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12 April 2023
Morganfield Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening to Commit a Mass ShootingRead the Press Release
Owensboro, KY – A Morganfield man was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison for threatening to commit a mass shooting.
United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office, and Sheriff Jason Thomas of the Union County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 20, 2022, Dennis R. Rigdon, 54, of Morganfield, Kentucky, sent a text message to another person that stated, “Mass shooting at Jim David’s or zebryy up to you.”
In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, Rigdon was sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI Owensboro Satellite Office and the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Maryland Heights Man Who Had Sex with 16-Year-Old Sentenced to 11 ½ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Maryland Heights, Missouri who engaged in sexual activity with a 16-year-old he met online was sentenced Wednesday to 11 ½ years in federal prison.
Terry E. Kuehnel, 48, met the girl, who was then 15, in 2021 while playing an online game. She initially represented herself to be a young adult, but later told Kuehnel she was 15. He admitted in a guilty plea in December to a felony charge of coercion and enticement of a minor that he knew or had reason to know that the girl was a minor and it was not reasonable for him to believe she was older than 16.
The two began corresponding via text and audio and video communications, including 246 phone calls, one lasting 14 hours, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson said in court Wednesday. Kuehnel also requested pornographic images of the victim.
On June 5, 2021, ten days after she turned 16 and obtained her driver’s license, the victim and Kuehnel arranged for her to travel from her home to Missouri. Kuehnel met her in a department store parking lot and took her to his home, where he subjected her to unlawful sexual activity.
After her family reported her missing, law enforcement found the girl at Kuehnel’s home on June 6.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey, the victim’s parents said she has “distanced herself from almost all of her friends at school,” has suffered from anxiety and is in counseling with a licensed clinical social worker specializing in sexual abuse and trauma. The parents also thanked law enforcement, writing, “It is very possible that our daughter would still be missing if it were not for the hard-working Law Enforcement officials who stepped up to the plate that night and are still stepping up today.”
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Who Robbed Bank in Laurel, Delaware Under Federal IndictmentRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a New Jersey man with one count of bank robbery.
According to the indictment, during the afternoon of June 24, 2022, Justin Cabot, 50, robbed the Bank of Delmarva in Laurel, Delaware by presenting a note to the bank teller demanding cash. The indictment alleges that Cabot made off with $1,806.00 and a GPS device valued at $796.00.
If convicted, Cabot faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, made the announcement. The Laurel Police Department is investigating this case with assistance from the FBI Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Man Sentenced for Bribery Schemes Involving Millions of Dollars in U.S.-Funded Military Contracts and Visa FraudRead the Press Release
A Georgia man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for his roles in two bribery conspiracies – one related to a U.S. military contracts fraud scheme and one related to a Department of State visa fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Orlando Clark, 57, of Smyrna, was a manager of projects who deployed to Afghanistan to evaluate bids for U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts awarded by the U.S. military in 2011 and 2012. At that time, Clark and co-conspirator Todd Coleman, an analyst at a different U.S. company who also deployed to Afghanistan, received approximately $400,000 in bribes from an Afghan company. The bribes were paid in return for Clark and Coleman assisting the company in obtaining millions of dollars through at least 10 contracts that involved the construction of an Afghan police station and a security checkpoint for U.S. forces.
To conceal their conduct, Clark and Coleman registered fictitious companies in Georgia and opened bank accounts to which bribes were sent via wire transfers from Afghanistan. Clark and Coleman also created false invoices to make it appear as though they were involved in a car-exporting business in the United Arab Emirates. In reality, Clark and Coleman used the bribe payments to purchase personal items, such as BMW cars. During the scheme, Coleman and Clark also travelled to the United Arab Emirates to receive cash bribes, which they smuggled into the United States without declaring the currency.
In addition, between 2015 and 2020, Clark also received bribes to sign false letters of recommendation for visas authorized for Afghan nationals who worked as translators with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Clark signed over 10 letters in which he falsely claimed to have supervised the applicants and in which he stated, without any factual basis, that he had no reason to be believe that they posed a threat to U.S. national security.
On Feb. 9, Coleman was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in the U.S. military contracts bribery scheme.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia, Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense, Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement.
The SIGAR, DCIS, and NCIS investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Coercing Children to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia man pleaded guilty today to coercing multiple children to engage in unlawful sexual activity, including through online sextortion.
According to court documents, Glenn Matthews, 33, used his Instagram account to communicate with multiple minors over several months in 2020. During that time, Matthews sent , sexually explicit images and videos of himself to at least 10 different minors, who were between the ages of 9 and 16 years old. He enticed at least one of the minors to create images of themselves engaged in sexual activity. Matthews also sought to meet up with the minors to engage in sexual activity. In some instances, Matthews took screenshots of his conversations with the minor victims and threatened to expose the minors to their friends if they did not comply with his demands.
Matthews pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and second degree child sexual abuse in violation of D.C. law. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and FBI Special Agent in Charged Wayne A. Jacobs the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
The FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Pleads Guilty to Coercing Children to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
A District of Columbia man pleaded guilty today to coercing multiple children to engage in unlawful sexual activity, including through online sextortion.
According to court documents, Glenn Matthews, 33, used his Instagram account to communicate with multiple minors over several months in 2020. During that time, Matthews sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to at least 10 different minors, who were between the ages of 9 and 16. He enticed at least one of the minors to create images of themselves engaged in sexual activity. Matthews also sought to meet up with the minors to engage in sexual activity. In some instances, Matthews took screenshots of his conversations with the minor victims and threatened to expose the minors to their friends if they did not comply with his demands.
Matthews pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and second‑degree child sexual abuse in violation of D.C. law. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Lake Forest Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Buyers of Medical-Grade Gloves Out of $3.2 Million During COVID-19 Pandemic ShortageRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man pleaded guilty today to defrauding companies who in mid-2020 paid for COVID-related medical protective equipment that was never delivered, causing more than $3 million in losses.
Christopher John Badsey, 62, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud.
According to his plea agreement, in June and July of 2020, Badsey lied to three victim companies when he told them he had access to millions of boxes of nitrile gloves through his Irvine-based company, First Defense International Security Services Corp. (FDI). This type of personal protective equipment was in high demand and short supply during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Badsey agreed by contract to sell millions of boxes of gloves to each of the three companies. But Badsey told the companies’ representatives that before they could inspect the gloves, which he claimed were stored in a warehouse in Los Angeles, the companies would be required to pay deposits of upwards of $1 million to FDI. In fact, Badsey did not have any gloves stored in any warehouse.
Badsey instructed the companies to wire the deposits to accounts controlled by himself, FDI or a co-schemer. Relying on Badsey’s false statements, the companies wired a total of $3,231,990 to these accounts.
As part of his plea agreement, Badsey has agreed to forfeit all title and interest in money or items derived from his crimes, including a yacht, a pontoon boat, two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, two Ford pickup trucks, an RV, a tractor, three ATVs, miscellaneous fishing equipment, and $58,923 in cash.
United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton scheduled a September 15 sentencing hearing, at which time Badsey will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa S. Rabbani and Kristin N. Spencer of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
Justice Department Announces Major Milestones Achieved in Policing Reform Efforts for the City of Albuquerque and Albuquerque Police DepartmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has joined with the City of Albuquerque in filing a motion seeking changes to the requirements of the consent decree regarding the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) after achieving compliance with a vast majority of the consent decree.
The proposed modifications are based on the city and APD’s notable progress in implementing the consent decree and continued self-assessment of certain provisions of the decree. According to the Independent Monitor, APD has achieved compliance with 80% of the consent decree.
These proposed changes will help APD improve how it investigates low-level uses of force; improve its process for investigating allegations that officers committed misconduct – a crucial component for APD to enforce the requirements of the consent decree in its day-to-day operations; and build on the successes of Albuquerque Community Safety, a city agency that sends trained civilians instead of police officers to 911 calls for mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness issues. This approach allows officers to focus on addressing violent crime, while also connecting people with the services they need.
The Justice Department and the city agreed to critically consider areas where APD has not achieved full compliance in key areas – such as officers’ use of force – and develop strategies for improvement.
