,269. Finally, the superseding indictment alleges that Cannon-Grant filed false tax returns for 2017 and 2018 and that she failed to file tax returns for 2019 and 2020, failing to report tens of thousands of dollars that Cannon-Grant received from VIB and an entity with which she contracted to provide consulting services.
If you believe you are a victim of or have information pertaining to the crimes alleged against the defendants, you may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts at: 617-748-3663.
The charges of wire fraud conspiracy each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false statements to a mortgage lending business provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. The charge of failure to file a tax return provides for a sentence of up to one year of prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $25,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Deitch and Dustin Chao of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit 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 at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tucson Man Sentenced for Attempted Ammunition Trafficking to MexicoRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Victor Acosta, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Acosta pleaded guilty to one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States.
On March 23, 2022, Acosta attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 19,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 3,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition. Acosta admitted that he had the ammunition in his vehicle.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00680-JAS-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-031_Acosta# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Tribe Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for the Death of A ChildRead the Press Release
RENO – An enrolled member of the Ely Shoshone Tribe was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the maximum sentence, for voluntary manslaughter of a three-year-old girl.
Colon Jackson (31) pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of voluntary manslaughter within Indian Country.
According to court documents and facts presented in court, on January 9, 2019, on the Ely Shoshone Indian Reservation, the victim’s mother picked her up from day care and took her home so Jackson could care for her while her mother was at work. While the three-year-old girl was in Jackson’s care, he shook and threw the victim’s body. Jackson called the victim’s mother to tell her that the girl was unconscious. The mother came home from work and took the child to the emergency room in Ely. The girl was then flown from Ely to Salt Lake City. She died from the injuries caused by Jackson.
“The defendant’s senseless act resulted in the death of a child,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are working steadfast to seek justice for victims. In collaboration with state, local, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating reports of missing and murdered Indigenous people, also prioritizing the disproportionately high rates of violence against women and girls.”
“I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort put forth to hold the defendant accountable for his actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “The FBI stands strongly with tribal and law enforcement partners in our joint commitment to bring justice for victims. Violent crimes, such as this horrendous act, will never go unchallenged.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, BIA, the White Pine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ely Shoshone Tribal Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Richard Casper prosecuted the case.
If you have information concerning a missing or murdered person in Indian Country, please contact your local FBI office or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov (tips can remain anonymous).
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Tilton Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jared Stottlar, 43, of Tilton, was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment today for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an investigation law enforcement learned that Stottlar was dealing in significant quantities of methamphetamine. Police executed searches and seized over approximately 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and 11 firearms, several of which were stolen, from Stottlar. Law enforcement also recovered over $100,000 from the defendant. Stottlar was arrested on federal charges on June 9, 2020 and has been detained since then.
“The defendant, armed with firearms, trafficked methamphetamine into our communities for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The sentence imposed by the court today demonstrates that such criminal activity will not be tolerated and will result in more than a decade of incarceration. Working with our law enforcement partners, this office will continue to actively prosecute armed criminals who traffic dangerous drugs into our communities.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Tilton, Franklin, and Sanbornton Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski, Alexander S. Chen, and Seth R. Aframe.
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Stockton Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Clayton Howard, 47, of Stockton, was sentenced today to seven years and two months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2020, a search warrant executed at Howard’s residence found him to be in possession of 13 different types of ammunition, spent shell casings, various firearm parts, bulletproof vests, firearm silencers, and 11 grams of methamphetamine. Howard, who had previously been convicted of 16 felonies, was prohibited from possessing ammunition.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron L. Desmond prosecuted the case.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Statement from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on the RESTRICT ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today issued the following statement from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on the RESTRICT Act:
“The Department of Justice has no greater responsibility than protecting the American people. As our nation’s lead law enforcement and domestic counterintelligence agency, the department is a key first line of defense against foreign adversaries that seek to collect and weaponize Americans’ most sensitive data. These regimes are increasingly using untrustworthy information and communications technology products and services, along with the data they collect, against us. We — and the legal authorities we rely on to protect the American people — must evolve, just as these regimes and the technologies they exploit do.
“The RESTRICT Act represents a crucial step forward. It recognizes that today we face acute threats from certain high-risk information and communications technology products and services sourced from foreign adversaries. It would modernize our tools to better address these threats and would enable the Administration to take new actions that are critical to protecting U.S. national security. It also recognizes that we face systemic threats from a range of technology products and services sourced from foreign adversaries and would enable regulation across entire categories of high-risk technology sectors. By directing a coordinated and analytic process across the federal government to evaluate risks, the RESTRICT Act would employ a forward-thinking, evidence-based approach in a constantly changing technology landscape. In giving the President and the Secretary of Commerce key authorities to protect the American people, the RESTRICT Act would provide the federal government a strong legal foundation to combat current and evolving threats. The RESTRICT Act would also ensure that the Department of Justice has the authorities we need to go after adversaries and enablers who violate the law and put our people and businesses at risk.
“The Department of Justice commends the bipartisan group of senators working together on this significant legislation, in particular Senator Warner and Senator Thune, as well as their staff, whom the Administration was pleased to work with in support of this bill. We look forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation through Congress and send it to the President’s desk.”
St. Louis County Tax Preparer Indicted, Accused of Falsifying Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A tax preparer from St. Louis County has been indicted by a federal grand jury and accused of falsifying 11 tax returns from 2018 to 2021 by adding a total of $252,577 in fraudulent deductions.
Elisa Y. Brown, 57, was indicted February 22 on 11 counts of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. The indictment says she falsely represented that the taxpayers were entitled to deductions for items including medical and dental expenses, gifts and unreimbursed employee expenses.
Each charge carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
“This indictment serves as a reminder to choose a return preparer carefully, said IRS – Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Murdock of the St. Louis Field Office. “While dishonest return preparers use a number of ways to cheat the government, it’s still the taxpayer’s responsibility to know what is on their return.”
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by IRS - Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Roy is prosecuting the case.
Springfield, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Alonzo Hampton 50, of the 1300 block of North Peoria Road, was sentenced on March 9, 2023, by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 84 months in prison, to be followed by a six-year-term of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At sentencing, the government presented evidence that Hampton was responsible for possessing 45.7 grams of heroin and 75.9 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute those substances and that he possessed a Keltec .32 handgun. Hampton has a lengthy criminal history that includes a federal drug conviction in 1992. He was on supervised release at the time of the offenses following his release from the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2019.
