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20 April 2023
Canton Man Sentenced to 81 Months in Prison for Possession of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Canton, Illinois man, Derek Lee Pollitt, 37, of the 100 block of South Avenue H, has been sentenced to 81 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the United States presented evidence that in April 2022 Canton police officers stopped a car in which Pollitt was a passenger. On the front passenger-side floorboard, where Pollitt had been seated, officers found a large zip-lock style baggie containing 29.2 grams of actual methamphetamine. They also found that Pollitt had in his possession $129 in cash, along with various pills. Officers obtained records from CashApp that showed Pollitt was using the mobile financial service to transfer money to drug suppliers and customers.
Pollitt was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2022 and pleaded guilty in December 2022. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his indictment.
The statutory penalties for possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute are not less than five years and up to forty years imprisonment, not more than a $5,000,000 fine and four years to life of supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Canton Police Department, and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook represented the United States in the prosecution.
The case against Pollitt is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
COVID-19 Fraudsters Charged in Utah for Allegedly Manufacturing, Selling and Distributing at least 120,000 Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination CardsRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging a Utah and South Carolina man for running a scheme to defraud the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by obstructing the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
According to court documents, Nicholas Frank Sciotto, 32, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Kyle Blake Burbage, 32, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, manufactured, sold, and distributed at least 120,000 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards across the country between March 2021 through September 2021. Sciotto, a former resident of Weber County, Utah, started and operated an online business where he began to fraudulently manufacture and sell the COVID-19 vaccination record cards. As alleged in the indictment, most of Sciotto’s buyers lived in New York where they were subject to more stringent COVID-19 vaccine restrictions. Sciotto’s co-conspirator, Burbage, purchased counterfeit vaccination record cards from Sciotto and then resold some of the counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards and distributed them in South Carolina. By collectively manufacturing, selling, and distributing thousands of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendants significantly undermined the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination program and other governmental health-and-safety regulations and protocols. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Sciotto primarily sold the counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards online through Facebook and charged approximately $10 each, for orders of 10 or more cards, and $7.50 each, for orders of 100 or more cards.
The case is part of a nationwide coordinated law enforcement action by the Department of Justice to combat health care fraud related to COVID-19. In total, DOJ announced criminal charges against 18 defendants in nine federal districts across the United States. These cases allegedly resulted in over $490 million in COVID-19 related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally-funded pandemic programs. See national DOJ release here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-nationwide-coordinated-law-enforcement-action-combat-covid-19
Sciotto and Burbage are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearances April 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Todd Bouton, of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by 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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bộ Tư Pháp Ban hành Thư Gửi Đồng nghiệp tới Toà án Về Tiền phạt và Chi phí cho Người lớn và Thiếu niênRead the Press Release
Bộ Tư Pháp hôm nay đã ban hành một Thư Gửi Đồng nghiệp tới Toà án tiểu bang và địa phương và các cơ quan tư pháp vị thành niên về việc áp đặt và thực thi tiền phạt và chi phí cho người lớn và thiếu niên. Bức thư đề cập đến việc thực hiện tiền phạt và chi phí toà án thường hay-áp-dụng, và cảnh báo về những áp dụng đó có thể là bất hợp pháp, những cá nhân bị xử phạt bất công là những người không thể chi trả hay nói cách khác bị tác dụng phân biệt đối xử. Bộ cung cấp bức thư này như một phần của sự tiếp diễn cam kết về tính công bằng, công lý kinh tế và chiến đấu chống những chính sách nào đóng góp một cách không cân xứng sự tham dự vào hệ thống tư pháp của các cộng đồng có thu-nhập-thấp.
Bức thư nêu bật một số vấn đề chính yếu về việc tiền phạt và chi phí, như sự quan trọng của việc thực hiện dánh giá có ý nghĩa khả-năng-chi-trả trước khi áp đặt những hậu quả bất lợi cho sự thất bại trong chi trả, quan tâm đến các thay thế cho tiền phạt và chi phí, giám sát chống mức phạt quá đáng và bảo đảm việc bảo vệ đúng thủ tục, bao gồm các cố vấn trợ giúp khi phù hợp.
Bức thư nhắc nhở các hệ thống tòa án và các cơ quan khác nhận trợ cấp tài chánh liên bang về nghĩa vụ liên tiếp của họ không được phân biệt đối xử trên cơ bản dòng giống, màu da, nguồn gốc quốc gia, tôn giáo, giới tính và sự khuyết tật; để cung cấp truy cập có ý nghĩa cho các cá nhân có giới hạn Anh ngữ lưu loát; và bảo đảm rằng việc lưu trữ hồ sơ phù hợp có thể giúp xác lập và phòng tránh những vi phạm luật chống phân biệt đối xử của liên bang có thể xảy ra. Bộ đồng thời cũng theo sát với lá thư này bằng cách thiết lập một hướng dẫn thực hành tốt nhất, nêu bật việc đổi mới bởi các lãnh đạo toà án và tiểu bang trong lãnh vực này.
“Công lý tại Hoa Kỳ không thể bị lệ thuộc vào lợi tức hay lý lịch của một người,” Phó Tổng Chưởng lý Vanita Gupta đã nói. “Sự hướng dẫn cập nhật của Bộ Tư pháp giải quyết những thực hành gây ảnh hưởng không cân xứng đến các cộng đồng lợi-tức-thấp và người da màu, có thể làm mắc kẹt những cá nhân và gia đình họ trong những khuôn mẫu của sự nghèo khổ và hình phạt và có thể vi phạm quyền công dân của người lớn cũng như của thiếu niên. Nhiều thẩm quyền tài phán đã đổi mới để giảm thiểu việc dựa vào tiền phạt và chi phí, và Bộ Tư pháp đang xây dựng trên quán tính đó để nâng cao công lý bình đẳng và an toàn công cộng cho tất cả.”
“Sự áp đặt không bị ràng buộc của tiền phạt và chi phí trên toàn quốc đã gài bẫy người nghèo, quá đông trong số họ là những người da màu, trong một chu kỳ của sự leo thang nợ nần, tống giam không cần thiết và làm cho vướng víu suy nhược trong hệ thống tư pháp của chúng ta,” Trợ lý Tổng Chưởng lý Kristen Clarke thuộc Bộ phận Dân quyền của Bộ Tư pháp đã nói. “Bằng cách đối đầu với các tác hại mà có thể có hậu quả áp đặt cách hung bạo của tiền phạt và chi phí, ta có thể đem đến sự chấm dứt tù tội của các con nợ và cổ vũ công lý bình đẳng trong luật pháp cho tất cả. Bộ Tư pháp đã sẵn sàng trợ giúp các toà án và các cơ quan tư pháp vị thành niên để đặt vào vị trí những cải tổ và thực hành để giải quyết nhu cầu an toàn công cộng trong khi bảo vệ quyền công dân và quyền hiến pháp.”
“Nghĩa vụ để thoả mãn tiền phạt và chi phí đã có ảnh hưởng tàn phá trên người lớn và thiếu niên là những người đang trải nghiệm sự nghèo khó và những nghịch cảnh kinh tế khác, bẫy rập nhiều người trong một chu kỳ bất tận của sự nghèo khó và nợ nần,” Giám đốc Văn phòng Tiếp cận Tư pháp Rachel Rossi đã nói. “Những nghĩa vụ này có thể đồng thời cản trở sự truy cập đầy đủ và công bằng vào hệ thống tư pháp của chúng ta. Vì các lý do này, chúng ta vẫn phải thận trọng để ngăn ngừa những thực hành có hại mà không phục vụ lợi ích của công lý. Bức thư này là một bước quan trọng trong tiến trình đó.”
“Những thực hành tiền phạt và chi phí trong hệ thống tư pháp hình sự và vị thành niên áp đặt gánh nặng to lớn nhất trên những người ít khả năng chi trả nhất, đẩy họ vào sâu hơn trong hệ thống tư pháp,” Phó Trợ lý Chính của Tổng Chưởng lý Amy L. Solomon thuộc Văn phòng Chương trình Công lý đã nói. “Chúng ta sẽ làm việc với các thẩm quyền tài phán trên toàn quốc để chấm dứt hay giới hạn những thực hành bất công này, để cho người lớn và thiếu niên trong hệ thống tư pháp có cơ hội họ cần để tiến tới trong cuộc đời của họ.”