“The Justice Department’s consent decree has provided the strong medicine necessary to remedy problems and improve the way policing is carried out across Albuquerque,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After almost a decade of meaningful reform called for by our consent decree, we are ushering in a new day for people across the city. We are recognizing the progress that the Albuquerque Police Department has made towards achieving compliance with this consent decree for both the court and the public. Though challenges remain, the Justice Department is committed to supporting city leaders, community stakeholders and the police department as we work together to implement lasting institutional reform that makes constitutional policing a reality for everyone across Albuquerque.”
“Together, we are building the effective and constitutional police department the Albuquerque community deserves,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico. “This is apparent both in technical compliance and in actual overall reductions in serious uses of force, which showed a 30% reduction last year. This is a credit to the hard work of the City of Albuquerque, the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department and the relentless involvement of our community partners. We can now focus our efforts on the central mission of this journey: ensuring that APD conducts thorough, timely and reliable investigations of officers’ use of force. Our staunch commitment to this goal, as a community, will deliver a change in the culture of policing that centers the safety of all members of the public.”
Over the past eight years, APD has made significant strides towards achieving compliance with the requirements of the consent decree. For example:
- Equipped All Officers with Body-Worn Cameras: APD provided all officers with body worn cameras, which must be activated during all law enforcement contact with community members.
- Created New Civilian Investigative Unit: APD launched a centralized unit of civilian investigators responsible for investigating low-level uses of force as part of a pilot program.
- Increased Crisis Intervention Training: The city and APD instituted programs and initiatives to minimize the use of force against individuals in crisis due to behavioral health issues. Approximately 54% of patrol officers serve as trained crisis intervention certified responders – far more than APD’s initial goal of 40% of patrol officers.
- New Data Collection Efforts: APD hired a Director of Analytics who oversees APD’s data collection and analysis efforts and develops evidence-based recommendations for policy and management strategies.
- New Policing Reform Office: APD created the Bureau of Police Reform to accelerate reform efforts, provide oversight for internal investigations of officers and ensure that officers receive discipline that is fair, consistent and commensurate with their misconduct.
- Successful Training Academy: The APD Training Academy has received consistently high ratings from the Monitor.
The District Court for the District of New Mexico entered the consent decree in June 2015. The decree, as well as information about the Civil Rights Division, are available on its website at Special Litigation Section Cases and Matters. Additional information about implementation of the consent decree is also available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office at Investigation into Albuquerque Police Department.
Jury Convicts Felon for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Brandished at Wal-Mart CustomersRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. –A Macon resident with a lengthy criminal history who carried a gun into a Macon Wal-Mart and waved it aggressively at customers was convicted by a federal jury for illegally possessing a firearm.
Selma Oliver-Smith, 45, of Macon, was convicted on April 11 of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial that began on April 10 before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Oliver-Smith faces a maximum of ten years in prison, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for illegally possessing a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
“Not only is it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm anytime and anywhere, Mr. Oliver-Smith chose to walk into a neighborhood store and wave a gun at customers. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and no one was hurt,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will prosecute convicted felons caught illegally with firearms, especially those who brandish them in public places.”
“When offenders such as this use firearms to threaten individuals, ATF takes this very seriously,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crime along with our law enforcement partners and will continue to pursue those who violate the law.”
“Selma Oliver-Smith’s arrest and conviction shows that the justice system will not tolerate dangerous career criminals using a firearm to menace innocent shoppers in a busy Walmart,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from the Wal-Mart on Harrison Rd. in Macon on Aug. 17, 2021, about a man aggressively waving a gun at people who approached him inside the store. Because of Oliver-Smith’s criminal record, he was known to officers, and he was located thereafter at a nearby motel. Oliver-Smith was found inside his hotel room, where officers found two firearms hidden inside the toilet bowl tank. One of the firearms, a Jennings Firearms Bryco .380, looked identical to the one in the photo provided by Wal-Mart. Oliver-Smith has a lengthy criminal history to include convictions for burglary, theft by taking and second-degree criminal damage. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean S. Deitrick and Sonja Profit are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Iowa Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Carrol, Iowa man that utilized Kik, an online messaging app, to receive and distribute visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced April 7, 2023, to 9 years in federal prison.
Wyant Unruh, 37, received the prison term after a November 7, 2022, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography.
In the plea agreement, Unruh admitted that between November 2019, and July 2021, that he knowingly possessed child pornography, and that he used the messaging app Kik to knowingly receive and attempt to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He further admitted to using the app to distribute child pornography to others.
Unruh was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 108 months’ imprisonment and fined $500. He was also ordered to pay $8,500 in restitution to the victims. Unruh must also serve a 5-year term of supervised released following the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Unruh is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-3016.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
High Level Member of Chicago Gang Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A high-level member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang has been sentenced to 120 months, plus eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute wholesale quantities of heroin on the West Side of Chicago.
RAYMOND BETTS, 56, of Riverdale, a so-called “prince” of a nationwide violent street gang, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute in May of 2019. On eight occasions from December 2018 to March 2019, Betts or a co-conspirator acting on his behalf distributed 136.4 grams of heroin to a law enforcement confidential source. Seven of the distributions occurred in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, while one deal was allegedly conducted in south suburban Riverdale. Throughout his interactions with the confidential source, Betts discussed his plans to expand his drug trafficking enterprise, specifically into Northern Indiana. Betts pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in January of 2023.
Betts’ fellow gang members and co-conspirators ANGELA BELL, 52, of Chicago, and MAURICE WILLIAMS, aka “Big Fella”, “Big Ride” and, “Naz”, 54, of Riverdale both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Williams’ sentencing date is set for July 14, 2023. Bell’s sentencing date is set for May 26, 2023.
The sentence is announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff; and Eric Carter, Acting Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan DeMarco represented the government.
The multi-year investigation that led to Betts’ arrest was conducted with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA). The mission of the task forces, which are comprised of agents and officers from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.
Heroin and Methamphetamine Dealers IndictedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Ciera Anderson (28) and Tequan Ramsey (28), both of St. Petersburg, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
According to the indictment, from December 8, 2022, through March 3, 2023, Anderson and Ramsey conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and 50 grams of more of methamphetamine. The distributions occurred in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
Download IndictmentGangster Disciples Member Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering, and Drug Charges in Connection with Prison-Based Phone ScamRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala – A former inmate at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility (Donaldson) in Bessemer, Alabama pleaded guilty yesterday for his role leading a prison-based phone scam that targeted retailers throughout the country, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
Ricardo Poole, Sr., aka “Raoul,” 48, of Bessemer, Alabama, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Poole Sr. is the seventh member of the conspiracy to plead guilty.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2020 and May 2022, Poole Sr. and others tricked retailers into activating gift cards under fraudulent pretenses and then used those fraudulently obtained gift cards to purchase merchandise and make other expenditures.
The plea agreement describes Poole Sr. as a high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples at Donaldson, and the Gangster Disciples as a violent national criminal gang, founded in Chicago, and active across the U.S., including Alabama. According to court documents, Poole Sr.’s co-defendant, Terry Ray Bradshaw, was a “skit runner” who was housed at Donaldson for most of the period charged in the indictment. While at Donaldson, Bradshaw called retailers and used spoofing technology and social engineering techniques to pose as store executives so that he could trick employees into activating gift cards. During the relevant period, Bradshaw worked as a “skit runner” for Poole Sr. and other members of the Gangster Disciples at Donaldson. In exchange for his work as a “skit runner,” Poole Sr. provided Bradshaw with luxury items like Cartier glasses, protection from the Gangster Disciples, and controlled substances like methamphetamine.
The maximum punishment for the wire fraud conspiracy charge is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the money laundering conspiracy charge is 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy to distribute a controlled substances charge is 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The penalty for aggravated identity theft is an additional two years in prison.
The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the case. The Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have assisted in the investigation.
Fugitive financial advisor indicted for $10 million investment fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Former Berkely Lake financial adviser Christopher Burns has been indicted for his role in an investment fraud scheme that defrauded dozens of investors of millions of dollars.
“Burns obtained then violated the trust of his clients to fund his lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He betrayed investors and stole their savings with promises of safe investments that would yield high rates of return. Individuals who brazenly cheat their clients should expect to be held accountable. The authorities are continuing to search for Burns, and anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the FBI.”