Hampton was indicted in February 2020 and pleaded guilty in October 2022. He has been in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since February 2020.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute heroin are not more than 30 years in prison, not more than a $2,000,000 fine, and not less than six years of supervised release. The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon are up to ten years in prison, not more than a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Hampton 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.
Spokane Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender and Violating SupervisionRead the Press Release
Spokane – On March 8, 2023, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Jason Cory Moore, 42, of Spokane, Washington, to 30 months in federal prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Moore pleaded guilty on September 14, 2022. Judge Rice also ordered Moore to serve an additional 12 months in prison for Moore’s eight violations of supervised release in a related case. In total, Moore will serve 42 months in federal prison; he also will serve an additional five years on federal supervision after Moore is released from prison.
According to court documents, Moore was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse 1 in Oregon in 2011, for having victimized a five-year old girl. As a result, Moore is federally required to register as a sex offender for fifteen years. Moore has since been convicted of failing to register twelve times. Court documents indicate that most recently, after being released from prison and registering in Washington in August 2021, Moore left his Airway Heights residence and travelled to Oregon, where he was eventually arrested in March 2022. Moore had twice been contacted by law enforcement in Oregon; both times Moore used his brother’s name in an effort to avoid arrest. At no time after relocating to Oregon did Moore update his sexual offender registration or register in any state.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, Vanessa R. Waldref, noted that Moore’s total 42-month sentence reflects both Moore’s history as a repeat violator and the seriousness of his crime. “The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act exists for a reason, as well as, similar state laws requiring registration of those who commit sexual crimes like the one for which Moore was previously convicted. Offenders who choose to disobey their registration requirements will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref.
United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington Craig Thayer stated, “The requirement that is placed on sexual offenders to register is an essential element in order to best protect our communities. The public is afforded this added level of protection when requirements to register are followed by those who have been ordered to comply with such requirements. When an individual ignores this requirement not only once, but numerous times, and goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid accountability, a lengthy sentence, such as the one handed down by U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, underscores the seriousness of the offense.”
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
2:22-CR-090-TOR
Sitka Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – Joshua Kane Wehnes was sentenced on March 7, 2023, to 90 months in prison and five years of supervised release for federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.
According to court documents, Joshua Kane Wehnes, 34, of Sitka, was arrested by Sitka Police Department (SPD) in conjunction with an investigation involving the violation of a domestic protective order. In Wehnes’ possession at the time of his arrest was $954.00 in drug proceeds and heroin. As SPD continued their investigation, they obtained two search warrants for Wehnes’ residence and vehicle. Inside the residence, SPD located a loaded and chambered 9mm firearm in Wehnes’ bedroom drawer, as well as drug paraphernalia, dime bags, scales, an additional $882.00 in drug proceeds, over 400 grams of methamphetamine, and 8 grams of heroin. A subsequent search of Wehnes’ vehicle located a .40 caliber firearm.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Sitka Police Department, a member of Southeast Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD), which is a joint drug taskforce of various city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who investigate drug trafficking cases in Southeast Alaska, investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced for his Role in Counterfeit Check Cashing SchemeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Anthony E. Johnson, 27, of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced for his involvement in a counterfeit check cashing scheme. Johnson was sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $110,773 in restitution.
According to information introduced in court, Anthony Johnson conspired with Carlos A. Spann and Phelix Williams, both of Shreveport, in a scheme to cash counterfeit checks using fraudulent identities at banks and retail establishments throughout Louisiana in 2017 and 2018. Spann provided Johnson and Williams with altered overlays for identification cards along with counterfeit checks drawn on Tower Loan’s bank account, as well as counterfeit checks drawn on a U.S. Postal Service bank account. All of these fraudulent transactions were captured by surveillance video cameras.
Johnson pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019 in U.S. District Court. The court ordered that Johnson comply with the requirements of the U.S. Probation Office in connection with his pretrial supervised release and was allowed to remain on bond until his sentencing hearing which was scheduled for May 1, 2019. Johnson failed to comply with the conditions of pretrial supervision and a warrant was issued for his arrest in March 2019. Officers with the Shreveport Police Department arrested Johnson in September 2022 on an unrelated charge and learned of the warrant for Johnson. He was returned to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to face the charges in this case.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Shreveport Police Department, and Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
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Scottsdale Man Convicted of Investment FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, David Allen Harbour, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was found guilty by a federal jury on six counts of Wire Fraud and 11 counts of Transactional Money Laundering. On Tuesday, Harbour pleaded guilty to one count of Tax Evasion, which resolved two pending trials scheduled for later this month. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2023, before United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes.
Harbour acted as a self-styled investment advisor who defrauded numerous victims between 2007 and 2021. The total loss to investors exceeded $20 million, which Harbour diverted to fund his lavish lifestyle. Harbour’s extravagant expenditures included: private jet travel; country club memberships in Arizona, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; million-dollar speedboats; stays at luxury hotels; expensive jewelry; and a private 40th birthday concert by the Eagles.
“For his brazen lies that defrauded numerous victims out of more than $20 million, the defendant now justifiably faces the potential of a lengthy prison term,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to deterring investment fraud and holding wrongdoers accountable to help protect our citizens’ financial security and to vindicate the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-00898-PHX-DLR (DMF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-030_Harbour# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Sandy Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Sandy Ridge, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
David Richard Smith, age 45, of Sandy Ridge, PA, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, from July 2019 to June 2020, Smith did conspire to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for July 6, 2023. The law provides for a minimum of 10 years in prison to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Smith. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
San Antonio Human Smuggler Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio today to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy.
According to court documents, Enrique Rodriguez, 21, fled in a pickup truck during an attempted traffic stop by a Dimmit County Sheriff’s deputy. Driving north on U.S. Highway 83 at speeds over 100 mph, Rodriguez narrowly avoided multiple collisions, including with oncoming law enforcement vehicles, and drove head-on into a guardrail. The occupants of the vehicle, including six undocumented noncitizens riding in the bed of the truck, were ejected as the truck rolled over. The responding deputy and U.S. Border Patrol agents observed that the vehicle occupants suffered serious injuries, including likely head trauma, broken legs, severe neck injuries, loss of upward mobility and loss of consciousness. Four of the six undocumented individuals required emergency room treatment.