Trong những tuần sắp tới, Văn phòng Trợ lý Tư pháp sẽ đồng thời công bố một mời gọi tìm kiếm một nhà cung cấp huấn luyện và trợ giúp kỹ thuật để làm việc với một số thẩm quyền tài phán chọn lọc nào có ý muốn tìm hiểu và cải tổ chính sách và thực hành tiền phạt và chi phí của họ. Mục tiêu tối thượng là để giúp những thẩm quyền tài phán này giảm thiểu sự sử dụng tiền phạt và chi phí bất công và chuyển hướng những nguồn tài nguyên đã dùng trong những hệ thống này vào những hoạt động với kết quả lớn hơn về an toàn công cộng.
Bức thư căn cứ trên những nguyên tắc hiến pháp cơ bản, bao gổm Tu chính án thứ Sáu, thứ Tám, và thứ Mười bốn, cũng như các quy chế liên bang chống phân biệt đối xử, bao gồm Tiêu đề VI của Bộ luật Dân Quyền năm 1964 (Title VI) và Bộ luật Kiểm soát Tội phạm và Luật An toàn Đường phố Omnibus năm 1968 (Safe Streets Act). Một bản sao của bức thư này có thể tìm được ở đây. Các thông tin phụ thuộc về công việc của Bộ phận Dân quyền để bảo vệ và giữ vững quyền hiến định và dân quyền cũng có sẵn trực tuyến tại www.justice.gov/crt. Những khiếu nại về thực hành phân biệt đối xử có thể báo cáo về Bộ phận Dân quyền qua cổng báo cáo trực tuyến của họ tại civilrights.justice.gov.
Business Owner Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Defrauding Medicare of $8 Million Through Claims for Durable Medical EquipmentRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MATTHEW TAYLOR WITKOWSKI was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud by fraudulently trafficking in orders for durable medical equipment such as back, knee, and elbow braces. WITKOWSKI previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced today before United States District Judge Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, Matthew Taylor Witkowski faced justice for illegally selling orders for durable medical equipment and thus bilking Medicare out of more than $8 million. This sort of fraud substantially harms the Medicare program — and will not be tolerated.”
According to statements made in court and publicly filed documents in this case:
From at least August 2019 through the date of his arrest in July 2022, WITKOWSKI and his co-defendant, Christopher Margait, engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare by illegally obtaining and selling fraudulent written orders for goods and services paid for by Medicare, particularly including for durable medical equipment (“DME”). Using a business that he jointly owned and operated with Margait, and a call center that WITKOWSKI owned and operated in the Dominican Republic, WITKOWSKI illegally generated and purchased fraudulent written orders for DME and then sold those fraudulent orders to pharmacies and DME suppliers, including suppliers in New York City. Those pharmacies and DME suppliers then used those fraudulent orders as the basis for more than $8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Many of these fraudulent orders used names and personal health information of actual Medicare beneficiaries, without the beneficiaries’ authorization or prior knowledge. Many of these fraudulent orders also contained professional information of doctors and other healthcare providers enrolled in the Medicare program, as well as the purported electronic signatures of these providers, which were falsified and created without the authorization or knowledge of these providers.
During the course of the scheme, WITKOWSKI and Margait received more than $4 million in illegal kickbacks from DME suppliers, who made these payments to True Prospects Marketing, Inc., a company controlled by WITKOWSKI and Margait, and to Sales Drive Marketing LLC, a company owned and controlled by WITKOWSKI.
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WITKOWSKI, 38, a U.S. citizen who resided in the Dominican Republic, pled guilty on January 19, 2023, to a single count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to the prison sentence, WITKOWSKI was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $4,065,995 and restitution of $8,131,990 to the Medicare program.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Raymond Lewis is in charge of the prosecution.
Billings felon admits to firearms crimes after illegally possessing stolen gunRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who was on state supervision for felony convictions admitted today to firearms crimes after law enforcement found him in possession of a stolen gun, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Joseph Lee Doney, 41, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a stolen firearm. Doney faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Doney was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 13, 2022, Billings Police Department officers arrested Doney on a probation violation warrant after he was spotted in a stolen truck the previous night. Doney had absconded from state supervision in January 2022. In a search of a trailer where Doney had been living, officers seized a stolen Ruger .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Doney admitted to an officer that there was ammunition in his trailer and that he was in the stolen truck the night before. In a recorded jail call after his arrest, Doney admitted he knew the gun was stolen. The owner of the stolen truck and pistol confirmed that the gun was in his truck, which was parked outside of his home, when both were stolen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Timothy Gross, 39, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting to making a fraudulent payment with an employer-issued credit card as part of a scheme to divert more than $65,000 in credit card charges to his personal bank account.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gross was hired by Amerihost LLC in 2020 as a maintenance worker for Beckley Town Homes, a multi-unit apartment building in Beckley. Amerihost issued Gross a credit card for legitimate business purposes and not for personal use.
On April 5, 2020, Gross used his Amerihost-issued credit card to submit a $1,712 payment to “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing.” Gross admitted that no work had been conducted to justify the payment, and that he created a fraudulent invoice that described the payment as being for eight circuit-breaker panel boxes. Gross further admitted that he opened an account for “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing” on the Square payments platform to divert payments from the Amerihost-issued credit card for his personal use, and linked that Square account to his personal bank account.
On at least 38 separate occasions from at least January 1, 2020, until at least April 15, 2020, Gross used the Amerihost-issued credit card to send more than $65,000 in unauthorized, fraudulent payments to “J and Sons Electrical and Plumbing” for work that was not performed. Gross created false work invoices as part of his scheme.
Gross is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Gross owes more than $65,000 in restitution.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Beckley Police Department.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-191.
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Baton Rouge Man Charged in Federal Court with Wire Fraud and Engaging in Unlawful Monetary TransactionsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Adolphus A. Obioha, age 64, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with wire fraud and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
The indictment alleges that in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $425,000 in funds under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, Obioha, who operated a medical transport business prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, submitted multiple fraudulent loan documents to the U.S. Small Business Administration. He allegedly used the EIDL Program funds to purchase a rental property and personal vehicle and to wire nearly $175,000 overseas. The government seized a total of $136,234.09 from multiple bank accounts held by Obioha.
If convicted of these charges, Obioha faces a statutory maximum sentence of fifty years in prison.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline B. Gardner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Audubon County Man Sentenced for a Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Audubon County man was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to 60 months in prison following his plea of guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
On September 15, 2022, Audubon County Sheriff’s Department, Atlantic Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and Iowa State Patrol, responded to a call of shots fired. Deputies found Adam Lee Karstens, 41, standing outside the residence by a locked pickup truck. A search of the vehicle revealed a nine-millimeter Taurus handgun with an obliterated serial number underneath the driver’s seat. Karstens was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had a prior felony conviction. Karstens must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated 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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Asheville Methamphetamine Trafficker and Pill Distributor Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – An Asheville methamphetamine trafficker and pill distributor was sentenced to 151 months in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. John Paul Roberts, 40, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger imposed today’s sentence.
Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s hearing, in January 2020, an investigation began into Roberts’ drug distribution activities, after law enforcement determined that Roberts and an associate were mailing pills containing methamphetamine via the U.S. Mail to customers throughout the United States. The investigation eventually revealed that Roberts and his associate used the Dark Web to obtain the methamphetamine. Roberts then mixed the methamphetamine with other ingredients and used pill presses to manufacture thousands of pills, which he and his associate falsely marketed and sold on the Dark Web as Adderall®. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement documented that Roberts and his associate manufactured and sold thousands of pills containing methamphetamine and mailed pills to customers in 19 states. Court records show that Roberts and his associate also sold methamphetamine in wholesale quantities to local drug traffickers, with a combined street value of more than $1 million.
On December 5, 2022, Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI and USPIS for their investigation of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Armed Drug Trafficker Receives 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – Cameron Hansen, 39, of Holly Ridge, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for trafficking drugs with a sawed-off shot gun. On January 11, 2023, Hansen pled guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, evidence presented in court, and other documents, on February 14, 2021, Hansen was stopped by deputies from the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation while travelling South on Highway 17 in Jacksonville. Hansen stopped his truck in the parking lot of a local business. An Onslow County Sheriff’s K-9 detected the odor of narcotics coming from the truck. Law enforcement searched the truck and recovered a sawed-off shotgun and approximately one ounce of 95 percent pure methamphetamine. The investigation uncovered that Hansen distributed methamphetamine in the Holly Ridge area. Hansen has a prior federal conviction for possession of a stolen firearm.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Onslow County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo 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. 7:22-CR-00081-FL.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Tolleson, Arizona, man was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Ethan Roberts, 28, met a then 14-year-old juvenile online in January 2022. The juvenile lived in Norfolk. Roberts engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the minor for a seven-month period, repeatedly asking her to create and send sexually explicit images of herself to him. In August 2022, Roberts traveled by bus from Arizona to Norfolk. He picked up the minor and the pair traveled back to Roberts’ apartment in Arizona. While in Arizona, the juvenile logged into her online gaming account. The juvenile’s friend noticed her online, and informed law enforcement. Using the information from her online gaming account, the FBI was able to locate and rescue the juvenile from Roberts’ apartment.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Michael C. Maslow, Acting Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
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. 2:22-cr-141.