“Burns is charged for allegedly stealing millions of dollars from clients in an illegal investment fraud scheme. Financial crimes of this nature can cause significant disruptions to the lives of those who are victimized, and the FBI is dedicated to holding these criminals accountable,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is still seeking the public’s help in locating Burns and will continue to pursue him no matter how long he tries to evade the law.”
“Ponzi schemes, such as the one Burns carried out, inflict emotional and financial damage on its victims,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation and our federal law enforcement partners are committed to removing unscrupulous financial advisors from our financial system and ensuring they are brought to justice.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Burns, an Atlanta financial adviser, conducted business through several entities, including Investus Advisers, LLC, Investus Financial, LLC, Dynamic Money, and Peer Connect, LLC. Investors were promised that their money would be loaned to businesses that needed financing and with little to no risk. In some cases, Burns falsely described the investments as secured by the protection of collateral and personal guarantees. In other cases, he falsely claimed that he would pool investors’ money to lend it to startup businesses and charities. But in reality, he used investors’ money to repay prior investors and to fund his business and his lavish lifestyle. Burns is alleged to have defrauded dozens of victims of at least $10 million.
On April 11, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Christopher Burns, age 40, of Berkeley Lake, Georgia, with 10 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and four counts of money laundering. Burns was previously charged in a criminal complaint on October 23, 2020, with one count of mail fraud.
Burns has not been seen since he left his home on September 24, 2020, one day before he was scheduled to relinquish documents related to his businesses to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The vehicle he was driving was found abandoned in Dunwoody, Georgia. Inside the vehicle were copies of three cashier’s checks totaling more than $78,000. If you have any information about Burns’s location or if you think you were defrauded, please contact the FBI-Atlanta field office at 770-216-3000 or go to tips.fbi.gov
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison B. Prout is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Four Springfield Men Sentenced for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Four Springfield, Mo., men were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Keith A. Ball, 38, Elshabazz M. Jackson, 32, Bryce S. Amador, 28, and Richard D. Sweaney, 38, were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. Ball was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison without parole. Jackson and Amador were each sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. Sweaney was sentenced eight years in federal prison without parole.
According to court documents, conspirators transported a large amount of methamphetamine into Springfield for further distribution. Ball and Jackson were stopped by law enforcement officers in Lawrence County on Sept. 7, 2018, while in possession of nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ball’s residence the same day and found a Heritage .22-calibe revolver, a Colt .38-caliber revolver, and a Star Bonifacio Echeverria 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
Ball, Sweaney and Amador each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene and Lawrence counties from June 6, 2018, to Sept. 7, 2018. Ball, who was a leader of the conspiracy, also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Amador also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Amador was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement in Springfield on Sept. 7, 2018. The officer arrested the driver of the vehicle and saw a Davis Industries .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on the floorboard near Amador’s foot. Amador also was in possession of a Jimenez Arms .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol during the execution of a search warrant at Ball’s residence on the same day.
Jackson pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The fifth and final co-defendant, Amanda Henderson, 40, of Springfield, was sentenced on June 4, 2021, to five years of probation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Eatmon and Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
Former Puerto Rico Mayor Pleads Guilty to Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A former mayor of Humacao, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to engaging in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies.
According to court documents, from January to July 2021, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, 49, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the owner of a construction company and the owner of a trash collection company. In exchange, Vargas-Rodríguez agreed to secure contracts for both companies.
Vargas-Rodríguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Nicholas Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matter, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the district for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts.
Former Puerto Rico Mayor Pleads Guilty to Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
A former mayor of Humacao, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to engaging in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies.
According to court documents, from January to July 2021, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 49, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the owner of a construction company and the owner of a trash collection company. In exchange, Vargas-Rodriguez agreed to secure contracts for both companies.
Vargas-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Nicholas Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matter, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the district for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts.
Former Payroll Manager for Chicago Museum Admits to Misappropriating More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former payroll manager for a Chicago museum pleaded guilty today in federal court to misappropriating more than $2 million in museum funds.
According to the written plea agreement, from 2007 to 2020, MICHAEL MAURELLO, 56, of Beach Park, siphoned money from the museum’s payroll account to his personal bank accounts by falsely designating the payments as legitimate compensation to other employees. In his plea agreement, Maurello admitted that he kept spreadsheets and notes to track the misappropriated money so that he could later make reversals within the payroll system to hide his fraudulent scheme. When the museum’s assistant controller asked Maurello in January 2020 about one of the payments, Maurello falsely stated that the transaction had been a test of the payroll system. Maurello then edited and altered a report from the payroll system to conceal information about the misappropriated funds.
Sentencing has been set for September 14, 2023. Maurello faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up to 3 years on supervised release. Maurello may also be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from his offense, whichever is greater, and he must be sentenced to pay restitution to the museum of $2,308,772.
The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein.
Former Labor Union President Admits Involvement in $200,000 Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – The former president of the Alton chapter of the AFSCME labor union admitted involvement in the transportation of stolen money after he was caught embezzling more than $200,000 from the organization.
Byron Clemons, Sr., 35, of Alton, pled guilty Tuesday in a U.S. District courtroom to one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money.
“Labor unions exist to promote the interests of the working men and women who make up their ranks. But instead of promoting the interests of his members, Clemons used his position to enrich himself and get cash to gamble at casinos,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Cutchin. “I commend the efforts of our partners at the U.S. Department of Labor for their diligent work in investigating this case and ensuring that Clemons is brought to justice.”
“Byron Clemons, Sr. personally enriched himself at the expense of dues-paying AFSCME members. Tuesday’s conviction affirms the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General’s commitment to ensuring that labor organization funds are only used for lawful purposes. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate union officials that violate the trust placed in them by the membership they are supposed to serve,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Clemons was the president of AFSCME’s Local 124 in Alton from June 2017 through January 2022. According to court documents, Clemons withdrew a total of $202,100 from the Local 124’s U.S. Bank account from February 2021 to January 2022. The defendant used the funds to gamble at casinos and pay personal expenses.
The defendant’s sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on July 20, 2023, at the U.S. District Courthouse in Benton.
Agents with the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Labor – Management Standards contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman is prosecuting the case.
Former Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officer Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Louis Paiva, Jr., 29, of Dearborn, Michigan (formerly of Orlando, Florida), was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence.
“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, especially when the public trust is violated by a government employee,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of covid-related fraud.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) COVID Fraud Unit conducted an investigation focused on identifying DHS employees who had received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits while also being paid by DHS. The investigation revealed that between March 15, 2020, and March 8, 2021, a total of $16,435.00 in UI assistance (including COVID-19 pandemic relief benefits) was deposited into a bank account that was used by Paiva. During this timeframe, Paiva worked as a Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. Records obtained from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FL-DEO), which administered the UI program in Florida, revealed that Paiva submitted approximately 24 applications and recertifications to FL-DEO in which he falsely stated that he was not a federal civilian employee, or that he did not work or earn money during the applicable timeframes.
“Federal employees are entrusted to protect the integrity of our programs,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who betray that trust will be held accountable for their actions.”
Paiva’s prison sentence will be followed by 2 years’ supervised release. The Court also ordered Paiva to pay $16,435.00 in restitution to the FL-DEO.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.
In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Former Erie County Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – Today, Adam Bess, 35, pleaded guilty to a felony for depriving an inmate at the Erie County Jail of her constitutional rights by using excessive force. According to court documents, on November 1, 2021, Bess was working as a sergeant at the Erie County Jail. During the booking process of a new arrestee, Bess repeatedly choked her causing her vision to pixelate and have lasting bruising. The inmate can be heard yelling, “He’s about to kill me, he’s about to kill me” during the assault.
Bess faces up to ten years imprisonment and it will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, 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.
A sentencing date has not yet been set before United States District Judge Jack Zouhary.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Freeman and Tracey Tangeman.
Former Emergency Department Nurse Sentenced to 3 Years After Stealing Pain Medication and Injecting Patients with SalineRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jennifer L. Adams, 38, of Whitestown, has been sentenced to 3 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to tampering with consumer products.
According to court documents, from October 1, 2018, to February 18, 2020, Jennifer Adams repeatedly tampered with vials of injectable pain medications, including fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, and ketamine, while employed as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Franciscan Health in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Using an automated medication dispensing machine, Adams gained access to the medications without authorization and used them herself. To conceal her scheme, she refilled the vials of medicine with saline solution and super glued the lids back on. Adams used the saline solution on thirty to forty unknowing patients who had been admitted to the emergency department and were in need of pain relief. The investigation found that Adams tampered with between two and seven vials of medicine during each shift that she worked.