Rodriguez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on May 19, 2020. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2020. In addition to his prison sentence, Rodriguez was ordered to pay $205,827.97 in restitution.
“This defendant failed to yield for a traffic stop and his numerous reckless decisions that followed resulted in a violent crash,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “His smuggling victims are very fortunate they survived. These smuggling attempts pose a very serious threat, not only to those directly involved, but to innocent civilians and our partners as well.”
“Targeting smugglers who prey on human beings is a top priority for HSI," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. "Human smugglers show a callous disregard for the value of life. Because of this, we will continue to aggressively pursue these human smugglers who put the lives of others in jeopardy for financial gain."
HSI, USBP, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.
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Saltillo, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Images and Videos of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – A Saltillo, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his possession of child sexual abuse pictures and videos.
Court documents indicate that in April 2020, Dennis Gene Sullivan, 46, was setting up a computer system for a local business when he arranged for the computer to download and save computer files containing images and videos of child sexual abuse. Sullivan used a peer-to-peer software program to make those files available to other users.
Sullivan has a prior 2004 Federal conviction for possession images and videos of child sexual abuse.
Sullivan appeared for sentencing on these offenses in federal court in Oxford on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Sullivan to a total of 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Sullivan was also ordered to pay $28,000 worth of restitution to eight individuals who were victims of the abuse depicted in those images or videos.
“This is a repeat offender who has an obvious sexual interest in children,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Individuals like this defendant deserve every minute of every day that they can be incarcerated, and our office will always prioritize the safety of the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Safeguarding our society’s future begins with protecting underage citizens of our communities from predatory individuals like Dennis Sullivan,” remarked FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “Those who commit these heinous crimes against our youth deteriorating the safety of our society, will be aggressively sought after and brought to justice. The FBI is committed to supporting our local and DOJ partners in protecting the innocence of our minors, ensuring offenders are brought to justice.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also commented about the case, noting "This case is a textbook example of the difference we can make when law enforcement and community members work together as a team. This investigation started with a simple tip that led us to investigate and discover this horrendous crime. I am grateful for the cooperation and dedication of our ICAC partners that help us protect our most vulnerable citizens. If you suspect a child is in danger, please report it. Your assistance could be the key to protecting others.”
The Oxford Field Office of the FBI, along with Ripley, Mississippi Police Department, and the Mississippi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts.
This case is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to protect children on the Internet. The Mississippi ICAC Task Force includes local, state, and Federal law enforcement and is managed by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Richmond County men sentenced for shootout that caught Postal delivery driver and vehicle in crossfireRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two Richmond County men have been sentenced to federal prison for a December 2021 shootout that narrowly missed a U.S. Postal Service driver while damaging her vehicle.
Corii Arkeem Bussey, 32, and Darnell Dwight Brown, 30, both of Augusta, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to felony charges following the gunfight outside an Augusta convenience store, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen sentenced Bussey to 48 months in prison for Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Federal Employee, and sentenced Brown to 48 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm by a User of Illegal Drugs. Judge Bowen also fined each defendant $1,500, and ordered them to serve three years of supervised release after completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It’s exceptionally fortunate that no one was wounded by this inexcusably reckless exchange of gunfire in broad daylight,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “The community will be safer with these gun-carrying criminals off the streets.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Bussey and Brown encountered each other while shopping at an Augusta discount store on Dec. 9, 2021 and had what a witness described as a “nonverbal disagreement” that ended with Bussey brandishing a firearm.
A short time later, the two again encountered each other at an Augusta convenience store where they parked on either side of a U.S. Postal Service delivery truck. Each man produced a semiautomatic pistol and began firing, with bullets striking the Postal Service vehicle as the postal employee lay on the floorboard for safety. Bullets also struck Brown’s vehicle and a nearby tire store while missing each shooter, the postal carrier, and other customers at the convenience store. Investigators later recovered 18 shell casings at the site.
Both men left the scene. Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigators later arrested Brown at the residence of a relative, while Bussey surrendered to U.S. Marshals in August 2022.
“We are grateful for the collaborative investigative work performed by our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “One of the top priorities of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to protect postal employees while they are in the performance of their federal duties. The reckless behavior and poor judgement exercised by these two individuals have resulted in their sentence to serve time behind bars and they will be unable to endanger or harm any other people.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer A. Stanley.
Recidivist Defendant Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography While on Federal Supervised Release for Previous Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Auburn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for a child pornography charge.
Christopher Rondeau, 37, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Rondeau pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest in November 2020.
During a search of Rondeau’s residence in November 2020, a cell phone was found containing images and videos of child pornography. In 2016, Rondeau was convicted of receipt of child pornography and sentenced to 68 months in prison and seven years of supervised release. He was released from federal custody in August 2019 and was on supervised release at the time of his November arrest.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Auburn Police Chief Todd. R. Lemon; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Rapid City Man Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
Jonah Burning Breast, age 29, was indicted in February of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 8, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years in federal custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges stem from Burning Breast knowingly possessing an unregistered and short-barreled 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun in Rapid City in January of 2023. Burning Breast has a prior felony conviction and, as a result, cannot legally possess firearms.
The charges are merely accusations and Burning Breast is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.
Burning Breast was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Providence Resident Sentenced for Pandemic-Related Benefits Fraud and Aggravated ID TheftRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who, with others, fraudulently applied for over $90,000 in pandemic-relief unemployment benefits, and who actually received over $30,000 of those benefits, some of which he boasted that he used to purchase firearms, an iPhone and marijuana, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
According to court documents, Rashaad Hill, 23, who had been employed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts prior to the start of the pandemic, fraudulently applied for and received $31,540 in pandemic-relief benefits from the states of Arizona and California. Hill and others shared stolen identities - including names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers – when filing some fraudulent benefits claims.
According to court filings, Hill used some of his ill-gotten unemployment benefits to purchase, among other things, four firearms, boasting in text messages to his friends, “I got an iPhone and my stimmy went to weed and guns.”