Alabama Resident Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – QUINCY WHITE, age 43, a resident of Alabama, was sentenced on April 18, 2023 to 188 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry. WHITE had previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, on October 24, 2021, federal and local agencies conducted a controlled delivery of 970 grams of pure methamphetamine to WHITE. The delivery occurred in the parking lot of a Home Depot in LaPlace, Louisiana. After being arrested, WHITE admitted he paid $10,000 for the packages of “methamphetamine” that were located inside the spare tire of the vehicle he was driving.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, and the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
18 Individuals Involved in Drug Trafficking Organization in Wayne County and Cleveland IndictedRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Federal, county and local law enforcement officials today announced that 18 individuals were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of fentanyl in Cleveland and the Wayne County area. Some were arrested during an early morning operation and transported to federal court in Cleveland.
This announcement is made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tom Gergye, and Director Joshua Hunt of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency.
“While so many of us have been working tirelessly to make our communities a safer and better place to live, the defendants charged in these indictments have been doing otherwise,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler. “Today’s indictments and arrests reflect the resolve of law enforcement at all levels to hold drug traffickers accountable and return our neighborhoods to a better tomorrow.”
“Possession and distribution of illegal narcotics and the illegal possession of firearms will not be tolerated in our communities or by the good citizens who live there,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tom Gergye. “Likewise, the DEA will continue its targeted, exhaustive, and collaborative efforts with our local, state and federal partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that bring poison and violence into our neighborhoods.”
“Our unending commitment to this community is to work relentlessly in collaboration with our law enforcement partners at every level, bringing every combined resource to bear with the unified mission to deliver those persons to justice who contribute to this deadly scourge” said Director Joshua Hunt of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency located in Wayne County, Ohio. “I'm immensely proud of the collective achievements born from this 2-year investigation, while I also remain dedicated to ensuring that this important work continues well into the future.”
The following is a breakdown of the charges: Charged in a 36-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense are:
Charles Daniels, 45, State of Ohio Custody; Deandre Wilson, 46, Federal Custody; Jason Johnson, 46, State of Ohio Custody; Blaze Cody Mclaughlin, 32, Federal
Custody; Anthony Ray Lies, 40, Rittman, Ohio; Nicholas Knapik, 39, State of Ohio Custody; Jordan Jarvis, 34, State of Ohio Custody; David Stark, 45, State of Ohio Custody; Roger Stark, 44, Wooster, Ohio; Sebastian Yeagley, 32, Wooster, Ohio; Cody Smith, 28, Wooster, Ohio; John Harig, Jr. 43, Wooster, Ohio; Caleb Smith 30, State of Ohio Custody; Elijah Goshen 31, Cleveland, Ohio; Cassandra Vojacek, 40, Perry, Ohio; Chad Anderson, 38, Columbus, Ohio; Blake Nowak, 45, Burton, Ohio.According to the indictments, between as early as on or about October, 1, 2020, and continuing through on or about February 28, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Johnson was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of a firearm and U.S. Currency.
Charles Daniels recruited drug dealers from Wayne County, Ohio, to purchase fentanyl from sources designated by him, including but not limited to Deandre Wilson and Jason Johnson for further distribution throughout the Northern District of Ohio.
Daniels contacted Wilson and Johnson and arranged for them to sell fentanyl to the Wayne County drug dealers at a discounted price per gram. Daniels provided the Wayne County drug dealers with the contact information for Wilson and Johnson for the purpose of obtaining fentanyl for distribution.
Charged in a 2-count indictment with distribution of a controlled substance containing methamphetamine is Markus Ellison of Wooster, Ohio, State of Ohio Custody.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the DEA, Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, the Wooster Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Patrol, Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and the Ohio National Guard Intelligence Analysts. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian.
19 April 2023
‘Modern-day Bonnie and Clyde’ sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for using stolen mail to raid bank accountsRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A South Carolina man who referred to himself and his girlfriend as the “modern-day Bonnie and Clyde” was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a scheme in which he used information from stolen mail to steal or attempt to steal more than a million dollars from multiple victims.
Michael H. Boatwright, 33, of Chesterfield, S.C., was sentenced to 150 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail, Wire, and Bank Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randall Hall also ordered Boatwright to pay $427,131.37 in restitution for actual losses to the victims, and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
Boatwright’s co-defendant, Stephanie Michelle Lea Napier, 29, also of Chesterfield, is serving a 28-month prison term for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“These thieves didn’t just steal their victims’ mail; they stole their money, their privacy, and their sense of security,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “They are now being held accountable for their insidious acts.”
As described in court documents and proceedings, Boatwright and Napier called themselves the “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” when, in a period from about November 2020 to June 2021, they drove around Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida to steal mail from mailboxes, capturing personal identifying information from the stolen mail, and then using that information to gain access and control of their victims’ bank accounts.
Using that information, the two stole, or attempted to steal, hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims, including those residing in the Statesboro area, with actual and attempted financial losses of more than $1.5 million.
“The sentencing should serve as a warning to those who intend to steal and misuse the U.S. Mail for criminal activity,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “This is a great example of how law enforcement partnerships work together across state lines to vigorously investigate and deliver justice to mail thieves.”
“As evidenced by the length of the prison sentence in this case, fraud is a pernicious crime, especially when it involves identity theft,” said Craig Reno, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Savannah Resident Office. “The result of this case should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to steal from others and attempt to escape the long arm of the law. The Secret Service, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to holding these criminals accountable for their fraudulent activities.”
The case is being investigated by the Jacksonville, Fla. and Savannah, Ga. offices of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, and the Statesboro Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Grover.
Wellsburg man admits stealing $150,000 from volunteer fire departmentRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wellsburg, West Virginia, man has admitted to stealing $150,000 from the volunteer fire department where he formerly served as treasurer.
Daniel Keener, 46, pled guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud. Keener admitted that he used his position as treasurer of the Bethany Pike Volunteer Fire Department to divert funds from the Department’s bank accounts for his personal use over a five-year period. Keener used the stolen funds to purchase concert tickets, make payments on personal credit cards, pay for a family member’s educational expenses, and to purchase jewelry.
“Mr. Keener abused the trust placed in him by his colleagues at the fire department and now he must pay the consequences,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.
Keener is facing up to 20 years in federal prison, and he must make $150,000 in restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. The West Virginia State Auditor’s Office assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Utah Truck Driver Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging a Utah man after he allegedly attempted to meet with a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to the court documents, on February 16, 2023, Kendrick Aristotle Eastes, 31, of Taylorsville, Utah, attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity in the District of Utah. He did so by communicating through the internet, a means of foreign commerce. According to statements made in open court on April 19, 2023, Eastes was employed as a truck driver at the time of the alleged crime. Using a social networking application, on February 16, 2023, Eastes contacted an undercover agent whom he believed was the stepfather of a 7-year-old boy. As the chat continued, Eastes and the undercover agent planned a meeting so that Eastes could meet with and engage in sexual activity with the minor. Estes arrived at the meeting site intending to have sex with the minor but was immediately arrested and taken into custody.
Eastes is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and distribution of child pornography. The defendant had his initial court appearance April 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The weight of the evidence is substantial,” said Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead, and ordered Eastes remain in custody.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Las Vegas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mark Y. Hirata, of the District of Utah 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://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.
United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Spokane Police Department Announce Spring Take Back DayRead the Press Release
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration has announced the date of its 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, April 22, DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.
Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
When: Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Who: United States Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Spokane Police Department
Where: NorthTown Mall, 4750 North Division Spokane, WA 99207 (Northwest parking area)
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.
Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
“The United States is committed to reducing tragic drug overdose deaths. By participating in events like Prescription Drug Take Back Day, federal, state, local, and tribal community leaders help remove expired narcotics from our communities, prevent medication misuse, and make Eastern Washington safer and stronger,” U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated. “Drug take back events are one way our community can positively impact the opioid crisis and protect loved ones. Prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths do not discriminate – they can impact individuals of any age, race, gender or demographic.”
“The DEA is committed to protecting our communities,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “One way we do this is with our National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. By removing unused and unwanted prescription drugs we eliminate the first step that leads to misuse and drug addiction.”