“Emergency room patients depend on healthcare providers to give them the medicines they need. This defendant abused her position of trust to steal powerful prescription pain medications and give patients saline instead,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Substance use disorders are serious diseases impacting everyone, including nurses, and medically approved treatment is critical to saving lives and careers. That’s why my office worked with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to secure a settlement agreement to ensure that Hoosier nurses can have access to medication assisted treatment while participating in the Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program. I encourage all providers struggling with substance abuse to seek help, because stealing medications from patients is a serious crime that carries serious consequences.”
“Health care professionals who take needed medications from patients not only harm patients but also put at risk the trust that U.S. consumers have in those who provide their medical care,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice health care professionals who tamper with patients’ medications.”
“Most health care workers are heroes and work very hard to save lives, but when one person decides to abuse this power, patients suffer tremendously,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This is unacceptable. We should be able to trust our doctors and nurses and not have to worry about tampered medication. I applaud the work of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for seeking justice for Hoosiers.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Adams be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison and pay a $1,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Nationwide “Felony Lane Gang” ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert Natson, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Natson admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2015 and 2020. Natson and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, parks, and dog parks. Natson and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims and cash checks in drive-through bank lanes. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to controlled substances and were provided payment at least partially in drugs. Natson admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is up to $40,000.
The charge to which Natson pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. Natson will be sentenced on August 10, 2023. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Natson was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York; and Tyrone Parker, age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty for their roles in the indictment. The remaining co-defendants are:
- TYRONE PARKER, JR. a/k/a “Ty,” a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Little Thigh,” age 22, of Fort Lauderdale;
- CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida; and
- RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale.
Each of the remaining defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and they are scheduled for trial in federal court in Albany on July 10, 2023. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME.
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie, Michael F. Perry, and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.
Final Defendant Sentenced in Upper Peninsula-Based Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan today announced that Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou sentenced Elizabeth Jean Decota, also known as “Biz,” to 51 months in prison. She was the tenth and final defendant to plead guilty and be sentenced in United States v. Smith, et al., No. 2:22-cr-01. Chief Judge Jarbou imposed the sentence after commenting that the conspiracy had a “significant impact on the community,” bringing in a “significant quantity of methamphetamine to an area” already so heavily impacted by drug abuse.
“Illegal drugs are a danger to our loved ones and have no place in our communities," said. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “The United States Attorney’s Office is working closely with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking rings in Indian Country and across the state to help rid our streets of meth, heroin, fentanyl, and other potentially lethal poisons.”
Between March and December 2021, the conspirators brought significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl from Detroit and distributed those drugs throughout the western half of the Upper Peninsula. The conspirators based their operations on the Hannahville Indian Community and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine to those communities.
“Drug-related activity in the L’Anse Indian and Hannahville Reservations contribute to violent crime and imposes serious health and economic difficulties to Tribal communities. These sentences help send a message that drug use and trafficking has no place on the Reservations,” said Jerin Falcon, Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Division of Drug Enforcement.
“The cooperation between local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement has once again proven effective,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “This indictment should put drug traffickers on notice that we will use whatever resources necessary to remove them, and the poisons they peddle, from our communities.”
The defendants and their respective prison sentences are as follows:
Name
Sentence
Tyler Allen Smith, also known as “Ty Ty,” a/k/a “Ty”
158 months
Jason Earl Arnold
120 months
Jill Elizabeth Roberts
136 months
John Paul Decota, Jr., also known as “Bub”
64 months
Elizabeth Jean Decota, also known as “Biz”
51 months
Clifford Keith Durant, Jr.
90 months
Shanna Marie Decota
52 months
Peggy Sue Swartz
46 months
Allyson Marie Denomie
41 months
Alexander Brandon Sagataw
46 months
After serving their terms of imprisonment, the defendants will be on supervised release for several years.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI – Safe Trails Task Force; Michigan State Police; Delta County Sheriff’s Office; Hannahville Tribal Police Department; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police; and Troy Police Department investigated the case.
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Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Ivon Javier Cobbs, Sr. (41, Clearwater) to eight years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. Cobbs had pleaded guilty on January 5, 2023.
According to court documents, law enforcement received information identifying Cobbs as a distributor of fentanyl in Clearwater and began an investigation as to his drug activities in Pinellas County. On August 26, 2021, Cobbs distributed 25.36 grams of fentanyl and xylazine to a confidential source assisting in the investigation.
This case was investigated by the Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Felon Who Took Cedar Rapids Police Department on Vehicle and Foot Chase Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A convicted felon who possessed a firearm and attempted to elude police in his vehicle, and on foot, was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison.
Daniel Straw, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 3, 2022 guilty plea to bring a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Straw admitted he possessed a Glock 9mm pistol when he was prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony, previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, was a drug user, and was subject to a no-contact order. In July of 2022, Straw took the Cedar Rapids Police Department on a chase while driving his vehicle. After going over a curb, Straw abandoned his car and took off on foot. He scaled a fence and ran through residential backyards while being chased by police. He was ultimately apprehended in the backyard of a residential neighborhood and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol was located in his bag, as well as an extended magazine and marijuana.
Straw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Straw was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Straw is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-cr-77-LTS.
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Felon Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Crimes and Gloucester County ShootingRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Gloucester man was sentenced yesterday to 35 years in prison for drug, firearms, witness tampering and retaliation and obstruction of justice convictions.
According to court documents, in August 2020, Nathan DeAlbert. Mattocks, 39, a previously convicted felon, was arrested after the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call from an individual reporting that he was being shot at by a person following in another vehicle while driving on a main road in Gloucester County. Following an investigation, law enforcement identified a vehicle matching the description in which Mattocks was an occupant. Officers arrested Mattocks and discovered “Roxacet 30” pills containing fentanyl and a semi-automatic pistol in the vicinity of the crime scene connected to Mattocks.
After Mattocks was arrested and detained pending trial, he became aware of potential witnesses in his case that had provided information to law enforcement about the shooting and the defendant’s prior drug dealing. Mattocks approached a known violent gang member, while both were incarcerated, and asked this individual to find others who could get rid of these witnesses by killing them or otherwise making sure they would not appear in court. Mattocks offered to pay this gang member or provide the gang member with a large quantity of drugs for this service. Mattocks provided a note to the gang member with the names and information about the potential witnesses, one of which did testify at the July 2022 trial.
Further investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); Gloucester County Sherriff’s Office; and other local law enforcement partners revealed Mattocks’ long history of dealing heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, among other dangerous controlled substances within the Middle Peninsula region.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael T. Weddel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Washington Field Division; and Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Kaplan prosecuted the case. Former Assistant United States Attorney Howard Zlotnick also provided assistance on this case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-6.
Federal jury convicts Washington man of trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine in Lake CountyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a Washington man of trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine in Lake County last year, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
After a two-day trial that began on April 10, the jury found David Loren Waldeck, 57, of Port Orchard, Washington, guilty of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as charged in an indictment. Waldeck faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Sept.13. Waldeck was detained pending further proceedings.
“Holding drug traffickers, like Waldeck, accountable for bringing significant amounts of meth, fentanyl pills and cocaine to the Flathead Valley continues to be a top priority for our office. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Amanda L. Myers, along with Homeland Security Investigations and the Flathead Tribal Police Department for their hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on Oct. 24, 2022, Flathead Tribal police officers stopped and arrested an individual on outstanding warrants and learned that a person, named “David,” was in Kalispell and coming back to Polson that day with meth and fentanyl to distribute. The police officers then stopped Waldeck later that day and located 4,212 fentanyl pills, approximately 837 grams, or 1.8 pounds of meth, and approximately 489 grams, or a little more than one pound, of cocaine in his vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Amanda L. Myers are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Flathead Tribal 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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Federal Officials Meet with the Family of Shanquella RobinsonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal officials with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the FBI met with the family of Ms. Shanquella Robinson and family representatives today to offer their condolences and present the findings of the federal investigation into the death of Ms. Robinson.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Robinson has been a priority for federal prosecutors and the FBI.