Hill pleaded guilty on July 27, 2022, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; aggravated identity theft; and theft of government funds. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 12 months of supervised release. Hill was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $34,500.
These matters and other cases of alleged criminal activity related to fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits due to the pandemic are being investigated jointly by the FBI and Rhode Island State Police, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Labor. Cases are jointly reviewed, charged, and prosecuted by a team of prosecutors to include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson, Denise M. Barton, G. Michael Seaman, and Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General John M. Moreira, chief of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit.
Rhode Islanders who believe their personal identification has been stolen and used to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits are urged to contact the Rhode Island State Police at [email protected] or the FBI Providence office at (401) 272-8310.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID- 19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Okmulgee Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
A defendant who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man at a north Tulsa convenience store parking lot was sentenced today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
“The defendant callously chased down, shot and killed the victim, who was simply sweeping trash from a convenience store parking lot,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Marquelon Johnson will serve a 25-year prison sentence for taking this man’s life. I’m thankful to our law enforcement partners and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Snow and Nathan Michel for ensuring Johnson was brought to justice for this heinous crime.”
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Marquelon Dakarai Johnson, 22, of Okmulgee, to 300 months in federal prison for second degree murder. Following his release from prison, he will serve five years on supervised release.
Johnson previously admitted that he shot and killed victim Austin Martin and intended to do so.
On Oct. 4, 2021, Tulsa Police Department was dispatched to the 3200 block of E. Pine Street in Tulsa in response to shots fired. They located the victim in the street.
During a review of security footage, officers found that the incident began at a nearby convenience store and continued through a shopping strip parking lot. The footage showed the victim cleaning a business parking lot when the defendant approached him. The two briefly interacted then Johnson walked away while the victim continued to clean the lot. Less than a minute later, the suspect reapproached and interacted with the victim, who then began running east bound through the parking lot. The suspect could be seen reaching under his shirt and chasing the victim. Footage from another location showed the victim running from Johnson who was firing at him. The victim eventually collapsed on the ground and the suspect fled the scene.
Officers were later notified of a man transported to St. Johns Medical Center after he was caught breaking into a vehicle near the crime scene shortly after the shooting. The man had been injured by the vehicle’s owner and others. He refused to answer questions. Officers eventually tied him to the shooting when they recognized his clothing from the surveillance video that captured the murder. They were then able to identify him as Marquelon Johnson.
The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Snow and Nathan E Michel prosecuted the case.
Nurse at St. Louis County Hospital Sentenced to Four Years of Probation for Fraudulently Obtaining FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Thursday sentenced a former nurse at a St. Louis County, Missouri hospital to four years of probation for fraudulently obtaining fentanyl for her own use.
From Jan. 18, 2020 to Feb. 2, 2020, Lindsay J. Maupin, of Cape Girardeau, fraudulently obtained fentanyl from a Pyxis machine for her own use on multiple occasions. Maupin was working at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County at the time.
Pharmacy staff flagged Maupin for withdrawing two to three times more fentanyl than her peers, and she tested positive for fentanyl, court documents say.
Maupin, 31, pleaded guilty in October to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric prosecuted the case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 8, 2023 United States Senior District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced JOHNNY WALSH, age 25, a resident of New Orleans, to serve 64 months in prison for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, WALSH pleaded guilty to two different counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one from March 2022 and the other from August 2022. During each incident, WALSH had a handgun with a 50 round drum magazine attached.
Judge Lemelle ordered that WALSH serve 64 months on each count, with the sentences to be run concurrently. WALSH will also be placed on supervised release for three years after his release from prison. Judge Lemelle also ordered WALSH to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime.
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New Orleans Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – On March 8, 2023, United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced SEAN ESPRIT, age 27, of New Orleans, to serve 15 years in federal prison for violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, ESPRIT admitted to jointly possessing with the intent to distribute over a kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. ESPRIT also admitted to jointly possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). The drug count carried a mandatory minimum penalty of at least 10 years, and the gun charge added an additional mandatory minimum 5 years that had to run consecutive to any other count.
ESPRIT will also have to serve 5 years on supervised release when he finishes serving his prison sentence. Judge Lemelle also ordered Esprit to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Nash County Armed Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Kilograms of the DrugRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Nash County man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy with direct ties to Mexico. On December 7, 2022, Sean Jermaine Mills pled guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm to further his drug trafficking activity.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Mills, 41, sold methamphetamine in May of 2022 to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who had ordered the substance directly from a supplier in Mexico. On May 17, 2022, investigators with DEA and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at Mills’ residences in Nashville and Castalia where they seized approximately 2.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 4.4 kilograms of cocaine, 82 grams of crack cocaine, five firearms, and $54,520 in U.S. currency.
“I commend the hard work from the Nash County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “We strive to build strong partnerships with our federal and local agencies to prevent criminals like this from destroying our communities.”
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-183-BO.
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Muscatine Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A Muscatine woman was sentenced on March 8, 2023, to 24 months’ imprisonment for Wire Fraud.
According to court documents, Kimberly Nicole Hollingshed, 37, of Muscatine, intentionally and deliberately defrauded an insurance company under materially false pretenses. In February 2022, Hollingshed accessed her neighbor’s term-life insurance policy and created an online profile for the policy without permission of the neighbor. With online account access, Hollingshed made changes to the victim’s policy and added herself as a policy beneficiary.
The fraud continued in April 2022 when Hollingshed falsely reported the victim died and initiated the process to claim death benefits. In fact, the victim was alive in April 2022 when Hollingshed electronically uploaded and submitted a falsified death certificate to the insurance company and was paid $100,138.87 by the life insurance company. In the same period, Hollingshed used the fraudulent funds to purchase three motor vehicles and other personal property. Hollingshed was ordered to pay restitution and serve three years of supervised release at the conclusion of her prison sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau and the Muscatine Police Department investigated the case.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Montgomery City, Missouri was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison for possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp ordered the sentence to run consecutive to whatever Austin E. Pearson, 23, receives on a pending state case. Judge Schelp also ordered Pearson to pay $39,500 restitution to the victims that have been identified in the child sexual abuse material he possessed. After his release from prison, Pearson will be on supervised release for life.