“We have a critical drug use issue in our community. From the open use of dangerous drugs like fentanyl by those stuck in addiction, to the misuse of prescription drugs, overdose deaths are all too common in Spokane,” stated Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl. He continued, “From February 2022 through February 2023, the Medical Examiner reported 185 overdose deaths in Spokane County. Our officers see the heartbreak and expense of drug related crimes – property and violent crimes – every day. Drug Take Back Day is one tangible way community members can step in and help address the drug crisis in a positive way.”
For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit to Co-Sponsor United Against Hate Event at BSURead the Press Release
BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit along with Boise State University, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of the Pacific Northwest, and Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel are convening a United Against Hate meeting on April 26 at Albertsons Library at Boise State University in conjunction with the last day of the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibition. The event is free and is open to the public. Registration is required to attend. Register here no later than Monday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m. Free parking for From History to Today: Shared Legacies, Shared Aspirations is available in the Liberal Arts parking lot (map).
United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving efforts to combat hate crimes and hate incidents through relationship building at the local level. Through this endeavor, the Office seeks to create and strengthen trust and partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders, and residents.
“As Attorney General Garland has said, this is a moment for an all-hands-on-deck approach to combatting unlawful hate,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I look forward to meeting community members and hearing different perspectives on how we can work together to stand up to unlawful hate in Idaho.”
The April 26 event will include a presentation by U.S. Attorney Hurwit about hate crimes laws and reporting mechanisms followed by an hour-long community panel featuring leaders from the Jewish, Black, and Japanese American communities.
“For me, holding this event in conjunction with the ‘Americans and Holocaust’ exhibit is a great way to explore how difficult history can inspire a hopeful future,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful to BSU, the ADL of the Pacific Northwest, and Congregation Ahaveth Beth Israel for our collaboration.”
Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel###
U.S. Attorney Announces Arson Charges Against Two Philadelphia Men for Pizza Shop Fire That Resulted in the Death of Firefighter Lt. Sean WilliamsonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Al-Ashraf Khalil, 29, and Isaam Jaghama, 29, both of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce, and one count of malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce. Khalil was also charged with one count of wire fraud, and one count of using fire in furtherance of the commission of that wire fraud.
Khalil and Jaghama are charged with the arson at 300 West Indiana Avenue in Philadelphia on June 18, 2022, which resulted in the death of Philadelphia Firefighter Lieutenant Sean Williamson, and injuries to five other first responders, who were inside the building when it collapsed following fire suppression activities. Defendant Khalil was the owner of the property at 300 West Indiana Avenue, which contained both apartments and a business. According to the allegations in the indictment, Khalil and Jaghama set a fire inside 300 West Indiana Avenue so that Khalil could profit by filing an insurance claim related to the fire. According to the indictment, after the fire occurred, Khalil signed paperwork authorizing an insurance adjuster to file an insurance claim on his behalf. As alleged in the indictment, this claim was then filed on June 20, 2022.
If convicted, defendant Khalil faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 17 years in prison, and up to a maximum of life in prison. If convicted, defendant Jaghama faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and up to a maximum of life in prison.
The case was investigated by ATF Philadelphia and the ATF’s National Response Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.
An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Wichita Residents Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a woman and a man from Kansas with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, Regan Viner, 29, and Abram Velo, 41, both of Wichita, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intention to distribute and one count of possession of fentanyl with intention to distribute. Velo is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jomarion E. Nelson, 19, and Dornayja D. Acon, 19, both of Wichita were indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Goddard Police Department, and the Mesa, Arizona Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Three Members of Shooting Boys Gang Charged with Racketeering, Murder, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the filing of a five-count indictment today charging three individuals — WANDER RIVERA, a/k/a “Ciru,” EDWARD PEREZ, a/k/a “Perico,” and RAMON RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Pollo” — with certain federal crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. The defendants are charged for their roles in the “Shooting Boys” gang and associated acts of violence, including the June 21, 2021, murder of Milton Grant and attempted murder of another victim in Manhattan during a robbery. In a coordinated operation, PEREZ and RIVERA were arrested last night and this morning. Both defendants will be presented later this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis in Manhattan federal court. RODRIGUEZ remains at large. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants committed crimes with a street gang that has engaged in robbery, murder, drug trafficking, and other acts of violence. The indictment unsealed today alleges that Milton Grant was murdered as a result of this gang’s wave of violence. Gang violence is a threat to the safety and security of our neighborhoods, and we will continue to work to end it. These defendants now face substantial time in federal prison for their crimes.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “As alleged, Shooting Boys gang members Wander Rivera, Edward Perez, and Ramon Rodriguez utilized extreme violence and intimidation in furtherance of their criminal activities, acting without remorse or regard for human life. Gang members prey upon the communities they live in, committing the most heinous acts against their victims. The New York City metropolitan area is much safer when criminal gang members are arrested and held to account for their crimes. We appreciate the critically important work of our partners at the New York City Police Department and remain dedicated to working collaboratively to help rid our communities of these unrepentant criminals.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Dismantling gangs to prevent the senseless violence so often associated with their illegal activities is among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to target the relatively small percentage of people responsible for a disproportionate amount of the crime and disorder committed in New York City. I commend and thank everyone in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and all of the NYPD and HSI investigators involved in this case for their work in leveling these charges today.”
As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
The “Shooting Boys” gang is a criminal organization based in the University Heights section of the Bronx. Since at least 2017, gang members sold drugs, used guns, and committed numerous acts of violence against members of rival gangs. Originally associated with the “Trinitarios” gang, the Shooting Boys broke off from the “Sunset” chapter of the Trinitarios in about 2018.
The Shooting Boys sold crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in select areas of the Bronx. Gang members also specialized in armed robberies, often targeting individuals wearing designer jewelry. During one early morning robbery, on June 21, 2021, Milton Grant was shot and killed as he sat in his car after exiting a Manhattan nightclub. After Grant was shot, RODRIGUEZ stole Grant’s Audemars Piguet watch, pictured below:
Another victim ("Victim-1"), who was with Grant at the time, was also shot during the robbery as he attempted to flee from the robbers. Victim-1 survived his injuries.
* * *
A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI and thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, James Ligtenberg, Adam S. Hobson, and Jamie Bagliebter are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Charge
Defendants
Minimum and Maximum Penalties
Count One
Racketeering Conspiracy
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
RAMON RODRIGUEZ
Maximum: Life in prison
Count Two
Murder in Aid of Racketeering
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
Mandatory life in prison or death
Count Three
Murder through Use of a Firearm
WANDER RIVERA
EDWARD PEREZ
Maximum: Life in prison or death
Minimum: Five years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed
Count Four
Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering
WANDER RIVERA
Maximum: 20 years in prison
Count Five
Firearms Offense
WANDER RIVERA
Maximum: Life in prison
Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the 28th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City BombingRead the Press Release
The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in recognition of the 28th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
“Today, we mark 28 years since a domestic terrorist bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
“Today, we remember the 168 people, including 19 children, whose lives were taken and the hundreds who were injured. We send our deepest condolences to the families who are still mourning an unspeakable loss. We commemorate the extraordinary resilience and grace that the Oklahoma City community continues to demonstrate in the wake of that loss.
“And today, here at the Justice Department, we recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. We remain vigilant in the face of the threat posed by domestic terrorism. And we remain committed to pursuing accountability for those who perpetrate such attacks and to pursuing justice for the victims and survivors.
“We will never forget what happened in Oklahoma City on April 19. We will never stop telling and retelling the story of that day, and of how the Oklahoma City community responded to hatred and division with compassion and unity. And we will never stop working to honor the memories of those we lost.”
Starkville Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Greenville, MS – A Starkville man was sentenced today to almost four years in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a prior convicted felon.
According to court documents, Lasang Kemp, 38, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a Taurus 9mm handgun and a Zastava 5.56mm handgun in Starkville, Mississippi on March 4, 2021. Kemp, who pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, was sentenced today in Greenville by Chief U.S. District Judge Debra Brown to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals will always be a priority for this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The FBI and our local partners deserve our thanks for ensuring this successful prosecution.”
“Mr. Kemp’s sentencing should serve as a warning to those bad actors who unlawfully possess firearms,” remarked FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners, through impactful programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, will continue to identify, investigate, and deliver justice to anyone violating federal laws designed to protect our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Starkville Police Department, and the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department.
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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Leading Meth Conspiracy, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in the Springfield, Mo., area.