The FBI has worked diligently to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation of the evidence available in this case. In coordination with Ms. Robinson’s family, an autopsy was conducted in the United States by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Mecklenburg County.
As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.
The death of Ms. Robinson has been incredibly difficult for her family and the community. As a matter of policy, federal officials generally do not issue public statements concerning the status of an investigation. However, given the circumstances of Ms. Robinson’s death and the public concern surrounding this investigation, it is important to reassure the public that experienced federal agents and seasoned prosecutors extensively reviewed the available evidence and have concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued.
As in any case, the government is prepared to review and examine new information related to the investigation should it become available.
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Federal Officials Meet with the Family of Shanquella RobinsonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal officials with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the FBI met with the family of Ms. Shanquella Robinson and family representatives today to offer their condolences and present the findings of the federal investigation into the death of Ms. Robinson.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Robinson has been a priority for federal prosecutors and the FBI.
The FBI has worked diligently to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation of the evidence available in this case. In coordination with Ms. Robinson’s family, an autopsy was conducted in the United States by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Mecklenburg County.
As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.
The death of Ms. Robinson has been incredibly difficult for her family and the community. As a matter of policy, federal officials generally do not issue public statements concerning the status of an investigation. However, given the circumstances of Ms. Robinson’s death and the public concern surrounding this investigation, it is important to reassure the public that experienced federal agents and seasoned prosecutors extensively reviewed the available evidence and have concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued.
As in any case, the government is prepared to review and examine new information related to the investigation should it become available.
Farrell, PA Man Pleads Guilty in Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, – Khiry Whiteside pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Whiteside, age 32, of Farrell, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on Aug. 21, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
The law provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Executive Pastor Pleads Guilty to Stealing $130,000 from Journey Baptist Church in BarringtonRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An executive pastor pleaded guilty in federal court to using Journey Baptist Church’s debit and credit cards without authorization, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Gregory Neal of Rochester, age 45, pleaded guilty to a one-count information alleging wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2023.
The defendant’s employment entailed overseeing the church’s daily operations, including control over its finances. From January 2017 to March 2020, the defendant made unauthorized withdrawals of the church’s funds to pay off his own gambling debts and made unauthorized purchases with the church’s credit cards for his own personal benefit. These unauthorized transactions amounted to roughly $130,000.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three 3 years of supervised release, a maximum fine that is the greater of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.
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Eleven Kentuckians Sentenced to Federal Prison for Animal Fighting OffensesRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Two additional individuals, Jerrard McVey, 48, and Linda McVey, 42, both of Carlisle, Ky, were sentenced on Tuesday to 12 months and a day in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for conspiracy to knowingly sponsor and exhibit animals in an animal fighting venture, in connection with the Valley, a chicken pit on the border of Nicholas and Fleming Counties.
According to their plea agreements, the McVeys, conspired with others, including Walter Mitchell, 48, of Ewing, Ky., to organize multiple animal fighting ventures in the form of cockfights at The Valley, located on the border of Nicholas and Fleming Counties. Specifically, on July 30, 2021, the McVeys and others organized and managed an animal fight that included at least a dozen entries in a 5-cock fight, and approximately 100 attendees.
Jerrard McVey pleaded guilty in December 2022. Linda McVey pleaded guilty in November 2022. Mitchell was sentenced in March 2023, and he received six months in prison and one year of supervised release.
In total, eleven individuals have now been sentenced to federal prison for their participation in animal fighting offenses in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Four other individuals were sentenced to home detention or federal probation.
In March 2023, Cruz Alejandro Mercado-Vazquez, 43, of Maysville, Ky, was sentenced to 15 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, and a $10,000 fine, for attempting to bribe the Mason County Sheriff to influence the Sheriff in connection with a planned animal fighting venture.
Timothy Sizemore, 43, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 26 months incarceration, 2 years supervised release, and a $1,000 fine, for his role in running an animal fighting venture in Manchester, Ky, called Riverside, and an animal fighting venture in Pike County, Ky, called Blackberry. His co-defendant in running Riverside, Millard Oscar Hubbard, 73, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 12 months and one day incarceration, 2 years supervised release, and a $95,000 fine. A referee at Riverside, Justin Smith, 34, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 1 month incarceration, 18 months supervised release, and a fine of $250. The owner of the property on which Blackberry operated, Perry Hatfield, 58, was sentenced to 8 months home detention and 2 years supervised release. Individuals who worked at Riverside, Beachel Collett, 30, of Oneida, KY, and Lester Collett, 26, of Manchester, Ky, were sentenced to 4 months home detention and 18 months supervised release.
In another case involving an animal fighting operation in London, Kentucky, called Bald Rock, Rickie Johnson, 56, of London, Ky, was sentenced to 2 months in prison, followed by 8 months home incarceration, 2 years of supervised release, and a $1,000 fine, for his role in running Bald Rock. Several individuals who fought roosters at Bald Rock were also sentenced. Joshua Westerfield, 36, of London, Ky, was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 6 months home detention, and 2 years supervised release. Dallas Cope, 35, of Livingston, Ky, and Bradley Cye Rose, 43, of Parkers Lake, Ky, were each sentenced to 14 days in prison, 9 months home detention, and 18 months supervised release. Hiram B. Creech, Jr., 47, of East Bernstadt, Ky, was sentenced to a year of probation and a $2,000 fine for causing a minor to attend the animal fighting venture at Bald Rock.
"Animal fighting ventures are cruel and illegal,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We will continue to enforce federal animal cruelty laws and we commend the valuable assistance of all our law enforcement partners, whose dedicated work made these important convictions possible.”
United States Attorney Shier; Salina Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Office; Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Superintendent Rob Townsend, Indiana Gaming Commission, jointly announced the sentencings.
The investigation was conducted by USDA, FBI, KSP, and the Indiana Gaming Commission. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Smith and Andrea Mattingly-Williams.
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Dunklin County Woman Accused of Aiding $565,000 Interstate TheftRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A woman from Dunklin County, Missouri appeared in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau Wednesday to face charges accusing her of aiding in the theft of $565,000 from a victim located in Texas.
Sheri L. Reeves, 53, of Kennett, was indicted by a grand jury April 4 on one count each of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. She pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.
The indictment says Reeves acted as a money courier or “money mule,” someone who transfers money obtained by fraud to others.
On June 9, 2020, Reeves opened an account at a Bank of America branch in Jonesboro, Arkansas that she would later use to receive the proceeds of various fraud schemes executed by others, the indictment says. She also added the name of another person to the account. That person was the victim of an account take-over fraud, in which conspirators used fraudulently-obtained account information to access the account and transfer $565,000 to Reeves’ account, the indictment says.
Reeves sent the proceeds from the various frauds to others using cashier’s checks obtained in Tennessee and Arkansas and via a CoinFlip cryptocurrency ATM in Dunklin County, the indictment says. She also sent the account information to others and withdrew or attempted to withdraw the proceeds in cash or by check, it says.
The bank fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The other charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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 FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are participating in a money mule scheme, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaints Center at ic3.gov or contact your local FBI office.
Doctor Charged for Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
A doctor made his initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to face illegal distribution of opioids charges.
According to court documents, Dr. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, 63, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, allegedly distributed oxycodone to individuals outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose from his medical practice in Washington. Okafor allegedly performed only cursory evaluations of individuals, and further solicited and received cash inside the examination rooms of his clinic in exchange for opioid prescriptions.
Okafor is charged with 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case, with assistance from the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and DEA.
Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Kilby Macfadden of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, the NEPO and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Forces have partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout New England and Appalachia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past four years, NEPO and ARPO have charged over 115 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance dosage units. As a result, to date, more than 70 defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Information about available treatment programs is available as follows:
Maryland patients receiving care from this practice who wish to obtain information on how to find treatment for mental and substance use disorders, where to access naloxone and other harm reduction services, and information about crisis helplines can utilize these Maryland resources:
- Search for substance use treatment facilities through findtreatment.gov/.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, a Maryland suicide and behavioral health crisis hotline.
- Public Overdose Response Programs in Maryland supply naloxone and may be found using this list. You can also visit health.maryland.gov/pha/NALOXONE/Pages/Home.aspx to see a locator map. Naloxone may also be found in your local pharmacy and billed to insurance and Medicaid.