Pearson pleaded guilty in November to one felony count of possession of child pornography. He admitted possession of over 60 files containing child pornography in a Google account, 68 videos in his Dropbox account and more than 200 files on his iPhone and hard drives. Among the victims appearing in those files were children who appeared to be toddler-age being sexually assaulted, Pearson’s plea says.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Federal Hate Crime for Cross BurningRead the Press Release
A Mississippi man was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Halil S. Ozerden to 42 months* in prison followed by three years supervised release and restitution in the amount of $7,810 for burning a cross in his front yard with the intent to intimidate a Black family.
According to court documents, in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Dec. 3, 2020, Axel Cox, 24, violated the Fair Housing Act when he used threatening and racially derogatory language toward his Black neighbors and burned a cross to intimidate them. After a dispute with the Black family victims, Cox wedged two pieces of wood together to form a cross, placed it in clear view of the victims’ residence, doused it in oil and set it alight. During this incident, Cox yelled threats and racial slurs toward the occupants of the house. Cox admitted that he lit the cross on fire because the victims were Black and that he intended to scare them into moving out of the neighborhood.
“This cross burning was an abhorrent act that used a traditional symbol of hatred and violence to stoke fear and drive a Black family out of their home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While one might think cross-burnings and white supremacist threats and violence are things of the past, the unfortunate reality is that these incidents continue today. This sentence demonstrates the importance of holding people accountable for threatening the safety and security of Black people in their homes because of the color of their skin or where they are from.”
“No one should endure such hatred and intimidation because of the color of his skin,” said U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This defendant has been held accountable. His sentence should permeate among his kind and declare that Mississippi and the Department of Justice will not tolerate this hateful behavior.”
“Mr. Axel Cox sought to intimidate members of the community through his intimidating threats," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “The FBI prioritizes the protection of civil rights to ensure citizens remain safe without fear of any harm. We remain committed to tirelessly thwarting the nefarious actions of those, like Mr. Cox, who intended to impact fear upon citizens based on biases.”
A federal grand jury indicted Cox on Sept. 20, 2022. Cox faced a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison for interfering with the victims’ housing rights and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for using fire to commit a federal felony. Cox also faced a fine of up to $250,000 with respect to each charge.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Fomby made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Cabell Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi and former Trial Attorney Noah Coakley II of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
For more information and resources on the department’s efforts to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.
* This has been corrected to reflect the correct sentencing time of 42 months
Michigan Resident Indicted for Hate Crime of Threatening to Kill Jewish Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Tipton, Michigan resident was indicted by a grand jury today for using Twitter to threaten to kill Jewish government officials in Michigan, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
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 indictment, on February 17, 2023, Jack Eugene Carpenter, III, 41, of Tipton, Michigan, using Twitter while located in Texas, made threats against Jewish government officials in Michigan. Carpenter’s post read, in part: “I’m heading back to Michigan now threatening to carry out the punishment of death to anyone that is jewish in the Michigan govt if they don’t leave, or confess.”
The indictment also alleges that the Grand Jury found that Carpenter intentionally selected Jewish members of the Michigan government as the objects of his threat because of the actual and perceived religion of those individuals.
Carpenter is currently being held in detention pending trial in this case.
“Hate and bias-related crimes poison our communities and make people afraid simply because of who they are or what they believe,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “We will not tolerate such actions, and we will prosecute those who engage in them to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Investigating crimes based on religious bias is one of the FBI’s highest priorities because of the devastating impact they have on individuals and communities,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The victims in this case were specifically targeted because of their religion. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to detect and prevent violent incidents motivated by bias or hate. We also urge the public to report any suspected hate crimes to the FBI and local law enforcement.”
Based on the charges in the indictment, Carpenter faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted. Carpenter is subject to aa Hate Crime Motivation penalty enhancement under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
An indictment 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. Attorneys Hank Moon and Frances Carlson.
Maryland Tax Preparer Convicted of Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Greenbelt convicted a Maryland man today of preparing false tax returns on behalf of his clients.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ronald Eugene Watson, also known as Sabir Muhammad, owned and operated SW Accounting Associates, a tax return preparation business located in Largo. From 2015 through 2017, Watson willfully prepared and filed tax returns on behalf of his clients reporting to the IRS false information, including fictitious or overstated business expenses and sham unreimbursed employee expenses. The false deductions reduced clients’ tax liability, often resulting in large, inflated refunds to which they were not entitled. According to witness testimony, Watson varied his preparation fees depending on the amount of the refund requested, with fees typically ranging from approximately $500 up to approximately $1,500.
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Morgan, Jr. of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.
Maryland Tax Preparer Convicted After Eight-Day Trial for Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury today convicted Ronald Eugene Watson, also known as Sabir Muhammad, age 59, of Brandywine, Maryland, today on 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
The guilty verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Watson was a self-employed tax return preparer operating SW Accounting Associates (“SWAA”) in Largo, Maryland. The evidence proved that from at least 2015 to at least 2017, Watson prepared and electronically filed with the IRS fraudulent Forms 1040 and related Schedules A and C for his taxpayer-clients. Watson included inflated and fictitious tax deductions and fraudulent business profits and losses in order to obtain larger tax refunds to which the taxpayer-clients were not entitled. According to witness testimony, Watson varied his preparation fees depending on the amount of the refund requested, with fees typically ranging from approximately $500 up to approximately $1,500.
“With filing season underway, the conviction of Mr. Watson is a timely reminder of the importance of choosing an honest, trustworthy preparer. This conviction should also put unscrupulous preparers on notice about the consequences that await those who do not play by the rules,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter.
Watson faces a maximum of three years in federal prison for each of the 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Barron and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg commended the IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron and Mr. Goldberg also thanked Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Morgan, Jr. and Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Martin Woman Indicted for Larceny and EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Martin, South Dakota, woman for Larceny and Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Madonna Peterson, age 57, was indicted in February of 2023. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on March 8, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Between January of 2017 and July of 2021, Peterson stole more than $100,000 from her employer.
The charge is merely an accusation and Peterson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Peterson was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been scheduled.
Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Committing Murder to Maintain and Increase Position in Chicago Street GangRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to life in prison for committing murder to maintain and increase his position in a violent Chicago street gang.