Christian Roman, 39, of Springfield, and Nathan Bay, 49, of Bois D’Arc, Mo., were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Tuesday, April 18. Roman was sentenced to 21 years and eight months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $143,000, which represents his proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Bay was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $42,291, which represents his proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
Roman pleaded guilty on Oct. 4, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bay pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
During the federal investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of methamphetamine from various members of the drug-trafficking organization. Roman distributed multiple pounds of methamphetamine at a time to others below him in the drug hierarchy and collected drug proceeds. According to court documents, Roman supplied Bay with methamphetamine to distribute.
Roman also orchestrated sending large amounts of methamphetamine through the mail from California for distribution in Missouri. Roman admitted that he coordinated with a law enforcement confidential source to arrange for a package that contained more than 1.3 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, concealed inside a fire extinguisher, to be mailed to that source’s residence.
According to court documents, Roman also coordinated the distribution of, and payment for, multiple illegal drug sales across the United States, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. In February 2021, law enforcement intercepted communications wherein Roman coordinated the distribution of approximately 1,428 pounds of marijuana to a man in Wisconsin. That marijuana was seized by law enforcement.
Roman admitted that he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Oct. 1, 2019, to Feb. 19, 2021. Roman also admitted, during that time, that he participated in a conspiracy to transfer funds from the United States to Mexico to promote the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Roman admitted that he made multiple large cash deposits into his checking account, which involved proceeds from the drug-trafficking conspiracy, then sent several wire transfers to Mexico.
Roman, who was on probation at the time of this offense, admitted that he was in possession of a Colt .38-caliber handgun on Feb. 19, 2021. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Roman has a prior felony conviction for importing marijuana after he smuggled 38 kilograms of marijuana from Mexico into the United States. Roman also has prior felony convictions for concealing a firearm in a vehicle and taking a vehicle without consent.
On Feb. 19, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Roman’s residence. Officers found numerous unused U.S. Postal Service boxes piled in the hallway closet. In the master bedroom, officers found a safe that contained expensive jewelry, $4,640 in cash, and the Colt handgun. The firearm’s handgrips were covered in white stones with an emblem of two stacked traffic cones designed out of black, orange, and white stones. The emblem matched a tattoo of two stacked traffic cones on the right side of Roman’s face. Officers also seized a Romarm/Cugir 7.62-caliber rifle, a German Sports Gun 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Grand Power 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and some ammunition from a storage unit.
Roman and Bay are among 11 defendants who have been sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy Targeting Retirees and Military Pension HoldersRead the Press Release
A South Carolina woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her role in a nationwide structured cash flow scheme that exploited military veterans in desperate financial straits and targeted elderly investors seeking a safe retirement investment.
Candy Kern, 55, of Anderson, South Carolina, was the managing partner of a small South Carolina-based law firm. From approximately 2012 through 2021, she used her law firm to facilitate a fraudulent scheme involving illegal assignment of veterans’ benefits.
The scheme worked as follows: Numerous individuals and small corporate entities, referred to as Structured Cash Flow (SCF) entities, offered veterans – many of whom were in acute financial distress – an up-front lump sum payment in exchange for the assignment of the veterans’ monthly pension and/or disability payments for a period of time. Working through a network of investment advisors and insurance agents, the SCF entities would then solicit retirees to invest in these contracts – providing the up-front lump sums under the false pretense that the flow of repayments by veterans over time would translate into a return for the retiree-investors.
For more than eight years, Kern, through her law firm, served as the banker, legal counsel, and debt collector for the SCF operation. Among other services, Kern’s law firm (1) managed, controlled, and maintained the bank accounts through which payments to and from investors and veterans flowed; and (2) filed suits against veterans who defaulted. Throughout the duration of the scheme, and unbeknownst to the veterans or the retirees, the pension assignment contracts were in fact void, as it is illegal to assign a pension under federal law – a fact Kern knew but never disclosed during the execution of any contract.
Over time, the scheme collapsed, as many veterans (who tended to be in dire financial straits) either were unable to repay their “obligations” under the contract or opted not to do so upon learning that federal law prohibited pension assignments. Over the course of this scheme, approximately $14 million in illegally assigned veterans’ benefits flowed through the accounts controlled by Kern’s law firm. Notwithstanding the invalidity of the contracts, Kern pursued enforcement actions against veterans who defaulted, securing numerous default judgments against veterans in absentia. As a result, Kern’s law firm received approximately $1,446,336, while retiree-investors – who were misled and fraudulently induced to purchase the SCF product without being informed of all material information about the contracts – lost approximately $31,352,897.26.
“This elaborate scheme preyed upon and exploited some of our most vulnerable populations, and when it collapsed, it left thousands of veterans in financial ruin and scores of retiree-investors without adequate resources to retire,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to protecting servicemembers, veterans, and older adults from fraud. And we are dedicated to ensuring that those involved in this scheme are held accountable.”
“The District of South Carolina has been at the forefront of prosecuting fraud related to veterans’ pensions and associated investment scams,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “It is reprehensible that a former member of the South Carolina state bar would participate in such a scheme and use her standing as a lawyer to give victims a false confidence. My office will continue its efforts to protect our veterans and to bring perpetrators to justice.”
“This guilty plea is a true testament to the FBI’s steadfast mission to uphold justice and protect the most vulnerable members of our society from financial exploitation and fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans and values the contributions of our seniors to our communities. The guilty plea represents our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to take advantage of our nation’s heroes and seniors.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Watkins for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case.
The matter was investigated by the FBI. The Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division and the Defense Finance Accounting Service also assisted. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the investigation and prosecution.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov. For more information on the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, or to file a complaint, visit https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.
Sisseton Man Indicted for MurderRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sisseton, South Dakota, man for First Degree Murder.
Jay Adams, Jr., age 57, was indicted in April of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on April 17, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is mandatory life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about September 4, 1992, in Roberts County, Adams killed a minor victim by inflicting fatal blunt force trauma.
The charge is merely an accusation and Adams is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Adams was released on conditions pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Sigourney Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Defrauding the IRSRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, IA – A Sigourney man pleaded guilty on April 17, 2023, to mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court records, Mark Lynn Haines, 48, engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from 2015 to 2018 concerning sales of grain as organic, when in fact, the grain was grown in violation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). NOP is a federal regulatory program governing organic agricultural products. Key among Haines’ NOP violations were the use of treated seed, which is prohibited by NOP. Haines concealed his NOP violations from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the organic certifier. The grain was then sold by Haines to a number of unwitting purchasers.
Haines also conspired to impede and obstruct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the assessment and collection of income taxes. Between April 2017 to April 2019, Haines obtained false invoices, backdated checks, and exchanged checks to give the appearance of an expense that was not in fact incurred. This conduct increased Haines’ expenses and decreased Haines’ federal income taxes.
“The USDA Organic Seal is a symbol of trust and confidence amongst consumers seeking to purchase organically grown produce. When farmers, like Haines, subvert NOP and its regulations, they compromise the integrity of the program and impair USDA’s ability to protect the health and value of American agriculture,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shantel R. Robinson, USDA, Office of Inspector General, Midwest Region.
Haines is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2023. A related defendant, Daniel DeRycke, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, and is also pending sentencing.
A federal district court judge will determine the sentences of Haines and DeRycke after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) revoked Haines’ organic certificate in 2018 due to several NOP violations and assisted the federal agents in the investigation and the prosecution of the case.
If you witness or have knowledge of any violations of laws and regulations related to USDA programs, contact the OIG Hotline by telephone at (800) 424-9121 or TDD (202) 690-1202.
Second Conspirator in Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violation Case ArrestedRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami and a citizen of Belarus, has been arrested and charged by a federal criminal complaint with engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two related companies by purchasing over $150 million in steelmaking materials. Karpushkin’s alleged co-conspirator, John C. Unsalan, 41, of Orlando, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the same scheme on April 12, and was arrested on April 14 on related charges.
According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities. The two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans, OOO (Gaz-Alyans), based in the Russian Federation, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis (Vneshtorgservis), based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine.
The complaint charges Karpushkin with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The indictment against Unsalan charges him with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the IEEPA; 10 counts of violating the IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and 10 counts of international money laundering. If convicted, Karpushkin and Unsalan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count with which they are charged. Unsalan made his initial appearance in federal court on April 17, and has been detained pending further court proceedings. Karpushkin made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was also detained.
The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, OFAC, and the FBI Miami Field Office.
Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Second Conspirator in Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violation Case ArrestedRead the Press Release
Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami and a citizen of Belarus, has been arrested and charged by a federal criminal complaint with engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two related companies by purchasing over $150 million in steelmaking materials. Karpushkin’s alleged co-conspirator, John C. Unsalan, 41, of Orlando, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the same scheme on April 12, and was arrested on April 14 on related charges.