District of Columbia residents needing information about mental health or substance use disorder services can call the Department of Behavioral Health 24/7 Access Helpline 1-888-793-4357 or visit www.dbh.dc.gov.
In addition, those needing access to opioid treatment service can contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359.
Medications obtained illicitly are very dangerous as they are often not what they appear, and frequently contain contaminants and extremely potent substances such as fentanyl that greatly increase the risk of overdose and death.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District of Columbia Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years for Shooting at Two Women in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Drummond, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in two felony matters by the Honorable Sean Staples to a combined 100 months in prison for shooting at two women in Southeast D.C. in June 2021, and subsequently possessing a “ghost gun” in July 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee III, of the Metropolitan Police Department. A jury found Drummond guilty on February 10, 2023, of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and related firearms offenses.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 27, 2021, Drummond, a convicted felon who was on both supervised release for a 2020 federal gun and drug conviction and on pretrial release in a pending Superior Court case, shot at two women after having an angry exchange of words with them moments earlier. One bullet slammed into a car door, lodging itself in the rolled-down window inches away from the woman sitting in the front passenger seat. A month later, officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Drummond’s home and found a loaded ghost gun under his mattress.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who provided assistance in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Kimberly Nielsen, Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section, Paralegal Specialists Crystal Waddy and Debra McPherson, Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist William Henderson. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Simmons and Colin Cloherty, who prosecuted and tried the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Gibbons, who initially investigated and indicted the case.
Denham Springs Man Sentenced to 292 Months in Federal Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced William Hunter Davis, age 35, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, to 292 months in federal prison following his conviction for production of child pornography. At sentencing, Chief Judge Dick described Davis’s conduct as “heinous” particularly since it “involved a contact offense in a familial relationship.” Following his term of imprisonment, Davis must serve five years of supervised release and register as a sex offender for life. Upon release from prison, he will be prohibited from contacting anyone under 18, and barred from visiting or living near schools, public pools, playgrounds, and other places with the primary purpose of servicing children.
According to admissions made during his plea, between January 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, Davis recorded pornographic videos of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a six-year-old minor child.
U. S. Attorney Gathe stated, “The efforts of the FBI and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office cannot be praised enough. Their hard work in helping bring this defendant to justice defines the Project Safe Childhood Initiative. With this sentence, child sex predators are put on notice that this type of offense will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Louisiana.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney April M. Leon Johnson.
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 http://www.justice.gov/psc.
D.C. Doctor Arrested for Unlawfully Distributing OpioidsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A District of Columbia doctor made an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court on charges related to his alleged unlawful distribution of opioids in exchange for cash. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, M.D., 63, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland was arrested yesterday at his medical practice on 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, and Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division.
According to court documents, Okafor allegedly distributed oxycodone to individuals outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose from his medical practice in Washington, D.C. Okafor allegedly performed only cursory evaluations of individuals, and further solicited and received cash inside the examination rooms of his clinic in exchange for opioid prescriptions.
If convicted, Okafor faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey of the District of Columbia’s United States Attorney’s Office and Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Kilby Macfadden of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the DC-Office of Inspector General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). The Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division provided valuable assistance and served an Immediate Suspension Order (ISO) on Dr. Okafor’s DEA registration because it was determined that he posed an imminent danger to public health and safety due to the volume of unlawful distribution of opioids.
The Fraud Section leads the New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, the NEPO and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force and has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout New England and Appalachia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past four years, NEPO and ARPO have charged over 115 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115 million controlled substance dosage units. As a result, to date, more than 70 defendants have been convicted. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Information about available treatment programs is available as follows:
Maryland: Patients receiving care from this practice that wish to obtain information on how to find treatment for mental and substance use disorders, where to access naloxone and other harm reduction services, and information about crisis helplines can utilize these Maryland resources:
• Search for substance use treatment facilities through https://findtreatment.gov/
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, a Maryland suicide and behavioral health crisis hotline.
• Naloxone: Public Overdose Response Programs in Maryland supply naloxone and may be found using this list.
You can also visit https://health.maryland.gov/pha/NALOXONE/Pages/Home.aspx to see a locator map. Naloxone may also be found in your local pharmacy and billed to insurance and Medicaid.
District of Columbia residents needing information about mental health or substance use disorder services, please call the Department of Behavioral Health 24/7 Access Helpline 1-888-793-4357 or visit www.dbh.dc.gov.
In addition, those needing access to opioid treatment service can contact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359.
Medications obtained illicitly are very dangerous as they are often not what they appear, and frequently contain contaminants and extremely potent substances such as fentanyl that greatly increase the risk of overdose and death.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Crownpoint man pleads guilty to firearm offensesRead 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 Derrick Cook pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Cook, 28, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody which has not been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, on Aug. 27, 2022, Cook got in an argument with some individuals outside the Crownpoint Trading convenience store. Later that evening, two individuals confronted Cook at his home. A fight began and Cook intentionally shot two of the individuals, identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2. Doe 1 suffered serious injury to his abdomen, requiring a long hospital stay and surgical repair, while Doe 2 was shot in the arm. The incident occurred on the Navajo Nation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cook can be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison followed by up to 5 years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Corporations That Operate Senior Living Communities Ordered to Pay $215,000 in Fair Housing Act CaseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Asbury Communities, Inc. and Albright Care Services, which operate eight continuing care retirement communities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee, have agreed to pay $215,000 to resolve a Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the complaint alleges that the defendants discriminated against a resident of Asbury RiverWoods in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and her son by not approving the resident’s request that her adult son be allowed to stay in her independent living apartment as her live-in aide during the COVID pandemic to assist her with activities of daily living.
Because of her disability, the resident, now deceased, required a live-in aide to assist her with non-medical activities such as obtaining groceries, cooking, cleaning, and taking her physician-prescribed medications. During the weekend of March 15, 2020, management for defendants told the resident and her son that the son would not be able to continue to stay with his mother because the senior living community, including the independent living apartments, were going into lockdown. Despite threats to evict his mother from the apartment and calls for him to vacate the property, the son of the resident stayed in the apartment and cared for his mother during the pandemic until they both moved out of the apartment in July 2022.
“No housing provider, especially those housing our senior citizens, can discriminate against residents because of their disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “Those who operate senior living communities must recognize that their residents have the right to reasonable accommodations, which allow them to continue to live independently. This Office maintains its commitment to ensure those with disabilities are not discriminated against by housing providers, public accommodations, or local governments.”
The consent order resolving the lawsuit was approved by the United States District Court for Middle District of Pennsylvania today. This case arose as a result of a complaint filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the resident and her son. After HUD investigated the complaint, it issued a charge of discrimination and referred it to the Department of Justice.
"Denying a tenant residing in a retirement community a reasonable accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic is particularly egregious," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria L. McCain of HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD's investigation, charge of discrimination and subsequent referral to the United States Attorney's Office demonstrates HUD's commitment to work with trusted partners to vigorously enforce fair housing laws."
Under the consent order, the defendants will pay $215,000 to the estate of the resident and her son. The consent order also requires defendants to take actions to prevent future unlawful discrimination at all eight of its properties, including complying with the Fair Housing Act, undergoing training on the Fair Housing Act, implementing a new reasonable accommodation policy, and complying with reporting requirements.
This investigation was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler, the civil rights coordinator, with assistance from Elizabeth Singer, Director of the United States Attorney’s Fair Housing Program in the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, emailing [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals also may report discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint online. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing [email protected].
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Colorado Springs Residents Indicted in Alleged Scheme to Defraud Hundreds of Student Loan DebtorsRead the Press Release
Denver -- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jalon Torres, age 45, and Lisa Marie Ritter, age 32, both of Colorado Springs, have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury as part of an alleged scheme to defraud student loan debtors.
According to the allegations in the indictment, Torres was the registered agent for the Student Resolution Center, LLC, which was also known as the Student Resource Center (SRC). Beginning in and around June 2015, Torres devised a scheme to defraud student loan debtors by making false promises to induce them to make payments to his company. As part of the scheme, Torres and others he directed called victims and falsely promised to reduce or eliminate student loan debt for a certain number of payments to the SRC. Torres obtained authorization from victims to withdraw payments from their bank accounts, but then withdrew payments in excess of the amounts listed in each contract. SRC earned more than $1 million from hundreds of victims. The indictment further alleges that both defendants then used the proceeds for personal gain, including purchasing a residence and a luxury vehicle.