PIERRE ROBINSON, 29, of Chicago, was found guilty of committing murder in aid of racketeering by a federal jury in August, 2022. The jury returned its verdict after a four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. On March 6, 2023, U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr., sentenced Robinson to life in prison.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and David Brown, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albert Berry III and Margaret Steindorf.
Evidence at trial revealed that Robinson murdered Glenn Houston, Jr., on Dec. 23, 2014, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing Robinson’s position in the Evans Mob street gang. Robinson shot Houston, 23, multiple times inside a store in the 400 block of East 79th Street in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. The Evans Mob, also known as “GuttaGang” and “Hitz Squad,” is a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in narcotics trafficking and committed acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and assault, to acquire and preserve the gang’s territory on the South Side of Chicago. Members of the Evans Mob used social media to publicly claim responsibility for their acts of violence, taunt rival gang members, and took steps to prevent law enforcement’s detection of its criminal activities.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Tharp determined that Robinson was also involved in the murder and attempted murder of two other individuals, Hammood Dawoudi and DeShawn Danzler, on June 18, 2015.
Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine in Dunn CountyRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Richard Skramstad, 60, Prescott, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 60 months in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This prison term will be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Skramstad pleaded guilty to this charge on December 1, 2022.
In March 2021, the West Central Drug Task Force began investigating Skramstad as a suspected methamphetamine dealer in the Menomonie, Wisconsin area. Officers utilized a confidential informant to purchase approximately 52 grams of pure methamphetamine from him on April 13, 2021. In an interview following his arrest on May 13, 2021, Skramstad admitted to selling methamphetamine on multiple occasions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley stated that a sentence of 60 months was warranted because of Skramstad’s lengthy criminal history, which included crimes of violence, domestic abuse, drunk driving, and the possession and distribution of controlled substances.
The charge against Skramstad was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Ginseng TraffickingRead the Press Release
A West Virginia man today pleaded guilty to multiple charges of illegally trafficking in protected plants.
According to court documents, Tony Lee Coffman, 59, of Birch River, purchased American ginseng roots that had been illegally transported in interstate commerce from Ohio to West Virginia and falsified records relating to the purchase of Ohio ginseng. American ginseng is protected in over 20 states due to heavy pressures from international trade and is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Coffman pleaded guilty to five Lacey Act violations. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Each of the Lacey Act violations has a statutory maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made the announcement.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Marous for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.
Maine Man Charged with Participation in A Murder-For-Hire 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 the arrest of HYUNKOOK KORSIAK for participating in a plot to commit murder for hire in Midtown Manhattan. Thankfully, and unbeknownst to KORSIAK, he plotted with undercover FBI agents and the intended victim was fictitious. KORSIAK was arrested last night in Tarrytown, New York, and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the complaint, Hyunkook Korsiak agreed to murder another person for the price of $50,000. Thanks to the work of our remarkable law enforcement partners, Korsiak now stands charged in federal court for his alleged role in this terrible crime.”
FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: "As alleged, the defendant was willing to travel over three hundred miles in order to fulfill his depraved desire to be paid for taking another human’s life. The defendant displayed callous disregard for life and planned to conduct his act of violence in the middle of Manhattan. The FBI will not tolerate such acts of violence, and any individual willing to cold heartedly kill another person will be made to face the consequences in the criminal justice system."
As alleged in the amended Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers and proceedings:[1]
From in or about January 2023, through in or about March 8, 2023, KORSIAK participated in a scheme to murder a fictitious businessman in Manhattan in exchange for a payment of $50,000. The FBI began its investigation after communications KORSIAK sent expressing his desire to kill a person for money were intercepted by the Bureau of Prisons. Over the course of the last two months, KORSIAK met with an undercover FBI agent on multiple occasions in both New York and Boston and agreed to murder a fictitious businessman who was purported to be staying at a Midtown Manhattan hotel. During one of the meetings with the undercover agent, KORSIAK described how he intended to commit the murder and what weapons he planned on using, including an AR-15 rifle and a 9MM pistol that he possessed. KORSIAK asked the undercover agents to provide him with silencers for the two weapons and a latex mask so that he could defeat facial recognition technology. In another meeting, KORSIAK told agents that he would use a car to approach the victim as he walked on a Midtown Manhattan street and planned to shoot the victim from inside the car. KORSIAK’s plan also included the use of a police uniform in an effort to evade capture after he committed the murder.
On March 8, 2023, KORSIAK traveled from Maine to Tarrytown, New York, where he intended to make his final preparations for the murder. Instead, Korsiak was apprehended by FBI agents. KORSIAK was found in possession of four firearms, including two AR-15 rifles and two 9MM semi-automatic pistols. In addition to the firearms, agents seized (i) a bullet resistant vest; (ii) hundreds of rounds of various caliber ammunition; (iii) a latex mask; (iv) rifle scopes; (v) high-capacity magazines; and (vi) latex gloves, many of the same items KORSIAK told the undercover agents he intended to use during the murder. These items are pictured below:
KORSIAK has a 2017 federal felony conviction for theft from a licensed firearms dealer.
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KORSIAK, 41, of Augusta, Maine, is charged with one count of murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The prosecution if this case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic A. Gentile 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.
Local trafficker gets substantial sentence for distributing methRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 24-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in trafficking drugs in the metro area, announced Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Alberto Serna pleaded guilty Oct. 27, 2022, to possession with the intent to distribute meth.
Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Serna to serve 168 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Serna was held accountable for 7,513 grams of meth.
“Meth kills and destroys entire communities, and my office will use all means necessary to stop the proliferation of toxic drugs that inflict harm on our citizens” said Hamdani. “You can’t sell kilograms of drugs in the Southern District of Texas without paying a hefty price, and today’s sentence represents that.”
On April 15, 2022, law enforcement learned Serna would be transporting a large amount of narcotics. They conducted surveillance and observed Serna committing suspicious activity. A joint effort led to a traffic stop, at which time authorities inspected his vehicle and discovered over eight kilograms of meth.
The drugs had an estimated street value of $130,000.
At the time of his plea, Serna admitted he possessed the meth with the intent to distribute it.
Serna has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns prosecuted the case.