According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities. The two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans, OOO (Gaz-Alyans), based in the Russian Federation, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis (Vneshtorgservis), based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine.
The complaint charges Karpushkin with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The indictment against Unsalan charges him with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the IEEPA; 10 counts of violating the IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and 10 counts of international money laundering. If convicted, Karpushkin and Unsalan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count with which they are charged. Unsalan made his initial appearance in federal court on April 17, and has been detained pending further court proceedings. Karpushkin made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was also detained.
The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, OFAC, and the FBI Miami Field Office.
Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.
Previously Deported Honduran Man Convicted of Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Nicholas Heriberto Vallecillo-Tejada, age 39, was convicted on April 18, 2023, of illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vallecillo-Tejada was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in November 2008 and again in July 2009. He reentered the United States again sometime after July 2009 without first obtaining legal permission to do so. Vallecillo-Tejada was encountered in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 2020, when he was arrested by the Shenandoah Police Department on charges which eventually led to convictions for simple assault and weapons possession. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 and charged with illegal re-entry into the United States.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Brian J. Gallagher prosecuted the case.
Vallecillo-Tejada faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Poplar felon admits possessing ammunition after shootout on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man with a felony conviction for murder admitted today to illegally possessing ammunition after a shootout on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Buddy Gene Walking Eagle, 38, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Walking Eagle faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Sept. 13. Walking Eagle was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents filed by the government, on March 16, 2020, Walking Eagle was on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation when a shootout occurred. Law enforcement recovered .40-caliber shells that belonged to Walking Eagle. Walking Eagle was prohibited from possessing the ammunition because he was previously convicted of murder in 2004 in Colorado.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy A. Johnson and Ryan G. Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Pinedale Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Sheldon Livingston pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a child under 12 in Indian Country. Livingston, 23, of Pinedale, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during December 2020, Livingston engaged in a sexual act with a child who had not attained the age of 12. The assault took place in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Under the terms of his agreement, Livingston can be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison and must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.
Philadelphia man admits to operating a multi-state drug enterpriseRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has admitted to operating a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19th Street Enterprise.”
Christopher Arthur Jones, also known as “Smooth,” pled guilty today to a racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl distribution charges. Jones, 38, was the leader of the organization, directing members of the enterprise to sell drugs, commit acts of violence, launder money, and commit fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but Jones had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia and elsewhere.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble heard testimony today that Jones ordered armed robberies at residences in West Virginia and Maryland to help fund his enterprise. The homeowners were targeted because of perceived wealth. The organization was selling an estimated 100 grams of fentanyl per week and laundering at least $500 per day from a house on Crooked Way in Martinsburg. Jones also committed COVID fraud, receiving COVID relief funds under false pretenses.
As a part of the plea agreement, Jones has agreed to forfeit any proceeds from the crimes, as well as his Philadelphia property, which was used as the stash house for his operation.
Jones is facing at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Omaha Man Sentenced for a Drug Distribution OffenseRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – An Omaha man was sentenced yesterday, April 18, 2023, to 168 months in prison following his plea of guilty to distribution of a controlled substance.
On January 12, 2021, the Council Bluffs Police and Council Bluffs Fire Departments were dispatched to a motel to provide medical treatment to an unresponsive victim, who ultimately died from a fentanyl overdose. Jason D. Hartzell, 22, distributed fentanyl pressed pills to the victim. Officers linked Hartzell to the fentanyl overdose death after reviewing phone information, social media information, surveillance footage, and conducting witness interviews. Hartzell must serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.
North Liberty Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A North Liberty man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to court documents, on May 20, 2021, Ronald Lee Robi, 71, entered a retail store in Coralville, browsed the firearm section, and selected two pistols to purchase. Robi paid for the pistols but told the sales associate he would come back later with his firearms permit and other documents to complete the paperwork. On June 1, 2021, Robi returned to the same retail store, convinced a different sales associate he had already provided the necessary documentation when he paid for the pistols, and took possession of the firearms. Robi has multiple prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
On June 7, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Robi’s residence in North Liberty. During the search, law enforcement recovered a third firearm. At the time of his offense in the Southern District of Iowa, Robi had been indicted in the Southern District of Texas for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was granted the privilege of pretrial release. As a result of this offense, his pretrial release was revoked. He was sentenced for his crime in the Southern District of Texas on June 10, 2022. His sentence will be served consecutively to the sentence for the Texas firearms conviction.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Coralville Police Department and North Liberty Police Department investigated the case.
North Dakota Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking of a Delivery TruckRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Devils Lake, North Dakota man has been sentenced to 136 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for carjacking a man at gunpoint in Blaine, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 30, 2022, at approximately 3:52 a.m., Joshua Lee Sinawa, 27, approached a bakery delivery box truck in the parking lot of a Cub Foods in Blaine, Minnesota. While the delivery driver was in the vehicle’s driver seat, Sinawa approached the vehicle on the driver’s side, pointed a firearm at the victim, and demanded that the victim get out of the vehicle. Sinawa then forced him to walk into the Cub Foods store at gunpoint. Sinawa left the Cub Foods store while the victim remained inside and fled the scene in the stolen bakery delivery box truck.
Sinawa was sentenced yesterday before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to 52 months for carjacking and a consecutive 84 months for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Blaine Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Dunne and Craig R. Baune prosecuted the case.
North Branford Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffenseRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH AMADEO, 38, of North Branford, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, HSI began investigating Amadeo for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos on the dark web. On March 24, 2021, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Amadeo’s residence and seized Amadeo’s computer and other electronic devices. Analysis of the devices revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, many as young as infants. He was arrested on June 3, 2021.
Amadeo pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on July 12 in Hartford.
Amadeo is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
Amadeo is a registered sex offender on the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry based on a 2013 state conviction involving child pornography.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda S. Oakes and Nancy V. Gifford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Norfolk Church Youth Group Leader Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
According to court documents, Charles Willoughby III, 39, served as a youth group leader at New Life Worship Center (NLWC) in Norfolk. From 2006 to 2012, Willoughby routinely groomed minor teenage girls who were part of the church’s youth program in order to attempt to sexually abuse them. On June 26, 2012, Jane Doe, who was then 15 years old, and other youth group members boarded a chartered bus from NLWC to travel to Georgia for a national church youth group conference. Willoughby served as one of the chaperones. While on the bus there, Willoughby forced Jane Doe to engage in a sexual act. Jane Doe did not disclose the abuse until 2018, and other victims were identified after that disclosure.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi and Megan Montoya prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org. To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
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. 2:21-cr-96.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Cashing Counterfeit U.S. Treasury ChecksRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – Samuel Dixon, 28, of New Orleans was sentenced to six months of incarceration after pleading guilty to two counts of cashing counterfeit United States Treasury checks.
According to court documents, Dixon admitted that on February 14, 2020, he successfully cashed two counterfeit checks at different Walmart stores in Mobile, Alabama. The counterfeit checks cashed by Dixon were created from a template based on a legitimate U.S. Treasury check stolen in 2018. Counterfeit checks created from this template have been cashed over 450 times throughout the United States.
In the first instance, Dixon presented a Walmart employee with a counterfeit check bearing a female’s name identified in the plea agreement as “R. Smith.” To verify that Dixon was authorized to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, he presented a counterfeit Georgia drivers license that contained Dixon’s picture, but other identifying information belonging to a real male who is identified in the plea agreement as K. Smith. In addition, Dixon provided K. Smith’s actual social security number. Believing that Dixon was K. Smith, and thus had the authority to cash the check on behalf of R. Smith, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.
Several hours later, Dixon presented a Walmart employee at a different store in Mobile with another counterfeit U.S. Treasury check bearing the name R. Smith. This time, Dixon presented a counterfeit Virginia drivers license containing his picture and the real information of a male identified in the plea agreement as M. Smith. After Dixon provided M. Smith’s real social security number, the Walmart employee cashed the check for $2,195.00.
In addition to the two counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks cashed in Mobile, Dixon also admitted to previously cashing two other counterfeit checks in Louisiana. Finally, Dixon admitted that when he was arrested on unrelated charges in New Orleans in February 2020, he had in his possession five similar counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks.
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to corrupt Federal tax administration,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice in this investigation.”