Defendant Ritter made her initial appearance in Denver before United States Magistrate Judge James P. O’Hara on April 11, 2023. Defendant Torres was arrested in Florida and is awaiting further proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-CI, and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber is handling the prosecution.
The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number 23-cr-00113-RMR
Clairton Man Indicted on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity, Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Distribution and Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The six-count Indictment, returned on April 11, named Jeffrey A. McLaughlin, Jr., 41, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the Court, McLaughlin, on Sept. 9, 2020, distributed a video in a computer graphics and digital file, depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor to another individual located in the Philippines. The Indictment also alleges that McLaughlin coerced and attempted to coerce at least two minors to engage in sexual activity for which a person can be charged with a criminal offense during the periods of Aug. 5, 2021 to 17, 2021, Oct. 30, 2021 to Nov. 22, 2021, and May 6, 2022, to June 1, 2022. The Indictment further alleges that McLaughlin produced and attempted to produce from Oct. 30, 2021 to Nov. 22, 2021, videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. Lastly, McLaughlin is charged with possessing, on July 28, 2022, videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom had not attained the age of 12 years.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, New York, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Federal Prison for Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
A prohibited person who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison.
Tylon Randolph, age 22, of Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted that, on June 1, 2022, he possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol after having been convicted of a felony and while he was an unlawful user of marijuana and alprazolam.
Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Randolph was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 22-71.
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Carthage Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography on Workplace ComputerRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Carthage, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to downloading thousands of photos and videos of child pornography to his workplace computer.
Shane Tyler Barton, 56, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Tuesday, April 11, to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
By pleading guilty, Barton admitted that he downloaded approximately 10,000 images and approximately 100 videos of suspected child pornography to his workplace desktop computer. He also admitted that he downloaded videos of child pornography to his employer-issued Apple iPhone. When Barton was arrested, he was in possession of a personal Apple iPhone and admitted that he had also viewed child pornography on that cell phone.
This case began when the director of information technology for Barton’s former employer was alerted to a suspected virus on Barton’s company-issued computer that was in Barton’s office and connected to the business network. On Jan. 5, 2022, he observed an unauthorized anti-virus program on the computer and discovered numerous files that contained adult and child pornography. He notified management of the violation of company policy.
Barton was placed on leave pending the resolution of an internal company investigation. He was instructed to turn over his company-issued iPhone. Barton resigned from his position with the company a couple of weeks later.
Under federal statutes, Barton is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the FBI and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
California Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute Pharmaceutical Drugs & for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jamal D. Holdman, 27, of California, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiring to distribute pharmaceutical controlled substances and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Holdman to imprisonment for 65 months. Upon release from prison Holdman will be required to complete a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
In the fall of 2019 investigators accessed an online dark net marketplace called “Empire Market” where they observed vendor “norco_king” advertising the sale of pharmaceutical controlled substances such as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. Over the course of the investigation, investigators made a series of controlled buys of pharmaceutical controlled substances from norco_king on the dark net using an undercover identity. Norco_king accepted payment via Bitcoin and later Monero, both cryptocurrencies. The parcels containing the drugs were mailed from California to an undercover address in Omaha, Nebraska. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the originating post offices in the vicinity of Desert Hot Springs, California, and identified Jamal Holdman as a suspect.
On June 21, 2021, investigators served a warrant to search Holdman’s residence in Desert Hot Springs. Upon searching the residence, investigators seized approximately 21,000 pills including a significant number of pharmaceutical controlled substances in Holdman’s bedroom including opioids Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Morphine Sulfate, Hydromorphone, Tapentadol, Methadone, and Tramadol, several amphetamines including Lisdexamfetamine (commercially known as Vyvanse), and several benzodiazepines such as Lorazepam and Alprazolam. In addition, investigators seized 420 pressed “M30” pills, as well as postal service priority mailboxes and pre-paid labels for orders to include one that was addressed to be shipped to Nebraska. Although the color and markings on the “M30” tablets indicated they contained Oxycodone, they were later confirmed through laboratory testing to contain Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. Investigators also seized two firearms from Holdman’s bedroom near where the drugs were kept.
Holdman told investigators that he packaged and shipped the controlled substances and named Nicolas Decosta as the supplier of the drugs and dark net site vendor. Investigators corroborated this information and arrested Decosta, who will be sentenced on June 1, 2023.
This case was investigated by the United State Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
California Attorney Indicted for Attempting to Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on April 11, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Michael A. Connor (age: 53) of Newport Coast, California, with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b), 2251(a), 2252A(a)(5)(B), and 2252A(b)(2).
If convicted of the attempted enticement charge, Connor faces a mandatory minimum ten years’ and up to life imprisonment. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the production charge and up to 20 years on the possession charge. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine on each count.
This case was investigated by the Green Lake Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Koenig and Megan J. Paulson.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
414-297-1700
Brooksville Man Found Guilty of Possessing Firearm as an Armed Career CriminalRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has found Wayne Allen Phillips, Jr. (45, Brooksville) guilty of one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon. Phillips qualifies for an increased penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2023. Phillips had been indicted on March 29, 2022.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial and throughout the prosecution, deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office encountered Phillips while attempting to serve a warrant for his arrest on another matter. Phillips ran from the deputies but was apprehended after a brief foot chase. Phillips was searched incident to his arrest, and deputies located a revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition in his pants pocket. As a previously convicted felon, Phillips is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
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.
All defendants plead guilty in drug trafficking, COVID fraud operation tied to Savannah strip clubsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The last of five defendants in a two-state drug trafficking organization awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to felony charges in federal Court.
Jaqueline Somesso, 55, of Savannah, faces a statutory sentence of up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to an Information charging her with Misprision of a Felony and one count of Bank Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea acknowledges Somesso is responsible for using fake bank statements to illegally receive COVID-19 relief funding of nearly $600,000. After completion of any prison term, Somesso will be required to serve up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The exceptional work of our law enforcement partners identified and dismantled this operation that poured illegal drugs into our communities while also ripping off the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “The five guilty pleas in this case stand testament to the strength of the prosecution painstakingly built through collaboration with our office.”
The guilty pleas in USA v. Kinchen, et al., are the result of “Operation All Eyes On Me,” an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation that identified traffickers distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana in middle and south Georgia and in Florida. The 15-count indictment, unsealed in August 2022, named five defendants identified through a series of controlled purchases, phone surveillance and searches of multiple properties conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and agents from the Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team.
In addition to Somesso, the defendants include:
- Dennis Rodriguez Kinchen, 44, of Dublin, Ga., awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in December 2022 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and an Amount of Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Marijuana; and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Kinchen, identified as a source of the drugs distributed through the conspiracy, faces a statutory sentence of up to 40 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit an Atlanta condominium purchased with proceeds received through the conspiracy, which also included wire fraud in misuse of more than $300,000 in Small Business Administration COVID Economic Injury Disaster Fund loans comingled with illicit proceeds of drug trafficking. Kinchen was identified as the boyfriend of Somesso, who admitted she knew that he kept illegal firearms and drugs at her residence.
- Sherman Levon Scott, 54, of Pooler Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in March 2023 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Marijuana. The investigation identified Scott as a distributor in the drug trafficking conspiracy, and a Jan. 29, 2022 law enforcement search of his residence yielded a kilo of cocaine, 3 pounds of marijuana, crack cocaine, and cash. Scott’s plea subjects him to a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
- Angel Amaral, 56, of Hollywood, Fla., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in January 2023 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Cocaine. Identified during the investigation as a source of cocaine for the drug trafficking conspiracy in Florida, Amaral faces a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
- Tony Heldore, 52, of Richmond Hill, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in March 2023 to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Cocaine and Marijuana. Identified as a marijuana supplier to the conspiracy, Heldore faces a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Heldore was an employee of Somesso, working at Karma Entertainment and Lux Gentlemen’s Club in Hardeeville, S.C.
The government is seeking forfeiture of nearly $900,000 in funds from the conspiracy. Sentencings for Scott and Heldore are scheduled for Aug. 10, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Savannah before U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker. Sentencings for the other defendants will be scheduled after completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.