Lebanon Sex Offender Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child Using Hidden Cameras, Distribution and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- A federal grand jury indicted Douglas Gibson, 38, of Lebanon, Indiana, on two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sexual exploitation of minor by a registered sex offender, one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, on August 3, 2021, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a cyber tip from Kik Messenger, an instant messaging app, alerting investigators to an account that had been sharing child sexual abuse images. Investigators traced the Google email address associated with the account back to Douglas Gibson. A search of Gibson’s residence uncovered numerous files containing visual depictions of children as young as seven years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Further investigation found that Gibson allegedly secretly recorded a prepubescent child by hiding video cameras in the air vent of a bathroom, loft, and bedroom of the child’s residence. Gibson then distributed images and files of the victim in various states of undress to other individuals. As alleged in the indictment, Gibson was required to register under Indiana law at the time he secretly recorded the child and distributed the files.
If convicted on all counts, Gibson faces up to 135 years 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, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Randal Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Boone County Sheriff Tony Harris made the announcement.
This investigation is being led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, as part of Indiana’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Indiana’s ICAC Task Force is a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate many thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.
In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence D. Hilton, who is prosecuting this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Leader of International Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
The leader of an international drug trafficking organization pleaded guilty yesterday to international cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, between 1998 and approximately 2012, Jaime Antonio Mandujano Eudave, 61, worked with the Sinaloa Cartel, to transport cocaine. Mandujano Eudave coordinated the transportation of cocaine by boat from Colombia to Culiacan, Los Cabos, and elsewhere in Mexico. He communicated GPS coordinates to the boat’s crew members to facilitate a meeting in the Pacific Ocean. There, the cocaine-laden boat from Colombia would meet another boat under the control of the Sinaloa Cartel and offload the cocaine. These boats transported multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine. Once the cocaine arrived in Mexico, other members of Sinaloa Cartel would transport the cocaine to the United States for sale. Mandujano Eudave knew that the cocaine subsequently would be transported into the United States for further distribution.
In August 2014, Spanish authorities arrested Mandujano Eudave at the request of the United States. He was extradited from Spain to the United States in February 2015.
Mandujano Eudave pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office made the announcement.
The Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) supported this case.
The HSI New York Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from the DEA Phoenix Field Division.
Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Melanie Alsworth of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
The NDDS thanks Spanish authorities for their assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Mandujano Eudave.
Lawrence Man Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today for his role in distributing fentanyl.
Albert Ventura, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In November 2022, Ventura pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Ventura has been in federal custody since June 9, 2022.
On several occasions between September 2020 and March 2022, Ventura sold over 70 grams of fentanyl – including to undercover law enforcement.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Rollins’ Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
KC Man Sentenced in Two Indictments for Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today in two separate indictments for illegally possessing firearms.
Yacub E. Williams, 38, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court sentenced Williams to 10 years on the indictments plus four years on the revocation of his supervised release in a prior conviction.
On Sept. 22, 2022, Williams pleaded guilty to two separate federal indictments. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In a second case, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of being a violent felon in possession of body armor.
Williams admitted that he was in possession of a Kel-Tec 5.56-caliber rifle on Dec. 27, 2019, while he was in a white 2015 Ford Fusion parked at his Kansas City residence.
On June 16, 2020, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were conducting surveillance on a residence in Thibodaux, Louisiana, in order to serve a federal arrest warrant on Williams for violating the terms of his supervised release for a prior federal conviction. Williams left the residence and got into the driver’s seat of the same 2015 white Ford Fusion. He appeared to retrieve something from the vehicle, then got out and walked to the back yard of the residence. Officers approached the residence and found Williams, carrying a Beretta .40-caliber pistol, running from the property.
Williams barricaded himself behind a detached water heater next to a nearby shed for several hours before he surrendered. Officers found the pistol behind the water heater. Officers also searched the Ford Fusion and found the body armor.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Williams has prior felony convictions for assault, armed criminal action, being a felon in possession of a firearm, aiding and abetting a bank robbery, and use of a firearm during a violent crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Justice Department’s Ongoing Section 8 Enforcement Prevents More Potentially Illegal Interlocking DirectoratesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that five more directors resigned from four corporate boards and one company declined to exercise board appointment rights in response to the Antitrust Division’s enforcement efforts around Section 8 of the Clayton Act (Section 8). Section 8, which Congress made a per se violation of the antitrust laws, prohibits directors and officers from serving simultaneously on the boards of competitors, subject to limited exceptions. Today’s announcement brings the number of interlocks unwound or prevented as a result of the division’s recent efforts to at least thirteen directors from ten boards.
“Enforcement of Section 8 will continue to be a focus for the division just as Congress intended,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We will continue to enforce the antitrust laws when necessary to address illegal board interlocks.”
The following companies and directors unwound interlocks or declined to appoint board members, without admitting liability:
- Qualys, Inc., SumoLogic, Inc., and F5, Inc. – Qualys, SumoLogic, and F5 are providers of cloud security assessments, audit and compliance services, and firewall and monitoring products and services. One director served simultaneously on the boards of all three companies. After the division expressed concerns about the alleged interlock, the director recently resigned from Qualys’s board and declined to stand for reelection to F5’s board.
- N-able, Inc., Dynatrace, Inc., and SolarWinds Corp. – N-able, Dynatrace, and SolarWinds are software companies. Representatives of the investment firm Thoma Bravo sat on all three companies’ boards. As the department previously announced in October 2022, three Thoma Bravo representatives resigned from the SolarWinds’s board in response to the division’s concerns about the alleged interlock between Dynatrace and SolarWinds. Shortly thereafter, in November 2022, two separate Thoma Bravo designees resigned from the N-able board.
- Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (AEL) – AEL and a Brookfield Asset Management subsidiary’s wholly-owned company American National are both insurance companies. Brookfield and/or its subsidiary appointed the officers or directors on the American National board. Additionally, the Brookfield subsidiary has the contractual right to appoint a director to the AEL board, and in December 2022, the Brookfield subsidiary announced that it would exercise that right. After the division raised concerns regarding the potential interlock, the Brookfield subsidiary announced it had changed course and it was withdrawing its proposed nomination to the AEL board.
- Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. – Sun Country and Atlas Air both provide crew, maintenance, and insurance for domestic air freight routes. In August 2022, an investment group led by Apollo Global Management, Inc. proposed acquiring all of Atlas Air’s outstanding shares. At the time, two Apollo-affiliated individuals sat on the Sun Country board of directors. After the division raised concerns regarding a potential interlock arising from Apollo’s proposed acquisition of Atlas Air, the two Apollo-affiliated directors resigned from the Sun Country board.
Anyone with information about potential interlocking directorates or any other potential violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or [email protected].
Jury convicts former Ohio House Speaker, former chair of Ohio Republican Party of participating in racketeering conspiracyRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury convicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 63, of Glenford, Ohio, and former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 50, of Bexley, Ohio, of participating in a racketeering conspiracy.
“As presented by the trial team, Larry Householder illegally sold the statehouse, and thus he ultimately betrayed the great people of Ohio he was elected to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Matt Borges was a willing co-conspirator, who paid bribe money for insider information to assist Householder. Through its verdict today, the jury reaffirmed that the illegal acts committed by both men will not be tolerated and that they should be held accountable.”
“The FBI’s top criminal priority is investigating public corruption to hold elected officials accountable when they commit illegal acts,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “I commend the special agents who investigated this historic case, the FBI analysts and staff who provided integral support, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their successful prosecution.”
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Jan. 23 before Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Householder and his enterprise conspired to violate the racketeering statute through honest services wire fraud, receipt of millions of dollars in bribes and money laundering.
The conspiracy involved nearly $61 million in bribes paid to a 501(c)(4) entity to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from March 2017 to March 2020, the enterprise traded millions of dollars in bribery campaign donations in exchange for Householder’s and the enterprise’s help in passing House Bill 6. The defendants then also worked to corruptly ensure that HB 6 went into effect by defeating a ballot initiative to overturn the legislation.
In March 2017, Householder began receiving quarterly $250,000 payments from the related-energy companies into the bank account of his 501(c)(4), Generation Now. Team Householder spent millions of the company’s dollars to support Householder’s political bid to become Speaker, to support House candidates they believed would back Householder, and for their own personal benefit.
The United States detailed that Householder spent more than half a million dollars of the dark money to pay off his credit card balances, repair his Florida home and settle a business lawsuit.
Borges used approximately $366,000 for his personal benefit.
Borges was budgeted $25,000 to bribe an Ohio Republican operative to try to save House Bill 6. Borges gave the man a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum.
Householder’s longtime campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others.
The racketeering conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced today’s verdict. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
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Iranian National Charged with Illegally Exporting Electrical Equipment to IranRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging an Iranian national with the unlawful export of electrical cables and connectors from the United States to Iran, through Hong Kong. According to court documents, Mehdi Khoshghadam, a.k.a. “David Lei,” and “Pouyan,” an Iranian national residing in Tehran, Iran, was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on one count of conspiracy, one count of violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation seeking all proceeds of the alleged crimes. A warrant has been issued for Khoshghadam’s arrest and he remains a fugitive.
The charges were announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald of the Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Department of Commerce’s Chicago Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement.
According to the indictment, Khoshghadam is the Managing Director of Pardazan Systems Namad Arman, an Iranian importer of electronics and other goods. In 2016, Khoshghadam began purchasing electrical connectors and cables from a U.S. Company, which were shipped to a freight forwarding company located in Hong Kong and then shipped to Iran. Khoshghadam used an alias of “David Lei” when communicating with the U.S. Company and a front company called Merlin International Trading Company, purported to be located in Singapore, to order the goods from the U.S. company. During one of the initial purchases of goods from the U.S. Company, Khoshghadam attempted to pay for the goods using a different name, but the U.S. Company informed him that its bank had rejected the payment because the payor name needed to be the same as the company submitting the order. Khoshghadam then contacted a co-conspirator located in China and had that person inform the U.S. Company that the co-conspirator was Khoshghadam’s agent and would handle payment for the goods.
As alleged in the indictment, between January of 2016 and May of 2018, Khoshghadam, posed as a representative of the Singapore front company and submitted orders for the cables and connectors on at least three occasions to the U.S. Company. Khoshghadam and a co-conspirator used front companies located in China and Malaysia to make payments to the U.S. Company for the goods in order to conceal the true identity of the purchaser as Khoshghadam and that that the goods were destined for Iran. At the direction of Khoshghadam, the U.S. Company shipped the goods to a freight forwarding company located in Hong Kong, at which time the goods were repacked with falsified shipping records that listed a non-U.S. company as the shipper and the end destination as Iran. As further alleged in the indictment, on at least one occasion, Khoshghadam falsified a Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security form BIS-711, which requires the purchaser of U.S. goods to specify the identity and location of the true end user of the purchased goods. Khoshghadam falsely listed a China based company as the end user of the goods instead of listing that the true end user was located in Iran.
“Those who damage our national security by doing end-runs around sanctions and illegally exporting U.S. goods will find themselves facing serious charges,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and our federal law enforcement partners will zealously pursue those who break these vital national security laws, regardless of where in the world they operate."
"It is important that the public understands the seriousness of these types of crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Fitzgerald. “This isn’t a case of small illegal purchases of harmless products, but instead an attempt to conceal much larger criminal activities; activities that could funnel funds to other organized criminal networks.”
"The diversion of U.S.-origin goods to Iran, including through front companies in third countries, and falsifying end-user information enabling shipments to prohibited end users, will be vigorously investigated,” said Special Agent in Charge Tambrini. “The Office of Export Enforcement, working with our interagency law enforcement partners, is committed to investigating violations of BIS export control rules and prosecuting the individuals involved, as appropriate, whether in the U.S. or abroad.”
The cables and connectors purchased by Khoshghadam required a license from the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) to be exported from the United States to Iran. No license authorizing the export of the cables and connectors was ever issued by OFAC to Khoshghadam or any other person or entity associated with these transactions. Khoshghadam also made, or caused to be made, three separate money transfers from bank accounts located in China, Malaysia, and elsewhere to bank accounts in the United States or by using U.S. correspondent banks with the intent to promote the unlawful exports to Iran described above.
Charges of conspiracy carry a statutory maximum of five years in prison. Violations of the IEEPA and the money laundering conspiracy charge carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Field Office and the Chicago Field Office of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven B. Wasserman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Gillice.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.