This case was investigated by the United States Department of the Treasury – Office of Inspector General, as well as the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Also assisting with the apprehension of Dixon was the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and S. Gaillard Ladd prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
New London Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union AssetsRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – A New London man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 24 months in prison for embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
According to court records, James Darin Boatman, 53, the former president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 Union, embezzled and stole union funds for his personal use. UFCW Local 617 members include production workers and skilled trade workers at the Conagra plant located in Fort Madison. Investigation revealed that Boatman, the president of the Union from 2010 until 2019, set up a credit card in the Union’s name, without authorization, and from at least May 2017 to August 2019 used the card for personal expenses, including vacations to Florida, large repairs on his personal vehicle, and to pay for attorney representation for an unrelated matter. Additionally, Boatman wrote checks from the Union funds to cover personal expenses and to pay himself for unauthorized lost time for periods of time Boatman claimed he was conducting Union business. Boatman pled guilty and agreed to pay $74,231.34 in restitution to the Union.
Following his prison term, Boatman was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Department of Labor and Office of Labor-Management Standards investigated the case.
Mobile Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Machinegun That He Fired During New Year's Eve ShootingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machinegun that he fired during a shooting in downtown Mobile on December 31, 2022.
According to court documents, Thomas Earl Thomas, Jr., 22, possessed and fired a .40 caliber Glock pistol equipped with an extended magazine and an illegal machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” during New Year’s Eve celebrations in downtown Mobile on December 31, 2022. The shooting, which occurred in a crowded section of Dauphin Street near South Jackson Street, killed one person and injured nine others. In connection with his guilty plea, Thomas admitted that he lied to homicide detectives about possessing and firing the gun, as captured on surveillance video. Thomas further admitted, among other things, that he had bought the gun at a gun show in Mobile weeks before the shooting and knew it had been illegally modified with a “switch.”
Firearms experts examined and test fired Thomas’s illegally modified gun, which operated as a fully automatic weapon and expelled multiple rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger. Thomas admitted that he had never registered his machinegun in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2023, and faces up to ten years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department are investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Federal Prison for Hate Crimes Targeting Black Lives Matter SupportersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 10 months in federal prison and one-year supervised release for a series of hate crimes he committed in June and July of 2020.
According to court records, Kenneth D. Pilon, 62, previously pleaded guilty to willfully intimidating and attempting to intimidate citizens from engaging in lawful speech and protests in support of Black Lives Matter. Specifically, Pilon admitted to calling nine Starbucks stores in mid and southeast Michigan and telling the employees answering his calls to tell Starbucks employees wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirts that “the only good n***er is a dead n***er.” Pilon also admitted to telling one employee, “I’m gonna go out and lynch me a n***er.” Additionally, over the course of the next month, Pilon left four nooses in parking lots and a fifth noose inside of a 7-Eleven store. Pilon attached each noose to a handwritten note, reading: “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!”
“The nooses, the threat letters, and the calls to Starbucks were all intended to terrorize the targeted victims solely because of their race,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will always stand up to race-based threats of violence, which have no place in civilized society.”
“A noose is a symbol of hatred that evokes the darkest days of our country’s past. Its placement is meant to terrorize a part of our community, but we will not tolerate these race-based threats. Our office stands ready to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal violations of our civil rights laws,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Pilon’s hateful conduct, motivated by racial intolerance, was intended to intimidate the victims as well as create fear within the African-American community,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will ensure that if a crime is motivated by bias, it will be investigated as a hate crime and the perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.”
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Turkelson for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case
Mexican man sent to prison for transporting fentanyl and methRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old non-U.S. citizen illegally residing in Harlingen has been ordered to prison following his conviction for attempting to traffic fentanyl and meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jorge Mario Vazquez-Zuniga pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Vazquez-Zuniga to serve 84 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
On June 14, 2022, law enforcement stopped Vazquez-Zuniga for following too closely to another vehicle. After a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, authorities searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 10.50 kilograms of meth hidden inside an ice chest.
Vazquez-Zuniga ultimately admitted knowing narcotics were inside his vehicle and agreeing to transport them to another person for financial gain. The investigation led to his residence where law enforcement also located approximately 8.08 kilograms of fentanyl.
Vazquez-Zuniga 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 Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Man Indicted for Attempted KidnappingRead the Press Release
FLINT– A Mount Morris Township man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for his role in the attempted kidnapping of a woman and his illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
Joining in the announcement was James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division and Chief Terence Green, Flint Police Department.
Lugene Maxie, II, age 44, was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment and other court records, Maxie and two other men in a car approached the female victim as she was walking. The men made sexual remarks towards the victim and told her to come with them. When the victim refused, one of the men got out of the vehicle and began following the woman on foot. Maxie and the other man picked up the man on foot who was following the victim. The three then drove past the woman, turned on a side street and stopped. After the vehicle stopped, Maxie got out and began walking towards the victim. As Maxie approached the victim, he grabbed her. The victim pulled away from Maxie and began running from him. As the woman ran away from Maxie, he pulled a firearm from his waistband and fired two to three gunshots. Maxie continued to follow the victim as she ran away.
The incident came to the attention of the Michigan State Police who were conducting aerial observation in a Michigan State Police helicopter. The helicopter radioed to Flint Police who responded to the scene. When Flint Police arrived, Maxie took off running. Police pursued Maxie and took him into custody a short distance away. The Michigan State Police helicopter saw Maxie drop his gun as he was running from the police. Police recovered the firearm after detaining Maxie.
“I applaud the teamwork of the Michigan State and Flint Police,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “They prevented a brazen kidnapping and likely saved the victim from a sexual assault.”
“The arrest of Maxie is another fine example of area law enforcement working in partnership to increase public safety in the Flint community. The Flint Police Department, along with our local federal and state agencies are making the message clear, if you commit crime in Flint, arrest and incarceration is in your future,” said Chief Green.
Based upon the charges in the indictment, Maxie faces up to life in prison if convicted. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Michigan State Police and the Flint Police Department, with assistance from special agents of the ATF.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony P. Vance.
Man Admits Robbery that Led to St. Louis County Taxi Driver’s Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri teenager on Wednesday admitted helping to rob a cab driver in Hazelwood in 2022 before he was fatally shot.
Coron Dees, 19, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to a robbery charge. In his plea agreement, he admitted involvement in a series of events that led to the robbery and shooting of Dewight Price, a driver for St. Louis County Cab, on April 24, 2022.
Dees and three co-defendants were at a party in downtown St. Louis before calling a cab from the Shell gas station at 721 North Tucker Boulevard at 5:23 a.m. They used a fake name and address and planned to run away without paying when they were dropped off in St. Louis County. When they learned they would have to pre-pay for the ride, however, they began hatching a plan to pay, then rob, the driver, Dees’ plea says.
During the ride, Price was redirected to Hazelwood Central High School because Dees and the others thought there would be no witnesses there early on a Sunday morning, the plea agreement says. Once they arrived, Dees and another teen pulled out firearms and demanded Price’s money, the plea says. Price handed over his cash, then grabbed a gun he kept in his door and began to get out of the cab. One teen in the backseat opened his door, knocking Price to the ground before another shot Price once in the torso. Price died before police arrived.
Police arrested three of the four teens and found their guns that afternoon, the plea agreement says.
Dees is scheduled to be sentenced July 18. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The three other teens face a robbery charge and a charge of aiding and abetting the commission of a murder, with one also facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact. All three have pleaded not guilty. 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 the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dylan Roberts, 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Roberts to 240 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Roberts will be placed on supervised release for 4 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
On August 18, 2021, Roberts distributed cocaine to an individual at a residence in Lincoln. The individual used that substance in his vehicle outside his residence. Shortly thereafter, he lost consciousness. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found the victim lying on the ground outside his home. The victim was transported to the hospital, was administered Narcan to reverse the effects of the overdose, and ultimately survived. Law enforcement seized the remainder of the substance sold by Roberts from the victim’s vehicle. A lab determined that the substance contained cocaine and fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Taskforce.
Lincoln Man Sentenced for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Michael Dale Bouwens, 69, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Bouwens was sentenced to 84 months in prison and will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After serving his prison sentence, Bouwens will also be required to register as a sex offender.
In May of 2021, law enforcement reviewed a cybertip regarding suspected child pornography. The IP address on the cybertip was traced to a residence in Lincoln belonging to Bouwens.