“Operation ‘All Eyes On Me’ was a tremendous success as it brought down a once-thriving drug trafficking organization,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. “This criminal organization has reached its final chapter, and its members face well-deserved time in prison.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Operation All Eyes On Me was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Savannah District Office and the Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team, with assistance from the DEA Miami Field Division, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Wildlife Taking
Jeremy Daniel Ward, age 49, of Moore, Idaho, was sentenced on March 30, 2023 to four months home confinement and one year probation for transportation of wildlife, valued at more than $350, and stealing elk sheds and game skulls from the National Park Service, valued at more than $1,000. He was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence. The crimes happened between April and June 2022. The case was investigated by the National Park Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore.Drug Offenses
Abel Michael Salazar, age 30, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on March 30, 2023, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. The crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Cheyenne Police Department, Greeley Police Department, and Weld County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Coppom prosecuted the case.Cristina Hermosillo, age 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on March 31, 2023. According to the evidence, the defendant was arrested on May 31, 2022, after she was found nonresponsive in her vehicle surrounded by drug paraphernalia and in possession of approximately 32.5 grams of fentanyl. The Cheyenne Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood prosecuted the case.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Dillard Laquin Whithead, age 50, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to 120 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release, $300 in community restitution and a $200 special assessment. The hearing took place on April 7, 2023. According to court documents, in September and October 2020, law enforcement learned that Whithead was distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Cheyenne area. Using this information, law enforcement executed a search warrant on October 20, 2022, for Whithead’s residence in Cheyenne, where they recovered approximately 268 grams of methamphetamine and 51 grams of fentanyl. The Cheyenne Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff’s Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood prosecuted the case.
Ronnell Lee Robertson, age 35, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 7, 2023, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. According to court documents, Robertson pled guilty to an information alleging distribution of fentanyl for his involvement in distributing fentanyl through the U.S. Postal Service. The crime was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore prosecuted the case.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
63 Individuals Charged with Drug Trafficking in the municipality of San Germán, Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 3, 2023, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six-count indictment charging 63 individuals with drug trafficking in the municipality of San Germán, Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Mayagüez Strike Force are in charge of the investigation and completed the filing of charges and arresting processes with the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). This investigation and the arrest operation are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program.
“This case is a prime example of successful drug interdiction operations that result from collaborative work between federal and state agencies,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We can remove wrongdoers from the streets and bring stability and peace to our communities when we jointly apply our resources, personnel, and operational expertise to bear against extensive organized crime networks.”
The indictment alleges that from 2015 through April 3, 2023, the defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marihuana, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in the Manuel F. Rossy and El Recreo Public Housing Projects in San Germán, Puerto Rico (PHPs), and areas nearby for significant financial gain and profit. Court documents allege that the defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including acting as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators.
The government also claimed that the co-conspirators conducted drug trafficking transactions at the basketball court of the PHPs in the presence of minors and used multiple vehicles to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The acts alleged to have been performed in furtherance of the conspiracy included the delivery of heroin, cocaine, crack, marihuana, and prescription pills to clients. According to the indictment, some of the defendants also mixed the fentanyl into the heroin sold at the drug points.
The charged conduct included the use of force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the drug trafficking operations and intimidate rival gangs. Accordingly, eight defendants were also charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The defendants are:
[1] Orlando Medina-Pérez, a/k/a “Orlan”
[2] Julio Cesar Santiago-Calvani, a/k/a “Yuca”
[3] Raymond Omar Alameda-Ramos, a/k/a “Pipita/Reymon”
[4] Luis Enrique Ramos-Feliciano, a/k/a “Luigui”
[5] José Pagán-Casiano, a/k/a “Pito Cancio”
[6] Carlos Claudio-Aquino, a/k/a “Carly Bemba”
[7] Luis Diego Echevarría-González, a/k/a “Pulin”
[8] Juan Carlos Colón-Cordero, a/k/a “Peca”
[9] Brian Oniel Vega-Sáez, a/k/a “Pollito”
[10] Alexander Arroyo-Lugo, a/k/a “Escobar”
[11] Julio Cesar Santiago-Ramos, a/k/a “Yuquita/Goldo”
[12] Jecksan Horrach-Pabón, a/k/a “Menor”
[13] Jomar Joel Horrach-Pabón, a/k/a “Yomo”
[14] Christian O. Montalvo-Casiano, a/k/a “Christian”
[15] James Steven Cupeles-Salas, a/k/a “Yain”
[16] Eniel Morales-Suárez, a/k/a “Liru/Lilu”
[17] Gabriel Enrique Mora-Ruiz, a/k/a “Gaby”
[18] Giovany Torres-Irizarry, a/k/a “Jova”
[19] Miguel A. Rosario-Toro, a/k/a “Tiri”
[20] Joachim Miguel Rosario-Toro, a/k/a “Tito”
[21] Ángel Lionel Flores-Vélez, a/k/a “Toto”
[22] Ángel L. Vázquez-Morales, a/k/a “Vazquez”
[23] Sergio Yamil Mercado-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Sergio”
[24] Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Reyes, a/k/a “Luisito”
[25] John Michael Hernández-Rivera, a/k/a “Buster/John John”
[26] Kelvin Joel Santana-Vega, a/k/a “Kelvin/Pimpollo/Pimpo”
[27] Roberto Moises Irizarry-Ruiz, a/k/a “Robert/Robertito”
[28] Hiram Ramón Sánchez-Ruiz, a/k/a “Hiram/Nene”
[29] Ángel Jazquiel Chaulizant-Mercado, a/k/a “Jazquiel”
[30] Javier Torres-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Guánica/Javy”
[31] Carlos Alberto Ayala-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Lajas”
[32] Ángel Rodríguez-Lugo, a/k/a “Cocolo”
[33] Jesse Ruiz-Desarden, a/k/a “Jesse”
[34] Andrés Moisés González-Ortiz, a/k/a “Andrés”
[35] Luis Ángel Miró-Gregory, a/k/a “Pito Cuchilla”
[36] Kevin Abel Santiago-Olivencia, a/k/a “Ñao”
[37] Ángel Jireh Ruiz-García, a/k/a “Ángel/Angelito/Ángel Culebra”
[38] Jesús Antonio Ruiz-Desarden
[39] Tamara Flores-Valentín, a/k/a “Jamilet”
[40] José Luis Vélez-Santana, a/k/a “Tuna”
[41] Catherine Muñiz-Martínez, a/k/a “Kathy”
[42] Jason Toro-Toro, a/k/a “Golin/Goline/Toto/Tubo”
[43] José Manuel Santiago-Cotte, a/k/a “Flaco/Jose”
[44] Julio Cesar Junior Cintrón-Collado, a/k/a “Jordan”
[45] José Daniel Martínez-Pagán, a/k/a “José”
[46] Joshua González-Muñiz, a/k/a “Jochi”
[47] Yecelys Marie Ortiz-Horrach, a/k/a “Yecelys/Mary”
[48] Diana Ruiz-Horrach, a/k/a “Diana/Titi”
[49] Alberto Uriel Rivera-Ortiz, a/k/a “Albert/Papo”
[50] Jonathan Quintana-Negrón, a/k/a “Cuajo/Cutino”
[51] Carlos Pantojas-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Bebi”
[52] Carolina Avilés-Rivera
[53] Edison Ruiz-Garallúa, a/k/a “Bolocho”
[54] Eliezer Avilés-Rivera, a/k/a “Papito”
[55] Jan Acosta-Vélez, a/k/a “Jan Tatuaje”
[56] Yadiel Javier Ortiz-Rivera, a/k/a “Yadiel Besito”
[57] Josenid Martin-Gregory, a/k/a “Jossy”
[58] Daisy Janet Sánchez- Ruiz, a/k/a “Daisy/Nena”
[59] Jilmarie Jymmyan Lebrón-Cordero, a/k/a “Linda”
[60] Karen Michelle Vega-López, a/k/a “Karen”
[61] Cristian Rivera-Torres, a/k/a “Cristian”
[62] Andrés Orlando Acevedo-Rivera, a/k/a “Andrés”
[63] Jordan Lugo-Méndez, a/k/a “Jordan”
If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro Casablanca and Cristina Caraballo Colón from the Gang Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting this OCDETF matter. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest‑level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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