A search warrant was executed on Bouwens’s residence and he was interviewed by law enforcement. He admitted that he had an interest in child pornography and used his laptop to search for child pornography online. He said he had last downloaded child pornography a couple days prior to the interview. A forensic review of several of the devices seized from Bouwens’s home contained approximately 19,666 files that qualify as child pornography and 262 videos of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Law Enforcement and Community Leaders Announce One Detroit Partnership to Reduce Violent Crime in the City of DetroitRead the Press Release
DETROIT — Today, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Kym Worthy, Kenyatta Stephens, CEO Black Family Development, Detroit Police Chief James E. White, Alvin Stokes, Citywide President, Detroit Citywide Police Community Relations Council, Heidi E. Washington, Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections and Bishop Edgar Vann, Second Ebenezer Church, announced a community partnership named “One Detroit” designed to reduce violent crime in the City through a multi-faceted program of crime prevention, services for the re-entry of returning citizens, and focused law enforcement.
Joining in the announcement were Kenyatta Stephens, the Chief Executive Officer of Black Family Development, Inc.; Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division; Special Agent in Charge James M. Deir, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division; and Sheryl Jones, Director, Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and Ceasefire Detroit.
One Detroit is the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s comprehensive violence reduction initiative that links evidenced-based strategies with a coalition of stakeholders in the community, government, and law enforcement. The core of the initiative is partnership. By bringing together leaders in government, the community, and law enforcement, and aligning their work, the One Detroit partnership will work to reduce violence through engagement, coordination, and action.
The One Detroit partnership is an effort to reinvigorate and augment the Detroit One initiative by incorporating the lessons we have learned since that effort was announced 10 years ago. One Detroit, like the earlier effort, includes aggressive investigation and prosecution of the relatively small number of individuals responsible for the most violence. But the One Detroit partners recognize that violence must be prevented and not just punished. And so, the One Detroit partners will also develop and foster meaningful community relationships, promote prevention and intervention programs, and emphasize prisoner reentry programs that involve the community.
One Detroit will focus on leveraging the resources, skills, and capacities of the program’s stakeholders to reduce crime and to make our residents and city safer.
A key aspect of this strategy is to boost efforts at crime prevention. The One Detroit prevention effort, which is led by the City of Detroit, along with community leaders such as Bishop Vann and Black Family Development, will seek to reduce crime through blight elimination, community engagement, job training, and collaboration. The partnership includes community members, faith leaders, law enforcement, and representatives from intervention/outreach organizations. Through open dialogue with these partners, we will better understand the underlying causes of violent crime in the community and collaborate to develop comprehensive solutions to address them. The partners will deter violence through open communication about law enforcement strategies with the community and with those most at risk of becoming involved in violence. And the partners will work to provide alternatives to crime to those in neighborhoods most affected by violence.
Importantly, One Detroit will also be focused on providing opportunities and assistance to those citizens who are returning to our community from incarceration. Led by the Michigan Department of Corrections, One Detroit will work to ensure that returning citizens have the employment, job training, and support they need to fully reintegrate into society. Helping those who have served their time return to their families and become contributing members of their communities is one of the most effective means to reduce crime in Detroit and across the Eastern District of Michigan.
The third aspect of One Detroit is an enforcement strategy aimed at the most dangerous offenders in those areas of the city suffering the most from violent crime or that face the prospect of increased crime. The One Detroit partnership will work collaboratively to focus its law enforcement efforts on the relatively few individuals and groups inflicting the most violence, rather than the entire community. It will involve close coordination between federal and local law enforcement to identify emerging violent offenders or trends within particular neighborhoods. The partnership will also draw on the expertise of local officers, who have deep experience in the communities they serve. And it will pair that personalized knowledge with technology like the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN), and evidence-based tools like Gunstat. By implementing this data-driven and intelligence-led approach, law enforcement will be able to focus on the small number of people perpetrating violence.
This strategy is a part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN continues to be the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.
“One Detroit seeks to disrupt violence in our neighborhoods by focusing law enforcement resources on the drivers of violent crime, supporting community-based solutions to prevent crime, and ensuring that individuals returning from prison have sufficient supports to take full advantage of their second chances, “stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “We need a more mindful approach to violence reduction that acknowledges that law enforcement cannot be the only solution to keeping our communities safe. Through this partnership we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who refuse to stop the violence, but we also endeavor to empower communities and provide opportunity in order to make our community and residents safer,” continued Ison.
"The most sustainable way to reduce violent crime is to get the people committing it to change their own behavior," said Mayor Duggan. "For some, being provided a pathway to an opportunity after being incarcerated may lead to that change. For others it may be the certainty of being arrested and incarcerated if they reoffend. Effective crime reduction has to be a communitywide effort and I'm grateful to U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for her leadership in forming this partnership between law enforcement agencies and community organizations."
“As a One Detroit partner, Black Family Development, Inc. commits to provide basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), mental health and substance use treatment, mobile health services, a young men of color support network and social-emotional counseling as prevention and re-entry supports to Detroit residents and families impacted, or at-risk of being impacted, by gun violence,” said Kenyatta Stephens stated.
“I have always known and understood that we must work collaboratively with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and faith leaders, if we want to address crime and keep our citizen’s safe. The One Detroit Initiative is important because it is taking an approach which includes intervention programs, as well as prisoner reentry programs to effectively combat crime,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
“It still takes a village,” said Alvin Stokes.
“The Detroit Police Department looks forward to being a part of the One Detroit partnership and will continue to strategically target the dangerous offenders who victimize our community and work to ensure they are held accountable for their actions,” said Detroit Police Chief James E. White. “Combining the hard work of our officers, our data-driven technology-aided approach and this partnership will assist us in our mission to make Detroit a safer place.”
“We are proud to share our expertise and the time and talents of our agents as partners in this type of focused and targeted action on those perpetrating violence in Detroit,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “We are also focused on our efforts to provide reentry resources, education and training so individuals have a way to support themselves and their families, rather than feel the need to resort back to a life of crime so we can create true long-term public safety in this great city.”
“One Detroit is a powerful collaboration of government, the US Attorney’s Office, branches of law enforcement agencies, community activists and stakeholders, and the latest cutting-edge technology. But let this initiative also send a strong message to "heads and hearts" throughout this city and region as this becomes a movement. Think before you act. Inhumanity has consequences. "Stop the violence. Increase the peace,” said Bishop Edgar Vann.
“ATF’s core priority is to protect our communities from violent criminal acts,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir, “We are proud to participate in One Detroit a collaborative crime-abatement initiative between our federal, state, and local partners.”
“Law enforcement and community partners are working together to combat crime in the most violent areas of Detroit,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI contributes to that effort by not only targeting those who commit armed robberies of businesses, along with the leadership of gangs and criminal enterprises, but also by engaging with schools, youth groups, and community groups. By doing so, we are working collaboratively to ensure our neighborhoods are safer places for everyone to live and work.”
“The enforcement aspect of One Detroit is focused on the few bad actors who are causing the most harm, and often these individuals are drug traffickers who use violence and intimidation to broaden their markets. DEA will work with federal, state, and local partners to pursue the worst offenders and make metro-Detroit a safer community,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to Prison After Carrying Out Mail Forwarding and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in a scheme that victimized nearly 400 people by redirecting their mail, stealing the victims’ identities, and using bank accounts in the victims’ names without their consent.
In March 2022, after a two-day trial, Nosa Frank Obayando (31) was found guilty of mail theft, using an unauthorized access device, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) was alerted to a fraudulent mail forwarding scheme. An investigation found that between February 2017 and February 2018, Obayando and a co-defendant worked together to steal mail through a fraudulent forwarding scheme where hundreds of victims from around the country had their mail forwarded without their knowledge or consent to addresses under Obayando and the co-defendant’s control. As part of the scheme, Obayando and the co-defendant checked the mailboxes for fraudulently-forwarded mail, then used the identities in that mail to steal funds from bank accounts.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.
If you suspect potential mail fraud or mail theft, you may contact the USPIS by calling 877-876-2455 or by making a report online at https://www.uspis.gov/report.
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Kenner Man Guilty of Stealing Mail by Using a U.S. Postal Service Mail KeyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- ADOLPH KENDRICK, age 27, of Kenner, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2023 to Unlawful Possession and Use of a United States Postal Service (USPS) “arrow” key used by USPS employees to access authorized mail receptacles in violation of Tile 18, United States Code, Section 1704 and Theft of United States Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708 announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, on November 14 and 15, 2022, KENDRICK stole mail from the Citrus Post Office in New Orleans, Louisiana. On November 15, 2022, was observed stealing mail and was caught after a brief police chase near Williams Boulevard. KENDRICK was also found in possession of a United States Postal Service “arrow” key used to access postal collection boxes.
If convicted, KENDRICK faces a maximum penalty of up to five (5) years imprisonment on the two counts of stealing mail, and up to ten (10) years imprisonment on the count of unlawful possession of the United States Postal Service mail key, to be followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, as to each count.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.
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